This regiment formed part of the Mohmand Column which was commanded by Brigadier (later, Field Marshall, Sir) C.J.E. Auchinleck. The unit also served in the North West Frontier 1935 campaign -- the 1933 bar has been clipped so it is possible that he was awarded the NWF 1935 bar which has since been removed. He died (probably killed in action) on 2nd April 1944 serving with the 16th battalion of the 10th Baluch Regiment, and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial. The 16th battalion was part of 51st Brigade in 25th Indian Infantry Division. The following has been extracted from an online copy of:
"A short history of the 25th Indian Infantry Division during the Second World War between 1941 and 1947."
Copyright ©www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk (2011)
At the beginning of April, the 53rd Brigade arrived under the command of Brigadier G.A.P. Coldstream, DSO. During the night of the 24th and 25th March, a force of approximately one Japanese battalion moved through the foothills east of the Kalapanzin river, appearing near the eastern exit of the Ngakyedauk Pass. The Indian troops in that locality began operations to liquidate that incursion, and within the next two days, had killed over 100 of the Japanese troops. The rest were forced to disperse. The 25th Division was ordered to hold a firm line with a mobile reserve in the Maungdaw – Razabil area; to take over and hold successively positions captured by the 26th and 36th Divisions on the spine of the Mayu peninsula; and to assist the actions of the other two divisions by vigorous patrolling and offensive action in the foothills south of the Tunnels area. The Corps plan indicated that the capture of Hill 1433 was highly desirable for the security of the monsoon defence line. Basically each one of the three tasks was allocated to each of the three Brigades. Holding the Maungdaw – Razabil line fell to the 74th Brigade, 53rd Brigade took over the Tunnels area, and 51st Brigade became responsible for the offensive action.
Documents available: Commonwealth War Grave Commission register page
Condition: VF (suspension slack); please see photographs for detail
