British Army Medals

Punjab and Sutlej Campaign Medals

2012-01-12T13:56:00.001Z

I was responding to a query the other day from somebody whose relative had died in India in the early 1850s and who had probably served during the Punjab and Sutlej campaigns with the 29th Regiment of Foot.

The Sutlej Campaign Medal and The Punjab Campaign Medal make a very nice pair that would grace any collection (and certainly don't grace my own yet). DNW sold a pair to a 29th Foot man in 2002 for £800 and he'd got a clasp for Sobraon on his Sutlej medal and Chilianwala and Goojerat on his Punjab medal.

The pair illustrated above show the same entitlement as those awarded to the 29th Foot man but these were awarded to Captain E A C D'Oyly of the Bengal Horse Artillery and were sold by DNW at auction for £4800 in June 2005. You can read more about Captain D'Oyly on the DNW site. Image courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb.

5942061 RQMS John William Beeby Gale, 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment

2012-01-02T11:05:00.000Z

Medals: 1914 Star (with clasp) Trio, Army LSGC.

A few weeks before Christmas I was delighted to acquire the medals of a man I had first come across in 1981. The image above appeared in an autograph album kept by a Broomfield-born VAD nurse, Edith Oliver. She had moved to Chailey in Sussex before the First World War and worked as a Lady's Companion to Margaret Blencowe in the village. She joined the local VAD detachment - Sussex 54 VAD - and between 1914 and 1918 she nursed at two auxiliary hospitals: Hickwells in Chailey and Beechlands (or Beechlands House) at the neighbouring village of Newick. John Gale was one of many men - albeit probably one of the most senior NCOs - who she cared for during her time with the VAD detachment. This is John Gale's story.

He was born at Ellington, Huntingdonshire in September 1877, the son of Angelina Gale (nee Smith) and Charles Gale who had married at Huntingdon in 1871. On 23rd October 1905 he enlisted with the Bedfordshire Regiment aged 18 years and one month. He gave his trade as farm labourer and became 8355 Pte John W B Gale.

In all probability, John Gale's military career would have begun with 10 weeks' drill at the regimental depot at Bedford followed by two years' service in the UK. This would then have been followed by service overseas and by 1907 the 2nd Battalion was in Gibraltar, would move to Bermuda in 1910, followed by South Africa in 1912. In that year, Lance-Corporal Gale, serving with A Company, is recorded in the regimental magazine The Wasp as a contributor to the 2nd Battalion benevolent fund.

When war was declared with Germany in August 1914 the 2nd Battalion was stationed at Robert's Heights, Pretoria. It was mobilised on the 10th August and Gale and the rest of the battalion set sail for England aboard HMT Kenilworth on the 27th of that month. After a brief stop at the island of St Helena, the battalion arrived at Southampton on the 19th September where it was assigned to the 21st Infantry Brigade in the 7th Division. The battalion sailed on two ships, SS Cornishman and SS Winefredian, arriving at Zeebrugge on the 6th October.

John Gale's medal index card shows that he landed overseas as a lance-sergeant and records held at Bedfordshire County Record Office note that he was overseas until the 2nd November 1914 when, according to his own autograph entry in Nurse Oliver's album, he was wounded. Records at the Bedfordshire archives note that his wound was a GSW (gunshot wound) to the chest. It seems likely that he was wounded on the 31st October, this from the 2nd Battalion War Diary (transcribed and augmented by Steve Fuller):

31 Oct 1914
Near Inverness Copse. Early in the morning about 2.30 A.M. orders were received to occupy a small fir wood about 250 yards in front of our line which was then held by L.North Lancs.R. Captain Lemon [Arthur Buche LEMON] & 2 platoons of C Company were ordered to hold this position. This wood had been subjected to heavy shell fire from two sides during the previous day. Shell fire started as soon as it was light. It soon became evident that the enemy were advancing in force on the left of the wood held by Captain Lemon [Arthur Buche LEMON] & also on the right. The Adjutant went to report the situation to Brigade H.Q.& almost immediately on his return to Battalion H.Q. 2 orderlies arrived with an order from the Brigadier to retire fighting towards MENIN-YPRES Road. Part of the Battalion moved back in compliance of this order. An order was sent to Captain Lemon [Arthur Buche LEMON] to retire from the fir wood upon the Battalion. Part of the Battalion remained in the trenches till late in the afternoon about 4.30 p.m. when they were brought back & established a line which they held till relieved on Nov.5/6. The losses were very severe on this day. The C.O. Major J.M.Traill [John Murray TRAILL] & 2nd in Command Major R.P.Stares [Robert Percy STARES] remained in the trenches & were shot at short range. Lieut.Paterson [John Agar PATERSON] was killed in the fir wood. Lieut.Gott [Gilbert Ewart GOTT] was wounded in the Fir wood. Captain A.B.Lemon [Arthur Buche LEMON] was twice wounded in the fir wood & captured. Captain C.S.Garnet Botfield [Charles Sidney GARNETT-BOTFIELD] was severely wounded. 2/Lieut.W.Dixon [William DIXON] wounded. Captain E.H.Lyddon [Ernest Hugh LYDDON] missing [Comment; later assumed KIA]. Lieut.Anderson [Wilfred Cruttenden ANDERSON] missing. The Battalion strength on night October 31st-1st November was 4 officers, 350-400 other ranks. 4 officers were Captain & Adjutant C.C.Foss [Charles Calverley FOSS, VC, DSO], 2/Lieut.B.H.Waddy [Bentley Herbert WADDY, MC], Lieut.S.D.Mills [Stephen Douglas MILLS, MC], Transport Officer, Captain & Quarter Master H.Cressingham [Hugh CRESSINGHAM]. [Comment; also killed was Lieutenant Donald Godrid Campbell THOMSON] A short line was taken up and entrenched.

The wound was severe enough to keep John Gale in England for almost a year. He returned to The Western Front on the 19th October 1915 (having fortuitously missed the Battle of Loos) and rejoined the 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment at Bourecq.

In December 1915 he 7th Division’s 21st Brigade was assigned to the 30th Division, its four battalions of regular soldiers being mixed in with the newly created (and inexperienced) Pals battalions. The Bedfordshire’s new brigade was the 89th and they shared it with Kitchener volunteers from the 17th, 19th and 20th King’s Liverpool Regiment.

The 2nd Bedfords played a supporting role on 1st July 1916, following the 17th and 20th King’s as they moved through cut barbed wire to take their objectives as planned. The other brigades had also enjoyed similar successes and by the end of the day the division had taken all of its objectives and could claim the distinction of having captured the first three field guns of the battle as well as Montauban, the first village to fall.

