Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Second World War Syria operations I.D.S.M. group of six awarded to Subadar Muhammad Alam Khan, 3-1 Punjab Regiment, who was wounded in the same operations and killed in action in Italy in August 1944

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (10814 Hav. Mohd. Alam Khan, 3-1 Punjab R.), with upper brooch bar for wearing, officially impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally very fine (6) £700-900

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

‘On 19 June 1941, the Battalion launched an attack to gain the heights on the South-West of Mezze. During the attack, H.Q. Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from an enemy pill-box, and further advance was made impossible because of lack of cover. Havildar Mohd. Alam Khan, with his party, charged the pill-box under very heavy M.G. fire. When within 30 yards of the pill-box, they used hand grenades and their anti-tank rifles and silenced the enemy M.G. fire.

Though Havildar Mohd. Alam Khan’s party suffered 50% casualties, with his excellent leadership and most inspiring example they knocked out one of the enemy strong points of resistance.’

Muhammad Alam Khan, who was from Kashmir, was wounded in Syria on 23 February 1941, prior to his I.D.S.M.-winning exploits at Mezze that June.

In mid-1941 the situation of the Allies in Syria under the country’s Vichy French administration was fast deteriorating and, after the fall of Crete, there were fears that the country would become a springboard for reinforcing the German military presence in the Middle East. The capture of Damascus was seen as the key to securing Syria for the Allies, and the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was despatched from Irbid in Transjordan. The 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment (3/1 P.R.) made up part of the force.

In June a night assault by 3/1 P.R. on the strongly defended village of Kissoue, 15 miles south of Damascus, took the Vichy forces by surprise. Subsequent mopping up operations at dawn the following day flushed out several of the enemy hiding up to their necks in the river that ran to a depth of 5ft. through groves and orchards.

A counter-attack by a Vichy battalion, supported by tanks and heavy artillery, was repulsed due, in great extent, to skilful use of anti-tank weapons. From Kissoue, Allied forces pressed on towards Damascus in pitch darkness spasmodically lit by intense artillery shelling, and it was during this advance that Alam Khan distinguished himself in the fierce engagement at Mezze on 19 June 1941.

The regimental history describes all of the above actions - the ferocity of which led to the award of five M.Cs, four I.O.Ms and 20 I.D.S.Ms; so, too, to heavy casualties - 19 other ranks were killed, 96 wounded and 92 posted as missing.

Muhammad Alam Khan was himself killed in action in Italy on 3 August 1944, aged 31 years.

Sold with an original message notifying the recipient’s next of kin that he had rejoined his regiment after being wounded in Syria on 23 February 1941, together with a photograph of him in uniform.