India -- The "Sena" medals

[Ed_Haynes]

On 26 January 1960, India created a set of three service specific "Sena" medals"

-- Sena Medal -- for the Army

-- Nao Sena Medal -- for the Navy

-- Vayu Sena Medal -- for the Air Force

These medals were to be awarded to the army for acts of courage and for exceptional achievement. In special circumstances, it can also be awarded to non-military personnel if they are borne on the rolls of an army formation. There was a confusion implicit in there creation, one that has haunted these awards ever since: The opverlapped the contradictory roles of being tier four gallantry awards and tier four achievement awards. This has led to a great deal of confusion, anger, and a few court cases.

I'll show three groups (probably shown elsewhere too).

Sena Medal

To JC-36217 Subadar/Honorary Captain Durgabahadur Gurung, SM, 3/1st Gorkha Rifles. (Unmounted, but as it has a rare early SM ribbon, I have not been anxious to remount it.)

The Gazette notification (26 January 1963):

"On 5th December 1961 the 3/1 Gorkha Rifles was ordered to clear a strategic road in Katanga. When Captain Salaria, with two Sections of Gorkhas and two Swedish Armoured Personnel Carriers arrived at a position about 1,500 yards from the road block, he came under heavyh automatic and small arms fire from enemy dug-in position on his right flank. Captain Salaria and his men killed 40 of the enemy and knocked out two Armoured cars but when he was wounded and collapsed due to profuse bleeding the command of this small gallant band of men devolved on Havildar Durgabahadur Gurung, at a most critical juncture. The enemy continued firing relentlessly. The ammunition of our troops was running low and wireless contact with battalion headquarters had been lost.

"Havildar Durgabahadur Gurung organised the remnants of his force into a defensive position under heavy enemy fire. He obtained mortar support and repeatedly broke up enemy counter-attacks remaining with his men until he was ordered to withdraw.

"Havildar Gurung displayed cool courage and devotion to duty under difficult circumstances."

This is the same action for which IC-8497 Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, 3/1st Gurkha Rifles posthumously received the Param Vir Chakra The young captain gets them into a fix, gets killed, and gets the PVC; the havildar steps in, gets them out of the mess, and gets only a bloody Sena Medal?!?!

Through 2003, there have been 4,780 awards of the SM, including a unique second bar to IC-40348 Captain Pankaj Awasti, S.M.**.

Edited January 23, 2009 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Nao Sena Medal

To Sub-Lieutenant (SD) (TAS) Anant Ram, NM, Indian Navy, awarded 26 January 1966.

The rather "salty" group is interesting, with apparent WWII merchant navy service and the clear "spoor" of a clasp on the Africa Star. The navy is so hard to research!

The NM citation:

"Sub-Lieutanant Anant Ram has rendered vital diving assistance at national projects and naval tasks since 1961. In September 1964, when a Piper Cub aircraft, belonging to the Bombay Flying Club, crashed while on a flight from Bombay to Ahmedabad, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram with a diving team went to search for the aircraft. In spite of a rough sea and swift current and very deep water, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram decided to undertake the operation and continued the search of a wide area until it was called off as it was evident the aircraft had sunk in deep mud.

"In November 1964, at the request of the Gujarat Electricity Board, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram worked with a diving team for the removal of a steel coffer-dam in the river Mahi which was blocking the flow of water into the pump-house of a new power station in Khaira District. The task became very difficult and risky because of the high tide, continuous silting, deep mud and complete darkness due to muddy water. Despite all these hazards Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram led his diving team and successfully conducted the operations of cutting the coffer dam 8 feet below the datum.

"Throughout, Sub-Lieutenant Anant Ram displayed exemplary courage, professional skill and devotion to duty which was in the best traditions of the Indian Navy."

Through 2003 there have been only 747 awards of the NM.

Edited January 23, 2009 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Vayu Sena Medal

To 4716 GD(P) Squadron Leader Pradiman Kishen Kaul, VM, Indian Air Force. A very "broken" group, but this is a rather uncommon award.

Through 2003, there have been 940 awards.

His 26 January 1964 notification:

"Flt Lt Kaul has been engaged in air transport operations in Jammu and Kashmir area since 1957. He has done more than 1000 hours of operational flying over this area and over 200 hours of transport operations flying in NEFA. He is one of the pilots who carried out about 150 sorties, airlifting heavy engineer stores to the forward area in all supply-dropping sorties, he displayed precision of a high order. During the recent Chinese aggression on our borders, he carried out a number of dangerous reconnaissance missions and landing sorties to forward landing grounds. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Kaul displayed determination, professional skill and courage of a high order."

He later left the IAF and went with Air India as a commercial pilot.