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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 59

The rare General Service Medal awarded to Sepoy D. Chand, 5th Jat Regiment, who was killed in action on 9 December 1945 in Java during the South-East Asia campaign; his Battalion had only just arrived on the island when they were ambushed on the Bandoeng Road whilst carrying supplies to the 3/3rd Gurkha Rifles

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S. E. Asia 1945-46 (30998 Sep. Dip Chand, 5 Bn., Jat R.), very fine

The Fighting Cock by Lieutenant Colonel A. J. F. Doulton takes up the story of the convoy:

'Shortly after their arrival the 5/9th were detailed to protect an up convoy from Buitenzorg to Bandoeng carrying supplies to the 3/3 Gurkha Rifles. Previously convoys had been subject to desultory sniping, but this was nothing to the battle the 5/9th would find themselves in on 9th December 1945. The convoy began its way up the steep climb into the hills. The leading vehicles were soon halted by a roadblock. The hillside was alive with Indonesians many dug into fox holes, Japanese style. From these entrenched positions they hurled a seemingly endless supply of Molotov cocktails onto the vehicles below.

The 5/9th had the unenviable task of fighting out an ambush with an unseen enemy commanding the road and the surrounding high ground. With their men spread out over 8 miles of road.

The convoy suffered a total of 24 dead and many more wounded, the Jats showed great dash and determination in their defence. L/Naik Dip Chand was one of those who lost his life on the Bandoeng Road on the 9 December 1945'.

Dip Chand was the son of Sheo Lal and Budan, of Mondoura, Rohtak, India and husband of Faturi, of Mondoura. He is commemorated upon the Singapore Memorial.


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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£110