Orders, Decorations and Medals

A ‘Samana 1897’ I.O.M. awarded to Sepoy Gurmukh Singh, 36th Sikhs

Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 1st type, 3rd Class, Reward of Valor, silver and enamel, the reverse with screw nut fitting and inscribed in three lines ‘3rd/Class/Order of Merit’ and additionally privately inscribed ‘No. 1201 Sepoy Gurmukh Singh 36th Sikhs), lacking ribbon buckle and enamel loss to centre, good fine £1200-1500

I.O.M. G.G.O. 133 of 1898.

‘For conspicuous gallantry at Fort Cavagnari, on the Samana Hills, on the 3rd September 1897, on which occasion on the enemy setting fire to a thorn obstacle surrounding the horn-work of the fort, they went out unarmed under a heavy fire and extinguished the flames.’

On 3 September 1897, several thousand tribesmen attacked Fort Cavagnari, held by 175 men of the 36th Sikhs. The enemy held positions within 150 yards of the fort and twice managed to set fire to the thorn hedge, a vital defence against a sudden rush. On each occasion volunteers from the garrison rushed out under heavy fire and extinguished the blaze. The garrison inflicted such heavy losses on the enemy that they abandoned the attack. They returned for a second attempt on the night of 4 September but without success, and then withdrew for several days.

Sepoy Gurmukh Singh was slightly wounded by a gun-shot to the head during the subsequent fighting on 13/14 September. Sold with some research and further details of the subsequent defence of Fort Cavagnari.