TOPIC:

Unfortunately not the rare combination of Tugela Heights & Defence of Ladysmith. Interestingly he is down as "returned to India" & "medal returned 31st January 1907.

India General Service Medal “Punjab Frontier 1897-98” “Malakand” 2506 Sowar Khair Ullah 11th Bl. Lcrs
Queen’s South Africa Medal “Orange Free State”;” Transvaal”; “South Africa 1902” 2506 Sowar Khairullah Khan 11th Bengal Lcrs.
Tibet Medal 2506 Sowar Khair Ullah 11th Lcrs


N.-W. Frontier of India, 1897-98.- Defence of Malakand, Malakand. Action at Landikai. Operations
in Bajour and the Mohmand country. - Mohmand. – 2 clasps
South Africa, 1902.- Medal with three clasps
Tibet, 1903-1904. – Medal

Defence of Malakand. (26 July – 2 August 1897)

One squadron, 11th Bengal Lancers arrive at Malakand on the 29th July

35. At 4 P.M. this day (29th) one squadron,11th Bengal Lancers, 88 strong, marched into Malakand
under command of Major Beatson. In the evening the 38th Dogras and 35th Sikhs and details of the
Guides arrived at Dargai under Colonel Reid. The heat on the road had been intense and 21 men of
the 35th Sikhs died of heat apoplexy. I ordered Colonel Reid to halt at Dargai the next day in order to
give these regiments a rest. Daring the day, the Bazaar and serai were levelled, trees were cleared
away, abattis and breastworks strengthened, and in the evening large, bonfires were lighted up in front
of the central position, so that the enemy advancing by the Graded Road to the attack should be
obliged to cross a line of light. The result was that the central position did not have such a severe time
of it this night. It was known that the enemy had been largely reinforced during the day, and a
vigorous attack was anticipated.2.

Defence of Chakdarra

18. At daybreak (of the 27th July) it was ascertained that the North Camp had not been seriously
attacked, aid that all was well there. I consequently ordered the 31st Punjab Infantry with the
Squadron, 11th Bengal Lancers, and two guns, supported by a wing of the 24th Punjab Infantry, to
pursue the enemy, the majority of whom had withdrawn in the direction of Khar and Butkheyla.
19. They pursued for a short distance up the valley when they came across a very large gathering of
the enemy, and as it was evident that this attempt on our camp had been the signal for a large tribal-
gathering, I ordered Major Gibbs, who was in charge of the pursuit, to retire and bring up all the
stores, ammunition, and treasure of the troops in North Camp to the Kotal, and concentrate all his
force before dark in that place
20. The Squadron, 11th Bengal Lancers, under Captain Wright, which had covered the advance of
Major Gibbs' force, had pushed right on to Chakdarra, being fired on the whole way, and Captain
Wright wisely determined to stop at that place, where his party has proved a useful reinforcement to
the two companies, 46th Sikhs, under Lieutenant Rattray ' and Lieutenant. Wheatley, forming the
garrison of the post.2.

From - Lieutenant A.B. Minchin. Assistant Political Agent, Chakdarra.

At Landakai

14. The Landakai causeway, though passable, was still in such bad order when the Guides traversed it
that they debouched from it slowly by twos and threes, and Captain H. I. E. Palmer, who commanded
the leading squadron, being told by the infantry crowning the heights to his right that the enemy were
escaping over the plain in front of him which he could not yet see, collected part of his squadron and
pushed on in pursuit. As soon as he emerged from the fields of high Indian-corn at the end of the
causeway, he saw the enemy a mile or so in front escaping to the hills and galloped after them, but the
ground being heavy he got rather ahead of his men. Near him on his left was Lieutenant R. T.
Greaves, Lancashire Fusiliers who was with the force as Correspondent of the Times of India; -and
further to his left, and a little in rear, rode Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Adams with his galloper.
Lieutenant Norman, 11th Bengal Lancers. The first squadron came along, as quickly as they could, in
somewhat loose formation, and were followed at no great distance by the other two. The enemy were
rapidly escaping to the face of the hill marked B on the attached sketch, and Lieutenant
Adams, quickly taking in the situation, ordered the Ziarat marked C to be held with dismounted fire;
a measure which, but for the unfortunate contretemps which now occurred, would have been most
effectual, as fire from this Ziarat swept completely and at short range the hill up which the enemy
were retiring.2.

South Africa – 1902, presume service with the Remount Depot.
Telegram 836 M dated 12th April 1902
" Transport Aurania sailed 8th April due Durban 21st April. On board :- First remount depot and Native personel for two British and one Native ield hospitals"

Tibet- The Indian Cavalry Regiments sent detachments, which formed about a half wing, and was
used for scouting, galloping etc. The Tibet Medal is rare to Indian Cavalry Regiments

Tantalizingly there is a photograph of the Duffadars of the Regiment in the Royal Collection of a man wearing the same combinations of medals.

A seemingly unnamed bronze QSA on eBay. . Price £220

David,

There is a large collection of books on the Indian forces being sold by DNW in their next sale. The books are from the library of Peter Duckers.

Kind regards
David

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (2) Joh DH with a block of 5 clasps, Wittebergen, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Jemandar Mahboob Singh. 6th Bngl: Cvlry:),

Mahboob/Mahbub Singh entered the service in September 1887 and was commissioned Jemadar on 24 October 1900 during the Boer War. In regard to his service the Regimental History states:

' Lt. A. G. Maxwell was Aide to Field Marshal Lord Roberts and received a Brevet Majority and five clasps to his Medal...Dfr. Mahbub Singh and Dfr. Desa Singh were Orderlies to the Field Marshal, the former was promoted Jemadar and received four clasps.'

Singh is confirmed as having received the latter four clasps listed above and was promoted Ressaidar on 1 February 1908. He also held a Musketry Certificate and a Native Officers Certificate in Transport Duties.

Sold previously hammered in the rooms of Messrs Dix, Noonan & Webb in 2002 for £280 without the additional block of clasps. Offered again for sale in 2016 by Gary Neate for £1495

The following comes from the 2002 auction catalogue.

"Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Jemadar Mahboob Singh, 6th Bngl. Cvlry.) suspension claw re-fixed and signs of repair to backstrap of top clasp, otherwise very fine.
Footnote
Mahbub Singh joined the 6th Bengal Cavalry on 3 September 1887. He served on the North West Frontier of India, 1897-98, including operations on the Samana and in the Kurram Valley during August and September 1897; and in Tirah in 1897-98 (Medal with three clasps).

Promoted to Jemadar on 24 October 1900, Mahbub Singh served in South Africa, 1899-1901, including operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17th to 26th February); operations in Orange River Colony (May to 29th November 1900); operations in the Transvaal between 30th November 1900 and 31st May 1902 (Queen’s medal with four clasps). Mahbub Singh was promoted to Ressaidar on 1 February 1908 and retired in about 1912.

The Q.S.A. medal roll shows entitlement to 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, and South Africa 1901. Jemadar Mahboob Singh, the only native officer, and nine N.C.O.s and men of the 6th (Prince of Wales’) Bengal Cavalry received the Q.S.A. in silver. A further eight followers, all Syces, received the medal in bronze. Sold with a copy of the roll."

ATB

David