Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Syria operations I.D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Sepoy Fazal Rahman, 3-1 Punjab Regiment - ‘both enemy tanks were put out of action and their crews wiped out or captured, by the fearless and gallant use of hand grenades and rifle fire’

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (7889 Sepoy Fazal Rahman, 3-1 Punjab R.), officially impressed naming, complete with riband brooch bar, ; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (7889 Sep. Fazal Rehman, 3-1 Punjab R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally very fine or better (7) £1000-1200

I.D.S.M. London Gazette 30 December 1941. The original recommendation states:

‘In the attack Mezze on the outskirts of Damascus on the night of 18 June 1941, this Sepoy, along with the 2nd-in-command of his Company and one of his comrades, was cut off from the main body by approaching enemy tanks.

This Sepoy showed outstanding bravery and coolness throughout the attack by this party on the two leading tanks. Both enemy tanks were put out of action and their crews wiped out or captured, by the fearless and gallant use of hand grenades and rifle fire. By this action his party was instrumental in causing the remaining enemy tanks to withdraw, thus clearing the front for the continuation of the advance at a time when no anti-tank support was immediately available.

Bu his courage, coolness and gallant conduct at such a critical time, this Sepoy displayed a very high standard of devotion to duty; without the assistance rendered by him to the leader of the party, the attack on the tanks would have proved a failure and the lives of a very large number of his comrades would have been endangered.’

Fazal Rahman was from Hazarawal Tanauli-Lakhata, Abbottabad, in the North-West Frontier Province.