A superb Arakan fighting Military Medal, GVIR 1st type bust, awarded to Naik Mohammed Sadiq, 2nd Punjab Regiment in the London Gazette of 22nd June 1944 for courageously charging an enemy trench killing three Japanese with his Thompson Machine Carbine being slightly wounded in the process, he would go on to reach another enemy trench where a Japanese officer tried to cut him down with a sword, Sadiq killing him with the butt of his machine carbine, meanwhile his men threw grenades and caused many casualties. Over 100 Japanese bodies were collected on completion of this series of attacks.
Military Medal, GVIR 1st type bust; correct engraved naming; (16477 NAIK MOHD SADIQ 2 PUNJAB R.)
Condition: one edge bruise to the reverse rim at 4 o’clock, otherwise, Good Very Fine
Mohammed Sadiq from the village of Zaindi, Fateh Jang Tehsil in the district of Campbellpur (now Attock, Pakistan) and served as a Naik (No. 16477) with the 2nd Punjab Regiment in the Arakan.
He was awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 22nd June 1944, the exceptional recommendation for the award which was initially for an Indian Distinguished Service Medal but changed to a Military Medal stating:
‘On March 11th 1944 when the forward platoon was attacking an enemy position on Boomerang (ref 507478) it came under heavy fire and grievous opposition. Naik Mohd Sadiq courageously charged the enemy trench killing three with his T.M.C. (Thompson Machine Carbine), he was slightly wounded at that time but he went on and reached another enemy trench where he found another section of the enemy. A Jap officer tried to cut him down with his sword but he struck him down with his T.M.C. butt and killed him. Meanwhile his men threw grenades and caused many enemy casualties. Throughout all the operation he led his men without fear for himself. His courage was an inspiration to them all.’
The recommendation is further annotated with the note ‘Recommended – over 100 Jap bodies were collected on completion of this series of attacks.’
At this time Sadiq’s unit as part of the 7th Indian Division was recovering from the heavy fighting that had occurred during the Battle of the Admin Box that had occurred the previous month, and was involved in a wide scale Japanese attack that sought to invade India and resulted in the battles at Imphal and Kohima in India’s north eastern region.