Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War B.E.M. group of eight awarded to Dafadar Faqir Mohammad, Indian Army Veterinary Corps

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (V.2208 Dafadar Faqir Mohd.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Pakistan, Tamgha-i-Khidmat, 2nd Class neck badge, silver and enamel; Independence Medal 1947 (1000593 Dfr. Faqir Mohd P.A.C.); Republic Medal 1956; General Service Medal, 1 clasp, Kashmir 1948, unnamed, very fine and better (8) £400-500

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2005.

B.E.M. London Gazette 14 June 1945.

The recommendation states: ‘Dafadar Faqir Mohd has been with this unit since January 1942 and has discharged his duties as senior N.C.O. with exceptional ability. The War Establishment of this unit provides for 44 Indian Other Ranks and 50 animals but in PAIFORCE No. 3 Indian Mobile Veterinary Section has been handling and average of 200 local syces and 700 animals over the authorised establishment and it is entirely due to his expert ability and personal hard work that the unit has been able to function at all. His services have always been marked with a high standard of efficiency.’

Faqir Mohammad served at the Veterinary Hospital, Rawalpindi, until December 1941 when he joined No. 3 Indian Mobile Veterinary Section and went to Iraq and Persia. He returned to India in 1947 and joined the Pakistan Armoured Corps at Independence, and served with that unit in Kashmir in 1948.

No.3 Indian Mobile Veterinary Section was raised at the location of Mobile Veterinary Hospital, Rawalpindi during December 1941 as a Muslim unit. It received its warning order for mobilisation on 16 December 1941 and was placed on war system of accounting from 1 January 1942. No. 3 I.M.V.S. Embarked at Karachi on 22 January 1942 aboard S.S. Egra and S.S. Nirpura with two Mule Companies. The unit disembarked at Basra on 29 January 1942 and was located at Birjasis camp in Shaiba area. For a brief period it was used to make up the deficiencies of the unit and marrying up with men who were moved in a hurry from India. During 1943 No. 3 I.M.V.S. was given the task of providing exclusive veterinary cover to the animal transport companies operating in the area. No. 53 Camel Company was deployed at the Basra Base for local duties whereas the AT Companies undertook long marches in logistical support of the force. No. 3 I.M.V.S. moved ahead of the animal columns and established sick lines to receive casualties during the line of march. No. 3 I.M.V.S. moved to Khanigaver in Persia in August 1942. They moved next to Mosul in June 1943 to relieve No. 4 Cavalry Mobile Veterinary Section, R.A.V.C. and then to Baghdad in December 1943 to take over the duties from No. 3 Veterinary Hospital.
During the Second World War The Corps provided Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and Indian Commanding Officers to the animal holding units, and advised the unit commanders on animal health management. They handled and managed the animal casualties during the line of march and conducted animal management courses for arms and services employing animals. It trained Indian Other Ranks to work with CSS's to tide over the acute shortage of Veterinary Assistant Surgeons, and also undertook duties of local purchase of mules, providing veterinary cover and facilities to mule columns en-route from Syria and Palestine. The Section remained in Iraq and Persia until 17 January 1945 when it embarked for India. It disbanded on 5 February 1946.

Approximately 173 British Empire Medals awarded to the Indian Army for the Second World War.