Ed_Haynes

Subadar Major Sardar Bahadur Gulzar Singh, IOM, IDSM, Burma Mounted Rifles

Some things, when you miss them the first try, come around again. While a partial group, still nice.

1- Indian Order of Merit, 2nd class, 1912-39 - unnamed

South Persia (Marri Field Force) ? Rissaldar Gulzar Singh, I.D.S.M. (H&A p. 54; Duckers, p. 217). Sabadar Gulzar Singh was awarded the IDSM for gallantry on 25th May, 1918, when he extricated his squadron from a very difficult situation, returning to the open to retrieve the body of an officer and wounded men, under heavy fire. The IOM 2nd class was awarded for service in South Persia while attached to Marri Field Force. IAO 158 of 17 January 1919 (and IAO 882 of 1919):

?For gallantry on the 25th May 1918 when he extricated his squadron from a very difficult situation in excellent order and having done so returned himself to the open to help bring in the body of an officer and wounded men, under heavy fire. He was conspicupous for his skillful leadership in every action in which he was engaged.?

Shown in 1941 War Services (p. 176), retired, as ?Subadar-Major Sardar Bahadur Gulzar Singh, Sardar Bahadur, IOM, IDSM" ? IOM 25 May 1918, Not. 158 of 17 Jan 1919.

2- Indian Title Badge, George V, first variety, 1st class, Sardar Bahadur - Subadar-Major Gulzar Singh I.O.M., I.D.S.M., 2nd June 1923 - ribbon incorrect

No. 1643-H of 2 June 1923 ? Sardar Bahadur to ?Subadar-Major Gulzar Singh, I.O.M., I.D.S.M., Burma Military Police, Burma?.

3- Indian Distinguished Service Medal, George V, 1st variety - RISALDAR GULZAR SINGH, BURMA MOUNTED RIFLES

South Persia ? Risaldar Gulzar Singh (Chhina, p. 174; H&A p. 128). IDSM by AO 1703 of 1918.

4- British War Medal, 1914-18 - 77 SUB-MAJ. GULZAR SINGH, BURMA MTD. RFLS.

Also MiD by AO 1188 of 1920 and 1747 of 1920.

As Burma Mounted Rifles, research chances slim. Need to seek Sardar Bahadur recommendations this summer.

Major HH Maharaja Nihal Singh, C.B., Lokendra Bahadur of Dholpur

1- Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath

2- India Medal 1895 - Victoria - TIRAH 1897-98, PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897-98 - Major HH Maharaja Nihal Singh, C.B., Lokendra Bahadur of Dholpur

One of the first CBs to Indians.

3021 Sepoy Nand Singh, IOM, 45th Sikh Regiment

1- Indian Order of Merit, 3rd class - unnamed

IOM for defence of Chakrada Fort, one of the great Victorian "defences" (better than Chitral or Rorke's Drift?!). Written up as a full chapter in Winston Churchill's Malakand Field Force.

Hypher II:119, IAO 49 of 14 January 1898:

"No. 3021 Sepoy Nand Singh, 45th (Sikh) Regiment of Bengal Infantry. ? For conspicuous gallantry at a critical moment of the attack on Chakdarra Fort on the 2nd August 1897, in spontatenously taking the lead in serving the 9-pr gun under a heavy fire, the commander, Kishen Singh [2807 Havildar, killed by gunshot], having been killed whilst laying the gun."

Shown (IAL Jan 1919, 3:1982) as retired as Havildar.

2- The India Medal 1895 - PF 97-98, MALAKAND 1897, TIRAH 1897-98, Waz 1901-2 - "3021 Sepoy Nand Singh 45th Sikhs"

Risaldar-Major Mir Alam Khan, Sardar Bahadur, IOM, 1st Punjab Cavalry

1- Indian Order of Merit, 3rd class - unnamed

Admission to the IOM3 was for the action at Rampur Kasia on 3 Nov 1858 during the early stages of the so-called 'winter campaign' in Oudh.

Advancement to the IOM2 was for gallantry at Syad-but in Shorawak on 27 March 1879 where the escort to Mr O.T. Duke, Asst Agent to the Gov-Gen for Baluchistan, fended off an attack by 1,600 Baraitch Pathans. Mir Alam was also mentioned for Ahmad Khel on 19.4.1880 where he 'set a good example to all by his forwardness'.

The group was acquired years ago in India with this IOM along with it. Where are his other medals?!

2- Mutiny Medal - no clasp - "Naib Risaldar Mir Alam Khan 1st Reg Punjab Cavy"

Enrolled 1 April 1858 as Jemadar without prior service in the ranks

Ressaidar 1 May 1868

Risaldar 1 November 1878.

Risaldar Major 13 June 1882

retired in 1885 or soon thereafter

My guess is that he was entitled to three campaign medals: Mutiny no clasp, IGS one clasp NWF, Afghan one clasp Ahmad Khel.

His awards were:

IOM3 GGO 645 of 29 April 1859 (wef 3 November 1858)

IOM2 PGO 190 of 19 March 1880 (wef 27 March 1879)

OBI2 GGO 571 of 21 October 1881

OBI1 GGO ??? of 17 October 1885

Just a few samples, as eye-candy.

Yes, he did seem to enjoy his car, and he invited his friends along too.

No matter the field of interest, an isolated medal is only a chump of metal and ribbon. The joy, the ability of reinstalling life in that object, is with research.

An example:

Several years ago, as a real "fringe" item in my collection, I acquired a Soviet Order of Glory, 3rd class, type 2, var. 2, #805395. No big investment ($20), no big deal, just a "thing".

