Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Italy operations I.D.S.M. awarded to Naik Muhammad Riaz, 3-1 Punjab Regiment

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (13262 Nk. Muhammad Riaz, 3-1 Punjab R.), officially impressed naming, complete with riband brooch bar, better than very fine £600-800

I.D.S.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945.

The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘On 18 October 1944, in the area of S. Dematrio church, ‘B’ Company (P.Ms) were in close contact with the enemy who were some 150 yards away. Throughout the day their position was subjected to intense artillery, mortar and tank fire, under cover of which the enemy made continuous attempts to re-capture the position.

During one of these attempts, No. 13262 Naik Mohammad Riaz, commander of the foremost section in the Company, with his Tommy machine-gun smashed by enemy fire, dashed forward and assaulted the advancing enemy with hand grenades, breaking up the attack and personally accounting for two killed and three wounded.

When casualties reduced his section to himself and two Sepoys, he was tireless in his efforts to conceal this from the enemy, moving about from trench to trench to simulate the fire of a complete section, often leaving cover under heavy fire, to better observe the movement of the enemy.

Finally, at about 1500 hours, the Platoon having suffered 75% casualties, the two forward sections positions were now almost untenable due to accurate tank fire. Completely undaunted, this N.C.O. ordered his surviving Sepoy to withdraw and, carrying forward an L.M.G., he lay out in the open and continued to engage the enemy until the remainder of his platoon had withdrawn and the casualties been evacuated. Then only would he withdraw to safety.

For some 12 hours, under almost continuous fire, this N.C.O. by his tireless efforts, initiative and determination, had denied his position to the enemy, preventing all their attempts to infiltrate into his Company’s defence.

His courage, bravery and fearless devotion to duty in the face of the enemy was an inspiration to the remainder of the Company to hold their ground at all costs.’

Riaz came from Sehr Bugla, Murree, Rawalpindi.