Orders, Decorations and Medals

A ‘North West Frontier 1937’ I.D.S.M. pair awarded to Jemadar Shadamir, Tochi Scouts, late North Waziristan Militia

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Jemdr., Tochi Scouts), complete with brooch bar; British War Medal 1914-20 (7240 Sepoy, N. Waz. Mil.) very fine and better (2) £800-900

I.D.S.M. Gazette of India 12 June 1937. ‘... for services rendered during the operations on the North-West Frontier during May 1937’.

The I.D.S.M. is almost ceratinly for the action at Iblanke on 11/12 May 1937. Eight platoons of Scouts, commanded by Captain Jimmy Gimson, Guides Cavalry, led the night advance up the Iblanke Ridge. The objective was to take the Tori Khel Lashkars by surprise. The Scouts occupied the ‘Shoulder-blade Heights’ which were to be held whilst the advance guard - the 2/11th Sikhs, came up.

The North Waziristan Militia was raised in June 1900 by Captain A. F. Davie, 53rd Sikhs, as an armed trans-border militia officered by Indian Army officers on temporary attachment. In April 1922 it became the Tochi Scouts.

Sold with copied research including extracts from ‘Prender’s Progress’ which provides an account of the action at Iblanke.

According to the book, The Indian Distinguished Service Medal, by Rana Chhina only 98 type 2 I.D.S.M’s. were ever awarded.