A fine Second World War Italy operations M.M. group of five awarded to Naik Mohd Sadiq, 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment - having led a charge across a canal bridge, and run out of ammunition, he forced the surrender of a brace of German Spandau gunners by hitting them with his Tommy gun

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (19042 Nk. Mohd Sadiq, Punjab R.), officially impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, the first with officially corrected unit, test mark at 9 o’clock and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine or better (5) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bahadur Collection of Medals to Sikh Regiments.

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Just 20 men of the 8th Punjab Regiment were awarded the M.M. in the 1939-45 War, around ten of them for Italy.

M.M. London Gazette 23 August 1945. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘On the night of 10-11 April 1945, ‘A’ Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment took part in the attack on the strongly held Scolo Tratturo, a canal, just west of the Senio river. As soon as ‘A’ Company had secured its objective, the enemy counter-attacked on the extreme right flank with approximately ten men in an attempt to destroy a footbridge. The men in the immediate vicinity of the bridge were pushed back, so Naik Mohd Sadiq, commanding the section holding this area, together with two other men of his section, charged across the bridge firing as they went. This sudden charge upset the enemy plan, one Spandau party thereupon taking up position in a nearby trench and the remainder being cleared from the bridge. To prevent a second attempt to destroy the bridge, Naik Mohd Sadiq left two men to guard it while he alone stalked the enemy Spandau which was by then firing on the bridge area. Having got close to the post, he rushed it firing his T.S.M.G. and killing the enemy gunner. His ammunition then ran out so he threw two grenades he had with him, thereby killing a second. The two remaining Germans tried to run away but Naik Mohd Sadiq determined to finish the job and ran after them and by hitting them with his T.S.M.G. induced them to surrender. This Naik’s devotion to duty and courage prevented the enemy from destroying the bridge and prevented them from establishing themselves on ‘A’ Company’s right flank, where they would undoubtedly have caused ‘A’ Company heavy casualties. His example and complete disregard for his own safety were an inspiration to all ranks.’