A Second War ‘Burma’ theatre M.M. awarded to Lance-Naik Mohd Ajaib, 8th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (44353 L. Naik. Mohd Ajaib. I.A.) naming rubbed, suspension claw re-pinned, edge bruising and contact marks, therefore good fine £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery.

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M.M. London Gazette 14 November 1944. The recommendation states:

‘Marked gallantry in action.
On 7 July 44 at LAMBUI Lance Naik MOHD AJAIB was the maintenance signaller on the O.P. telephone line. The H.Q. 1 Devon, where the O.P. was located, was severely shelled for some hours and the telephone line was cut by shell fire 4 or 5 times in an hour. L/Naik MOHD AJAIB with disregard for his personal safety and undeterred by the shell fire continually repaired the line and kept communication through. Returning to the O.P. after repairing the line he found that his Battery Commander had been taken to the Regimental Aid Post being wounded by shell fire. Realising that it was important for his B.C. to pass information or orders L/Naik MOHD AJAIB of his own initiative at once extended the line to the R.A.P. His bravery under shell fire and his resourcefulness set an excellent example to the signallers of the battery. As a result of L/Naik MOHD AJAIB’s gallant work the Bde Comd was able to pass orders to Bn Comd over the Artillery telephone line at a time when there was no other means of communication between them.’

Mohd Ajaib was a Punjabi Muslman from the village of Rawat, Murree, Rawalpindi. He served as a Lance-Naik (Signaller) in the 8th Indian Mountain Battery, 23 Indian Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery.