Description
East and Central Africa Medal, bar Uganda 1897-98, 1820 Lance Naik Bahadur Khan, 3rd Baluch Battalion, 30th Bombay Native Infantry.
Naming is officially impressed with an engraved addition at the end, entitlement to medal and clasp confirmed on the medal roll.
Officially impressed: “1820 L. Naik. Bahadur Khan. 3rd Baluch:” “Bn 30th Bo. Infy:” This final part after ‘Baluch:’ engraved.
It appears to be common within the regiment to have this exact naming quirk, another example to 1219 Lance Naik Fateh Muhammad sold by DNW in 15th October 2020 is named identically.
Since 1881, the Regimental known as Jacob’s Rifles was re-designated as the 30th Regiment (Jacob’s) Bombay Native Infantry or the 3rd Belooch Regiment.
Only about 44 men from the “3rd Baluch Battalion” earned this rare medal, it appears that they were on attachment to the much larger 27th Bombay (Light) Infantry known as the “1st Baluch Battalion” who were sent in full force, numbering a few hundred men.
It may have caused offence when the medals were received after the campaign, and they were referred to on the medal as the “3rd Baluch Light Infantry” which was not their correct title, they were officially titled the 30th (3rd Baluch Battalion) Regiment (Jacob’s) Bombay Infantry.
A short summary of the British East Africa Battle Honour of 1897-99, for the Uganda Mutiny of 1897, it was uniquely bestowed upon the 27th Regiment (1st Baluch Battalion) of Bombay (Light) Infantry, being shared by the 44 attached men from Jacob’s Rifles, about 6 from the 24th Baluchistans, about 6 from the “2nd Baluch Battalion”:
“In the late 19th century, the British took over control of area now forming Kenya and Uganda and declared it as the British East Africa Protectorate.
However, despite harsh measures, they faced stiff resistance from the local princes and chiefs. In 1897, the situation took a serious turn in areas now forming Uganda, when the Sudanese troops of the local militia mutinied and killed their British officers.
In December 1897, the 27th Regiment (1st Baluch Battalion) of Bombay (Light) Infantry (now 10th Battalion The Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army) under Lieutenant Colonel WA Broome was despatched to East Africa to quell the rebellion.
After a tough anti-insurgency operation lasting for a year, the situation was brought under control by January 1899, and the battalion returned to Karachi in May.
During the campaign, the battalion suffered 56 casualties.
For its services in the campaign, the Baluch battalion was awarded the Battle Honour of ‘British East Africa 1897–99’ in 1901. The Battle Honour is unique to this unit.
In 1922, when the Regimental Group System was adopted by the British Indian Army, the battalion was redesignated as the 3rd Battalion (Queen Mary's Own) 10th Baluch Regiment, and the Battle Honour was extended to all the battalions of 10th Baluch Regiment.”
