Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British North Borneo Company Medal 1898-1900, 1 clasp, Tambunan, bronze issue (1. Regt. Sergt. Major Tha. Mohamet.) officially engraved naming, nearly extremely fine and rare £1,000-£1,200

Sold with letter of confirmation with further details from K. P. Tabrett, and two copied extracts from The British North Borneo Herald from September and November 1900; the first concerning the murder of Regimental Sergeant Major Tha Mohamet, the second recording the trial and death sentence of his murderer:

‘Sept. 17, 1900. It is with regret that we record the death of the most valued Non-commissioned Officer in the Police Force, Regimental Sergeant Major Tha Mahomet (sic) who was foully murdered at 1 a.m. on the morning of the 6th inst. Tha Mahomet was shot through the head as he lay asleep in the Western Barracks. The rifle could not have been held at a distance greater than a foot from his head the mark of the bullet as it passed through the wall clearly showing that the murderer knelt down at that distance from the victim to do the brutal deed. Tha Mahomet died instantly, his head being completely shattered and almost unrecognisable. Several arrests have been made in connection with this crime, and it is hoped that the perpetrators of it will be detained and brought to justice.’

‘Nov. 16, 1900. Public interest during the last fortnight has been concentrated in the trial of P.C. Meer Abdullah, for the murder of Regimental Sergeant Major Tha Mahomet before Judge Barraut. The defence of prisoner paled before the able summing up of the Public Prosecutor, Captain Harington who brought out all the salient features of the crime and convinced the audience of the prisoner’s guilt. Meer Abdullah was sentenced to death, a judgement that was hailed with satisfaction by all who had carefully followed the case, and had interested themselves with the details and circumstances of the cowardly murder.’