Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Veterinary Assistant Achhru Lal, Army Veterinary Corps, late Supply and Transport Corps - with a ‘double issue’ I.G.S.

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (2216 Vet. Duffdr. Achhru Lall, S. & T. Corps); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Abor 1911-12 (118 Vetry. Duffadar Achru Lal, 26th Mule Corps); 1914 Star (No. 105 Vety. Asst. Achroo Lall, Vety. Dept.); British War Medal 1914-20 (105 Vety-Asst. Achhru Lall, I.V. Cps.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (V123 Vety. Asst. Achhru Lall, I.V.C.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (V-123 Vety-Asst. Achhru Lal, A.V.C.); War Medal 1939-45, note minor variations in name, slight edge bruising, very fine (7) £700-900

Provenance: A. M. Shaw Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2013.

Achhru Lal was born on 2 January 1882 and graduated from Veterinary College on 27 March 1902. He ‘proceeded from Allahabad on 8 August 1903 and then attached to the Arab Camel Cart Train from Shaikh to Wadamango. Served under Captain E. C. W. Pratt, 95th Russell’s Infantry.’ This unit of 588 camels had ‘a lifting power of 3 maunds (240lb) per camel. The camel cart train consisted of 100 carts each of which carried 6 maunds in addition to the rations of the camel and driver. With two camels per cart 8-10 maunds could be carried on a hard track. The train worked between Sheik and Burao at first and subsequently between Elkadalanleh and Wadamango.’

Lal was appointed to the Indian Army Veterinary Corps on 11 August 1918, and served initially with the 9th Bullock Corps, before being posted to No. 5 Section, Lahore. He was promoted Jemadar on 1 September 1923. Posted to No. 8 Section at Quetta in 1927, he was promoted Risaldar on 12 July 1934, whilst based at Lahore, and retired in 1938, his last posting being at the Remount Depot, Sargodha. He subsequently served during the Second World War as a Jemadar on the Active List from 14 August 1943.