Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Second War M.M. awarded to Nail Gulrang Shah, 1st Punjab Regiment, for gallantry at Kohima on 18 April 1944: originally recommended for an Immediate Indian Distinguished Service Medal, he never lived to receive his award, dying on 6 May 1944

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (12804 Naik Gulrang Shah, 1 Punjab R.) officially engraved naming, area of erasure after unit, extremely fine £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 5 October 1944.

The recommendation, originally for an Immediate Indian Distinguished Service Medal, states: ‘At Kohima (Assam) on the 18th April 1944, Naik Gulrang Shah, at the head of the leading section of his platoon, led an attack on an enemy occupied hill. Severe opposition was met and the platoon was ordered to withdraw. Under heavy enemy L.M.G. and grenade fire Naik Gulrang Shah engaged the enemy at the top of the hill in order to cover the withdrawal of his platoon. His Tommy gun was shot from his hands, but undeterred he began to methodically grenade the Japs in their trenches. Finally, his grenades exhausted, showing complete contempt for the enemy he lifted his wounded L.M.G. gunner across his shoulders ad carried him down the hill. The gallantry of this N.C.O. brought heart to those who witnessed the incident and his fierce fighting showed the enemy that the spirit of the Kohima Garrison was unimpaired.’

Gulrang Shah, the son of Ghulam Ali Shah, of Chor Kalam, Hazara, India (now Pakistan), served with the 1st Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment during the Second World War, and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry at Kohima on 18 April 1944. He died on 6 May 1944, during which period ‘the 1st Battalion took part in various operations. Between the 4th and 16th May 1944 it took part in an attack and in mopping-up operations in the area around D.I.S. Hill during the course of which a booby trap blew up, killing one naik and wounding Major Dunnett, “D” Company Commander, and four Havildars. Other casualties during this fortnight amounted to 8 killed and 21 wounded.’ (The First Punjabis refers). He is buried in Kohima War Cemetery, India.