Pakistan Independence Medal – 3532444 Rfn. Mohd Din, 13th Frontier Force Rifles
Pakistan Independence Medal - 3532444 RFN MOHD DIN 13 F. F. RIF.
A highly appealing named example of the Pakistan Independence Medal, correctly impressed to 3532444 Rifleman Mohd Din, 13th Frontier Force Rifles. This medal was instituted to mark the creation of Pakistan on 14 August 1947, awarded to all serving military personnel who formed the first generation of the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force. It is one of the earliest decorations of the new state and represents the moment the old British Indian Army units were divided and reconstituted under separate national banners.
Struck in cupro-nickel, the medal bears the crescent and star on the obverse with the date of independence, with the reverse carrying the elegant Urdu inscription commemorating the establishment of Pakistan. It retains good, crisp detail, the correct original suspension, and the characteristic dark green ribbon with a narrow white central stripe, symbolising the national colours of the new Dominion. Named examples remain far more desirable than unissued pieces, and those to historically significant regiments are particularly sought after.
The 13th Frontier Force Rifles—to which Rifleman Mohd Din belonged—was one of the most prestigious frontier units inherited by Pakistan in 1947. With origins stretching back to the Punjab Frontier Force (“The Piffers”), the regiment was famous for its long service on the North-West Frontier, operating in some of the harshest and most volatile terrain in the British Empire. The men of the Frontier Force Rifles were widely respected for their steadiness under fire, mountain experience, and long tradition of service in frontier campaigns.
At Partition the regiment was allotted entirely to Pakistan, becoming a core part of the early Pakistan Army, where its battalions played crucial roles in stabilising new borders, supporting refugee movements, and forming the professional foundation of the fledgling force. Soldiers like Rfn. Mohd Din were among those who effectively bridged two armies—trained under British command, yet serving as founding members of Pakistan’s national military.
A strong, well-named piece to a historically significant regiment, ideal for collectors of South Asian militaria, post-colonial awards, or Frontier Force Rifles material.
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