Well, for several times the purchase price, I was able to get research done (during one of those windows of time when research in Moscow could be obtained). This uninteresting medal was awarded to First Sergeant of the Guards Alexandra Vasilyevna Grebenschchikova [female], Sanitary Instructor of motor rifle company, 1st Motor Rifle Battalion, 29th Guards Order of Bogdan Khemelnitsky 1st Degree Motor Rifle Brigade of Unech, The Guards Tank Ural-Lvov Voluntary Corps. She was Russian, born 1922. She was wounded 12 August 1942. The field nurse's citation:

"When fighting against German invaders Guards First Sergeant Grebenschchikova was among the first to cross in the forging of the River Oder [ca. 22 Jan 1945] and under strong machine-gun and artillery fire rendered medical assistance to 75 wounded. She took 63 heavily wounded persons with their personal weapons away from the battlefield.

"The Guards First Sergeant Grebenschchikova deserves a government award, Order of the Red Banner."

While this award was down-graded to an Order of Glory, it was approved 20 March 1945. The medal, however, was not physically awarded until 28 March 1990. The 23 year old nurse got the award for her deeds when she was 70.

Wow.

While really marginal to my interests (and I am easily distracted), a nice 1813 Iron Cross group.

1- Iron Cross, 1813, 2nd class, combatant, in Prinzensize / Eisernes Kreuz, 1813, 2. Klasse, f?r K?mpfer, in Prinzengr??e - Probably a privately acquired prinzen cross. Worn in post-1839 style.

2- Commemorative Medal 1813-1815 for Combatants, 1813-1814 / Kriegs-Denkm?nze 1813-1815 f?r K?mpfer, 1813-1814

3- Commemorative War Medal for combatants of 1813-1815, from bright bronze / Erinnerungs-Kriegsdenk?nze f?r die K?mpfer von 1813-1815 aus heller Bronze

4- Hohenzollern Commemorative Medal for combatants of 1848/49 / Hohenzollernsche Denk?nze f?r K?mpfer von 1848/49

No attribution, unfortunately.

What is unusual is the accompanying awards booklet.

In group with award document (#00528, with his photograph) to Feng Zhai-lu (DOB October 1924, male, Han nationality, born Do County Shandong Province).

I guess this belongs in this thread?

The medals are not so unusual, these days.

They came in their original envelopes, with ribbon bars. Also not very unusual.

1- Independence and Freedom Merit Medal / Du Li Zhi Yu Jiang Zhang - 029010

2- Liberation Merit Medal / Jie Fang Jiang Zhang - 39260

Research continues in the 4 inches of documents and in Moscow. Watch this space.

He was awarded a posthumous Order of the Red Banner by decree of the Presidium on 6 February 1942.

A carefully photographed closeup.

Based on the doctor's report, also included, he suiffered "a contusion over the right brow arc with broken bone and five torn entrance wounds to the right temple". In other words, a serious head wound.

RIP.

But things take a down-turn when the war begins.

"Peoples Commissariat

"of the Defense of the Union SSR

"HEADQUARTERS OF 23 ARMY

"Department ___

"Subdivision ABTV [Automibile and Armored Troops]

"22 September 1941

"#229/41

"CERTIFICATE

"This is to certify that Major General V. B. LAVRINOVICH indeed fell the death of a hero in a fight for BELOOSTROV.

"This certificate is issued to reveice permission for burial.

"Chief of Starr, 23rd Army Military Commisar of the Headquarters

"Major General 23rd Army, Sr. Battalion Comissar

"/Ivanov/ /Romanov/"

A close-up on the photo.

He onviously survived the purges.

Only in 1941 did he finally get an award booklet for his Red Banner.

(He seems to have had MAJOR problems in assembling/reassembling documentation, perhaps one reason this trove survives?)

In 1923 he was given a very nice silver cigarette case.

And he got a car!

In 1932.

He continued into the post-Civil War Red Army, performing both political tasks and becoming one of the first armored corps officers.

But old patterns died hard.

But, note, he is wearing a medal!

"EXCERPT

"From Decree for 209/8th Turkistan Rifle Regiment of 15 July 1920, $29 Paragraph 1, regarding the combat personnel.

"I announce the copy of the Decree for the 1st Army, #210, of 6 July of this year for the administrative department.

"Paragraph 1. Based on the RVSR [Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic] Decree on 1919, #511 concerning the decree #2322 of the same year, the following servicemen are awarded the Order of the Red Banner for their combat feats:

"2. Commander of 9th Platoon, 209th Vitebsk Rifle Regiment, LAVRINOVICH Vatslav Bronislavovich.

"On 15 June 1919 during the fight near Uzbekovo comrade Lavrinovich commanded 9th Platoon of 209th regiment. He skillfully led his platoon on the right flank of the battalion combat order, inspired his men by personal example of courage, and managed to withstand and repel an enemy attack. After intensive artillery preparations using heavy and light artillery the enemy launched a second attack. [Lavrinovich] without regard to his life stood firm as a true warrior, put himself in the most dangerous spots, and held the position. The enemy desperately attacked for the third time in his sector and got as close as 40 paces from his position. At that point Comrade Lavrinovich shouted 'Hurray' and jumped out at the enemy, leading his company and the entire battalion. With a lightning and powerful bayonet charge he broke the enemy resistance and turned it into a panicky flight. During the pursuit Comrade Lavrinovich was all the time at the head of the infantry line. When the enemy made an attempt to stand near the villages of Bol'shoye Utyashevo and Zelim-Karamovo, he was on both occasions the first to throw himself before the enemy and continued to lead the pursuit of the destroyed enemy troops.

"Commander of the 1st Army Zinov'ev.

?Member of the Revolutionary Military Council Paskutsky.

"Chief of Staff Shefolovich.

"True copy: clerk [signed]"

Closeup of Vatslav Bronislavovich. Quite a gallant revolutionary comrade.

With his mates. Very "Doctor Zhivago"?