First World War British Indian Victory Medal – Lance-Naik Ali Akbar, 72nd Punjabis
Victory Medal – 3552 L-NK. ALI AKBAR. 72 PJBS.
Lance-Naik Ali Akbar, No. 3552, served with the 72nd Punjabis, a regular battalion of the Indian Army which saw active service during the First World War on both the North-West Frontier and in the Middle East.
At the outbreak of war, the 72nd Punjabis were stationed with the 1st (Peshawar) Division, deployed along the North-West Frontier of India. Their initial wartime role was to maintain internal security and prevent incursions by Afghan tribal forces at a time when British authorities feared unrest or opportunistic attacks inspired by the wider conflict.
Later in the war the battalion was transferred overseas to the Middle Eastern theatre. They were sent to Egypt, and subsequently served in Palestine, attached to the 75th Division during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. This campaign formed part of the broader British offensive against Ottoman forces, beginning with operations across the Sinai Desert and culminating in the advance through southern Palestine.
Service in this theatre involved:
- Long desert marches under extreme heat
- Defensive operations protecting lines of communication
- Engagements against entrenched Ottoman positions
- Participation in the gradual northward advance following the breaking of the Gaza–Beersheba line
As a Lance-Naik, Ali Akbar held junior non-commissioned rank, responsible for leading a small section of men in both field and garrison conditions. Promotion to Lance-Naik reflects reliability, discipline, and the confidence of his superiors within the structured hierarchy of the Indian Army.
The 75th Division played an active role in the later stages of the Palestine campaign, contributing to the steady pressure that eventually forced Ottoman withdrawal from southern Palestine and opened the route northwards.
Ali Akbar’s service therefore reflects two distinct wartime roles — frontier defence on the edge of Afghanistan and later expeditionary service in the Middle East — illustrating the breadth of commitment made by Indian Army units during the Great War.
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AJMS Medals