Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare I.O.M. pair for gallantry at Kisungale, on Lake Nyassa, awarded to Havildar Jhanda Singh, 32nd Sikh Pioneers

Indian Order of Merit, Military Division, 1st type, 3rd Class, Reward of Valor, silver and enamel, the reverse inscribed on three lines ‘3rd Class Order of Merit’, lacking ribbon buckle, test cut to reverse of one point of star; Central Africa 1891-98, ring suspension, no clasp (1179 Havr. Jhanda Singh, 32d Bl. Infy.) officially engraved naming, minor correction to naming, otherwise good very fine and rare (2) £1400-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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Indian Order of Merit G.G.O. No. 614 of 1892. British Central Africa - 1891: The undermentioned non-commissioned officers and men of the Indian Army, who served in the African Military Police under the British Central Africa Administration, were awarded the 3rd Class, for conspicuous gallantry displayed in the expeditions which were undertaken against the Slave-dealing Chiefs in British Central Africa:

No. 1179 Naik (Havildar in the British Central African Police) Jhanda Singh, 32nd Bengal Infantry (Pioneers) ‘For conspicuous gallantry in action at Kisungale on Lake Nyassa, Central Africa, during the period from the 15th to the 21st December, 1891, after the death of the late Captain C. M. Maguire, in defending and eventually floating the S.S. Domira which for seven days lay aground under a heavy and continuous fire, within fifty yards of the stronghold of the Yao Chief Makanjira; and subsequently in the defence of Fort Johnson, on the right bank of the Shire River against Makanjira's allies’.

In 1891 Captain Maguire was killed at Kisungale covering the retreat of his men to a boat. When attacked by a large hostile force, he remained on land until the last, and was then shot while swimming out to the boat which was waiting off shore for his party. 4 awards of the Order of Merit were given for this action.

Another Central Africa medal is known named to this recipient, sold by Spink on 1 May 2003 (lot 832). It is named ‘1179 Naick Jhanda Singh, 32nd Bl. Infy’. The difference in rank should be noted