Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

Defence of the British Legation, Addis Ababa 1936, large silver medal, 53 mm, the obverse with struck inscription ‘Presented to the British Legation Guard by the British Communities at Addis Ababa to commemorate services rendered 2nd to 6th May 1936’, the reverse with struck Arabic inscription and additionally engraved with recipient’s details ‘10604 Sep Harnam Singh’, with ring for suspension, good very fine and very rare £350-450

Approximately 156 of these medals were awarded to members of the British Legation Guard for services rendered during the outbreak of armed violence and rioting in May 1936 which preceded the occupation of Addis Ababa by Italian forces. The majority of the military personnel, including Sepoy Harnham Singh, belonged to the 5-14th Punjab Regiment, but there were, in addition, 1 Duffadar and 8 Sowars of the 8th Light Cavalry, and four members of the Indian Medical Service. Sold with full research.