A Rare Indian Army M.C. and Bar Group of Five to Captain H.G. Inglis, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Attached 56th Punjab Rifles (Frontier Force), and 2/151st Infantry, Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed "2nd. Lieut. H.G. Inglis, Dujailah Mesopotamia 8th March 1916", with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (2-Lt. 56-Rfls.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); I.G.S. 1908-35, G.V.R., one clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Capt. 2/151-Infy.), good very fine, with two studio photographs of Inglis in uniform

Details
A Rare Indian Army M.C. and Bar Group of Five to Captain H.G. Inglis, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Attached 56th Punjab Rifles (Frontier Force), and 2/151st Infantry, Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed "2nd. Lieut. H.G. Inglis, Dujailah Mesopotamia 8th March 1916", with Second Award Bar; 1914-15 Star (2-Lt. 56-Rfls.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); I.G.S. 1908-35, G.V.R., one clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Capt. 2/151-Infy.), good very fine, with two studio photographs of Inglis in uniform

30 Second Award Bars to the Military Cross awarded to the Indian Army for the period 1916-1920 (5)

Lot Essay

INDENTM.C. London Gazette 31.5.1916, 2nd Lt. Ind. Army Res. of Off. (attd. 56th Punjabi Rif.) "For conspicuous gallantry when leading an attack on the enemy trenches and maintaining his small party till dark within 200 yards of the enemy's position. He also made gallant attempts to rescue a wounded officer." (Mesopotamia)

Bar to the M.C. London Gazette 26.5.1919, Lt. I.A.R.O. attd. 2/151st Infy. I.A. (Egypt) "For conspicuous gallantry and brilliant leadership at Kusr Es Senameh, near Bidieh, on 20th September 1918. In face of very heavy fire he led his company from the top of a ridge down a long forward slope and up to the next ridge. He then did the same thing again, capturing a second ridge under still closer and heavier fire. He displayed absolute fearlessness."

Captain Harold Gordon Inglis M.C. , born 1889, attended Lancing College from May 1904 - July 1906; was a planter in Ceylon from 1911 until the outbreak of war.

Dujailah
The ill-fated battle of Dujailah was fought just outside Kut on March 8th 1916. Reconnaissance showed that it would have been possible to have taken the Dujailah redoubt by an early morning assault in the dark, however the General in command insisted that the pre-arranged plan be adhered to. So the attack went in at 8.00 a.m., in full daylight, to find the Turks waiting and on full alert. Inevitably the attack collapsed under point-blank fire. Even at the outset the 56th Punjabis were only 300 strong and they lost 41 killed and 177 wounded and missing in this action, including nearly all the British officers. "The survivors were rallied by 2/Lt. Inglis, Capt. Riddell I.M.S. and Subadar-Major Harnam Singh and withdrawn after nightfall."

2/151st Infantry served in the 29th Inf. Bde., 10th Division E.E.F. The official account of the E.E.F. has this to say of 20th September 1918; "2/151st Infantry and 1/101st Grenadiers reached the line Kusr Es Sanameh-Selfit, where they were held up, but supported by 1/54th Sikhs captured all positions in the face of determined resistance..."

More from Medals

View All
View All