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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 480

An immediate 1945 Burma operations I.D.S.M. group of five awarded to Naik Hukma Singh, 1/11th Sikh Regiment

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (13750 Nk. Hukma Singh, 1-11 Sikh R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War and India Service Medals 1939-45, good very fine (5)

I.D.S.M. London Gazette 20 September 1945. The original recommendation - by Lieutenant-Colonel Spink - states:

'At Shandatgyi on 6 May 1945 No.13750 Nk Singh was in Command of a Section, which with the remainder of his Platoon was engaged in a fierce attack on the enemy held village of Kaingngegyi. Some casualties had been suffered and an attempt to get these casualties back to allow supporting fire to be put down had been unsuccessful.

With Subadar Bachan Singh Nk Hukma Singh took his Section forward in a second attempt to eliminate the enemy LMG post that was preventing the collection of the wounded. He personally led his Section and crawled forward to within 15 yards of the enemy trench when further progress was halted by an impenetrable bamboo fence. Many of his Section were wounded and he himself was twice severely wounded in the head. Despite his wounds, alone, he continued to try and force his way through a small gap in the bamboo fence and to throw grenades into the enemy post. Sub Bachan Singh realising that further efforts would prove fruitless ordered the survivors to withdraw.

Naik Hukma Singh immediately took over the Bren Gun from a wounded Sepoy and in a very exposed position under very heavy fire continued to give covering fire until Sub Bachan Singh had dragged back eight wounded men to nearby cover and continued firing the gun until he collapsed from loss of blood and lapsed into unconsciousness.

His great courage and devotion to duty, after being severely wounded, was instrumental in allowing the wounded to be collected thereby enabling supporting fire to be put down, bringing the attack to a successful conclusion.'

Hukma Singh was a Jat Sikh from Gole Wala, Faridkot State.

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Sold for
£4,200

Starting price
£800