An extremely rare Malabar 1921-22 operations M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal R. Collins, Dorsetshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.V.R. (5719133 Cpl. R. Collins, 2-Dorset R.); British War and Victory Medals (17925 Pte. R. Collins, Hamps. R.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Malabar 1921-22 (5719133 Cpl. R. Collins, 2-Dorset R.), heavily polished, thus fine or better (4) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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Only five MMs were awarded for the Malabar operations 1921-22 - British Gallantry Awards, by Abbott & Tamplin, refers.

M.M. London Gazette 2 June 1923:

‘For bravery in connection with military operations in Malabar 1921-22.’

Robert Collins, who was born in 1894, originally enlisted in the Hampshire Regiment in May 1915, with whom he served in France and Flanders from April 1916 to March 1918. Transferring to the Dorsetshire Regiment in February 1919, he was embarked for India, where he remained actively employed with the 2nd Battalion until December 1921. The action for which he was awarded his M.M. in the Malabar operations is recounted in the Moplah Rebellion:

‘On 13 October [1921], just before the big drive started, the platoons of C Company under Lieutenant L. J. Woodhouse had a successful skirmish with a party of Moplahs on the Perintal-manna-Nellatur road, when escorting an officer of the Sappers and Miners who was reporting on a bridge. Heavy fire was opened from a house, to which the party replied. Covered by this, Lieutenant Woodhouse, Corporal Collins and Private Alexander worked up to the house and succeeded in setting fire to the roof, soon forcing the Moplahs to quit their refuge, 14 being killed. While returning the party was again fired upon just before dark, Sergeant Firman being badly wounded and two other men hit, but the enemy were driven off, Corporal Collins and Privates Alexander, Shortt and Chant displaying great gallantry while Lieutenant Woodhouse handled his party very skilfully.’

Collins remained a regular soldier for many years, serving in Egypt in 1921-24 and back in India 1929-34, in which latter year he was discharged at Sialkot; sold with his original Regular Army Certificate of Service.