The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

An India General Service Medal awarded to Sepoy Partab Singh, 14th Ferozepore Sikh Regiment of Bengal Infantry, who was awarded the I.O.M. 3rd Class for his bravery in the defence of Chitral, in which siege he was wounded

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Chitral 1895 (Sepoy Partab Singh, 14th Bl. Infy.), nearly extremely fine £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Collection

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

Partab Singh received a gunshot wound on 24 March 1895, on which date Captain C. V. F. Townshend noted that the enemy ‘fired into the fort today from the hill sangars.’ He was subsequently awarded the India Order of Merit 3rd Class (with effect from 17 April 1895).

Captain Townshend also noted in his report on the siege:

‘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 seven men were awarded the Indian Order of Merit for gallantry, including Partab Singh.

Regimental number is 1252. A second Partab Singh (regimental number 1804) was also in the defence. Both men were wounded but only 1252 Partab Singh received the IOM