Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare North West Frontier ‘casualty’ I.G.S. to Private O. Whawell, Royal Tank Corps, who was shot by a disaffected Khassadar (local tribal policeman) on 2 November 1931

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (7879841 Pte., R. Tank C.); together with original named card box of issue, extremely fine and a scarce casualty £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Tank Corps formed by the late Bill Green.

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Owen Payne Whawell died on 2 November 1931, aged 21, of gunshot wounds to the stomach, at the Combined Indian Military Hospital, Wana, Waziristan, North-West Frontier Province.

Prvate Whawell was driver of a lorry of the 7th Armoured Car Company, charged with carrying Lieutenant T. M. Synge, who was returning from a few days leave. On this journey they stopped to take a photograph and were both shot by a disaffected Giga Khel Mahsud, acting as a Khassadar (local tribal policeman), who seized his rifle and shot both men from behind at about ten yards range. Both men succumbed to their wounds shortly afterwards.