Orders, Decorations and Medals

A scarce South East Asia 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, unnamed as issued, nearly very fine (6)

M.M. London Gazette 4 April 1946. The following recommendation was extracted from official records: ‘At SOERABAJA JAVA on 24 Nov. 45 No. 7484 Nk Dharan Singh was commanding a fwd sec of D Coy which was advancing to the line of the Embong Malang Rd. At 1245 hrs Nk Dharam Singh was ordered by his Pl Comd to adv along the Eastern side of the Toekdjoen Ganjed and to report the exact location of an enemy position so that tanks could be brought fwd to deal with it. It was while attempting to cross a side street that Nk Dharam Singh’s sec came under heavy machine gun fire from an enemy post situated on the far side of it. Having withdrawn his sec behind cover he indicated the position to his Pl Comd thus enabling a tank to come fwd and silence it.

Nk Dharam Singh then led his sec 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 recrossing 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 fore 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.’

Originally recommended for an Immediate I.D.S.M. but downgraded by Lt-Gen M. C. Dempsey, C-in-C Allied Land Forces, S.E. Asia, to an Immediate M.M.