India General Service Medal 1908-35, GV first type. Silver issue, with 2 x clasps 'Waziristan 1921-24' & 'North West Frontier 1930-31' (Ris-Maj. Sanwal Khan, I. A. V. C.)

Upper clasp attached by rivets

The recipient by ethnicity and faith was a Punjabi Mussalman, who was holding the senior-most Viceroys Commissioned Officer appointment of 'Risaldar Major' while serving with the Indian Army Veterinary Corps, on retirement from the British Indian Army, his title was:

- Hony Captain Sardar Bahadur Malik Sanwal Khan, O.B.I.

'Malik' was a Mussalman Honorific1

Sanwal Khan's brilliant military 'Veterinary' career can be traced through the prolific issues of the Indian Army List, from where the following information is taken. He was born in India on 1 July 1876. Reference the Indian Army List for January 1922, Sanwal Khan is recorded therein under the regimental listings of the Indian Veterinary Corps (the India Veterinary Corps (I.V.C.) in 1925 was restyled as the Indian Army Veterinary Corps (I.A.V.C.)), as having first graduated at a Veterinary College on, 1 April 1905, and having been appointed to the Indian Veterinary Corps on 28 January 1919. He held a certificate for having passed in English. He served with the Mobile Veterinary Section at Kirkak from 23 May to 31 July 1919, and then with the Veterinary Hospital at Bushire (entitled and issued with a GSM 1918 with clasp S. Persia). In 1920, he was holding the rank of Senior 2nd Class Veterinary Assistant (ranked as Jemadar) and was stationed at Ambala Cantonment, Punjab.In 1923, the IA List records him serving at Bannu (NWF) with the 5th Field Veterinary Section. The Indian Army list of January 1927, records Sanwal Khan now holding the rank of Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (ranked as Subadar-Major), which rank he been promoted to on, 1 April 1925, at which time he was 'In-Charge' of the Veterinary Hospital located at Kohat Cantonment, Baluchistan. By the time of the Indian Army List June 1930 issue, Sanwal Khan is listed as being the seniormost Veterinary Assistant Surgeon in the IAVC. In 1930 he was still listed as being the person in charge of the Veterinary Hospital at Kohat, Baluchistan. He was awarded the Order of British India 1st Class on 10 February 1930, and retired on 30 June 1931, being granted the honorary rank of Captain on retirement, as well as the honorific of Sardar Bahadur.

The sale does not include the cigarette card of the OBI, which has only here been shown in the image for illustrative / prop purposes

A very scarce seen Veterinary' Risaldar-Major's IGS medal to a VCO who was later decorated with the 1st Class insignia of the Order of British India

Condition: VF

Code: 25598