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India Medal

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India Medal
TypeCampaign medal
Awarded forCampaign service.
DescriptionSilver or bronze disk, 36mm diameter.
Presented byUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
EligibilityBritish and Indian forces.
Campaign(s)India 1895–1902.
Clasps
  • Defence of Chitral 1895
  • Relief of Chitral 1895
  • Punjab Frontier 1897–98
  • Malakand 1897
  • Samana 1897
  • Tirah 1897–98
  • Waziristan 1901–02
Established1896
Ribbon bar

The India Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1896[1] for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies.

The India Medal was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, chiefly for service on the North-West Frontier during 1895 to 1902. This medal replaced the India General Service Medal (1854). Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon; seven were sanctioned.[2]

Description

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The medal was awarded in silver to soldiers of the British and Indian armies, and in bronze to native bearers and servants.[3]

The obverse shows the profile of Queen Victoria or, for those awarded the medal with the Waziristan 1901–02 clasp, King Edward VII, both with a suitable inscription.
The reverse, designed by G. W. de Saulles, portrays a British and an Indian soldier together carrying a standard with the inscription "India 1895", although the Edward VII version omits the date.[3]
The 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide ribbon had five equal stripes of red, green, red, green, red.[4]

The name and details of the recipient were engraved on the edge of the medal, normally in running script.[5]

Obverse variations

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Clasps

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The following clasps were issued with the medal:

3 March – 13 April 1895
7 March – 15 August 1895
  • Punjab Frontier 1897–98
10 June 1897 – 6 April 1898
26 July – 2 August 1897 (Awarded to troops involved in the Siege of Malakand.)
2 August – 2 October 1897
2 October 1897 – 6 April 1898
  • Waziristan 1901–02
23 November 1901 – 10 March 1902

References and notes

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  1. ^ Army Order dated 1 April 1896 approved the 'India Medal 1895' with two bars: 'Defence of Chitral 1895' and 'Relief of Chitral 1895'. see British Battles and Medals, p. 177
  2. ^ Wilkinson-Latham, p. 22
  3. ^ a b John W. Mussell (ed.). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 158. Published Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. 2015.
  4. ^ Barthorp, p. 178
  5. ^ a b Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. British Battles and Medals. p. 177. Published Spink, London. 1988.

Bibliography

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  • Barthorp, Michael. 2002. Afghan Wars and the North-West Frontier 1839–1947 Cassell. ISBN 0-304-36294-8
  • Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink
  • Mackay, J. and Mussel, J. (eds) – Medals Yearbook – 2006, (2005), Token Publishing.
  • Mussell, John W. (ed) – Medals Yearbook – 2015, Token Publishing.ISBN 978-1-908-828-16-3
  • Wilkinson-Latham, Robert. 1977. North-west Frontier 1837–1947 Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-275-9
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