Beschreibung:

'A feat of endurance which assuredly will rank high in the annals of warfare… It says much for the morale of this fine Battalion that it remained a formed and disciplined body till the end.' Lieutenant-General Percival on the 2/15th Punjab Regiment, it was men like Lance-Naik Singh which forged their repute. A very fine 'clandestine Ops - Fall of Malaya 1942' M.M. awarded to Lance-Naik Beant Singh, 2/15th Punjab Regiment, who went deep behind the lines in disguise to Kuching in order to pass vital information on the enemy and also to investigate the disappearance of Captain Mata-ul-Mulk, a member of the Royal Family of Chitral Military Medal, G.VI.R. (10055 L. Naik. Beant Singh. Punjab R.), very fine Provenance: Glendining's, 19 September 1989, Lot 613, when sold as part of a Collection Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Second World War. 1 of just two awards of the M.M. to the unit for this campaign. M.M. London Gazette 25 September 1947: 'In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya prior to the fall of Singapore in 1942.' The original recommendation - for an I.D.S.M. - by Colonel C. M. Lane, OC Troops Sarawak and Brunei states: 'This Non-Commissioned Officer volunteered to proceed in disguise on an important mission from Dutch West Borneo to Sarawak, when in January 1942 the British forces were operating in Dutch West Borneo. Although after going a considerable distance he was forced to return, though no fault of his own, he was able to bring back valuable information. Soon after at Siloeas, in Dutch West Borneo, he showed most marked devotion to duty by reporting by telephone to Force HQ the movements of the enemy and our own troops. This duty he carried out under fire at times and by extreme energy transmitted valuable information at a critical period in operations.' Remarks by Lieutenant-Colonel F.G. Milligan: 'This NCO, who was one of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment’s Clerks, was one of the 2 men to volunteer for the extremely perilous task of going some 60 miles behind the Japanese lines back to Kuching to ascertain the enemy’s activities and the strength of the forces with which he was advancing into Dutch West Borneo. He was also given the task of finding out what was happening to our men who became missing in Kuching on 26 Dec 1941, and particularly in connection with the disappearance of Captain Mata-ul-Mulk. No praise is too high for the courageous manner in which he attempted to carry out this task. He is strongly recommended for the above mentioned award (MM).' Beant Singh was from Padhiana, Jullundur and served with the 2nd Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment during the Second World War. The campaign they shared in is covered excellently via http://www.kaiserscross.com/304501/521701.html and the story of the party he went in search of is recalled: 'Next day, Christmas morning, after unsuccessfully requesting orders from Singapore Colonel Lane ordered a withdrawal into Dutch Borneo. A group of British women and children along with the hospital detachment were sent ahead during a lull in the firing, and ‘A’ Company went to secure the vital ferry crossing at Batu Kitak. As these movements were proceeding a large Japanese force attacked the 2/15th Punjabis rear-guard in strength. After a stiff fight, particularly by the Khattacks who machine-gunned a considerable number of advancing Japanese, four British officers, six Indian Officers and 230 Sepoys were killed or taken prisoner, wounded prisoners being bayoneted by the Japanese. Captain J.H.C. ‘Bruno’ Brown, OC ‘B’ Company, was amongst the dead having killed two Japanese with his revolver before a third bayoneted him. Lieutenant D.A. ‘Doggy’ Hodges, OC ‘C’ Company, was amongst the prisoners, having surrendered his company when it was surrounded and only two platoons were still able to fight. Only a few sepoys trickled back to re-join the Battalion. The Japanese casualty list for this rear-guard action was believed to have included 374