A scarce ‘Central Africa’ Order of Merit pair awarded to Sepoy Hakim Singh, 32nd Bengal Infantry (Sikh Pioneers)

(a) Order of Merit, 3rd Class, the reverse with screw-nut fitting and officially inscribed on three lines ‘3rd Class Order of Merit’, central enamel chipped

(b) Central Africa 1891-98, no clasp, ring suspension (2500 Sepoy Hakim Singh, 32nd Bl. Infy.) repair to ring suspension, therefore nearly very fine or better (2) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Ritchie Collection of H.E.I.C. and British India Medals.

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Order of Merit G.G.O. 614 of 1892. British Central Africa - 1891: ‘The undermentioned non-commissioned officers and men of the Indian Army, who served in the African Military Police under the British Central Africa Administration, were awarded the 3rd Class, for conspicuous gallantry displayed in the expeditions which were undertaken against the Slave-dealing Chiefs in British Central Africa: For conspicuous gallantry in action at the capture and destruction of the stronghold of the Yao Chief Makanjira, on the south-east shore of Lake Nyassa, Central Africa, on the 30th October 1891.’

A total of eight awards of the Order of Merit were made for this engagement.

Sepoy Hakim Singh took part in the operations against Malanje (Chikumbu) in July and August 1891, and against Makanjira in October 1891. The medal roll states that Hakim Singh died on 30 October 1891, the very day that he won his Order of Merit

Refs: WO 100/76; Deeds of Valour performed by Indian Officers and Soldiers (Hypher).