Lot Essay
INDENTI.D.S.M. London Gazette 11.5.1944
The Recommendation states: "11138 L/Nk Gurnam Singh Punjab Regiment. During the early hours of 26th Jan this NCO's Platoon was ordered across the wadi fronting the Battalion Forward Lines south of Arelli with the intention of forcing a way into the forward enemy localities. This NCO commanded the leading section of the platoon. Strong opposition was soon encountered in the form of an enemy occupied house. Nk Gurnam Singh, handling his section skilfully, flanked the house, inflicted casualties and in hand to hand fighting brought about the capitulation of the few remaining inmates. In this sharp action three enemy were killed and four taken prisoner. Three of Nk Gurnam Singh's section were wounded. The advance of the platoon was then further held up by fire from a machine gun post. This post had to be subdued but the NCO had run out of ammunition. He immediately seized a captured enemy machine gun, and firing from the hip led the remainder of his section through a hail of bullets towards the post causing the occupants to withdraw in confusion and inflicting casulaties among them. Two more of the Nk's section were wounded
This NCO's cheerful resolution and complete disregard of danger was instrumental in inflicting many casualties upon the enemy and obtaining important identifications"
The Recommendation states: "11138 L/Nk Gurnam Singh Punjab Regiment. During the early hours of 26th Jan this NCO's Platoon was ordered across the wadi fronting the Battalion Forward Lines south of Arelli with the intention of forcing a way into the forward enemy localities. This NCO commanded the leading section of the platoon. Strong opposition was soon encountered in the form of an enemy occupied house. Nk Gurnam Singh, handling his section skilfully, flanked the house, inflicted casualties and in hand to hand fighting brought about the capitulation of the few remaining inmates. In this sharp action three enemy were killed and four taken prisoner. Three of Nk Gurnam Singh's section were wounded. The advance of the platoon was then further held up by fire from a machine gun post. This post had to be subdued but the NCO had run out of ammunition. He immediately seized a captured enemy machine gun, and firing from the hip led the remainder of his section through a hail of bullets towards the post causing the occupants to withdraw in confusion and inflicting casulaties among them. Two more of the Nk's section were wounded
This NCO's cheerful resolution and complete disregard of danger was instrumental in inflicting many casualties upon the enemy and obtaining important identifications"