Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Waziristan 1923 operations M.C. group of four awarded to Captain J. H. Pringle, Indian Army, who was attached to the Tochi Scouts at the time of winning his decoration

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed ‘Capt. J. H. Pringle, Tochi Scouts’; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. H. Pringle); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (Lieut. J. H. Pringle, 104 Rfls.), minor official correction to unit on the last, generally good very fine (4) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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Just seven M.Cs were gazetted in 1923 for the Waziristan operations - British Gallantry Awards, by Abbott & Tamplin, refers.

M.C. London Gazette 12 June 1923:

‘At Azdi Khel (Makin) on 9 February 1923, during the withdrawal the enemy were working round the left flank of the Battalion which had become somewhat exposed and had caused several casualties. Captain Pringle at once grasped the situation and with great dash and determination led his company forward and counter-attacked the enemy who were closely following up the retirement to within a range of 50 yards. This officer then seized a position and gallantly held on to it, although exposed to very close and accurate fire from the enemy at short range, until three dead and five wounded men had been evacuated. He then retired, covering the left flank of the withdrawal. The courage, resource and coolness of this officer were of the highest order and his rapidity in grasping the situation and counter-attacking at a critical moment undoubtedly saved the lives of five wounded men, and enabled the retirement to be successfully carried out.’

John Healey Pringle was originally commissioned into the 24th (Service) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, the 1st Tyneside Irish, in August 1915. He subsequently witnessed active service in France and Flanders from January 1916 to March 1917, Army List entries noting that he was wounded in the same period - quite possibly on the Somme on 1 July 1916, when the 1st Tyneside Irish suffered around 620 casualties.

Having next served in the Durham Light Infantry, and been advanced to Captain in August 1916, Pringle transferred to the Indian Army in June 1918, initially, it would seem, with an appointment in the 126th Baluchistan Infantry, although the naming on his India General Service Medal suggests he was attached to the 104th Wellesley’s Rifles by the time of the Mahsud operations. And, as stated above, he was attached to the Tochi Scouts - from the 10th Baluchis - when he won his M.C. at Azdi Khel in early 1923.