General Service Medal ‘Iraq’ - 3333 Sepoy Harnam Singh, 45th Rattray’s Sikhs
General Service Medal, 1 clasp, Iraq - 3333 SEPOY HARNAM SINGH. 45-SIKHS.
Sepoy Harnam Singh, No. 3333, served with the 45th Rattray’s Sikhs, one of the most distinguished Sikh infantry regiments of the Indian Army. His award of the General Service Medal with clasp “Iraq” places him in the post-First World War operations undertaken to stabilise British control in Mesopotamia.
The 45th Rattray’s Sikhs traced its origins to 1856 and had a proud record of service on the North-West Frontier and during the First World War, including service in Mesopotamia. Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, the region that became Iraq fell under British administration, but unrest soon followed.
In 1920, a widespread uprising broke out across Mesopotamia — often referred to as the Iraqi Revolt of 1920. Tribal forces attacked British garrisons, lines of communication, and administrative centres. Indian Army units formed the backbone of the British response.
The clasp “Iraq” to the General Service Medal was awarded for service in the period 10 December 1919 to 17 November 1920, covering operations against insurgent tribal forces in extremely harsh climatic conditions.
Service during these operations involved:
- Protection of isolated garrisons and river posts
- Escorting supply columns along the Tigris and Euphrates
- Operations against hostile tribal concentrations
- Long patrols in extreme desert heat
The campaign was marked by intense summer temperatures, logistical difficulty, and frequent skirmishing rather than set-piece battles. Casualties were caused as much by climate and disease as by combat.
As a Sepoy, Harnam Singh served as a front-line infantryman in a regiment renowned for discipline and steadiness under fire. Rattray’s Sikhs maintained their reputation during the Iraq operations, contributing significantly to the eventual restoration of British control and the establishment of the Mandate administration.
The interwar Iraq clasp is a desirable award reflecting active service in one of the most significant imperial campaigns of the immediate post-war period.
AJMS Medals