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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 190

'A fine figure of a man and an excellent type of Yusufzai Pathan...a very trustworthy and reliable man with great personal charm; certainly one of our best Indian Officers.'

So recalled Brigadier Macnamara, who served with Shah half a century prior.

An inter-War I.D.S.M. awarded to Subadar Barkat Shah, 5/12th (Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides) Frontier Force Regiment, decorated for two daring intelligence patrols at the height of the 'Red Shirt rebellion'

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Subdr. Barkat Shah. 5-12 F.F.R.), good very fine

I.D.S.M. Gazette of India 23 January 1932:

'For specially meritorious service on the North-West Frontier during 1930-31.'

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 September 1933:

'For distinguished Services rendered during the military operations in connection with the Chitral Reliefs, period September-October 1932.'

Barkat Shah was a Yusufzai Pathan hailing from Mardan. Shah followed his family into joining the Corps of Guides in August 1910 and served during the Great War, firstly against the Mohmands in 1915, before transferring to the Western Front and Iraq. Promoted Havildar by 1921, he was awarded a Jangi Inam and made Jemadar in October 1921 and Subadar in June 1927. It was during the uprising that in June 1930, with Lieutenant-Colonel Sandeman, Shah and several other ranks from the Guides went by lorry up to the Yusufzai country to collect intelligence on the movements of the Red Shirts. A eight day patrol gathered much important information which was in employed during the campaign.

The unit remained active the following year, taking over posts in the Khajuri plain in April 1931, being returned to Shagai in July. August saw Shah, together with Lieutenant Maynell (who himself won the Victoria Cross in 1935), make another patrol in the Mardan area, being rewarded with his I.D.S.M. for these two daring missions. He last appeared in the Indian Army List of August 1934, finished up Honorary Subedar-Major and received the Indian Title in 1936.

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Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£450