Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (5881853 Pte. A. J. Presland. North’n R.) about extremely fine £300-£400

Albert John Presland was born in Tooting, London, on 23 September 1911 and attested for the Northamptonshire Regiment at Kingston-on-Thames on 30 September 1929. He served with the 1st Battalion in India from 14 December 1932, and was killed in action on the Khaisora Valley, on the North West Frontier of India, on 25 November 1936.

The 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment, together with the 1/9th Curkha Rifles, formed the main infantry element of the Razmak Column that was sent to the Khaisora Valley in late November 1936 to exercise the Government of lndia’s right to move troops through this area and quell any trouble that had recently been induced by the Faqir of lpi and the Toro Khel tribe of Wazirs. On 25 November reports were received that the Faqir had gathered a number of tribesmen (Wazirs and Mahsuds) at the village of Biche Kashkai, about 12 miles from the column at Damdil Camp. The Column was ordered to move to Biche Kashkai immediately. By midday the column had marched many miles up through the Kashkai river valley, but tribesmen had been spotted and had been engaged by artillery and machine guns. At this point the terrain became very narrow, with steep cliffs either side of the river and "A" company of the Northamptons, were ordered forward to set up piquets as the column advanced. Upon reaching the village of Dakai Kalia, the enemy were shelled out of the village, and the piqueting was taken up by "C" Company.

It was while establishing no. 6 piquet under Lieutenant R. F .H. Philpot-Brookes, on the far side of Dakai Kalia, that Private Presland was killed at about 15.30 hours. Another Private of the same piquet was wounded, and a further 8 men were wounded throughout the day, with the objective of Biche Kashkai not being reached until the following day. Presland was the first of only three killed in actions that the battalion suffered during the entire campaign of 1936-37. He was buried with full military honours at the local cemetery at Bannu, Peshawar.

Sold with a fine photograph album compiled by the recipient, with scenes of India and photographs of other soldiers of the Regiment; and copied research.