NAM.2023-07-15-3-1

3rd Class, Indian Order of Merit of Sepoy Hakim Singh, 32nd Bengal Infantry (Sikh Pioneers), 1892 Silver eight pointed star with worn blue enamel centre surrounded by a laurel wreath with silver crossed sword to centre and a circlet reading ‘REWARD OF VALOUR’ to obverse and inscribed ‘3rd Class Order of Merit’ to otherwise plain reverse, suspended from a blue ribbon with a red stripe to each side. Swing mounted on a bar with Central Africa Medal. Citation from Indian Order of Merit G.G.O. 614 of 1892 (British Central Africa - 1891): ‘The undermentioned non-commissioned officers and men of the Indian Army, who served in the African Military Police under the British Central Africa Administration, were awarded the 3rd Class, for conspicuous gallantry displayed in the expeditions which were undertaken against the Slave-dealing Chiefs in British Central Africa: For conspicuous gallantry in action at the capture and destruction of the stronghold of the Yao Chief Makanjira, on the south-east shore of Lake Nyassa, Central Africa, on the 30th October 1891.’ A total of eight awards of the Order of Merit were made for this engagement.