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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 503

A fine I.D.S.M. and Indian Army M.S.M. pair awarded to Havildar-Major M. S. Mal, 2nd Battalion, 3rd (Queen Alexandra’s Own) Gurkha Rifles

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (2582 Havr. Man Sing Mal, 2-3 Grks.); Indian Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (2582 Havr. Man Sing Mal, 2-3 Grks.), edge bruising, very fine (2)

I.D.S.M. Gazette of India 3 June 1918 (Egypt). Extracts from the Regimental History confirm the award for actions on 23 November at El Jib:

'The first wave simply withered away, a few survivors finding what cover they could behind rocks...as each wave reached this bullet-swept area, the same thing happened and thus the attack died away within 700 yards of its objective...The Adjutant, Lieut. Turner, was hit in the thigh, just as Battalion HQ reached the fatal zone...The Havildar-Major, Man Sing Mal, who had gallantly bandaged Lieut. Turner and other wounded men, was himself hit.'

M.S.M. Gazette of India 9 February 1919.

Man Sing Mal tended to Lieutenant R. L. Turner in the action at El Jib. Having recovered, he went onto become Professor Sir Ralph Turner, who unsurprisingly gained a deep affection for the Gurkhas, studying and publishing widely on many subjects of Nepal and its people. He wrote the famous panegyric, no doubt influenced by men like Mal:

'As I write these words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship. Once more l see you in your bivouacs or about your camp fires, on forced marches or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of generous, never had a country more faithful friends than you.'

For further details, see https://blogs.soas.ac.uk/archives/2015/08/04/soas-history-ralph-lilley-turner/

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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£480