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Auction: 14003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 143

A Good I.G.S. to Private D.H. Mowbray, Leicestershire Regiment, Wounded by Gunshot Near Razmak, Northern Waziristan, 21.8.1939, Whilst Defending an Isolated Piquet Against Enemy Tribesmen who were Eventually Driven Off After Stiff Hand-to-Hand Fighting, and Later Killed in Action Whilst Serving With the Famous 'British Battalion' in Malaya, 21.1.1942
India General Service 1936-1939, one clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (4857775 Pte. D. Mowbray. Leic. R.), extremely fine, in named card box of issue

4857775 Private Douglas Henry Mowbray, born North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, 10.11.1915; enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment, 14.8.1935, and served with the 1st Battalion on the North West Frontier of India; wounded by gunshot to the right hand whilst on piquet duty near Razmak, 21.8.1939, the Regimental History described the action as follows: 'On the 21st August the Battalion ran into its most serious action in an operation against a large number of tribesmen known to be in the village of Bandiza, some 8,000 feet up in extremely rugged country. The hills were covered with thick holly-oak, which in places rose to ten feet. Razcol was to leave at dawn. The Battalion, commanded by Major C.H.V. Cox, M.C., marched at midnight to occupy the right-flank position of the commanding features of Green Dome and Bodari Sar. The Battalion spent four hours ascending secretly and silently a rocky goat-track, in single file most of the way.
At 0730 hours the 3/10th Baluchis had gained touch with our left company, and operations against Bandiza village commenced. About midday the Brigade commenced to withdraw, leaving the Leicesters to cover this operation. Half an hour later the right piquet, a very exposed one, was fired on heavily from close range. Then the tribesmen rushed the piquet. A hand-to-hand encounter ensued. In the piquet position a number of the tribesman were killed, including their leader, the notorious Khan Gul. Three of the piquet were killed and four wounded'. For their gallant conduct in recovering the dead and wounded from this piquet, Lieutenant F.G.W. Walshe was awarded the Military Cross, Sergeant H. Blake the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and Lance Corporal L. Rawson and Private G.H. Smythe each received Military Medals.'

The M.M. citation for Lance Corporal Rawson, who was in command of the piquet, adds further detail: 'On 21 August 1939 near Razmak in Waziristan, at about 1230 hours near Bandiza Village one of the Battalion's piquets commanded by Cpl Rawson was fired on heavily at close range, and enemy tribesmen rushed the piquet. A hand-to-hand encounter ensued during which three members of Cpl Rawson's section were killed and four injured. Although wounded himself, Rawson delayed to assist a wounded soldier and turned back to seize a rifle and with it killed one tribesman at point blank range and forced the other attackers to take cover. This enabled the rest of the section to get the wounded man away. His action inspired other of his men to behave most bravely'.

On the outbreak of the Second World War, the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was still on overseas garrison duty in India having been assigned to the 15th (Indian) Brigade, 9th (Indian) Division. This brigade was later re-assigned to the 11th (Indian) Division, and moved to Penang in February 1941, from where it sailed for mainland Malaya. When Japan declared war, 7.12.1941, the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was in position at Jitra, and on the night of 10-11.12.1941 initial contact was made with the enemy. From that point onwards, the battalion was continually in action until the final surrender of Singapore. As a result of heavy casualties within the two British battalions of the Division, the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment to form the famous 'British Battalion', 20.12.1941. Mowbray was killed in action, 21.1.1942, and is buried in Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

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£380