Auction Catalogue

2 April 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1471

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2 April 2003

Hammer Price:
£410

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (26155 Spr. Balouch, Bengal S. & M. Gp. I.E.) officially engraved naming, good very fine £300-400

M.M. London Gazette 16 November 1944. (Burma) The recommendation states: ‘No. 26155 Sapper Balouch was a member of the Sapper pressure charge party which accompanied the assault on Bare Patch, on the Vaona Ridge, after dark on 6 Feb.’44. As the assaulting troops reached the crest of the ridge, they were held up by heavy enemy automatic fire. He, in the forefront of the advance, led the party until it was halted by the platoon commander at the crest of the ridge in order to conform with the assaulting infantry. Their rush had brought the party to the very front, and when consolidation began they dug-in with bush knives on the perimeter immediately opposite the Japs who were strongly entrenched about 50 yards away. Spr. Balouch with his L.M.G. was in the foremost position, and held this position from 20.00 hrs. on the 6th Feb. until about 15.00 hrs. on the 8th when the party withdrew for other work. During this period he was continually subjected to accurate sniping at short range and heavy mortar fire. Maintaining excellent fire discipline, he fired a total of only six magazines in spite of repeated alarms. One particular sniper hit the stones on the parapet of his slit trench three times, until finally at 12.00 on the 8th Sapper Balouch spotted him and finished him off with two well-aimed bursts. Throughout the action and on many other occasions he set a fine example of coolness, steadiness and cheerfulness, which greatly impressed and encouraged the rest of his company.’