Awards to the Indian Army from the Collection of AM Shaw

A rare ‘Kisangule’ I.O.M. awarded to Havildar Nand Sing, 23rd Bengal Infantry

Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 1st type, 3rd Class, Reward of Valor, silver and enamel, Central Africa 1891-98, ring suspension, reverse with central nut fitting and engraved in three lines, ‘3rd / Class / Order of Merit’, unnamed, with silver buckle, enamel damage; Central Africa 1891-98, ring suspension, unnamed; East and Central Africa, 1897-99, 2 clasps, Lubwa’s, Uganda 1897-98 (2558 Havildar Nand Singh, 23rd Bl. Infy.) nearly very fine and better (3 £2200-2600

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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The single East & Central Africa Medal to Nand Singh, ex B.D.W. 6 May 1992.

A series of expeditions against the Yao slaver, Makanjira, based on Lake Nyassa, was undertaken by forces led by Commissioner H. H. Johnston, Captain Maguire and others, during the period 1891-94.

Inmid-December 1891, MacGuire received information that two of Makanjira’s slaving dhows were to be found in a certain creek off the lake. Maguire embarked a small force on to the steamer Domira to confront what was thought to be a small number of slavers.

The ensuing action at Kisangule, 15-21 December 1891, is described as follows:

'Maguire set off in the Domira with a few Sepoys. Landing with a small force of 28 men on December 15th he was about to demolish the dhows when Makinjira, with 2,000 followers, attacked him and forced his party back to the beach. There he found his boat had been wrecked by a storm which had arisen, and the Domira herself in endeavouring to come as close as possible inshore, had stuck on a sandbank not far off the beach.

'After three Sikhs had been killed, Maguire told the others to wade out to the Domira whilst he and a few men as rearguard kept off the Yaos with the bayonet. Almost at once he was shot dead, and the European Master and Engineer of the Domira were wounded, but the remainder of the Sepoys embarked safely, whereupon they defended the stranded steamer against all comers for three days.

'Makanjira under a flag of truce then agreed, in return for a ransom - which was paid - to give up the bodies of Maguire and the three Sepoys and to assist in refloating the ship; but instead by an act of treachery, he put to death the two remaining unwounded officers, the European 1st Engineer and the Parsi Doctor.

Once again the stranded Domira was besieged, this time for 5 days till at last the Sepoys and Sowars under the direction of the wounded 2nd Officer managed to get her off the sandbank into deep water, where she used her 7-pounder with great effect on Makanjira's men dancing around their camp fires.' (ref. African General Service Medals, by R. B. Magor).

The Domira managed to get away, firing into Makajira’s men as they went. The casualties for the action amounted to four Europeans and nine soldiers killed and two Europeans and nine natives wounded.

Although the Central Africa Medal was not given for the this action, four I.O.M’.s were awarded, including one to Havildar Nand Singh of the 23rd Bengal Infantry. His name is listed in African General Service Medals, by R. B. Magor, where his number is given as ‘2557’; however, he is recorded with his correct number ‘2558’ in Deeds of Valour Performed by Indian Officers and Soldiers, by P. P. Hypher.