Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War Immediate Burma campaign M.C. group of nine awarded to Subadar-Major Wali Dad, Bahadur, M.C., O.B.I., 24th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery

Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated 1945; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Kurdistan (19151 L. Naik Wali Dad. R.A.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (Subdr. Wali Dad, 18 Mtn. Bty.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal, with M.I,.D. oak leaf; India Service Medal; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937, very fine and better (9) £1,500-£2,000

M.C. London Gazette 22 March 1945.

‘Operations at Milestone 139, Tonzang – Tiddim Road 

On 19 September 1944 Subadar Wali Dad, 24 Mountain Regiment Indian Artillery, was attached as Forward Observation Officer with troops of 1-17 Dogra Regiment who were holding a road block at MS 139 on the road Tonzang – Tiddim.  At about 18.00 hrs the position came under heavy and sustained shell fire, and casualties began to mount. Subadar Wali Dad left the safety of his trench and from an exposed position remained in observation of the enemy gun area until he had silenced it with the power of his own guns.

At about 02.00 hrs on the night of 19/20 September the position was subjected to heavy automatic and grenade fire, and Japanese were heard forming up for an assault. Again this VCO was seen moving about in the open and with complete disregard for his own safely, selecting positions from which he could best observe and direct the defensive fire of his guns onto the most threatened points. The attack was repulsed and the success achieved by the road block was due in a large degree to Subadar Wali Dad’s high sense of duty and his skilful handling of the artillery in the face of danger.   

His example of cool courage and complete disregard for personal safety were an inspiration to the men with whom he worked.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 25 October 1940.

Wali Dad, a Punjabi Mussulman, was born during 1902, the son of Nur Din and Mariam from Nithar in Gujrat, Punjab. He later married Said Bibi from his home village of Nithar. 

Wali Dad enlisted into the mountain artillery, a branch of the Royal Artillery, on 8th March 1920 and during the inter-war period served in Kurdistan and later between 1937-39 in Waziristan on the North-West Frontier, serving in 18th Mountain Battery during the widespread disturbances sparked by the Faqir of Ipi. On 1 July 1937 he was promoted Jemadar and was mentioned in despatches for his distinguished service in the field in tribal territory during 1939. He was promoted to Subadar on 1 July 1939.

Serving in the 11th Dehra Dun Battery in the 24th Mountain Regiment, he fought as part of 5th Indian Division during the Burma Campaign, taking part in the Battle of Imphal-Kohima and the later stages of the Battle of Imphal.  On 26 October 1944, he was recommended by Lieutenant-Colonel F. I. Wallace, OC ‪1/17th Dogra Regiment, for the award of a Military Cross for gallantry during the pursuit of the retreating Imperial Japanese Army down the Tiddim Road.

In the Indian Army List for 1947 he is shown as Subadar-Major, Bahadur, M.C., O.B.I., 3 Field Regiment, Royal Indian Artillery, but on 12 May 1947 died while serving with that unit and is remembered with honour on the Dehli/Karachi War Memorials.

Sold with small original photograph including Subadar Major Wali Dad and a letter addressed to his son in April 1958 on the subject of Honours and Awards.