Auction Catalogue

2 December 2009

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 95

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2 December 2009

Hammer Price:
£4,000

A rare Burma Gallantry Medal group of four awarded to Ambulance-Sepoy Saw Tha Nyunt, 77 Field Ambulance, Burma Hospital Corps

Burma Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (1356 Amb.-Sepoy Saw Tha Nyunt, Burma Hospital Corps.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star, War Medal, these last three unnamed as issued, very fine (4) £3000-3500

B.G.M. London Gazette 22 March 1945.

The recommendation states: ‘On 25th June 1944 at about 1100 hours, No. 1406 Amb/Sepoy Saw Shwe Tha Tay, B.H.C., and three others of the same unit were pulling a boat loaded with unit stores and equipment up one of the major rapids on the Dhaleswari river at Darayal Chara. They were on the left rocky bank of the river and below them was a 50 feet drop. The force of the rapid was so strong that these men were dragged off their foot-holds. As the result, Saw Shwe Tha Tay fell headlong into the rapids and was swept unconscious into a deep whirl-pool nearby.

No. 1356 Amb/Sepoy Saw Tha Nyunt, B.H.C., with complete disregard to personal danger, immediately plunged into the whirl-pool and saved his comrade from drowning.’

Saw Tha Nyunt was originally recommended for an Albert Medal but was awarded the Burma Gallantry Medal ‘as action took place in forward area in proximity [of the] enemy’.