A good Second World War Italy operations I.D.S.M. awarded to Acting Naik Shera Khan, 3-1 Punjab Regiment - with all of his officers and 60% of his company casualties, and himself severely wounded by a mine, he nonetheless continued the advance and consolidated the captured position

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (13741 Sep. (A.-Nk.) Shera Khan, 3-1 Punjab R.), officially impressed naming, contact marks and polished, nearly very fine £600-800

I.D.S.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘In the initial stages of the attack on C. Colombara on the night of 14-15 December 1944, ‘D’ Company (Hazarawals) suffered the loss of all its officers and two thirds of its men due to enemy mortar fire and mines.

Acting Naik Shera Khan, a section commander in one of the attacking platoons, seeing his Platoon Commander killed, his Platoon Havildar seriously wounded and several other of his comrades become casualties, immediately took command of the remnants of his platoon. Rallying the men he rapidly re-formed them and, in the face of heavy enemy shell fire, continued the advance towards the objective; when almost within assaulting distance he himself stepped on an enemy anti-personnel mine sustaining severe injuries to both legs. Completely disregarding his wounds he led the platoon into the assault onto their objective. The position being captured, Acting Naik Shera Khan conducted the consolidation and not until this was completed would attend to his injuries. Refusing any aid from other members of his small force who could be ill spared from their allotted positions, he sat down and dressed his wounds himself. By this time he was so weak from loss of blood that he could not rise to his feet. Then only would he allow himself to be evacuated.

That his much depleted platoon, under the most adverse conditions accomplished the task allotted to it, was wholly attributable to the high sense of duty and outstanding leadership of this N.C.O.. His personal courage and endurance was beyond all praise.’

Shera Khan was from Nangrial, Abbottabad, in Hazara. Sold with copied Sanad ‘for gallantry in the World War, 1939-45’.