A spectacular Posthumous award of the King’s Police Medal for Gallantry, GVIR, 1st type bust, awarded to Foot Constable Azran Gul, Dera Ismail Khan District, North-West Frontier Police, who on 10 March 1941 was a member of a Police patrol that was ambushed by a strong party of Mahsud hostiles. When the enemy opened fire he rushed towards them and took a position only ten paces away, then opened fire on the enemy, inflicting at least one casualty, and this allowed his comrades to take their own positions. Having received a bullet wound earlier in the actin, he was shot a further three times which proved fatal. His outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty compelled the enemy to retire without achieving their objectives and protected the lives of his comrades.
King’s Police Medal for Gallantry, GVIR, 1st type bust; correct engraved naming; (AZRAN GUL CONSTABLE No. 474 N.W.F.P.)
Condition: edge-knick at 7 o’clock, otherwise Good Very Fine
Foot Constable (No. 474) Azran Gul, Dera Ismail Khan District, North-West Frontier Police was posthumously awarded the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal for Gallantry in the London Gazette of 19th August 1941.
A document related to the recipient is held by the National Archives of India but has yet to be digitalised.
An account of his actions was published in the Calcutta Gazette and along with the London Gazette announcement, and a local newspaper reported form Peshawar on August 28:
‘His Imperial Majesty the King-Emperor of India has been graciously pleased to award the King’s Police and Fire Services Medal to Azran Gul, foot constable of the district police, Dera Ismail Khan (deceased).
On March 10, 1941, a section of the Additional Police was ambushed by a strong party of Mahsud hostiles. When the enemy opened fire. Foot-Constable Azran Gul rushed towards them and took up his position only ten paces away. Although wounded, he opened rapid fire on the enemy, thus enabling his comrades to take up their own positions. The Foot-Constable was finally killed after receiving three more bullet wounds. He inflicted at least one casualty on the enemy, who were compelled to retire without achieving their objects.
He showed outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty.’
A scarce posthumous award of the King’s Police Medal.