India General Service Medal 1908-35. GV 2nd issue with clasp 'North West Frontier 1930-31' (9478 Sep. Hazara Singh, 2-12 F.F.R.)

With official corrections to last letters of forename 'RA' only, and exactly as issued

Died as Prisoner of War: Lance-Naik Hazara Singh 2nd Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment is confirmed having died somewhere in enemy occupied South East Asia on, 27 August 1944.

Hazara Singh, a Sikh soldier, was the son of Rur Singh, of Monawali, Sialkot, Punjab, British India (now located in Pakistan)

The life and supreme sacrifice of Hazara Singh is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on Column 231 of the Singapore Memorial located at Kranji, Singapore

Within Kranji War Cemetery stands the SINGAPORE MEMORIAL, bearing the names of over 24,000 casualties of the Commonwealth land and air forces who have no known grave. Many of these have no known date of death and are accorded within CWGC records the date or period from when they were known to be missing or captured. The land forces commemorated by the memorial died during the campaigns in Malaya and Netherlands East Indies or in subsequent captivity, including many of them during the construction of the Burma-Thailand railway, or at sea while being transported into imprisonment elsewhere. The memorial also commemorates airmen who died during operations over the whole of southern and eastern Asia and the surrounding seas and oceans

The recipient was an Indian soldier of the Sikh faith who held the rank of Sepoy (Private), and served with the 2nd Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment

Second World War Campaign Medals: In addition to his pre-war India General Service Medal, Hazara Singh would have qualified for the below following campaign medals, that may have been issued to his notified next of kin:

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp
- The Pacific Star. No clasp
- Defence Medal (served in Malaya theatre from April 1941)
- War Medal

2/12 Frontier Force Regiment, deployed to Malaya in March/April 1941, where it was part of 8th Indian Infantry Brigade and subsequently fought during the ill-fated Malaya campaign, with the remnants of the regiment (including surviving attested followers), surrendering at Singapore Colony on, 15 February 1942

Victoria Cross battalion: The only Victoria Cross of the Malaya campaign to be awarded to the British Indian Army, was the award to the Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment, Arthur Edward Cumming

Brigadier Arthur Edward Cumming VC OBE MC (18 June 1896 – 10 April 1971) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, who had been born in Karachi, British India, and attended Karachi Grammar School

Cumming was 45 years old, and a lieutenant colonel commanding the 2/12th Frontier Force Regiment, in the Indian Army during World War II. Lt. Col Cumming and his battalion were defending an airfield during the Battle of Malaya when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC (currently displayed at the National Army Museum)

On 3 January 1942 near Kuantan, Malaya, the Japanese made a furious attack on the battalion and a strong enemy force penetrated the position. Lieutenant Colonel Cumming, with a small party of men, immediately led a counter-attack and although all his men became casualties and he, himself, had two bayonet wounds in the stomach he managed to restore the situation sufficiently for the major portion of the battalion and its vehicles to be withdrawn. Later he drove in a carrier, under very heavy fire, collecting isolated detachments of his men and was again wounded. His gallant actions helped the brigade to withdraw safely

Cumming was one of a small number of officers and men who were ordered to be evacuated from Singapore before the island was surrendered on 15 February 1942. Cumming subsequently commanded a battalion of the 9th Jat Regiment before his promotion to brigadier and command of the 63rd Indian Brigade during the Burma campaign. From 1944 to his retirement in 1947 Brigadier Cumming was in command of the Dehra Dun District in India.

A scarce seen campaign medal named to a loyal Sikh soldier fought in the fighting retreat of 11th Indian Division down the length of the Malay Peninsula in December 1941 - January 1942, who 'Kept his Salt' to the King Emperor, and died while a Prisoner of War in South East Asia

Condition: VF

Code: 23920