On 10th July, orders were received that the 2nd Bedfords would attack Trones Wood the following day. Having taken Bernafay Wood almost without a struggle, Trones Wood was proving a much tougher nut to crack. Initial attacks on 8th July by battalions from the 21st Brigade had successfully established a foothold on the south eastern edge of the wood, but subsequent attacks had either failed or been met by stubborn resistance in a see-saw series of engagements which saw portions of Trones Wood switch from German to English control and then back to German. By the time John Gale and The Bedfords moved up to play their part in the action, the wood was still largely in German hands.

Despite the intensity of artillery and machine gun fire concentrated in the area over the previous three days, Trones Wood was still thick with undergrowth that made it difficult to see more than four yards in front. Into this tangle, the Bedfords had advanced at 3:10am, getting to within 400 yards of the south eastern edge of the wood before being spotted by German machine gunners. Thirty five minutes later they had managed to reach the southern end but not without sustaining many casualties on the way in. Two decades later, in a letter published in The Great War I Was There, Private E G Robinson, also of A Company, wrote:

“The first thing that greeted me was a pair of legs, but no body, cut off as clean as with a knife. Farther in, the dead lay in heaps, you couldn’t move without stepping on them… The wood was very dense so we could not see far ahead. We struck off towards the edge of the wood and we came to a clearing where we could see a trench and it was lousy with Germans. At this point we lost touch with the officer and never found what happened to him so we returned to the main body and reported… The branches of trees were flying about as bad as shells and bullets. We were troubled quite a lot by snipers who were up in the trees at the far end of the wood. Captain Tyler said we had better try to drive them out, so he took our platoon forward with that idea. But Jerry had other ideas, and promptly let loose hell: we dived from one tree to another, and the bullets were cutting the leaves and bark round our ears… Eventually we got back to our funk holes with the remainder of the Company. There was no rest of any sort, what with bombing, sniping, machine guns, shells, wounded and dying screaming, the stink of dead bodies, it was Bedlam.”

The remainder of the day followed the now familiar pattern of attack and counter attack, the Bedfords, supported by two companies of the 17th King’s managing to hold on to the southern portion of Trones Wood until relieved on the morning of the 13th by a battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment. The operation cost the Bedfords 244 casualties including John Gale who had been hit before even getting as far as the wood. He gets a mention in the battalion war diary entry for the 11th July:

"Whilst the men were digging in, strong patrols worked the interior of the wood collecting stragglers and bombing the enemy in their Trenches and Dug-outs, and accounted for a great number. "A" & "B" Companies were leading Companies in the Advance at 3.10 a.m. and were particularly unfortunate in losing many N.C.Os on entering the wood, including the C.S.M. of "A" Company (C.S.M.GALE)."

Bedfordshire archives records note that John Gale received a shell wound to his right knee. He must have remained in hospitals overseas for a couple of weeks as records show that he returned to the UK on the 26th July.

Back in England, John Gale would presumably have been sent to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton before being sent to Beechlands in Newick, and his rendezvous with Nurse Oliver. He almost certainly would have met some of the men below, posing for Nurse Oliver's camera at Beechlands in 1916.

In the October quarter of 1916, John Gale married Emily Jane Warman at The St George's Hanover Square district. He spent the remainder of the war in England and, on the face of it at least, appears to have been untroubled by his wounds in his subsequent military career. He gets a number of mentions in The Wasp; playing football in 1922, winning the Spoon Shoot in July 1924 and a whist drive in 1924.

RQMS John Gale was discharged at Bedford on the 22nd October 1927 on the termination of his engagement. His conduct was recorded as exemplary and his address on discharge given as Kempston Baracks, Bedford. He was awarded a pension of 56d a day for life and had already been awarded the LSGC with gratuity in April 1924.

John Gale died on the 6th March 1943 aged 52. He is buried in Flitwick churchyard in Bedfordshire.

Falklands DSC group sells for £120,000

2011-12-19T14:46:00.000Z

Hammer price on the Falklands DSC group; lot 1056 last Friday, was £120,000. Add the DNW premium of 20% (£24,000) and 20% VAT on that premium (£4,800) and you're looking at a grand total of £148,800. Wonder how much it will go for when it next comes up for sale?

Photo courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb.

WW1 Campaign Medals - dates of issue

2011-12-06T22:44:00.000Z

The following information, in much abbreviated form, is taken from Howard Williamson's, The Great War Medal Collectors' Companion:

1914 Star
Issued as a single medal from January 1919 to October 1920
Issues of the 1914 Star Trio between November 1920 and end of 1922, with late issues from 1923

1914 Clasp and Roses
Main issue dates between January 1920 and July 1921
Issued with Trios from November 1920

1915/15 Star
Issued as a single medal from January 1920 to September 1920
Issues of the 1914/15 Star Trio between October 1920 and 1926, barring late issues

British War Medal & Victory Medal
First issues mainly to 1914 and 1914/15 Star recipients. Trio issues, see dates above.
Majority of pairs issued between November 1920 and December 1927

Territorial Force War Medal
Majority issued between 1922 and 1926

MID Emblems
Majority despatched between April 1920 and May 1921
Incorporated with 1914 Star Trios from April 1920 and 1914/15 Star Trios from July 1920

The above information may be helpful in dating photographs of service personnel wearing a single 1914 Star (with or without clasp) or 1914/15 Star; similarly photos of men wearing just the ribbon for these medals.

Falklands DSC Group up for grabs

2011-11-25T11:33:00.001Z

Deep pockets required for this Falklands War DSC group which is up for grabs at the next DNW medals auction on the 15th December (when are deep pockets NOT required for medals?) DNW estimates the group at between £80k and £100k. Let's see how much it actually goes for.

Interviews with the recipient, who had his left arm blown off whilst unsuccessfully defusing a bomb during the Falkalnds War, are HERE and HERE. Image courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb. Read more about the group HERE.

KSLI footballers

2011-11-01T13:39:00.000Z

My thanks to Philip Morris for supplying me with QSA medal roll information on a number of the footballers mentioned in my King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1895/96 post. Now updated.

South Africa Medal 1834-1853

2011-10-27T08:10:00.000+01:00

Instituted:
By General Order No 634 on the 22nd November 1854.

Qualification:
Awarded to survivors of the African frontier wars of 1834-5, 1846-7 and 1850-3. This was the first medal specially struck for military service in Africa which was available to all ranks.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter, with an ornamental scroll swivelling suspension. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts the lion of South Africa crouching in front of a protea bush. Above are the words SOUTH AFRICA; in the exergue, the date 1853.

