Bahawalpur (Princely State). War Medal 1939-1945

Awarded to personnel of the Bahawalpur State Forces for service during the 1939-45 War

This medal together with the Victory Star 1945 - were the last campaign medals to be instituted in the Princely State of Bahawalpur

Bahawalpur Army 1939-1945: At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Bahawalpur Army had a reported strength of 1,122 'All-Ranks', comprising 36 in the Body Guard, 730 in the 1st Infantry and 356 in the 2nd Infantry. In March 1941, the 1st Bahawalpur Infantry (Sadiq Battalion) was shipped to Malaya to protect airfields in the north of the country. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War on 8 December 1941, and the subsequent Japanese invasion of Malaya, the 'Sadiq' battalion fought throughout the Malaya campaign, culminating in the surrender of Singapore Colony on, 15 February 1942. For their collective services in the ill-fated Malaya campaign, the1st Bahawalpur Infantry (Sadiq Battalion) were awarded the below 'Imperial' Battle Honours

- Johore
- Singapore Island
- Malaya 1941-42

The following British awards were made to individuals

- 1 x George Cross
- 1 x Order of British India
- 4 x Mentions-in-Despatches

With the exception of those members of 1st Bahawalpur Infantry (Sadiq Battalion) that later joined the Japanese sponsored Indian National Army, all those who had 'remained loyal to their salt', during and after the Malay campaign were entitled to receive the following British campaign medals - in addition to their Bahawalpur awards

- The 1939-1945 Star
- The Pacific Star
- Defence Medal (6 months service in theatre prior to 8 December 1941)
- War Medal

1st Bahawalpur Infantry (Sadiq Battalion) was the only 'fighting arms' of the Bahawalpur Army to experience overseas combat during the Second World War. However, Bahawalpur contributed considerable resources to increasing the size of it's military forces 1939-1945, to the extent that by 1945 the Bahawalpur Army numbered 2,911 'All-Ranks', and had during the war raised a number of additional infantry and support-arms units, many of which served outside of Bahawalpur in British India. In addition to the troops that served in the Bahawalpur Army, it is reported that more then 10,000 men from Bahawalpur were recruited directly into the British Indian Army & other armed services

The medal fitted with a good clean long length of medal riband

Condition: About EF

Code: 23773