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Subedar Major Sarwan Singh, I.O.M.
King George's Own Sappers and Miners
(circa 1931)

by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis ©2008

Subedar Major Singh, a Sikh officer, is wearing a khaki service dress and knickerbockers. He is wearing a brown leather Sam Browne belt, leather sword slings, and dark blue puttees. His sword is encased in a leather scabbard with metal tip. Singh's paggari (or turban) is khaki with a gold fringe and King George's Own Sappers and Miners cap badge of the Prince of Wales plume design. He is also wearing unit shoulder titles and his badges of rank on the shoulder straps of his tunic. The Subedar Major is wearing the following medals:

1. Indian Order of Merit (I.O.M.)(2nd Class)

2. Indian Distinguished Service Medal and bar (764 Naik, 1st Sappers and Miners)

3. 1914-15 Star.

4. British War Medal.

5. Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches.

6. India General Service, 1936-1939 with one clasp.

7. General Service Medal, 1918 with one clasp.

8. Coronation 1911 or Delhi Durbar 1911.

9. Foreign?

By Army Order 894 of 1917, 764 Naik Sawan Singh, 1st Sappers and Miners was admitted to the 2nd Class Order of the Indian Order of Merit "for conspicuous gallantry and coolness on the night of the 4th of April 1916, when in charge of a party joining up a gap of 350 yards in the front line. This non-commissioned officer freely exposed himself under heavy rifle and machine gun fire and cleared casualties. It was mainly due to his action that the line was successfully consolidated. He had previously rendered good service by the energy with which he pushed forward saps against the enemy's positions." The award of the I.O.M. and the first award of the I.D.S.M. were made for services in France. The second award of the I.D.S.M. was probably made for post-war service in India

REFERENCES:

1. Army Order 894 of 1917.

2. Honours and Awards of the Indian Army, August 1914-August 1921. J.B. Hayward & Sons, Ltd., p. 3 1. Originally published in 1931 as the Roll of Honour, Indian Army, 1914-1921.