Indian Distinguished Service Medal. GV first issue (1824 Naik Dalip Singh, 47th Sikhs.)

The recipients regimental number with single digit transcription error, it should be 1814 (sic), the medal officially engraved, and with nil corrections, exactly as issued from the Calcutta Mint. There was only one person called Dalip Singh of the 47th Sikhs who was ever decorated with the IDSM vis No. 1814 Naik Dalip Singh

The recipient was an Indian soldier of the Sikh faith, who held the rank of 'Naik' (Corporal) while serving with the 47th Sikhs, an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army

Wounded-in-Action Neuve Chapelle, October 1914 - first action of Jullunder Brigade, Indian Corps, France 1914: 1814 Sepoy Dalip Singh is confirmed having bene 'Wounded-in-Action' on 27 October 1914, during the very first action of the Jullunder Brigade in France 1914, reference the Civil and Military Gazette (Lahore), issue of 12 November 1914, and repeated in the casualty lists published in the 'Army and Navy Gazette' issue of 23 January 1915 the long casualty list is titled 'Indian Casualties' with following preamble:

Quote,

The following casualties amongst Indian non commissioned officers and men of the Expeditionary Force, are reported from the Base under date Nov, 18. 1914.

Unquote.

How and where Dalip Singh recovered from his battle wounds received in action on 27 October 1914, is not known, but he cam be considered fortunate to have survived the Western Front, as by the time the 'Jullunder Brigade' and the rest of the Indian Corps were withdrawn from France in 1915, the 47th Sikhs left behind an estimated 130 killed and died 'All-Ranks' of the regiment, whose lives are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Medal verification: 1814 (sic) Naik Dalip Singh is confirmed as having been awarded the IDSM for gallant deeds performed in 'Mesopotamia', the award being published in Indian Army Order 1885 of 1918

Reference 'The Indian Distinguished Service Medal' (R. Chhina, 2001), it is shown that Dalip Singh's IDSM was in respect of gallant deeds performed in theatre of war 'Mesopotamia', and was penultimate award of the IDSM awarded to the regiment for deeds performed in the Great War, and Dalip's being the last to be gazetted in 1918. In total 47th Sikhs were awarded 27 x IDSM's during the Great War, which by theatre were:

- France: x 11
- Mesopotamia: x 17

Reference 'British Gallantry Awards' (Abbot & Tamplin, 1981), the authors estimate that 254 x IDSM's were awarded for East Africa

47th Sikhs: The regiment has its origins in 1901 when it was raised as the 47th (Sikh) Bengal Infantry. In 1903 the regiment was restyled as the 47th Sikhs. In 1922 the regiment was restyled as 5th Battalion 11th Sikh Regiment. In 2024, the descendent unit continues to serve in the Indian Army as 5th Battalion Sikh Regiment

Condition: Toned VF

Code: 24093