As with the Indian Mutiny Medal, the South Africa Medal design is another father/son collaboration. The obverse of the medal was designed by William Wyon (1795-1851) who was the official chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death. (See also the Army of India Medal). The reverse was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-18910, William's eldest son, who became Second Engraver at the Royal Mint in 1844 and who succeeded his father as Modeler and Engraver in 1851.

Ribbon:
Watered, orange-yellow with two narrow and two wide stripes in dark blue.

Naming:
Indented in roman capitals, as seen on the Military General Service Medal.

Clasps:
None issued.

Other:
The medal is commonly called the Kaffir Wars medal. Royal Mint records show that 10,558 medals were struck between 24th April 1855 and 31st March 1862; this number including two patterns presented to Queen Victoria, those issued to deserters and later cancelled, replacements, duplicates etc. The actual number of medals awarded is, according to British Battles and Medals, 8,540.

Acknowledgements:
The obverse photograph is courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb; the reverse courtesy of Neate Auctions. British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Medal prices to make you weep

2011-10-21T14:37:00.003+01:00

I've just returned from a short business trip to Colwyn Bay. When I travel, I like to sniff out the local secondhand and antiquarian booksellers and, if I'm able to, pick up a book as a memory of that trip. I found a nice volume on Indian Regiments on a trip to Canterbury the other week, and yesterday visited the Bay Bookshop and came away with a second edition of E C Joslin's Standard Catalogue of British Orders Decorations and Medals (1972). I recommend the shop if you happen to be in Colwyn Bay; nice people to chat with and a great military section.

You know that Joslin is going to be a depressing read when you read in his foreword, that "... we have experienced some remarkable figures at auction such as £3,500 for a fairly ordinary VC...". What would he have thought of the Ted Kenna VC sale I wonder.

Anyway, back in 1972 your silver Queen's Sudan Medal would have been valued at £8 and a Khedive's Sudan medal at anything between £7 and £22. Prices for medals with multiple clasps are not given. These days you'd be lucky to get away with spending less than £500 on a Queen's Sudan and Khedive's Sudan. As for the First World war medals, £2 might have got you a 'bare-arsed' 1914 Star, but you'd have had to pay double that for the same medal with the Mons clasp.

I'm on the look-out now for the first (1969) edition of this book, plus subsequent editions. I still rue the day, back in the days when I did not collect medals, that I sold a 1914 Star trio in my local market for £12. Then again, that was some years ago and looking at Joslin's valuations, it probably wasn't such a bad deal (although that's one sale that I do regret).

7162 Pte Alexander Burns, Royal Highlanders

2011-10-11T13:46:00.000+01:00

I've written about 7162 Private Alexander Burns before. Since that post, I've managed to retrieve his Boer War medal rolls from Ancestry, and also his First World War medal index card. I looked in vain on WO 363 and WO 364 for a surviving service record, and also checked WO 97 over at findmypast.co.uk on the offchance that there might be something there that had been mis-filed. There wasn't. I did however, find papers in WO 96 which show that Alexander joined the Forfar and Kincardine Artillery (militia) on the 11th October 1898. He signed his name as "Alex Burns", giving his age as 17 years and 11 months and his place of birth as Dundee. He was a mill-worker employed by Mr Scott of Dundee; not a lot to go on in terms of research leads, but at least it's a lead of sorts.

Alex was slight. He stood five feet, five and a half inches tall and weighed 109lbs (which is just seven stones and 11 pounds). He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. A scar on the second finger of his right hand is also recorded.

Alex's attestation was approved at Perth on the 12th October 1898 but he was barely with the regiment before he joined the Royal Highlanders on the 20th January 1899. He had completed 49 days of drill and his character was noted as "good".

There are only four pages of this service record that survive in WO 96 but crucially, on page four, Alex's father is recorded as Frank Burns of 17 Arbroath Road, Dundee. This again, should enable further research.

King's Shropshire Light Infantry 1895/96

2011-09-29T20:07:00.007+01:00

Some while back I bought a group of medals that had belonged to 1093 Colour Sergeant Charles Smith of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Along with his 1882-dated Egypt Medal, Khedive's Star and Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was this rather fine photo of D Company Football team (no battalion given) taken after they had won the Company Challenge Shield for the season 1895-1896 (they'd been runners-up the previous year). The men in the photo are all named, Colour Sergeant Smith sitting cross-legged far right.

Here are the names, left to right, of the victorious team:

Back Row:L/Cpl C Crooke, L/Cpl T Corbett, Pte J Lewis, Cpl W Keight, Cpl J Gibbons (linesman)
Middle Row:Clr Sgt E Beale, Cpl F Woodland, Capt W C Cass, Sgt A Nicholls
Front Row:Pte J Pearson, Pte T Morton, Clr Sgt R Woodland, Pte F Harrison, Clr Sgt Charles Smith

I decided to see if I could find service records for any of these men. Charles Smith had nothing in WO 97 but a record does survive in WO 363 which shows that he enlisted with the 21st Brigade on the 7th January 1879 and was discharged on the 30th September 1908 having served a grand total of 29 years and 272 days. He died of a cerebral haemmorhage on the 13th April 1939 aged 78; the death certificate in the name of Frederick Charles Smith.

L/Cpl C CrookeNothing in WO 97, WO 364 or WO 363. Served in South Africa during the Second South African War and was awarded the QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein and Johannesburg.

L/Cpl T Corbett
Nothing in WO 97 but there is a Thomas Corbett who joined the 3rd Militia Bn (WO 96) as a seventeen-year-old in 1889. WO 364 has the same man as 3327 Thomas Corbett who joined the regiment on the 24th October 1890 aged 18 years and eight months and was already serving with the 3rd Militia Battalion. He was a lance-corporal by July 1895 and would go on to serve during the Boer War earning the QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeburg and Driefontein. Returned to England on the 17th may 1900, he would serve a total of 12 years.

Pte J LewisToo many options to be certain. There is, in WO 97, a 3356 Pte John Lewis who was serving with the regiment, based at the regimental depot, when D Company won the Challenge Shield. This man also served in South Africa during the Second South African War and was awarded the QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein and Johannesburg. Remarks note he was posted to the Army Reserve.

Cpl W KeightIn WO 97 there is a 1607 Walter Keight who joined the regiment on the 11th June 1885, although this man was a sergeant by 1895/1896. Served in South Africa during the Second South African War and was awarded the QSA with clasps for Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein and Johannesburg. Remarks note he was posted to the 3rd Battalion.

