Indian Meritorious Service Medal. GVI issue (3783 Hav. Bostan Khan, 15 Punj. A. Tk. R. I. Arty.)

Inter-War service: The recipient is confirmed to have prior served in Burma during the Burma Rebellion of 1930-32 - for which service he was awarded an Indian General Service Medal 1908-35, GV second type with clasp 'Burma 1930-32'. The medal is known to exist, and is recorded to have sold at Dix Noonan Webb as Lot 741 in December 2004

By ethnicity and faith the recipient was a Punjabi Mussalman soldier who held the rank of Havildar (Sergeant) while serving with the war-raised 15th Punjab Anti-Tank Regiment of the Indian Artillery

15th Punjab Anti-Tank Regiment, Indian Artillery: This was a war raised unit. Formed as Machine Gun Battalion 15th Punjab Regiment t Ambala Cantonment in July 1942. In August 1942, the battalion was transferred to the Indian Artillery and converted to become an Anti-Tank regiment. All the former infantrymen and their officers transitioned to become 'Gunners', and deployed on active service to the Burma Theatre. The unit was one of 12 'War Raided' infantry battalions that were selected for conversion to an artillery role. Of the 12 x former infantry battalions, 5 x were selected to become Anti-Tank regiments, 4 x became Light Anti-Aircraft Regiments and 3 x became Heavy Anti-Tank Regiments

All 'converted' war-raised Indian Army battalions, as a bow to their origins, retained in part, their parent infantry names in their new artillery designations

All named silver medals to converted infantry units that became 'Gunners' are rare

Condition: GVF

Code: 24709