Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Lot 4282    SESSION 13 (2.30pm Thurs 29 July)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Estimate $1,250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,500

PAIR: King's Police Medal (GVR) 2nd type, for Gallantry; India General Service Medal 1936-39, - two clasps - North West Frontier 1936-37, North West Frontier 1937-39. Raz Muhammad Khan Jemadar N.W.F. Constab on first medal, Subdr. Raz Mohd., F.C. on second medal. Both medals engraved. Very fine.

KPM L D 01Jan1931 pg 16. Jemadar Raz Muhammad Khan and Naik Lal Din whilst serving at Manji Post of the Frontier Constabulary effected a most gallant rescue of a villager named Umar Khan, son of Mir Khan, of village Ragnazi, who was in danger of drowning in the Gomal River. 'On the 25th July 1929, an old man Umar Khan went to the bed of the Gomal River to collect driftwood and was cut off by the river which suddenly came down in a spate. For two days and nights he remained marooned on a sandbank just clear of the water. The local police and villagers had made repeated attempts and were unsuccessful in their attempts to reach the man. None of the local people, themselves strong swimmers, knowing the currents and the treacherous mature of the river dared attempt to swim the flood. The river at the joint where Umar Khan was cut off was some 200 yards in width and was over seven feet deep. The sandbank on which the man was stranded was equidistant from both banks. The chief obstacles were the treacherous nature of the river which is full of quicksands and whirlpools and the force of the current is swift and strong. On the third day the man was in danger of succumbing to hunger and exhaustion, the villagers came to Manjhi Post for assistance. On hearing of Umar Khans plight Jemadar Khan and Naik Din at once left for the river bank. Both are strong swimmers but realised full well the risks they ran of themselves drowning. Despite this they swam out with the aid of an inflated bullock skin and with great difficulty managed to bring the old man to safety. Both the rescuers displayed gallantry of the highest order. Neither of them belonged to this locality so they had no interest in the rescued man and might well have copied the example of his friends in declining to risk the passage. The Gomal River has claimed many victims including men of the Frontier Constabulary so there were plenty of reasons for detering the men. They are to be congratulated on what most people would have considered a humanly impossible feat. It is noteworthy that Jemadar Khan has previously been commended for saving life'. Together with two pages of research.