Cpl J GibbonsNothing in WO 97. WO 364 has 2207 John Gibbons who had joined the regiment on 8th March 1887 and who was a corporal by December 1895. He was discharged in March 1908, by then a sergeant and with 21 years' service under his belt.

Sgt E BealeNothing in WO 97.

Cpl F Woodland
WO 97 has 3280 Frederick George Woodland, born in Colchester Barracks in approximately June 1872, joined the KSLI at Shrewsbury on 2nd August 1890, discharged in July 1911 having served 21 years. He was certainly in England when D Company won its shield but he was a sergeant by September 1894. He died in 1951 aged 78. The 1881 census shows him as an eight-year-old living at Copthorn Barracks Shrewsbury, his father a 41 year-old staff-sergeant with the Shropshire Militia.

Captain W C CassUnresearched.

Sgt A NichollsNothing in WO 97.

Pte J PearsonNothing in WO 97. A 2724 Private J Pearson served in South African during the Second South African War and was awarded the QSA qith clasps for Cape Colony and Paardeberg. He was returned to England on the 7th July 1900. His QSA is in private hands.

Pte T MortonWO 97 has 5022 Pte Thomas Morton who joined the regiment in February 1896 aged 18 years and six months. The T Morton in the photograph looks young enough to be this man. Thomas would go on to serve 15 years and 41 days with the regiment before being discharged in March 1911. His brother, Titus Morton, was a regular with the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots.

Clr Sgt R WoodlandNothing in WO 97. Possibly related to Frederick Woodland although I have been unable to find a R Woodland listed in the Woodland household on census returns (apart from father Richard who would have been too old to be playing football in the mid 1890s).

Pte F HarrisonToo many options to be certain.

If anyone can shed any more light on any of these men, please let me know.

Empty-handed

2011-09-23T20:59:00.003+01:00

Ah well, nothing again from today's Dix Noonan Webb auction, and whilst the illustrated example above wasn't exactly typical of the gulf between estimate and hammer price, as I mentioned the other week, hammer prices for the most part left most of the estimates well and truly in the shade. I had my eye on a few groups, mostly those with an LSGC as part of the offering but I didn't actually bid in the end. A nice Crimean War / Indian Mutiny group (estimated at a low £500-£600) went for £1600 whilst an Egypt / Khedive's pair with LSGC (estimate £320-£360) went for £680; too rich for my pocket, particularly when you add on the 20% buyer's premium and VAT. Never mind.

I like it; I like it a lot

2011-09-21T22:40:00.005+01:00

Howard Williamson's The Great War Medal Collectors Companion, that is. My copy (number 518) arrived yesterday; £50 from The National Archives' online bookshop and jam-packed with illustrations.

I've hardly had time to do the book justice so far but I know that I will be returning to it again and again. There is a good chapter on the medal index cards but I do question one point where Howard is quoting from Joe Hodgson's article in the OMRS Journal of Spring 1988. Speculating on TF numbers on MICs pre March 1917, Joe had observed that:

"men with low numbers [ie original numbers rather then the five or six-digit re-numbered numbers] on their [1914 or 1914/15] Stars are soldiers who were killed, discharged, POWs, transferred or commissioned before 1st March 1917".

The bold text is mine. Surely POWs would have been renumbered wouldn't they? They were still on the regimental rolls, just as men who were missing but not officially confirmed as Killed or Died were still on the rolls. The latter were re-numbered, surely the POWs would have been as well, wouldn't they? I don't have evidence to back this up but I'm sure somebody can confirm or deny this.

Two pages later Howard notes that the TP/104 B code on William Reader's MIC indicates London and the Royal Fusiliers whereas the MIC records KRRC and 4th London Regiment. But of course, the 4th London Regiment was the 4th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) and the CWGC notes that he was serving with the 2/4th Battalion when he died, even though his number - GS/84154 on the MIC, G/84154 according to CWGC - belongs not to the TF but to the regular Royal Fusiliers Regiment.

But it's a great book, and a must-have not only for Great War Medal Collectors (which I'm not, really; or at least only marginally) but for anybody with an interest in the Great War and British military history generally. I also happen to think that £50, or even £60 for that matter, is a price well worth paying for such a well produced item.

Photo courtesy of The Daily Telegraph.

The Great War Medal Collectors Companion

2011-09-15T20:11:00.004+01:00

I've just ordered The Great War Medal Collectors Companion by Howard Williamson having seen it advertised in the most recent Dixon's Gazette (issue No. 67) and I'm really looking forward to seeing it. Apart from being a lavishly published volume, the detail it contains seems impressive. This from the book's blurb:

Medal Index Cards

•Over 1,500 MIC abbreviations and codes deciphered.
•Definitive notes on the MICs and how to read them.
•The significance of different coloured inks revealed.

Gallantry Medals

•DSO, MC, DCM and MM Gazettes, giving dates & battles covered by each gazette.
•Especially useful for MM research, linking the London Gazette date back to the bravery date.
•DCM, MC and DSO Gazette citations that omit dates & places (March 1916 - January 1919).
•List of MC and DCM recipients for 1st July 1916. Also all DCM and dated bars noted.
•A full list of escapers awarded the MM; Army Order 193 of 1919 explained and 1914 MMs noted.
•How to spot fakes e.g. MC, DSO, DFC, AFC etc as well as fake bars.
•History of the DCM League and MM Association plus Ex-Servicemen’s Association details.
•Definitive notes about the naming & renaming of medals - many examples illustrated.
•How to read & research the MM Cards, including the breakthrough use of schedule numbers.
•Detailed notes on the Somme Gazettes & the units engaged. List of VCs and where they were won.
•Documents found with gallantry groups, including divisional cards, award notifications etc.
•Chronological list of actions & battles fought in all theatres, plus indexed maps.

Campaign Medals

•Full history of each medal, including Army Orders, Army Council Instructions & award criteria.
•How & when medals were named & distributed. Packaging & accompanying documents.
•How to spot fake medals and correctly identify original ‘5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914’ bars.
•How to spot renaming. Font alphabets for 1914 & 1914/15 Trios, DCMs and MMs.

Dixons - and elsewhere - advertise the book at £60 with £10 for postage and packing. However, if you order through the National Archives' online bookshop, you can pick it up for £50 including postage and packing; quite a saving.

One minor quibble though, before I've even seen the book; all apostrophe purists know that the title should be The Great War Medal Collectors' Companion, ie the Companion belonging to Great War Medal Collectors (assuming that the book is intended for more than one medal collector that is, otherwise it would be Collector's Companion). Either way, it needs an apostrophe.

