Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine North Africa battle of ‘Bir Hacheim’ Immediate I.D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Jemadar Ghulam Rabbani, 2nd Royal Lancers (Gardner’s Horse), late Scinde Horse, whose anti-tank troop knocked out no less than ten German tanks and continued firing until completely overrun

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (11831 Dfdr. Ghulam Rabbani, 2 R. Lrs. I.A.C.) complete with top suspension brooch; India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (1831 A.L.Dfdr. Ghulam Rabbani, Scinde Horse) official corrections to unit; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal; India Service Medal, these four unnamed as issued; Pakistan Independence 1947 (PJO-156 Jem Ghulan Rabbani) impressed naming with official corrections; Pakistan General Service, 1 clasp, Kashmir 1948, unnamed as issued, the first two with edge bruising and contact wear, otherwise nearly very fine or better (8) £1000-1200

I.D.S.M. G.G.O. 132-H/1942; London Gazette 13 August 1942. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘Action of Got-el-Hamari S.E. of Bir Hacheim on 27th May, 42.

For leadership and devotion to duty.

This N.C.O.’s troop received the initial weight of the tank attack. The two forward guns of his troop were continually under fire, after they had been seen by the first enemy tank recce. parties. He went round his gun positions while they were under fire and by his example gave the gun teams confidence. After his two forward guns had been over run by tanks and put out of action, he kept his two rear guns firing until he was forced to stop owing to the danger of hitting parties of our own prisoners. Later in spite of being forced to surrender he made good his escape.’

The following account of this action is taken from A History of The 2nd Royal Lancers (Gardner’s Horse) from 1922 to 1947, Brigadier E. W. D. Vaughan, C.B., D.S.O., M.C., London 1951:

‘0800 hours. Mark III and IV German tanks were making a determined attack from the large concentration south-west of Lone Tree Hill on the right flank of ‘B’ Squadron and the 18th Cavalry. They advanced very slowly head-on. No. 1 Anti-Tank Troop commanded by Dafadar Ghulam Rabani [sic] was next to the 18th Cavalry left-hand Anti-Tank Troop. Both these Troops opened up at very close range and continued firing until completely overrun. There were about ten tanks knocked out in front of No. 1 Troop area. During this action Dafadar Ghulam Rabani showed fine leadership in command of this Troop, which was isolated from the remainder of the Regiment owing to the absence of ‘B’ Squadron’s carrier Troops, which had been allotted to this area. After his two forward guns had been overrun, he kept his two rear guns firing until he was forced to stop owing to the danger of his hitting parties of our prisoners which were being collected. Lance-Dafadar Mehbub Ali Khan was in command of the leading gun in this Troop and came under very heavy fire. His No. 2, A.L.D. Abdul Rehman, was killed, and No. 3, Sr. Mohd Ayaz, badly wounded. Lance-Dafadar Mehbub Ali then called up his No. 5 to assist him in firing the gun and they continued to do so until a direct hit killed Lance-Dafadar Mehbub Ali and set fire to the gun.’

Ghulam Rabbani was originally enrolled into the Scinde Horse on 6 May 1931. He was transferred to the Ranghar Squadron of the 2nd Royal Lancers, as part of a reinforcement after its decimation at Mechile in April 1941, and served overseas with the regiment from 23 March 1942. He was a member of ‘A’ Squadron which consisted of four troops (two Mohammedan, one Rajput and one Jat). Each troop of this anti-tank squadron was equipped with four 2-pounder anti-tank guns and, during the action at Got-el-Hamari, Dafadar Ghulam Rabbani was in command of No. 1 Troop. He was promoted to Jemadar on 2 April 1943.

Please note that this lot is NOT subject to 5% import duty as indicated in the printed catalogue.