Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Gothic Line immediate M.M. group of ten awarded to Havildar M. Ashfar, Pakistan Army, late 15th Punjab Regiment

Pakistan Independence Medal 1947; Pakistan General Service, 1 clasp, Kashmir 1948; Pakistan National Day Medal; Military Medal, G.VI.R. (11722 Hav. Mohd. Ashraf, 15 Punjab R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953, the M.M. with edge bruise and somewhat polished, thus about very fine, the remainder very fine and better (10) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 8 March 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘On 12 September 1944, Havildar Mohd. Ashfar was commanding No. 3 Platoon which had been ordered to capture Monte Citerna. During the evening the platoon was held up by wire and enemy machine-guns and could not get forward till after dark. By midnight, in spite of several determined attempts, the platoon had been unable to make progress owing to barbed wire, enemy machine-guns, grenades, the steepness of the hill and darkness of the night. Havildar Mohd. Ashfar was then ordered to take his platoon further round the right while No. 1 Platoon attacked at the same time from the left.

Havildar Mohd. Ashfar immediately set off again and this time succeeded in capturing the enemy position shortly before dawn, after an exhausting and gruelling struggle in pitch darkness against an enemy strongly entrenched behind barbed wire on an exceptionally steep hill more than 500 feet high and thickly covered with scrub. During this attack five enemy were captured and two killed while the rest bolted leaving behind a number of machine-guns and other weapons.

During this operation, Havildar Mohd. Ashfar showed the greatest endurance, determination and tenacity; without his inspiring leadership in the face of very great difficulties his platoon could never have reached the top of the hill, and the capture of such a commanding and well prepared position by day would have been most costly and difficult.’

Mohd. Ashfar was serving in 3/15 Punjab Regiment, part of 21 Indian Infantry Brigade, 8 Indian Division, 13 Corps, at the time of the above deeds. Recommended by his C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel P. R. MacNamara, for an immediate award of the I.D.S.M., General Alexander, the C.-in-C., Allied Central Mediterranean Force, ultimately approved an M.M.

The 15th Punjabis participated in a number of important actions in Italy, including “Cassino II”, but for sheer physical courage the storming of the enemy positions on Monte Citerna was among their most impressive, the ‘Punjabi Mussalmans’, in the opinion of one officer, having ‘opened with a magnificent innings.’

The recipient’s surname is Ashraf, not Ashfar