Howard's eagerly awaited book on the Military Medal, a companion to this volume, is due out in 2014. Word to the wise is, buy MMs now because once the book is published, the price of these will go up.

Collecting habits

2011-09-12T18:47:00.006+01:00

When it comes to collecting medals, general advice seems to be, collect with a theme in mind. That theme may be regiments, campaigns, one single medal (or combination of medals), medals named to a particualr surname, medals awarded to men of a particular location, and so on and so on. The problem is, after a relatively recent five years of sporadic collecting, I have yet to settle on a definitive theme. Nevertheless, I have set my own 'rules' and here they are.

1. I buy for pleasure and as an investment for my children.
2. I believe that all British medals, particularly the Victorian medals, are objects of beauty.
3. I like medal singles and groups with an India connection.
4. I like the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal - Army, Navy and Volunteer, it doesn't matter, although I like the Army LSGC in particular
5. I prefer to buy singles or groups that have been unresearched
6. Once purchased as part of my collection, I would not re-sell a medal or group.
7. I have a desire to own at least one medal from all of the major campaigns from the Military General Service Medal campaigns onwards
8. I have a secondary desire to own at least one medal from each of the old 69 line regiments.
9. I abhor the practive of erasing names on medals and would never knowingly buy an erased or re-named medal.
10. I would not buy a broken group unless it was a sought-after family medal or part group of family medals
11. I do not like medal copies and would never, under any circumstance, buy one to complete a group.
12. I am always looking for alternative income streams to feed my habit!

Pictured above, the medal group for George Arthur James Welch, an ex Yorkshire Regiment regular who latterly served as a sub-conductor with the Indian Army Ordnance Corps. His group includes the Delhi Durbar Medal for 1911 and an Army LSGC (so he ticks two of my boxes there). An added bonus was that I found a sheaf of service papers in the India Office Collection at the British Library; a source that is often overlooked (third box ticked).

£770,000 for Ted Kenna VC

2011-09-07T14:33:00.006+01:00

A VC group of ten to Australian Ted Kenna, has been sold at auction in Melbourne for a world record £770,000. Private Kenna earned the medal when he single-handedly charged a machine-gun post in New Guinea on 15th May 1945. He died in 2009.

Photo courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald.

DNW auction - 23rd September 2011

2011-09-06T12:41:00.004+01:00

I see that Dix Noonan Webb has another medals' auction coming up in a couple of weeks' time. You can browse the Dix Noonan Webb auction catalogue here, and the image above - a Carib War Medal from 1773 - is lot number one of 966 lots in all.

I've been a fan of DNW for some while. The company provides good background on the lots and often good images too - and I've used plenty of the latter on this blog. Furthermore, for those of us whose pockets are not too deep, it can sometimes appear, from the estimated values given, that some groups and singles may be within easy reach. At least that's what I've thought on a number of occasions, only to watch in horror as the auction estimates are surpassed by many hundreds of pounds. There are some lots in the upcoming sale which again appear to be drastically under-valued; some by as much as fifty per cent if some dealers' catalogues are anything to go by. Still, it's nice to dream for a while, and to hope that all serious medal collectors and dealers will somehow forget all about the 23rd September and go shopping in Ikea instead. Dream on.

Gwalior Campaign Stars

2011-09-04T10:38:00.003+01:00

Instituted:
By a General Order dated 4th January 1844

Qualification:
Awarded to troops under the command of Sir Hugh Gough or Major-General Grey for separate actions which took place on the 29th December 1843. Gough's force defeated the Mahrattas at Maharajpoor at a cost of 800 men, whilst Grey lost approximately 215 men in his defeat of the Mahrattas at Punniar.

Description:
50mm diameter, bronze six-pointed star with smaller silver six-pointed star within. The obverse has the date, 29TH DECr which appears in the centre, and around the edge the year 1843. Either MAHARAJPOOR (as in the example above) or PUNNIAR (below) also appear. The reverse is plain except for the naming.

Ribbon:
45mm wide, watered red, white, yellow, white and blue.

Suspension:
Various suspenders subsequently used, although British Battles and Medals notes that the medal was probably originally intended to be worn directly on the jacket, with brass hooks fitted on the reverse.

Naming:
In script on the reverse.

Other:
The stars were made from captured guns. As the two actions were fought on the same day, twenty miles apart, it was impossible for one recipient to be entitled to more than one star.

Acknowledgements:
Dix Noonan Webb for the images, British Battles & Medals for the background.

The shape of things to come?

2011-08-30T11:49:00.006+01:00

Currently up for grabs on eBay is this "box of 50 loose medals", all from the Leeds Rifles Museum and all now being disposed of as unclaimed and surplus to requirements, "by resolution of the Leeds Rifles trustees". The lot comprises:

two Volunteer Force LSGC medals, six King George V TEMs, one King George VI TEM, one King George VI Coronation Medal, one King George V Special Constabulary Medal, two King George VI 1939-1945 War Medals, ten 1914-15 Stars, fourteen 1914-18 BWMs, thirteen 1914-18 Victory Medals.

Some groups are included in the above and the majority, but not all of the items, were issued to men of the Leeds Rifles. If you want to bid on them, here's the link: Item number: 190569377638.

As Local Authority budgets continue to be squeezed, can we expect to see more museums and archives clearing out stock that is surplus to requirements? I know for a fact that some archives are awash with unwanted medals which will never see the light of day, the majority of these donated by well-meaning descendants of the recipients.

Defence of Kelat-i-Ghilzie Medal

2011-08-29T13:26:00.004+01:00

Instituted:
Sanctioned by a General Order from Simla, India dated 4th October 1842.

Qualification:
Awarded to the Garrison at Kelat-i-Ghilzie, Afghanistan which was commanded by Captain John Halkett Craigie. The Garrison withstood a four-month siege until relieved in May 1842.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter. The obverse (above) portrays a shield with the words KELAT-I-GHILZIE whilst the reverse (below) depicts an assortment of military trophies and the inscription INVICTA MDCCCXLII. The medal was designed by William Wyon RA.

Ribbon:
41mm wide, rainbow pattern of red, white, yellow, white and blue.

Suspension:
Steel suspender and clip.

Naming:
Engraved in script along the edge.

Clasps:
None.

Acknowledgements:
British Battles and Medals for the history of the medal, Dix Noonan Webb for the images used in this post.

Ghuznee Medal - The Earl of Auckland's Medal

2011-08-29T12:55:00.004+01:00

Completing a trio of posts which include the actions at Ghuznee in Afghanistan in 1839 is this special Ghuznee Medal presented by the Rt Honourable The Earl of Auckland in his capacity as Governor-General of India.

