The Bahadur Collection of Medals to Sikh Regiments

A scarce Second World War Italy operations M.M. awarded to Havildar Murti Sing Rawat, 3rd Battalion, 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles, whose bold and skilful leadership resulted in the clearance of an enemy held village

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5393 Hav. Murti Sing Rawat, 18 R. Garh. Rif.), officially engraved naming, light contact marks and edge nicks, very fine and better £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bahadur Collection of Medals to Sikh Regiments.

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Just 19 men of the 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles were awarded the M.M. in the 1939-45 War, nine of them for Italy.

M.M. London Gazette 26 April 1945. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘On 14 October 1944, Havildar Murti Sing was in command of No. 18 Platoon, which was detailed to clear the enemy from the village of Ardiano. The advance of the Platoon was harassed by heavy artillery fire, but Havildar Murti Sing, by skilful use of cover, brought them to a point 400 yards distant from the objective. He sent forward a small reconnaissance party, who captured two men from an enemy O.P. and reported the presence of other enemy in the village. Havildar Murti Sing then led the remainder of the Platoon to the upper portion of the village, and by working towards his reconnaissance party and searching each house in his progress, finally succeeded in surprising and trapping nine more of the enemy, who were soon subdued and captured. This task of clearing a village overlooked by enemy positions from two sides was accomplished without loss and with the capture of 11 prisoners mainly due to Havildar Murti Sing’s skilful and determined handling of his platoon.’