Orders, Decorations and Medals

An unusual Second World War ‘Burma Operations’ D.S.M. group of five awarded to Petty Officer Alyar Khan, Royal Indian Navy, ‘for courage and skill in successfully bombarding a Japanese occupied island’

Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (P.O. Alyar Khan, R. Indian Navy 2358) engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal, M.I.D. oak leaf (loose), these four unnamed, last with some contact marks, about very fine; others good very fine and better (5) £1200-1500

D.S.M. London Gazette 21 March 1944. ‘For courage and skill in successfully bombarding a Japanese occupied island’.

M.I.D. not confirmed.

On 13 November 1943, motor launches ML 439, 441 and 476, set off from Chittagong to carry out a bombardment operation against Japanese positions on Ramree Island (Operation Scare). The launches successfully made their attack and withdrew without damage. However on the morning of the 31st December the homeward bound launches were attacked by some 32 Japanese bombers and fighters. Pressing home their attacks, the small flotilla was sorely pressed. ML 439 was straddled by three bombs and was damaged by splinters. One man, Petty Officer Alyar Khan, was wounded, taking splinter wounds to his neck and legs. Despite his wounds he returned to the Oerlikon gun he had been manning and continued to fire. Just as things were looking desperate for the three small vessels, British fighters appeared on the scene. In the ensuing action, some 13 of the attacking aircraft were shot down, with three more ‘probables’ and several more reported damaged. This timely intervention allowed the motor vessels to return to Chittagong without further ado.

For this action, Acting Lieutenant-Commander Hugh MacDonald Darbyshire, R.I.N.V.R., commander of the ML 439, was mentioned in despatches, and Petty Officer Alyar Khan, R.I.N. was awarded the D.S.M. With copied research.