A Second World War Immediate I.D.S.M. awarded to Sepoy Babu Singh, 11th Royal Sikh Regiment, for gallantry in Italy

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (19371 Sep. Babu Singh, 11 R. Sikh R.) complete with top suspension brooch, nearly extremely fine £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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I.D.S.M. London Gazette 8 February 1945: The original recommendation states:

‘During the night 11/12 September [1944] this Sepoy’s Platoon was engaged in a night attack on the village of Onferno. The area was strongly held by the enemy, and resistance to the attack was fierce. Sepoy Babu Singh was a member of the leading section, which quickly became pinned to the ground. He worked his Bren gun round to a flank without further orders, to a position from which he quickly silenced two enemy machine-gun posts by fire, enabling the Platoon to continue its advance. The Platoon was then attacked in the rear from well sighted light machine-gun posts, and faced about to receive this attack.

During the period their position was heavily and accurately mortared and Sepoy Babu Singh was wounded in the left arm and thigh by L.M.G. fire and a shell-splinter. In spite of his wounds Sepoy Babu Singh handed over his gun to the Number 2, took over a “sling” of bombs and a Thompson sub machine-gun and, telling the No. 2 to cover him, made off alone for a machine-gun post which was greatly impeding his Platoon’s advance.

He destroyed this post single-handed with the grenades he carried, killing the two German gunners at their gun.

His courageous determination to close with the enemy at all costs, and his initiative and offensive action, though himself seriously wounded, resulted in his Platoon being extricated from a most disadvantageous position with the minimum casualties, and was an act of great heroism in the highest traditions of the service.’