British Battles and Medals does not indicate how many of these medals were issued, although the infrequency with which they appear at auction suggests that they are scarce. I have been unable to find a suitable image online.

Qualification:
Presumably, officers and men involved in the capture of Ghuznee, Afghanistan in March 1839.

Description:
Silver, 41mm diameter. The obverse is similar to the official Ghuznee Medal and was presumably modelled on it. It depicts the fortress of Ghuznee with the British Army entering through the main gate. The reverse has the words AFGHANISTAN - GHUZNEE - 23RD JULY 1839 inscribed on three lines; the whole enclosed within two laurel branches.

Ribbon:
None.

Suspension:
None.

Naming:
Issued unnamed.

See also:

Ghuznee Medal
Candahar, Cabul and Ghuznee Medals

Ghuznee Medal

2011-08-28T08:46:00.005+01:00

Instituted:
Authorised by a General Order dated 23rd November 1842 having been sanctioned by HM Queen Victoria in March 1841.

Qualification:
Officers and men involved in the capture of Ghuznee, Afghanistan in March 1839.

Description:
Silver, 37mm diameter. The obverse portrays the fortress of Ghuznee with the word GHUZNEE below. The reverse has the date 23rd July 1839 and a crown within a laurel leaf.

Ribbon:
38.5mm wide, half crimson and half green (a change from the originally intended half yellow and half green).

Suspension:
Fixed straight suspender.

Naming:
Issued unnamed but, as in the image above, examples are found named on the reverse in running script or neat capitals, or engraved along the rim in bold capitals.

Clasps:
No official clasps were issued with this medal but unofficial clasps exist with the following engravings: Ghuznee, Kelat, Mnaher, Montsantonsh, and Ponulla.

Other:
Originally to be given in the name of the Shah Shooja but ultimately given on behalf of the Government of India, the Shah having died and the medals having been minted at the Government Mint in Calcutta. A total of 8,371 medals were issued and there are also tin versions of this same award which were worn by sepoys.

Further reading:
For an account of the battle, see britishbattles.com.

Acknowledgements:
British Battles and Medals for the history of the medal, Dix Noonan Webb for the image used in this post.

Candahar, Cabul and Ghuznee Medals

2011-08-28T07:18:00.005+01:00

There are four official strikings of this medal and two versions, according to British Battles and Medals, which appear to be mistakes (see 'Other' below). On all strikings, there is a common obverse.

Instituted:
Authorised by a General Order issued in Simla, India on the 4th October 1842.

Qualification:
Awarded to European and Native troops who took part in operations in Candahar, Cabul and Ghuznee between October 1841 and October 1842.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter. Designed by William Wyon RA, the obverse depicts the diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA VINDEX. The four separate versions of the reverse are: dealt with below:

i) Candahar
A laurel wreath and crown with the word CANDAHAR and the date 1842 beneath. Of the four versions, this version is the second most rare.

ii) Cabul
A laurel wreath and crown with the word CABUL and the date 1842 beneath. This is the most common of the four versions (but see 'Other' below).

iii) Ghuznee and Cabul
Two laurel wreaths with the word GHUZNEE within one, and the word CABUL within the other. A crown surmounts both wreaths and the date 1842 appears beneath them. This version is the rarest of the four with approximately 360 issued to European troops and 1163 to natives.

iv) Candahar, Ghuznee and Cabul
A laurel wreath and crown with the words CANDAHAR, GHUZNEE and CABUL on separate lines and the date 1842 beneath. This is the second most common of the four versions.

Suspension:
A straight steel suspender fastened by a pin to a steel clip and then fixed to the disc. Other replacement suspensions, such as ring suspenders (see the Cabul image above, for instance) are also commonly seen.

Ribbon:
41mm wide; watered rainbow pattern of red, white, yellow, white and blue.

Naming:
Varied with some in script, some indented capitals and some un-named. British Battles and Medals notes that medals to the 40th Foot and the Artillery are generally found engraved in script, with those to the 41st Foot named in engraved roman capitals.

Clasps:
None, although unofficial clasps for MARZENIA 1842 and TAZEANE 1842 have been found attached to the Cabul Medal.

Other:
As well as the four official strikings, there is one striking which has the legend VICTORIA REGINA on the obverse instead of VICTORIA VINDEX. The second 'mistake' refers to the Cabul medal only where CABUL is spelt CABVL. Fifteen of these medals are known to have been issued, making this the rarest of all the versions of this medal.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph of the obverse is courtesy of Spink whilst the four reverse images are courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb. 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.

Military General Service Medal

2011-06-02T21:12:00.007+01:00

Instituted:
Authorised by a General Order dated 1st June 1847 and issued in 1848.

Qualification:
Issued to officers and men who took part in military campaigns between 1793 and 1814.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA with the date 1848. The reverse (see below) depicts Queen Victoria standing on a dais, placing a laurel wreath on the head of a kneeling Duke of Wellington. The inscription, TO THE BRITISH ARMY adorns the top half of the circumference whilst in the exergue are the dates 1793-1814. The designer was W Wyon, Royal Academy.

Ribbon:
32mm wide, crimson with 6mm wide dark blue borders.

Suspension:
Plain, straight, swivelling.

Naming:
In indented large roman capitals.

Clasps:
Twenty-nine, listed below:

1. EGYPT
Awarded for the actions between 2nd March and 2nd September 1801.

2. MAIDA
Awarded for the Battle of Maida which was fought on the 4th July 1806.

3. ROLEIA
Awarded for the Battle of Roleia (or Rolica; the correct spelling) which was fought on the 17th August 1808.

4. VIMIERA
Awarded for the Battle of Vimiera which was fought on the 12th August 1808.

5. SAHAGUN
Awarded for the cavalry action at Sahagun, Spain on the 21st December 1808. Only twenty single bars were issued, all to officers and men of the 15th Hussars.

6. BENEVENTE
Awarded for a further cavalry action at Benevente on the 29th December 1808.

7. SAHAGUN AND BENEVENTE
Awarded to officers and men who were present at both battles.

8. CORUNNA
Awarded to the exhausted officers and men who, having retreated from Sahagun under Lieutenant-General Sir John Moore, fought a battle against the French Army on 16th January 1809.

9. MARTINIQUE
Awarded for the actions on the French-held island of Martinique between 30th January and 24th February 1809.

10. TALAVERA
Awarded to officers and men who took part in the Battle of Talavera on the 27th and 28th July 1809.

11. GUADALOUPE
Awarded to officers and men who took part in the invasion and capture of the French-held West Indian island of Guadaloupe between 30th January and 4th February 1810.

