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Auction: 17001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 276

The Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 awarded to Hon. Lieutenant Phuman Singh Bahadur, I.O.M., I.D.S.M., 15th Ludhiana Sikhs

Delhi Durbar 1911 (Jem. Adjt. Phuman Singh, I.O.M., 15th Sikhs), contemporary engraved naming, good very fine

Phuman Singh joined the Indian Army in December 1890 and first saw active service in the relief of Chitral operations in 1895 (Medal & clasp). Next actively deployed with his regiment - the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs - in the Juba Expedition of 1897-98, he won the I.O.M. 3rd Class for his bravery at Lubwa's Fort. The joint citation - published in G.G.O. 99 of 1899 - states:

'No. 3036 Sepoy Sahib Singh, and No. 3277 Sepoy Phuman Singh. For conspicuous gallantry in action at Lubwa's Fort on the 11th December 1897, on which occasion they bravely and devotedly stood by Lieutenant MacDonald on that officer falling mortally wounded, though the enemy were almost on him at the time.'

Also awarded the East and West Africa Medal 1897-99, with clasps for Lubwa's and Uganda 1897-98 - see Dix Noonan Webb, 17 May 2016 (Lot 724) - Phuman Singh was advanced to Jemadar in April 1909 and was awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal in 1911.

A Subedar by the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was embarked for France and added the I.D.S.M. to his accolades in 1916 (G.G.O. 849 of July 1916, refers); he would have been present at his regiment's notable action at Richebourg L'Avouve in May 1915, when Lieutenant J. G. 'Jackie' Smythe won the V.C.

Phuman Singh, who also served in Egypt during the Great War, was advanced to Subadar Major in October 1919 and to Hon. Lieutenant in July 1920, shortly before being placed on the Retired List; sold with copied research.


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Sold for
£140