Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A King’s Police Medal pair awarded to Head Constable Gulab Shah, Zhob and Loralai Police

King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (Gulab Shah, Hd. Const., Zhob & Loralai Police); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Hd. Cnsble. Gulab Shah, Police Dept.) good very fine (2) £300-350

K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1916; the following citation was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary of the same date:

‘Baluchistan - Gulab Shah, mounted head constable. At Fort Sandeman on the 14th August 1914, ex-head constable Sher Singh after being dismissed from the police got possession of a Pathan’s rifle and a number of rounds of ammunition and attempted to shoot sub-inspector Sundar Singh. He fired at the sub-inspector and missed and then ran to the bazaar where he wounded a local Pathan who died from the effects of the wound. The offender then ran and took cover in a sangar on the hill behind the police rifle butts, and opened fire on the police who were pursuing him. Gulab Shah and seven other policemen ran to cover within 70 yards of where Sher Singh was hiding. Gulad Shah was not content to lie down as soon as he reached cover, but with great gallantry crept up to within 28 yards of the murderer, then stood up, challenged him and took him prisoner. Had Sher Singh’s rifle been loaded at the time he was challenged, Gulab Shah would certainly have lost his life. His brave act secured the surrender of Sher Singh without further bloodshed.’