A scarce ‘North West Frontier 1930’ M.C. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel G. H. Roberts, 9th Jat Regiment, Indian Army

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (12287 Pte. G. H. Roberts. Shrops: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (2-Lieut. G. H. Roberts) ‘Lieut’ on the last; India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Capt. G. H. Roberts, 119 Infy.) mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £1,200-£1,500

M.C. London Gazette 6 May 1932: ‘For distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with military operations on the North-West Frontier of India during the period October 1930-March 1931 - Captain Gwylym Henry Roberts, 2nd Battalion, 9th Jat Regiment, Indian Army.’

Only three M.Cs. gazetted for North West Frontier in 1932.

Gwylym Henry Roberts was born on 3 August 1896. He served in the ranks of the Shropshire Light Infantry from 3 September 1914 to 24 October 1916. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 25 July 1917, 9th Jat Regiment; Lieutenant, 25 July 1918; Captain, 5 July 1921; Major, 5 July 1935; Lieutenant-Colonel, 5 July 1943. He served in the War 1914-21; France & Belgium 1915-16; Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919; Waziristan 1921-24; North West Frontier 1930.

The following extract is taken from the regimental history of the 2nd (Mooltan) Battalion, Jat Regiment:

‘In August [1930] trouble arose with the Afridis on the North-West Frontier. The Jhansi brigade was ordered to move to Rawalpindi, and the whole brigade had entrained and departed from Jhansi within forty-eight hours of receiving the order. The battalion then found itself back in the Northern Command after an absence of only eight months. It arrived at Rawalpindi on August 16th and stayed there for nearly two months. During this period much training was done in mountain warfare, and the halt enabled all absent personnel to rejoin from leave and furlough.

On October 11th, the Jhansi brigade moved to Peshawar and thence to Bara, which lies seven miles south-west. The battalion moved with the brigade and was eventually encamped in a perimeter camp at Miri Khel on the Khajuri Plain. Here it remained throughout the remainder of the year, building roads and taking part in several minor engagements with the Afridis.

For distinguished services rendered in the field during these operations Captain G. H. Roberts was subsequently awarded the Military Cross and his name, as well as those of Subedar Qaim Din and Sepoy Harbhaj, was brought to the notice of the Commander-in-Chief in India.’