Lot 5116

Description

Group of Five: Military Medal (GVIR Indiae Imp); 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45. 6198 Hav Rattan Singh Dogra R on first medal, other medals unnamed as issued. Named medal impressed. Display mounted, very fine.

Ex Spink Sale 1131 (lot 589), and Noble Numismatics Sale 78 (lot 4053) from the J.J.Atkinson Collection.

MM: Supplement to LG 1/11/1945, p5312.

Recommendation: For gallant and distinguished service in the field. Havildar Rattam Singh was not captured by the Japanese until four months after the capitulation of Malaya, remaining during this time stoically by the side of the C.O. attempting to evade capture. Eventually he was shipped to New Guinea and in September 1944 during a move from RAWAN to MAPRIK he and 27 Indian Other Ranks escaped, the Havildar who possessed a compass, acting as leader. All went comparatively well, though the journey was extremely hard and it was difficult to feed the party on roots and berries in the jungle, until a fortnight later they entered an apparently abandoned Japanese Camp. Here they were suddenly challenged by a Japanese Captain and his batman, but Havildar Rattam Singh called on four Indian Other Ranks to seize them and he himself beheaded them both with a 'dah'. He then led the party on and after another hard two days they were recovered by an American Patrol.

Havildar Rattam Singh showed remarkable qualities of leadership and steadfastness both during the actual escape and all through the extremely hazardous journey they undertook, and to date his is the only authenticated record of an Indian prisoner of war recovered from the South West Pacific Area who has taken extreme measures against the Japanese to facilitate escape. For his courage, powers of leadership and devotion to duty it is considered that he should be awarded the Military Medal.'

Together with recipient's detailed debriefing narrative of his capture, imprisonment, escape and eventual return to India; copy of original recommendation for the award; and official photographs of Dogras in action.