Natal, 1906, no clasp, impressed (Pte: Alwar, Indian Stret: Bearer Corps), lightly toned, almost extremely fine and very rare A total of twenty Natal medals were awarded to members of the Indian Stretcher Bearer Corps.The Indian Bearer Corps was raised by Mahatma Gandhi from his fellow countrymen in Durban. The original unit had been raised for the Boer War and was later expanded to be called the Imperial Bearer Corps. Gandhi later in life refused to discuss his involvement in either of these wars. Gandhi had written from Johannesburg to the Governor of Natal offering Indian aid in the belief that ‘The British Empire existed for the world and in a genuine sense of loyalty’. After some hesitation the Natal government invited them to accompany the white troops as an Ambulance Corps. The twenty-five stretcher bearers, under Sergeant Major M. K. Gandhi, were provided and paid for by the Natal Indian Congress.Indian stretcher-bearer corps’ pledge of allegiance made 16 June 1906: “We, the undersigned, solemnly and sincerely declare that we will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Edward the Seventh, His Heirs and Successors, and that we will faithfully serve in the supernumerary list of the Active Militia Force of the Colony of Natal as Stretcher-Bearers, until we shall lawfully cease to be members thereof, and the terms of the service are that we should each receive Rations, Uniform, Equipment and 1s. 6d. per day. M.K. Gandhi, U.M. Sehlat, H.I. Joshi, S.B. Medh, Khan Mahomed, Mahomed Shaikh, Dada Mian, Pooti Naiken, Appa Samy, Kunjee, Shaikh Madar, Mahomed Alwar, Muthusamy, Coopoosamy, Ajodhya Singh, Kistama, Ali, Bhailal, Jamaludin.”Ex Arthur Llewellyn Lloyd Collection, Part 2, Bonhams, October 2013; D.N.W., July 2001 and September 2014

Estimate: GBP 1000 - 1200