!"#$%%&’()$*"$+",&-.%/"($"(0&"1*-).*"!234"(0&"52$5&2(4"$+"."2&()2&-"1*-).*"!234"$++)’&2
96
A fine Second World War M.M. pair awarded to Havildar Mohindar Singh, Frontier Force Rifles, who succeeded in
escaping from German forces on his third attempt
MILITARY MEDAL, G.VI.R. (13631 Hav Mohindar Singh FFR); INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier
1937-39 (13631 Sep. Mohindar Singh, 4-13 F.F. Rif.) good very fine (2) £600-800
M.M. London Gazette 20 September 1945.
The recommendation states:
‘No. 13631 Havildar Mohindar Singh, 3/12 F.F.R. - On 15th September 1943, Havildar Mohindar Singh escaped from Avezzano for the
first time, and led a small band into the mountains, where he contacted a friendly farmer, and laid up for the winter. However, on 7th
January 1944 he was over-run by the Germans and re-taken prisoner. On 15th March, whilst en-route from Laterina to Germany, he cut
his way through the under-carriage of the train, fell out, and awaited the train passing over him. Once free he struck off into the
mountains towards Switzerland, but on the fifth day he was once again recaptured and sent to Nancy.
On 1st September 1944 he was assembled in a column which was to march to Germany. Seizing his opportunity, Havildar Mohindar
Singh dived out of sight of the column when the sentry was not looking, sought refuge in a nearby house, and a fortnight later was over-
run by American forces.
For his courage in attempting to escape no less than three times, it is considered that Havildar Mohindar Singh should be
recommended for the award of the Military Medal.’
97
A rare R.V.M. and Durand Medal pair awarded to Subadar Krishna Appaji Bahadur, O.B.I., R.V.M., 3rd Bombay
Sappers and Miners
ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL, G.V.R., Silver (Sbdr. Krishna Appaji Bahadur, 3rd S & M); THE DURAND MEDAL, annual award for
1908 (Subadar Krishna Appaji, 3rd Sappers and Miners. 1908) the second with numerous edge bruises and knocks,
otherwise nearly very fine and rare (2) £800-1000
R.V.M. awarded on 16 December 1911, for services at the Delhi Durbar 1911.
The Durand Medal was an annual award to an Indian officer, N.C.O. or Sapper of the Indian Sappers and Miners who had
distinguished himself as a soldier and a sapper by good and efficient service. The prize originated in 1876, when a fund was raised by
R.E. officers at home and in India to commemorate the memory of Major-General Sir Henry Durand, K.C.S.I., C.B., of the Bengal
Engineers. The design on the medal commemorates one of the first acts of his military career when he blew in the gate of the Ghazni
fort in 1839. The Trust Fund is controlled by the Institution of Royal Engineers and since partition the medal has been awarded on the
basis of two years to the Indian Engineers to one year to the Royal Pakistan Engineers on the advice of their respective Engineers-in-
Chief.
Krishna Appaji enrolled into the Bombay Sappers and Miners in 1877, becoming Jemadar in 1893, and Subadar in 1902. For his war
services he received medals for Kandahar 1880, Samana 1891, the relief of Pekin 1900, and Somaliland 1902-04. He was mentioned
in despatches for Somaliland, and later awarded the Order of British India, 2nd Class (G.G.O. 15 September 1908). Subadar Krishna
Appaji retired in March 1909. He was awarded the R.V.M. (Silver) for services at the Delhi Durbar in 1911 and also received the Delhi
Durbar medal.
www.dnw.co.uk
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