Indian Meritorious Service Medal. GVI issue (2518 Drum Maj. Dhani Ram, 10-14 Punjab R.)

Important: Reference 'India's Army' (Major Donovan Jackson, 1940) page 332, contains a splendid photograph of the recipient captioned 'Drum-Major and Pipers, 10th Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment', which we are here attaching to illustrate this listing

Note: The Drum-Major in the illustration is wearing his distinctive 'Dogra Rajput' turban (amongst the handful of regimental 'Pipers' in the photograph can also be seen the distinctive turbans worn by a 'Sikh', and others with the customary 'Kullah' worn respectively by 'Punjabi Mussalman / Pathan' Pipers

The recipient was an Indian soldier of Dogra Rajput ethnicity and the the Hindu faith who held the appointment of 'Drum-Major' while serving with the 10th (Training) Battalion 14th Punjab Regiment, an infantry unit of the British Indian Army

The origins of 10-14 Punjab Regiment date back to 1857, when it was raised and styled, as the 11th Regiment of Punjab Infantry. It was designated as the 21st Punjabis in 1903. In 1922 it was re-styled as 10th (Training) Battalion of 14th Punjab Regiment. In 1943, it was converted into the 14th Punjab Regimental Centre. In 1947, the 14th Punjab Regiment was allocated to the Pakistan Army. In 1956, the 1st, 14th, 15th and 16th Punjab Regimental Centres where amalgamated to form the Punjab Regimental Centre

There was only ever one 'Drum-Major' at any one time in any battalion, that held the appointment of 'Drum-Major', and all medals named to Drum Major's of the British Indian Army are without exception extremely scarce

A most desirable example of the Indian Meritorious Service Medal, and extremely scarce seen with a positively attributed image of the recipient

Condition: GVF

Code: 23183