Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War 1914 I.D.S.M. awarded to Havildar Sohan Singh, 57th Wilde’s Rifles (Frontier Force), who was awarded one of the first gallantry awards to the Regiment for the Great War, and died of wounds on the Western Front, 26 November 1914

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (No. 2063 Naik Sohan Singh. 57th Rif. F.F.) suspension claw re-pinned, officially re-engraved in upright serif capitals, nearly very fine £400-£500

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the 57th Wilde’s Rifles (Frontier Force).

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I.D.S.M. G.G.O. 473 of 1915, and London Gazette 15 April 1915.

Sohan Singh’s I.D.S.M. being one of the first gallantry awards to the Regiment for the Great War, and in all likelihood for action on 26 October 1914.

The Indus Media Foundation gives the following:

‘Lance Naik Sohan Singh’s I.D.S.M. awarded for conspicuous gallantry gallantry in France. The 57th Rifles disembarked at Marseilles on the 26th September 1914 for service on the Western Front. From the first landing in France the weather remained bitterly cold. The troops from India were clothed in Khaki drill and it was some months before serge became available to them. During their service in France until December 1915, the regiment had fought at Oostaverne, Messines, Festubert and Givenchy. The Sikh company especially distinguished itself at Wytschaete. Many Sikh soldiers were rewarded for conspicuous gallantry.’

Sohan Singh was the son of Arjun Singh, of Mangian, Daska, Sialkot, Punjab. He was a veteran of the North West Frontier, and was also present at the Delhi Durbar of 1911. A photograph of him standing with Brigadier General F. W. B. Gray [see Lot 119], serving as his ‘Batman’, was published in The Times, 16 April 1915 (copy of photographic image of which included with the lot). Havildar Sohan Singh died of wounds on the Western Front, 26 November 1914. The Regimental History gives the following:

‘The 23rd November 1914, was for the Regiment almost a more eventful day than those which had so closely preceded it at Ypres. On this day the enemy made an attack in force on the Bareilly brigade line, and occupied the greater part of it, thus leaving our right in the air. More or less at the same time, they put two very large shells into the dressing station in Festubert, completely wrecking it, and killing the battalion’s own medical officer and Major Atal M.O. of the 129th. Sub-Assistant Surgeon, Hakin Rai, Ward Orderly Zaman Khan, and another sepoy were killed, while the head clerk, Havildar Sohan Singh, one of the adjutant’s orderlies and Captain Singh’s personal servant were dug out of the ruins very badly hurt. Havildar Sohan Singh and the servant subsequently died, and Sepoy Kishan Singh was the only survivor, though crippled for life, of those known to be in the building when it was hit.’

Havildar Sohan Singh is buried in the Meerut Military Cemetery, St. Martin-Les-Boulogne, France.