Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Second World War Italy operations M.M. awarded to Lance-Havildar Rup Chand, 4th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment, who led a gallant assault on a strong enemy position, himself accounting for several of their number

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (16697 L./Hav. Rup Chand, 10 Baluch R.), officially engraved naming, nearly extremely fine £500-600

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

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

‘On 30 June 1944, during the advance of 20 Indian Infantry Brigade on the Assisi front, patrols were protecting the right flank of the Brigade. Naik Rup Chand was in charge of the assault party of a patrol sent to locate and destroy an enemy artillery O.P. Having located a strong enemy detachment the Patrol Commander decided to attack. To Naik Rup Chand was allotted the task of manoeuvring to a flank and of assaulting the enemy position, covered by automatic fire. The enemy was believed to number 18 men. Skilful manoeuvring brought Naik Rup Chand’s party of six men to assaulting distance. In the opening stages of the fire fight he saw that four of the enemy were killed by the covering party, and judging his time he led his party in a charge. The enemy were completely surprised and the action resulted in the annihilation of the whole party which proved to number 11 men. Naik Rup Chand himself destroyed the team of a light automatic with grenades. Finally a counter-attack was beaten off due to quick appreciation of the situation and speedy consolidation by Rup Chand.’