India General Service Medal 1854-1895

Instituted:
The institution of the medal with the clasp 'Pegu' was announced by a General Order of the Governor-General on the 22nd December 1853. The Governor-General's recommendation for additional clasps to be added, rather than the multiplication of medals, was approved on 1st March 1854.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who took part in various Indian campaigns between 1852 and 1895. The medal was never issued without a clasp and twenty-four of these were issued in total.

Description:
36mm diameter, issued in silver and bronze. The obverse depicts the diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse shows winged Victory crowning a seated warrior. The obverse was designed by William Wyon RA, the reverse by his son, Leonard Charles Wyon.

Suspension:
A floreated swivelling suspension.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; crimson with two dark blue stripes.

Naming:
Varied according to the clasp issued. See details below against each of the clasps.

Clasps:
Twenty-four clasps were issued for this medal, as follows:

1. Pegu (below)
Awarded for the campaign in Burma between 18th March 1852 and 30th June 1853. Naming impressed in block capitals. Letters on Naval medals are smaller than those on army medals.


2. Persia
Awarded for actions in Herat (Afghanistan) and Persia between 5th December 1856 and 8th February 1857. The clasp was authorised on the 12th April 1858. Naming impressed in block capitals. Letters on Naval medals are smaller than those on army medals.

3. North West Frontier
Authorised on 1st July 1869 for 15 separate expeditions which took place between 3rd December 1849 and 22nd October 1868. Medals engraved in running script and in block capitals to some British officers.

4. Umbeyla
Authorised on 1st July 1869 and awarded to those who took part in the action against Muslim fanatics between 20th October and 23rd December 1863. Medals are named in block capitals.

5. Bhootan
Authorised on 22nd March 1870 and awarded to those who took part in the Bhootan Campaign between December 1864 and February 1866. Medals are named in square capitals to Europeans and in script to natives.

6. Looshai
Authorised on 1st December 1872 for the action in Looshai which took place between 9th December 1871 and 20th February 1872. Medals are named in a thin running script.

7. Perak
Authorised on 1st September 1879 for actions between the 2nd November 1875 and 20th March 1876. Medals are named in sloping capitals. This clasp was originally authorised as Perak 1875-76 although it was ultimately issued with the dates omitted.

8. Jowaki 1877-8
Authorised on 1st March 1879 for actions against the Jowaki Afrideis between 9th November 1877 and 19th January 1878. Medals are named in impressed block capitals.

9. Naga 1879-80
Authorised on 24th June 1881. This clasp was first awarded to those who took part in action against the Nagas between December 1879 and January 1880. It was later extended to cover an earlier campaign against the tribe in January 1875. Medals are named in thin running script.


10. Burma 1885-7
Authorised on 1st August 1887 for those who took part in the Burma expedition between 14th November 1885 and 30th April 1887. For the first time, bronze medals (see above) were also awarded to Government followers who accompanied the troops. Medals are named in light script, except those awarded to Naval personnel which were impressed.

11. Sikkim 1888
Authorised on 1st June 1889 and awarded to those who took part in the Sikkim Campaign between 15th March and 27th September 1888. Silver and bronze medals were issued and were named in a thin running script.

12. Hazara 1888
This clasp was also authorised on 1st June 1889 and was awarded to the Hazara Field Force for their involvement between 3rd October and 9th November 1888. Silver and bronze medals were issued and were named in a thin running script.

13. Burma 1887-89
This clasp was authorised on 1st December 1889 and was awarded to those who took part in the Burma Campaign between 1st May 1887 and 31st March 1889. Silver and bronze medals were issued and were named in a thin running script.

14. Burma 1887-9
This rare clasp, issued by the Royal Mint, has the same criteria as the Burma 1887-89 clasp.

15. Chin Lushai 1889-90
Authorised on 1st February 1891 and awarded for the actions against the Chin and Lushai tribes between 13th November 1889 and 30th April 1890. Issued in silver and bronze and named in a bold running script.

16. Samana 1891
Authorised on 1st December 1891 and was awarded to those who took part in the Samana Campaign between 5th April and 25th May 1891. Silver and bronze medals were issued and were named in a thin running script.


17. Hazara 1891 (above)
Authorised on 1st December 1892 and awarded to those who took part in actions against the Hussanzais and Akazais between 12th March and 16th May 1891. Silver and bronze medals were issued and were named in running script.

18. Hunza 1891
This clasp was authorised on 1st September 1892 and was awarded to those who took part in the expedition to Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar between 1st and 22nd December 1891. Silver and bronze medals were issued and were named in running script.

19. N E Frontier 1891
This clasp was authorised on 1st June 1892 and was awarded to those who took part in the Manipur Expedition between 28th March and 7th May 1891. Silver and bronze medals were issued and were named in running script.

20. Burma 1889-92
This clasp was authorised on 1st September 1893 and was awarded to those who took part in the eleven operations against bandits in that country between 16th April 1889 and 18th April 1892. Silver and bronze medals were issued and named in a thin running script.

21. Lushai 1889-92
This clasp was authorised on 1st September 1893 and was awarded for five small expeditions into the Lushai Hills between 11th January 1889 and 8th June 1892. Silver and bronze medals were issued. There two naming styles for medals with this clasp. Medals to British troops except the KRRC were named in large bold block letters. Medals to the KRRC and native troops are named in engraved script.

22. Chin Hills 1892-93
This clasp was authorised on 9th January 1903 for expeditions against the Chin tribes between 19th October 1892 and 10th March 1893. Silver and bronze medals were issued and named in a small running script. Medals to the Norfolk Regiment are often seen as having been issued officially renamed.



23. Kachin Hills 1892-93 (above)
Authorised on the 9th January 1903 for expeditions into the Kachin Hills between 3rd December 1892 and 3rd March 1893. Silver and bronze medals were issued and named in bold running script.

24. Waziristan 1894-5
Authorised on 1st September 1895 for operations in Waziristan between 22nd October 1894 and 13th March 1895. Silver and bronze medals were issued and named in running script.

Other:
The maximum number of known bars on a single medal is seven, although the Official History of the Bengal Army makes reference to nine or ten bars being possessed by some officers and soldiers of native soldiers. Clasps may be found on medals in an incorrect order and fitted in a variety of fashions.

Acknowledgements:
The photographs are courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb and Spink. Links on the individual images take you to these companies' websites. British Battles and Medals has, as always, been an invaluable resource in compiling the information.