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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 387

An outstanding Burma Operations M.C. group of six awarded to Subedar Major Nagina Ram, 10th Baluch Regiment, whose career spanned a quarter of a century

Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1946'; India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Mohmand 1933, North West Frontier 1935 (13349 Sep. Nagina Ram, 5-10 Baluch R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War and India Service Medals 1939-45, good very fine (6)

M.C. London Gazette 17 January 1946. The original recommendation states:

'During the period under review (16 February-16 May 1945), the work, good influence and example of this VCO has been of the very highest order.

The Company of which he is Second in Command has been singularly unlucky in having had very high casualties among Platoon Commanders and Senior NCOs. The Company has been heavily diluted by a class not normally enlisted and who were considered to be of inferior quality to the Dogra Brahmans.

The example and drive of this VCO has maintained the morale of the Company at an extremely high pitch and has welded two opposite classes into one excellent fighting team.

On two occasions this Officer has Commanded the Company with distinction on 6 March 1945 at Pinle-In during the move to Sabatha this Officer was in Command of the advance Guard Company. A party of 15-20 enemy, who had previously successfully ambushed a RE reconnaissance party, opposed the advance from relatively strong positions in Nalas running across the line of march.

On three separate occasions this Officer by bold and resolute handling of his Company evicted the enemy and allowed the advance to be carried out without any undue delay.

At Shwegyin, N.E. of Mandalay on 8 March 1945, this Officer was in Command of the Company ordered to relieve the forward Company, after having suffered heavy casualties.

The nature of the country was such that deployment was difficult and entailed crossing flooded paddy fields in full view and under fire of the enemy occupying the northern slopes of Mandalay Hill. This Officer carried out this operation with resolution and dash and remained in position until after dark covering the deployment of the Regiment which eventually occupied Mandalay Hill.

Throughout this Officer has been by his example and devotion to duty an inspiration to all who work with him and is responsible for the very fine morale and fighting qualities of his Company.'

Nagina Ram, a Dogra Brahman from Kangra, Punjab, enlisted in the 10th Baluch Regiment on 11 February 1931 and served with the 5th Battalion in the Mohmand and on the North West Frontier (Medal & 2 clasps). His unit did not continue to serve on the North West Frontier during the 1936-39 campaign.

Commissioned Jemadar on 15 August 1941 and advanced Subedar on 1 September 1942, he earned his M.C. whilst with 'C' Company and shared in their famous actions in Burma. The Regimental History gives more detail to the action of 6 March 1945:

'Subedar Nagina Ram, Commanding 'C' Company, cleared up the mess in a series of running fights. In one of the outflanking movements which delayed the Column, a patrol sent out from the line of march came across an abandoned enemy hospital, a grisly group of huts stuffed with papers, bones and charred flesh and used bandages. It was evening before the Column reached Yenatha where 62 Brigade showed them their portion of the perimeter. It was too dark to make a proper survey and positions hastily allotted and hastily occupied by the weary men. All though the enemy sent its 'jitter' parties to harrass and annoy. Writing nearer the time and occasion Colonel Prince described this night in soldierly language:

"We had a pretty bloody night, not knowing where we were much. The Nip was pretty active most of the night lobbing grenade dischargers into the camp."'

With the partition of India, his unit fell geographically into the new Pakistani Army. As a high class Dogra, he elected to transfer to the Dogra Regiment, whom he joined in 1951. Subedar Major by 1953, at the National Defence Academy at Dehra Dun, he was still serving at the Kharakvasla National Defence Academy by December 1955; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£1,600 to £2,000

Starting price
£1500