The Durand Medal for 1924 awarded to Subadar-Major Ishar Singh, Bengal Sappers and Miners

Durand Medal, annual award for 1924, obverse bust of Major General Sir H. M. Durand, K.C.S.I., C.B., R.E.; reverse the towers and walls of the fort at Ghuznee, named on the edge (Subadar-Major Ishar Singh, I.D.S.M., K.G.O. Bengal Sappers & Miners 1924) 64mm., bronze, with large ring for suspension, contained in its original fitted presentation case, suspension ring a little out of shape, otherwise good very fine and scarce £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Awards to the Indian Army from the Collection of AM Shaw.

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Ex Brian Ritchie Collection, 2 March 2005.

It would appear that Ishar Singh’s medal has been named in error with the post-nominal ‘I.D.S.M.’ for he never received such an award. There was in the regiment, however, a more junior man by the name of ‘Isher Singh’, who became Subadar in May 1923, and received the I.D.S.M. for Mesopotamia as a colour havildar in August 1917.

The Subadar-Major entered the Indian Army on 28 January 1896, and was first commissioned on 1 July 1913. In August 1915 he was appointed ‘Indian Adjutant’, and was advanced to Subadar in July 1917. He appears to have been appointed Subadar-Major sometime during 1922-23 and to have retired, or died, sometime before the end of 1924. His war services are consistently summarised as simply “Tochi F.F. 1897-98” in all the Indian Army List Supplements up to January 1924.

Ref: Indian Army Lists.