Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. To coincide with the OMRS Convention

An outstanding Burma Gallantry Medal awarded to Naik Bagbir Rana, The Burma Regiment, for exceptional bravery during the Arakan campaign in 1943

Burma Gallantry Medal, G.VI.R. (No. 54133 Naik Bagbir Rana, The Burma Regiment) contained in its fitted presentation case, together with original congratulatory letter from Lieut.-General W. J. Slim, G.O.C. 14th Army, extremely fine and very scarce £2500-3000

B.G.M. London Gazette 3 February 1944; ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma.’

The recommendation states: ‘Was Section Commander of the left forward Section of 14 Platoon during the Japanese attack on the Company position near Seinyinbya, Arakan, Burma, on the night 1st/2nd May 1943. After the Company Command Post had been overrun by Japanese he was informed by a wounded Lance Naik that the Command Post had been overrun and that the other two sections of 14 Platoon had withdrawn. This meant that his Section was now completely cut off and overlooked by the Japanese now in possession of the Company Command Post. Naik Bagbir Rana put the wounded Lance Naik in his own weapon pit and kept his Section in position. He kept the enemy at bay, inflicting many casualties on them until his Bren Gun jammed on the last loaded magazine. He himself was slightly wounded in the right arm from a grenade splinter.

Some enemy were now ten yards from the Section Post and looked like charging. He gave orders to his Section to withdraw and himself remained behind with the wounded Lance Naik to cover them. Four Japanese now charged the Naik’s weapon pit and the first one bayonetted the wounded Lance Naik, but Naik Bagbir Rana got out of his weapon pit, pulled the bayonet out and thrust its holder down the hill. He, then having no ammunition left, gripped his tommy gun by the muzzle and accounted for three more Japanese, but himself received another wound, this time in the chest. Naik Bagbir Rana lifted the wounded man, who was now unable to move by himself, on to his back and carried him through most difficult hill and jungle country to the new Company position, a distance of five furlongs, with Japs liable to show up at any point. On the way the Lance Naik begged the Naik to shoot him so that Naik Bagbir Rana should have a chance of getting back to the Company alive, but the Naik stolidly carried on. The Naik arrived at the Company position at about 1730 hours 2nd May. He had his own wounds dressed and reassumed command of his Section, all of whom had arrived back safely.’

A total of 215 B.G.M.’s (including 3 bars) were gazetted between March 1942 and November 1947. Of these, 68 were to the Burma Regiment including 21 to Gurkha recipients.