12. BUSACO
Awarded for the Battle of Busaco which took place on the 27th September 1810.

13. BARROSA
Awarded for the Battle of Barrosa which was fought on the 5th March 1811.

14. FUENTES D'ONOR
Awarded for the Battle of Fuentes D'Onor which was fought on the 5th May 1811.

15. ALBUHERA
Awarded for the Battle of Albuhera which was fought on the 16th May 1811.

16. JAVA
Awarded to officers and men who took part in the capture of Java between the 14th and 26th August 1811.

17. CIUDAD RODRIGO
Awarded for the actions at Ciudad Rodrigo between the 8th and 19th January 1812.

18. BADAJOZ
Awarded for the desperate actions at Badajoz on the 17th and 18th March 1812.

19. SALAMANCA
Awarded to those who took part in the Battle of Salamanca on the 22nd July 1812.

20. FORT DETROIT
Awarded to officers and men who took part in the capture of Fort Detroit on Lake Erie on the 16th August 1812.

21. VITTORIA
Awarded for the Battle of Vittoria which was fought on the 21st June 1813.

22. PYRENEES
Awarded for the battles of the Pyrenees which took place between 25th July and 2nd August 1813.

23. ST SEBASTIAN
Awarded to those officers and men who took part in the capture of the fortress of St Sebastian between 17th July and 8th September 1813.

24. CHATEAUGUAY
Awarded for the Battle of Chateauguay in North America which took place on the 26th October 1813.

25. NIVELLE
Awarded to officers and men who took part in the Battle of Nivelle on the 10th November 1813.

26. CHRYSTLER'S FARM
Awarded for the Battle of Chrystler's Farm in North America which took place on the 11th November 1813.

27. NIVE
Awarded to officers and men who took part in the Battle of Nive between 9th and 13th December 1813.

28. ORTHES
Awarded for the Battle of Orthes which took place on the 27th February 1814.

29. TOULOUSE
The last clasp granted for this medal was for the Battle of Toulouse which took place on the 10th April 1814.

Other:

1. The Military General Service Medal was issued 34 years after the last action which its clasps commemorate. By this time, many of the participants of those battles had been long dead, although medals could be awarded to the next-of-kin.

2. There were over 25,000 applications for medals, fifteen clasps being the most awarded to a single man. Two men received 15 clasps and eleven men received 14.

3. Although the dates inscribed in the medal exergue read 1793-1814, the earliest action commemorated by a clasp is that in Egypt which took place eight years later in 1801.

4. British Battles and Medals gives a full listing of awards by regiment and is an invaluable source.

Acknowledgements:
Multi-clasp image and Badajoz etc courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb. Corunna courtesy of Spink. Talavera reverse and Vittoria and Pyrenees are source unknown. The Medal Yearbook (Token Publishing Ltd) and British Battles & Medals have been essential in putting together the information.

MGC at Waterloo

2011-05-20T14:26:00.005+01:00

If Ancestry.co.uk is to be believed, the Machine Gun Corps was active in Belgium at least a century earlier than previously thought. This from the Waterloo Medal Roll on the .co.uk site:

Closer inspection however, reveals that these are not Waterloo men but rather men entitled to the "India General Service Medal 1908" with the clasp, "Afghanistan, North West Frontier 1919". The image above also shows men of the Norfolk Regiment and the Royal Army Medical Corps. I also noticed Buffs and Queen's territorials on another page. There will be many more anachronistic examples besides. Doh!

East and West Africa Medal

2011-05-02T06:56:00.012+01:00

Instituted:
1st November 1892.

Qualification:
Issued for various operations in East and West Africa between 1887 and 1900.

Description:
36mm diameter silver or bronze medal. The obverse, designed by L C Wyon, portrays the diademed and veiled head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse, designed by Sir Edward Poynter RA, depicts a bush encounter between British soldiers and natives. Note that the obverse and reverse are the same as those on the Ashantee Medal (1873) and the Central Africa Medal (1891). The gauge on the East and West Africa Medal is slightly thinner than that on the Ashantee Medal.

Ribbon:
33mm wide. Yellow with black borders and two thin black stripes.

Suspension:
Swivelling, straight bar.

Naming:
A variety of styles: impressed block capitals to British and some colonial units but engraved examples to British officers and engraved capitals to some colonial units are also common. Impressed naming is generally larger on those medals issued to men serving with Naval units.

Clasps:
British Battles and Medals notes that "over twenty... possibly twenty-two" clasps were issued for this medal. The following are confirmed and there are question marks over clasps for 1896-97 and 1896-99. No clasp was issued for the M'wele Campaign of 1895-96 but the name and date were engraved around the rim. The confirmed clasps are as follows:

1. 1887-8
Army Order 212 of 1892 authorised the medal and clasp for operations against the Yonnie Tribe between 13th November 1887 and 2nd January 1888.

2. Witu 1890
Awarded to members of the expedition under Vice Admiral Sir Edmund Freemantle against Sultan Fumo Bakiri of Witu; 17th to 27th October 1890.

3. 1891-2
Issued for a series of expeditions in Gambia between 29th December 1891 and 5th February 1892 against Chief Fodeh Cabbah.

4. 1892
Awarded to men who took part in any of the three expeditions in Sierra Leone and Nigeria between 8th March and 25th May 1892.

5. Witu August 1893
This clasp was authorised on 30th August 1895 for those who took part in the Pumwani and Jongeni campaigns between 7th and 15th August 1893.

6. Liwondi 1893
This clasp was authorised on 30th August 1895 for the expedition along the Upper Shire River in Malawi between February and March 1893.

7. Juba River 1893
This clasp was authorised on 30th August 1895 for an expedition against the Somalis of Jubaland between 23rd and 25th August 1893.

8. Lake Nyassa 1893
This clasp was authorised on 30th August 1895 for a second expedition against Chief Makanjira in Central Africa in November 1893.

9. 1893-94
This clasp covers two separate expeditions against 1) the Sofas in Sierra Leone between 26th November 1893 and 20th January 1894 and 2) operations on the Gambia River between 22nd February and 11th March 1894. Naval personnel involved in this operation did not receive this clasp but received the one for Gambia 1894 instead.

10. Gambia 1894
This clasp was authorised on 30th August 1895 for Naval personnel involved in the expedition up the Gambia River.

11. Benin River 1894
This clasp was authorised on 30th August 1895 for members of the expedition who sailed along the Benin River to punish Chief Nana of Brohemie.

12. Brass River 1895
Awarded to members of an expedition against King Koko who had attacked the River Niger Company's trading post at Akassa.

