The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A rare Indian Police Medal for Gallantry awarded to Sergeant F. J. Juden, Calcutta Police

Indian Police Medal, G.VI.R., for Gallantry (F. J. Juden, Sergeant, Calcutta Police), with original gallantry riband and investiture pin brooch, together with a Calcutta Police Force cap badge, good very fine and rare (2) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Indian Police Medal (Gallantry) Calcutta Gazette 11 July 1946:

‘On the 23 November 1945, this Sergeant was sent with a work party and a breakdown lorry to clear the Bhowanipore area of all roadblocks. At first he was unable to get near the road obstructions owing to stoning. On the arrival of reinforcements he succeeded that day in clearing the whole area as far as Tollygunge Bridge and Lansdowne Road. At intervals throughout the day the police party engaged on this work was subjected to stoning. This did not deter Sergeant Juden, and stimulated by their leader’s personal example and courage, the work party was able to clear the roads effectively, although the whole party was completely unarmed.

On the 11 February 1946, at night, this Sergeant was detailed to take a Police “wrecker” to Central Avenue to clear away burning vehicles; from 8.30 to 11.30 the Sergeant and his working party were stoned continually. Now and again the Sergeant himself, although unarmed, had to drive his “wrecker” towards oncoming mobs in order to give his supporting party some relief. In these operations the windscreen of the “wrecker”, which was entirely unprotected, was smashed and Sergeant Juden who was driving was hit. He continued this work until 3 a.m. Sergeant Juden was engaged the whole of the following day (February 12) in clearing the road blocks in Central Avenue, from Bowbazar Street to Shambazar, and he continued this important work in spite of being constantly attacked by the mob. On 13 February 1946, Sergeant Juden successfully cleared the road blocks in Ashutosh Mukherjee Road, in spite of mob attacks on him and his party. Sergeant Juden showed great courage and resolution in carrying through his job undeterred by attacks.’

The Indian Police Medal with ‘Gallantry’ reverse was not introduced until 1945, and only 138 awards are known to have been given, just eight of these to Europeans.