Orders, Decorations and Medals

A scarce North West Frontier I.D.S.M. group of seven awarded to Risaldar Guli Lal, Tochi Scouts, formerly Northern Waziristan Militia

INDIAN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, G.VI.R., 1st type (Risaldar, Tochi Scouts); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1921-24, North West Frontier 1930-31 (538 Sowar, N.W. Militia); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Risldr., Tochi Scouts); 1939- 45 STAR; ITALY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, very fine (7)

I.D.S.M., London Gazette, 10 December, 1937 (North West Frontier).

The Northern Waziristan Militia became known as the Tochi Scouts in April 1922. In 1931 the strength of the corps consisted of 11 British Officers, 2033 Infantry and 117 Mounted Infantry. Risaldar Guli Lal would have been the senior Indian Officer of the Mounted Infantry, each of the two M.I. troops being commanded by a Jemadar. The Tochi Scouts were heavily involved in the operations of 1936-37 and suffered a significant number of casualties. Two anecdotal mentions of Guli Lal appear in 'The Frontier Scouts' by Charles Chevenix Trench.