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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 227

A superb 'Italy Operations September 1944' Immediate I.D.S.M. group of four awarded to Havildar Jagir Singh, 2nd Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment, who led his Company in the Battle for Onferno Castle, being wounded in the action he displayed utter disregard for his own safety, screaming the unit battle-cry as he threw himself onto the enemy, accounting for at least 5 with his machine-gun and grenades

Indian Distinguished Service Medal, G.VI.R. (13124 Hav. Jagir Singh, 11 R Sikh R); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star, the reverse engraved '2nd (Royal) Bn 11 Sikh R 4 Indian Dvi'; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, good very fine (4)

I.D.S.M. London Gazette 8 February 1945. The original recommendation states:

'On the night 12/13 September [1944] A Company formed part of a two-Company attack on the village of Onferno. The leading Company captured the preliminary objective after fierce fighting and A Company in order to secure the final objective had to pass through heavy enemy shell and mortar fire sustaining some 30 casualties.

Havildar Jagir Singh was Platoon Havildar of the leading Platoon. During the Platoon's advance close past the B Company position the enemy mortar fire was stopped and a counter-attack in the dark by an enemy party of 12-15 strong was launched against the flank of Havildar Jagir Singh's Platoon. The Platoon Commander was killed, and the 38 set which Havildar Jagir Singh was wearing at the time, received a hit from a shell-splinter completely breaking the set, and wounding the Havildar in the chest.

Havildar Jagir Singh led his Platoon HQ in an attack straight onto the enemy, shouting the Regiment's battle-cry as he went, and with T.S.M.G. fire killed three of the enemy where they stood. He then broke up the rest of the enemy party's attack with hand grenades which he carried, and the enemy broke in disorder leaving 5 dead on the ground.

Heavy and accurate enemy mortaring and shell-fire continued for the next two hours, and the Company attack was finally brought to a standstill.

Havildar Jagir Singh, still under heavy enemy fire organised a Platoon Aid Post and, with great cheerfulness and calmness, encouraged the wounded and assisted the two S.B.s in their duties.

His personal bravery and complete calmness under heavy fire by night were an inspiration of the greatest value to his Platoon, and resulted in their being withdrawn, when ordered, with complete steadiness. Havildar Jagir Singh returned himself carrying a wounded comrade over 500 yards of difficult country under fire, and the rifles of two members of his HQ who had been wounded, though himself suffering from wounds sustained earlier in the night.'



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Sold for
£3,200

Starting price
£1100