Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War Italy operations M.M. awarded to Naik Mohabat Khan, 1st Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment, a resourceful mortar team commander who changed the tide of battle

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (8596 Nk. Mohabat Khan, I.A.), officially re-impressed naming, good very fine £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bahadur Collection of Medals to Sikh Regiments.

View
Collection

M.M. London Gazette 7 December 1944. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘On 20 June 1944, Naik Mohabat Khan was in command of two 3” mortar detachments supporting the left forward company during the attack on Belvedere. These detachments were manhandled forward. On arrival on the first objective the Company came under heavy artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire. In order to provide adequate support on to the final objective, it was essential for the mortars to be well forward and Naik Mohabat Khan brought them into action immediately in the rear of the first objective, regardless of the intense fire that was being brought down. Under cover of accurate supporting fire from his exposed position, the Company was able to secure and consolidate Belvedere. During the mopping up the following morning, Naik Mohabat Khan went forward as O.P. with the left hand company. Hearing that the O.P. controlling the mortars in support of the right hand Company had become a casualty, and that the counter-attack was forming up, he immediately moved over to that flank and from a completely exposed position which was under heavy fire, so successfully directed the fire of his own mortars that the counter-attack was quickly and decisively beaten off with heavy casualties to the enemy. Throughout the engagement, Naik Mohabat Khan was an inspiration to his men, showing complete disregard for his own safety and a grim determination to allow nothing to prevent him from engaging and inflicting casualties on the enemy.’