{"product_id":"72nd-punjabis-lance-naik-ali-akbar-ww1-british-indian-victory-medal","title":"72nd Punjabis, Lance-Naik Ali Akbar, WW1 British Indian Victory Medal","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War British Indian Victory Medal – Lance-Naik Ali Akbar, 72nd Punjabis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003e3552 L-NK. ALI AKBAR. 72 PJBS.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eLance-Naik Ali Akbar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e, No. \u003cb\u003e3552\u003c\/b\u003e, served with the \u003cb\u003e72nd Punjabis\u003c\/b\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAt the outbreak of war, the 72nd Punjabis were stationed with the \u003cb\u003e1st (Peshawar) Division\u003c\/b\u003e, deployed along the \u003cb\u003eNorth-West Frontier of India\u003c\/b\u003e. 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eLater in the war the battalion was transferred overseas to the Middle Eastern theatre. They were sent to \u003cb\u003eEgypt\u003c\/b\u003e, and subsequently served in \u003cb\u003ePalestine\u003c\/b\u003e, attached to the \u003cb\u003e75th Division\u003c\/b\u003e during the \u003cb\u003eSinai and Palestine Campaign\u003c\/b\u003e. 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eService in this theatre involved:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eLong desert marches under extreme heat\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDefensive operations protecting lines of communication\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eEngagements against entrenched Ottoman positions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eParticipation in the gradual northward advance following the breaking of the Gaza–Beersheba line\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAs a \u003cb\u003eLance-Naik\u003c\/b\u003e, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAli 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVisit my website for better prices on most of my stock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53868446777690,"sku":null,"price":31.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260224_153454.png?v=1774263162","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/72nd-punjabis-lance-naik-ali-akbar-ww1-british-indian-victory-medal","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}