British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Defence of Chitral medal to Sepoy Kanh Singh, 14th Sikhs

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Chitral 1895 (2025 Sepoy Kanh Singh, 14 Sikhs) nearly very fine
£1400-1600

Garrison troops present at the defence of Chitral Fort: silver medals to 14 Sikhs (88); 4 Kashmir Rifles (300); Punyal and Gilgit Levies (100); bronze medals to camp followers (40).

Captain Townshend, in his report on the siege, wrote:

"The spirit of the 14th Sikhs was our admiration; the longer the siege lasted the more eager they became to teach the enemy a lesson. There could not be finer soldiers than these men of the 14th Sikhs and they were our sheet anchor in the siege."

Younghusband, in his book Relief of Chitral, wrote:

"It was the discipline ingrained into these men that saved the garrison. As long as a Sikh was on sentry, while Sikhs were holding a threatened point, Captain Townshend had nothing to fear. The enemy would never catch a Sikh off his guard and could never force their way through a post of Sikhs while one remained alive. They saved the garrison and the officers gratefully acknowledged their service."

In recognition of the gallant and successful defence of the fort at Chitral, His Excellency The Viceroy sanctioned a grant of six months' pay to all ranks, while Lieutenant Harley was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and appointed brevet major. Subadar Gurmukh Singh was appointed to the Order of British India and Jemadar Attar Singh and seven men were awarded the Indian Order of Merit for gallantry.