Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An outstanding Second War ‘Burma operations’ Immediate M.C., Immediate I.D.S.M. group of six awarded to Jemadar Qaim Shah, 4th Battalion (Sikhs), 12th Frontier Force Regiment

Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated 1945; Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (10391 Hav. Qaim Shah, 4-12 F.F.R.) complete with top suspension brooch; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal, on contemporary wearing bar, the I.D.S.M. removed from a display frame with consequent severe damage to reverse centre (6) £1,200-£1,600

M.C. London Gazette 24 May 1945 (Burma).

The original recommendation for an Immediate M.C. states:

‘Action at NYAUNGKAYA on 4th MARCH 1945.
On 4th March 1945 Jemadar Qaim Shah was in command of the leading platoon, embussed, of a force ordered to make a wide sweep of the area of the landing ground east of MEIKTILA as far as KONDAUNG.
On approaching the village of NYAUNGKAYA the leading truck in which Jemadar Qaim Shah was leading the column, was heavily fired upon by enemy automatics and mortars and it was apparent that the village was held up by at least a company of the enemy. Jemadar Qaim Shah immediately debussed his platoon and personally directed them to positions on the ground, which out in the front of the village was open and bare cultivation. Six of his men were shot down at once but no thought of any thing but attacking the enemy entered Jemadar Qaim Shah’s mind, and he at once prepared to attack. At this juncture the No 1 of his 2” mortar was knocked out, but without hesitation Jemadar Qaim Shah manned it himself, while the platoon deployed, and actually silenced the
enemy mortars that had previously pinned down the men. He then led his platoon in to the attack, but it was not till many hours later, after an artillery concentration and the arrival of a troop of tanks from MEIKTILA area, that the enemy fire was finally silenced. Throughout these hours of hard fighting in the open, against the enemy entrenched and under cover, and surrounded by snipers, Jemadar Qaim Shah never gave an inch of ground, and his stubborn determination to beat the Jap was the deciding factor which enabled the deployment of the rest of the column to proceed, and valuable time to be gained until the arrival of the troop of tanks, and the final assault .
Forty five enemy dead were counted as a result of this action, and the major credit for this success must go to Jemadar Qaim Shah, whose fine leadership and dauntless courage so inspired his men that the enemy were at first held, and finally liquidated. His actions on this day are worthy of the highest traditions of the service.’

I.D.S.M. London Gazette 22 June 1944 (Burma).

The original recommendation for an Immediate I.D.S.M. states:

‘Chin Hills 24 March 1944
“B” Coy 4 FFR plus one platoon “C” Coy attached was ordered to advance towards Point-6027 while an attack was being put in from two other directions.
O.C “C” Coy ordered Havildar Qaim Shah to cross an open piece of ground swept by enemy fire to go and contact O.C  “A” Coy who was putting in an attack. Havildar Qaim Shah led his men across and succeeded in liaising with O.C “A” Coy who put in an attack but was forced to withdraw and reorganise.
Havildar Qaim Shah and twenty men were left underneath the enemy position, some ten yards from the enemy position. By skillful use of his weapons he succeeded in killing a large number of enemy, he kept them occupied while “A” Coy took up their new position. The enemy counterattacked strongly but were driven back and by the prompt action of this Havildar the enemy was forced out of at least three of his trenches and those not killed were seen running over the top of the hill.
By the determined leadership and courage of this platoon commander the enemy were not able to take the initiative and were successfully ringed in by the remainder of the attacking force.’

The 4/12th Battalion F.F. Regiment was the Divisional Headquarters Battalion in 17th Indian Division in March 1944. On 24 March 1944 it was involved in the withdrawal under heavy attack of 17th Indian Division up the Tiddim Road to safety on the Imphal Plain. The Battalion was engaged at the time of the award holding off an enemy detachment which was attempting to cut into the road between 48th and 63rd Indian Infantry Brigades.