Auction Catalogue

22 September 2000

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 813

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22 September 2000

Hammer Price:
£470

A scarce Post-War ‘Java’ M.M. group of six awarded to Naik Dharam Singh, 17th Dogra Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (7484 Nk., Dogra R.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal; India Service Medal; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46, unnmaed as issued, contact marks, otherwise very fine (6) £400-500


M.M. London Gazette 4 April 1946. The following details are taken from the original recommendation for the immediate award of the I.D.S.M. (M.M. awarded): ‘Operations Soerabaja Nov 45. At Soerabaja, Java, on 24 Nov 45, No. 7484 Nk Dharan Singh was commanding a forward section of “D” Company which was advancing to the line of the Embong Malang Road. At 1245 hrs Nk Dharam Singh was ordered by his Pl Comd to advance along the eastern side of the Toekdjoen Ganjed and to report the exact location of an enemy post situated on the far side of it. Having withdrawn his section behind cover he indicated the position to his Pl Comd thus enabling a tank to come forward and silence it. Nk Dharam Singh then led his section to the far side of the street, but was immediately fired on from another HMG position which had hitherto held its fire and remained undetected. The section was so placed that without crossing the street it was impossible for it to take cover quickly enough to avoid receiving casualties. Nk Dharam Singh immediately charged the position alone, thus causing the enemy’s fire to be directed onto himself, and firing his sten gun from the hip, he killed all the enemy in the post and captured the machine gun. Nk Dharam Singh’s prompt action restored an unpleasant situation and undoubtedly saved his section from receiving heavy casualties.’