The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

A rare Burma Gallantry Medal awarded to Company Havildar-Major Fateh Khan, 1st Battalion, The Burma Regiment

Burma Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (51038 A./Coy. Havildar-Major Fateh Khan. The Burma Regt.) old lacquer, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £3000-3500

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

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B.G.M. London Gazette 2 August 1945: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’

The original recommendation for the immediate award of the I.D.S.M. states:

‘TAUNGTHA area. Coy Havildar Major Fateh Khan was wounded during the mopping up operation after the seizure of Pt.1788. Despite his wound he personally killed three more Japanese who were survivors and still defending a strongly built building.

During the day the Company on the position were subjected to constant enemy sniping and fire from Grenade Dischargers. Coy Hav. Major Fateh Khan was indefatigable in encouraging those who were digging the defences and in keeping up morale generally. During the night 14/15 March 1945 the position was heavily counter-attacked in considerable strength. It was imperative to ascertain the situation and despite his wound Coy Hav. Major Fateh Khan volunteered to leave his trench and through a hail of enemy Grenade Discharger and Small Arms fire he visited every post on the position. Later it was feared that the enemy had penetrated a part of the Perimeter. Coy Hav. Major Fateh Khan went forward to confirm, he found that this was unfortunately so and personally killed two of the Japanese who had already infiltrated. He exhorted his men to hang on and returned to report the situation to his Coy Commander.

Throughout the 36 hours during which the action lasted and although his wound warranted it, Coy Hav. Major Fateh Khan steadfastly refused that any particular attention be paid to it and displayed a very high degree of initiative, endurance, tenacity and courage of a very high order. Strongly recommended for the immediate award of the I.D.S.M.’

Fateh Khan was a Punjabi Muslim Awan from the village of Khandowa, in the Pind Dadan Khan tehsil, Jhelum district.