India Meritorious Service Medal,. EDVII issue (6 Kot Dufdr. Nawal Khan 30th. Mule Corps) 

Minor official corrections to regimental number & rank only

The low single digit regimental number '6' indicates that the recipient was an original muster of the 6th Mule Corps when the unit was raised

The recipient Nawal Khan was an Indian soldier of the Mussalman faith who held the NCO rank of 'Kot-Duffadar' while serving with the 30th Mule Corps of the Supply & Transport Corps of the British Indian Army

A Kot(e)-Duffadar was the highest attainable NCO rank in a Mule Corps. Kote-Duffadar's often had direct oversight of the respective 'Troops' equipment, stables, weapons (armoury), and quartermaster stores. They were responsible for maintaining high standards of discipline, equipment readiness, and drill instruction.

Per the Indian Army List issue October 1909, the 30th Mule Corps was then stationed at Karachi Cantonment, in the Sind Division of the Bombay Presidency (now located in Pakistan)

Mule Corps Establishment 1914: Reference 'On Two Fronts - Being the Adventures of an Indian Mule Corps in France and Gallipoli (Major H. M. Alexander, D.S.O.. London 1917); the author - an officer of the Supply & Transport Corps of the British Indian Army, wrote:

Quote,

The Corps, at service strength, consists of eight troops of 96 mules each, in charge of a kot duffadar or troop-sergeant-major, assisted by two naicks or corporals, and about fifty Indian drivers. The '' superior establishment ", as it is officially called, includes the Commandant (usually a Major or Captain), two British warrant-officers, each of whom commands a '* sub-division '' of four troops; two British staff-sergeants as Sergeant-Major and Quarter master- Sergeant; two Indian officers as Adjutant and Veterinary Officer, and two Indian clerks. In peace-time the Corps has 200 small carts, and four of the troops are then used in draught. The total strength is 768 mules and, roughly, 500 men

Unquote.

Condition: VF

Code: 26146