Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 2nd type, 2nd Class, Reward of Valor, silver and enamel, concave reverse inscribed in four lines, ‘2nd Class / Order / of / Merit’, no manufacturer’s name, additionally inscribed, ‘No. 1194 Naik Lal Khan, 2-19th Punjabis’, lacking buckle, two slight cuts to rays, otherwise very fine £450-550

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

View
Collection

'No. 1194 Naik Lal Khan, 19 Punjabis (attached 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)) for conspicuous gallantry on the 8th March 1916, when he fought with magnificent courage in the enemy's trenches. He was one of a party who met the hostile bombers and held them back while their own supply of grenades lasted, though attacked from both sides. With one of their officers they were the last of their company to leave the enemy's trenches. During the retirement the officer was wounded and these men refused to leave him and brought him in under heavy fire and at great risk of capture.' Notification by the Government of India in the Military Department, No. 1387 of 1916. With copied citation.