Awards to the Indian Army from the Collection of AM Shaw

A posthumous K.P.M. for Gallantry awarded to Foot Constable Abdulla, North West Frontier Police

King’s Police Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, for Gallantry (Abdulla, Foot Constable, No. 245. N.W.F.P.) slight edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine £700-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to the Indian Army from the Collection of AM Shaw.

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K.P.M. for Gallantry Gazette of India 7 November 1942. ‘Abdullah, Foot Constable No. 245 (deceased); Haq Nawaz, Foot Constable No. 110’ ‘On the 3rd July, 1942, a gang of ten tribesmen armed with rifles and revolvers ambushed a police pay party travelling near Tank, on the Waziristan Border, in an unarmoured taxi lorry which also carried a number of passengers, eight of them Hindus. Regardless of heavy rifle fire, Foot Constable Haq Hawaz jumped from the roof of the lorry, took up a suitable position by the roadside, and put some of the gang to flight after killing one of then and wounding others. Meanwhile Foot Constable Abdullah had opened fire on the gang from the unprotected roof and continued until he was mortally wounded. He fought like a lion and gave his life in his devotion to duty. During the sharp encounter three men were killed and a dozen wounded but the courageous action of Constables Haq Nawaz and Abdullah saved the pay from being looted and prevented the kidnapping of any of the passengers. The failure of the gang to achieve their objective was due to the gallantry of these two constables and their complete disregard for their own safety.’

With copied gazette extracts.