SYCE KHAN 4/3 GURKHA RIFLES INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WW1 SERVICE WAZIRISTAN

3 clasp India General Service Medal to a Gurkha soldier who was heavily involved in the northwest Frontier campaigns 1919 – 24. As the 4/3 Gurkha Rifles were raised during WW1, it is possible that he is also entitled to the British War and Victory Medals.

Offered is an India General Service Medal (1908 – 35) with 3 clasps: MASUD 1919 – 20, WAZIRISTAN 1919 – 21, WAZIRISTAN 1921 - 24, impressed named SYCE SICANDAR KHAN 4-3 G.R.

Syce is an Indian groom and Khan was probably responsible for looking after an Officers horse.

Campaigning on the northwest Frontier 1919 – 24.

Mahsud 1919 - 20

Due to the British commitment during WW1, sensing British weakness the tribes launched a series of large-scale raids in the administered areas. By November 1919, they had killed over 200 people and wounded a further 200.

The 4/3 Gurkha's were part of the Derajet Colum which consisted of the 43rd and 67th Brigades who were committed to the fighting, they met heavy resistance as the largely inexperienced Indian units came up against determined, well-armed tribesmen. Due to the denuding of the Indian Army caused by commitments overseas during the First World War, many of the battalions employed in this campaign were second-line units with disproportionately large numbers of very young soldiers with inexperienced officers. However, the Gurkha's stand during the eight-day battle in January 1920 at Ahnai Tangi, was a highlight of the campaign.

The Mahsuds took heavy casualties during the fighting and it was these casualties, as well as the destruction of their villages a month later by bombers of the Royal Air Force, that temporarily subdued the Mahsuds. When the Wana Wazirs rose up in November 1920, they appealed for help from the Mahsuds, but still recovering from their earlier defeat, no support was forthcoming and the Wazir opposition faded away.

Waziristan 1919 – 21.

Minor raids by the Wazirs and forays by British forces continued into 1921,

Waziristan 1921 – 24.

The Waziristan campaign was a road construction effort and military campaign conducted from 21 December 1921 to 31 March 1924 by British and Indian forces in Waziristan These operations were part of the new Forward Policy, which sought to reduce and eventually eliminate tribal uprisings and tribal raids into settled districts by stationing regular troops inside Waziristan, which would then be capable of swiftly responding to Waziri rebellions. The rebel tribes attempted to harass the British troops but were unsuccessful in stopping the British road construction efforts.

The soldiers garrisoned numerous small outposts over a wide area during this campaign.