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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 290

A scarce 'Mohmand Operations' I.D.S.M. awarded to Subedar-Major M. Bakhsh, 3rd Battalion 2nd Punjab Regiment, a long-served Indian officer who additionally received a 'mention' for the Loe-Agra Operations on the North-West Frontier

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd 'Crowned Head' Type (Subdr. Maj. Maula Baksh, 3-2 Punjab R.), minor official correction to last initial of first name, good very fine

I.D.S.M. G.G.O. 309 of 1936.

M.I.D. G.G.O. 166 of 1936.

Maula Baksh enlisted for service with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Punjab Regiment on 24 May 1909 and rose steadily through the ranks during a career spanning some 27 years: made Jemadar in August 1918 and Subedar in June 1923,. Finally promoted Subedar-Major on 12 June 1934, this rank was the aspiration for any Indian soldier wanting to make a career out of the Army; the Subedar-Major was the most senior Indian rank in the Battalion.

Bakhsh likely received his 'mention' for one of two events during the Loe-Agra Operations between 23 February-13 April 1935, either for his personal participation in a 'well arranged ambush of a sniping party' undertaken by two platoons of the 3rd Battalion, or an attack on a picquet. On the first instance, after an exceptionally detailed reconnaissance that afternoon, the same evening the troops involved (almost certainly with Subedar-Major Bakhsh) left camp to take up their positions. An Official History takes up the story:

'The party was in position by 2030 hours. Owing to the excessive darkness visibility was difficult beyond ten to fifteen yards.

At 2245 hours a party of approximately twenty five enemy snipers came down the track immediately north of the Jindai Khwar from a westerly direction, and it transpired later that there was another party of ten following behind them. The section north of the Khwar opened fire on the leading party at a range of about five yards. This was immediately followed by rapid fire from the remainder of the ambush party. The enemy scattered and taking cover behind rocks and walls began a heavy but futile fire at close range on the ambush party. The firing ceased at 2330 hours, during which time, the enemy collected their casualties. They then moved off to the north west, making much noise and shouting abuse at each other and at the troops.

The enemy losses in this successful affair were one killed and four wounded, of whome two died of their wounds. There were no casualties among the troops.' ('Official History of Operations on the North-West Frontier of India 1920-1935', p. 177, refers).

The second possible occasion is also worth noting in detail: the attack on Kila Hari has been described as 'one of the most ferocious and sustained attacks that was ever inflicted by tribesmen in the history of the North-West Frontier'. The night defence of the Kila Hari post in the Loe-Agra operations of the Nowshera Brigade in April 1935 by a party of the 72nd Punjabis (3/2nd Punjab Regt) is an epic: a small detachment was attacked by an unexpectedly-well-led tribal lashkar of some 1,000 Shamozais. The picquet was almost overwhelmed in the hand-to-hand fighting which involved revolvers, bayonets, stones and knives and lasted an incredible ten hours; this piquet consisted of one rifle company and a machine-gun platoon drawn from the 3/2nd Punjabis. An intelligence report, received during the afternoon of 5 April, stated that a large enemy lashkar had been sighted and was intending to launch an attack on Kila Hari Post from the east, but this report was considered unreliable and not given credence.

The unexpected attack began about 7.30 p.m. when Shamozai swordsmen attempted to rush the machine-gun post. This resulted in severe hand-to-hand fighting, but the tribesmen's attack, although pressed home with considerable ferocity, was beaten back. The enemy made further assaults at approximately 15-minute intervals until midnight, but all were repulsed. At about 9.30 p.m. the lower post on the ridge was heavily attacked, followed by other attacks against other posts which were also beaten off. The tribesmen surrounded the position and kept it under constant fire until just before dawn, when they withdrew. It was then confirmed that during this night attack 28 tribesmen had been killed, and almost certainly a far larger number wounded.

As for Bakhsh's I.D.S.M., the Official History makes no reference to any specific actions by the 3/2nd Battalion during the Mohmand operations, but it is worthy of note that this is a unique award to the Regiment for that campaign; sold together with copied service history extracts, Indian Army lists, Gazette entries, a Compact Disk of copied research, and official histories - also a copy of an article written by the recipient in 1936 for the Duke of Wellington's Regiment journal, entitled: 'Comrades in Arms: Friendship Between British and Indian Troops in Nowshera' ('The Iron Duke', No. 35, October 1936, p.217-218 refers).

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Estimate
£800 to £1,200

Starting price
£750

Sale 23003 Notices
Medal named Bakhsh. 98 of this 'Crowned Head' type issued.