An outstanding and rare Burma Gallantry Medal group of four to Sepoy No Rawt, Chin Hills Battalion, The Burma Regiment, who, at Zote village in the Chin Hills, on 11th March 44, ran into an unexpected very large force of Japanese when returning to his Regiment with a Jemadar and four other Sepoys. One Sepoy was killed and the Jemadar and the other sepoys were wounded in the ensuing action, as Sepoy No Rawt engaged the enemy with his rifle killing or wounding several and forcing the rest to take cover. He succeeded in keeping them at bay, firing steadily and accurately from a series of fire positions for nearly two hours as his lesser wounded comrades removed the badly wounded to a place of safety.
Group of 4: Burma Gallantry Medal, GVIR 1st type bust; (66603 SEPOY NO RAWT. THE BURMA REGT.) 1939-1945 Star; Burma Star; War Medal.
Condition: noticeable contact wear to the Burma Gallantry Medal, Very Fine
No Rawt saw service as a Sepoy (No. 66603) with the Chin Hills Battalion, The Burma Regiment in Burma during the Second World War.
He would be decorated with the Burma Gallantry Medal in the London Gazette of 31st August 1944, the original recommendation:
‘At Zote village in the Chin Hills on 11th March 44. Sepoy No Rawt was coming back from attached duty to join his regiment; his party consisted of a Jemadar and four other sepoys. On the road they ran into a very large force of Japs whose presence in that part of the country they had not heard about. One sepoy was killed and the Jemadar and the other sepoys wounded, one seriously. Sepoy No Rawt engaged the enemy with his rifle killing or wounding several and forcing the rest to take cover, and succeeded in keeping them at bay until the lesser wounded had got the badly wounded away.
He fired steadily and accurately from a series of fire positions for nearly two hours.
By his initiative and complete disregard for his own personal safety he undoubtedly saved the lives of three of his comrades.’
When Burma ceased to be a province of British India in 1937 and became a separate colony, a distinct gallantry medal was required for its armed forces. In response, the Burma Gallantry Medal was established by royal warrant on 10 May 1940.
Between 26 March 1942 and 28 November 1947, a total of 207 medals and 3 clasps were awarded. In addition to the medal, recipients were entitled to a monthly monetary allowance, paid for life.
The medal became obsolete when Burma gained independence on 4 January 1948, this thus a scarce award.
The fighting in the Chin Hills area in March 1944 was the precursor to the Japanese attempts to capture the Indian town of Imphal, the scene of heavy fighting the following month.
