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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 209

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (2) (7122 Havr. Prem Singh Rana. 2-3 Grks.; 1540 Rfmn. Karnadhoj Limbu, 3/11/Gurkha Rfls.), second with clasp attached by loose piece of wire, first very fine, second good fine (2)

The 2nd Battalion, 3rd (Queen Alexandra's Own) Gurkha Rifles deployed to Dardoni, to the west of Bannu and adjacent to Miranshah, in December 1920 where it served throughout 1921 as part of 7th Brigade employed in convoy protection and picquet duties. In November 1921, the authorities decided to arrange a settlement with tribes in the Upper Tochi and re-establish a militia post at Datta Khel. The unit formed part of the Datta Khel column, which moved out of Dardoni on 26 November and reached Datta Khel, via the Spinchilla Pass, on 30 November, having established a forward base at Mahomed Khel. A reserve of supplies was then laid in at Datta Khel and work commenced on the post to be held by the militia on the withdrawal of regular troops. On 4 December, two companies of the unit were redeployed to garrison the forward base at Mahomed Khel. On 11 December, an empty convoy of camels and mules left Datta Khel, escorted by 2-69th Punjabis. The foothills from the Spinchilla Pass to Mahomed Khel were picqueted by a company of Gurkhas. On leaving the Spinchilla Pass, large numbers of tribesmen attacked the convoy and although it reached Mahomed Khel safely, the 2-69th Punjabis escort had to fight a severe rear guard action for the last 3 miles. During this withdrawal, the company which provided the picquets became separated from the 2-69th Punjabis escort and, finding itself attacked on all sides by an enemy estimated at being 400-500 strong, abandoned its dead and wounded in order that it could reach the safety of Muhomed Khel. As a result of this action, the Gurkhas casualties were 23 killed (to include the Company Commander, Major Paget) and 19 wounded. The action on 11 December is described in detail by John Morris, who was serving as a Captain in the unit at this time, in Hired to Kill. He relates that as the picquets of his Company began to withdraw they became cut off from the main column and were attacked from all sides by enemy tribesmen. In desperation, his Company, which was widely dispersed, fought its way back to the safety of Mahomed Khel, being forced to leave both its dead and wounded. Early the next morning, he describes how they went back to discover the dead lay scattered in small groups and that from their postures, except for the fortunate few who had been killed instantly, every man had been subjected to the most barbarous treatment while still alive by the enemy tribesmen. The bodies had been stripped and in every case the genitals had been roughly severed and stuffed into the victim's mouth.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£30