b. 29/01/1913 Alwar District, Rajasthan, India. d. 29/05/1967 Gailoth Village, India.
DATE AND PLACE OF GC ACTION: 31/05/1935 Quetta, India.
Mata Din (1913-1967) was born in the Alwar District of Rajasthan, India on 29th January 1913. Little is known of his early life until on his 17th birthday, he enlisted as a Lance Naik in the 4th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment, and his initial service was within his own country.
Mata Din GC
On 31st May 1935, following the Quetta Earthquake, he showed conspicuous devotion to duty by excavating a man who was buried in a very dangerous place after an earthquake. Three rescue parties had already made attempts to free him, but had given up as there was very imminent danger of the working parties being buried alive. On 19th November 1935, he was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal of the Military Division. This was automatically exchanged for the GC following its creation in September 1940.
He was promoted to Jemadar on 10th January 1942 and posted to the 8th Battalion on 15th July 1942. On 15th January 1944 he was promoted to Acting Subedar and returned to his old Battalion (the 4th) which was renamed 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment. On 21st June 1945, it was announced that he was awarded the Indian Order of Merit for his actions in Kangaw, Burma on 13th February 1945.
He retired from the Indian Army in July 1947, but joined the National Volunteer Force from March 1955 – October 1956. He returned to his roots in the Alwar District, and passed away on 29th May 1967 in Gailoth Village, where it is believed he was cremated. His GC, Indian Order of Merit, Burma Star and 1953 QEII Coronation Medal are privately held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: CREMATED, GAILOTH VILLAGE, INDIA.
