An inter-war K.P.M. awarded to Sub.-Inspector Tajuddin, North-West Frontier Police, for his gallantry in tackling a gang of trans-border raiders

King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Tajuddin, Asst. Sub-Insp., N.W.F. Police), contact wear, very fine £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of British Orders, Decorations and Medals formed by the late Fred Rockwood.

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K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1932:

‘On the 13 February 1931, trans-border raiders entered the district and proceeded to rob, in broad daylight, travellers near Surozai, Badaber Police Station. Village pursuit parties kept the gang in sight until it reached a spot a few miles from Urmur where the raiders took up a position in a dry torrent bed. The villagers kept their distance and made no further attempt to capture the gang until the arrival of a small party of Police from the Unnur Additional Police Post, consisting of Assistant Sub-Inspector Tajuddin, Head Constable Nur Akbar, a second Head Constable and seven Foot Constables at about 3.15 p.m. The Sub-Inspector posted four of his Foot Constables on two small hillocks in front of the position and with Head Constable Nur Akbar, two Foot Constables and two villagers went round to the right flank, and, by making use of the protection afforded by the ground, came up in the rear of the raiders. When the party came into view about 30 yards away from the raiders, the latter opened fire severing the sling of a rifle of one of the Foot Constables. The Sub-Inspector left the remainder of the party in this position and, together with Head Constable Nur Akbar, entered the Nulla running parallel to that occupied by the raiders. They made their way cautiously down this Nulla until they were opposite the position of the raiders in the other Nulla, about 6 feet of bank separating them. One of the raiders stood up and fired into this Nulla without hitting the Sub-lnspector or the Head Constable, the latter of whom then devised a plan of hurling stones on to the raiders, who surrendered and were induced to hand over their arms consisting of four .303 rifles, 138 rounds of ammunition, and a dagger.’