Auction Catalogue

16 December 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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

Lot

№ 921

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16 December 2003

Hammer Price:
£980

A good Second World War Italy operations M.M. group of eight to Naik K. Gurung, 3/Gurkha Rifles

India, Independence Medal 1947
(3644 W./S. Nk. Kul. Bahahdur Grg., 3 G.R.), re-engraved naming; Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3644 Naik Kulbahadur Gurung, 3 G.R.), officially engraved naming; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, all officially inscribed Indian-style, ‘3644 W./S. Nk. Kulbahadur Gurung, 3 G.R.’ ; Nepal, Coronation Medal, silver, mounted court-style as worn in this order, contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine (8) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 7 December 1944. The immediate recommendation states:

‘On 17 July 1944, in the Gorgacce area, this N.C.O. was in command of a section of three men ordered to raid a house suspected to hold some enemy. While approaching the house the section came under heavy M.G. fire from the flank. Despite this he rushed the house and captured three occupants and two mules. While searching the house he found a wireless set. He considered, however, that he must get the prisoners back. On return to his Company H.Q., he volunteered at once to go out and get the wireless set. On approaching the house he was fired on again from the flank. This time he decided to find out where this M.G. was. Having pinpointed this M.G. he collected the wireless set from the house and returned. The information he brought back was of the greatest assistance to another Battalion, who were due to attack the feature from where the fire was coming.

The coolness and determination of this N.C.O. to carry out his task were outstanding and the information he obtained was of considerable value for further operations.’

Kulbahadur Gurung was serving in 10 Indian Division, part of 10 Corps.