13. 1896-98
Authorised in 1900 for several minor operations in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast.

14. Niger 1897
Authorised in 1897 for operations to Egbon, Bida and Ilorin and for garrison duty at Fort Goldie and Lokoja.

15. Benin 1897
Awarded for an expedition to Benin City against Chief Overiami.

16. Dawkita 1897
Authorised in April 1898 to members of the force under Lieutenant F B Henderson of the Royal Navy for their defence of the town of Dawkita in the Gold Coast hinterland after it was attacked by Sofa slavers.

17. 1897-98
Authorised in 1900 for expeditions to the hinterland of Lagos between September 1897 and 14th June 1898.

18. 1898
Authorised in 1900 for various expeditions in Northern Nigeria.

19. Sierra Leone 1898-99
Authorised in 1900 and awarded for services in the 'Hut Tax' War between 18th February 1888 and 9th March 1889. This clasp is deeper than any of the others awarded and only medals issued with this clasp were named in square block capitals.

20. 1899
Awarded in 1900 to men of the Niger Coast Protectorate Force and the West African Frontier Force who took part in three operations between February and May 1899 commanded by Captain C H P Carter and Captain R Gabbett.

21. 1900
This last clasp was granted in 1903 for two expeditions - the Munshi and the Kaduna - conducted in Norther Nigeria between 4th January and 9th May 1900.

In addition to these confirmed clasps, the following should also be noted:

1. Clasps for 1896-97 and 1896-99 were reported to have been authorised but there is no evidence that they were ever issued.

2. Mwele 1895-1896
As mentioned earlier, no clasp was issued for these operations against Kenyan coastal Arabs, but the word Mwele was impressed on the rim of the medal along with the date 1895 or 1895-6. Bronze medals were also issued for these operations.

Acknowledgements:
Images courtesy of Spink. British Battles & Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Yorkshire Regiment number sequences

2011-03-24T14:01:00.003Z

For anybody with an interest in medals to regular enlistments into the Yorkshire Regiment, I've just posted on my army service numbers blog about numbers issued to members of the 1st and 2nd Battalions between 1881 and 1914. There's also a listing of the battalions' stations between those dates. Click on the link for more.

The medals above were awarded to George A J Welch of the Yorkshire Regiment and later Indian Army Ordnance Corps. Read more about him by clicking on his name.

Medal Rolls - India Office Library

2011-03-08T14:47:00.003Z

I know that Ancestry has recently published a number of medal rolls but I just came across this National Archives link which lists medal rolls in the India Office Library.

Contents

1 L/MIL/5/42-141
1.1 Summary
2 L/MIL/5/42-44 East India Company's General Service Medal 1799-1826 (Army of India Medal)
3 L/MIL/5/45-65 India General Service Medal 1854
4 L/MIL/5/46-51 North West Frontier 1849-63 and Umbeyla 1863
5 L/MIL/5/52-54 Pegu 1852-53
6 L/MIL/5/55-56 Persia 1856-57
7 L/MIL/5/57-60 Bhootan 1864-66 and Hazara 1868
8 L/MIL/5/61-62 Looshai 1871-72
9 L/MIL/5/63 Jowaki 1877-78
10 L/MIL/5/64 Naga 1879-80
11 L/MIL/5/65 Burma 1885-87
12 L/MIL/5/66 "Marine Medals" 1801-1860
13 L/MIL/5/67 China 1842
14 L/MIL/5/68 Jellalabad 1842 (Second Issue)
15 L/MIL/5/69 Scinde 1843
16 L/MIL/5/70 Sutlej 1845-6
17 L/MIL/5/71-72 Punjab 1848-9
18 L/MIL/5/73-105 Indian Mutiny 1857-8
19 L/MIL/5/106-107 China 1857-60
20 L/MIL/5/108-109 Abyssinia 1867-8
21 L/MIL/5/110-121 Afganistan 1887-79-80
22 L/MIL/5/122-124 Kabul-Kandahar 1880
23 L/MIL/5/125 Egypt 1882
24 L/MIL/5/126 Delhi Durbar 1903
25 L/MIL/5/127 Delhi Durbar 1911
26 L/MIL/5/128-141 Miscellaneous 1845-1911
27 L/MIL/15/1-4 Officers of British Army Regiments in India 1806-1865
28 L/MIL/15/5-12 Officers formerly on the Indian Establishment now belonging to the British Army 1863-1868
29 L/MIL/15/16-19 Royal Engineers' Indian Establishment 1868-1930
30 L/MIL/15/23-26 British Army Transfers to the Indian Establishment 1859-1861
31 L/MIL/15/27-30 Monthly Casualty Returns of the New Line Regiments and Artillery Brigades 1862-1863
32 L/MIL/15/31-36 Nominal and Casualty Rolls of Jager Corps Volunteers 1860-1866
33 L/MIL/15/38-41 Registers of Indian Transports 1860-1873
34 L/MIL/15/42-46 British Troops embarked for India 1871-1889
35 L/MIL/15/47-48 Indian Troop Service Embarkation and Disembarkation Returns 1909-1914

Click HERE for more information.

Royal Niger Company's Medal

2011-02-15T21:42:00.004Z

Instituted:
1899

Qualification:
Issued to officers and men of the Company's forces. The medal was issued in silver (above)to Europeans and bronze to to natives for service in the territories adminstered by the Royal Niger chartered company.

Description:
39.5mm diameter silver or bronze medal. The obverse portrays the bust of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts the Company's arms within a laurel wreath.

Ribbon:
Three equal stripes of - from left - yellow, black and white.

Suspension:
Fixed, plain.

Naming:
Silver medals impressed in capitals; bronze medals (below) usually stamped with the receipient's constabulary number.

Clasps:
Two clasps: NIGERIA 1886-1897 (silver) and NIGERIA (bronze).

Acknowledgements:
Both images courtesy of Spink. The Medal Yearbook (Token Publishing Ltd) has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Turkish Crimea Medal

2011-01-10T21:50:00.004Z

Instituted:
1855

Qualification:
The Sultan of Turkey issued medals to the British, French and Sardinian troops who had taken part in the war, each nation having its own issue. Ultimately however, the medals were issued haphazardly, due in no small part to the loss of a large number of British version medals when the ship carrying them, sank. It is thus commonplace to see Sardinian and French versions of the Turkish Crimea Medal issued to British troops.

Description:
36mm diameter silver medal. The obverse portrays a map of the Crimea draped over the wheel of a cannon that is resting on the Russian flag. Four allied flags flutter in the background.

On the British version (top of the page), the Union Jack flies second from right and CRIMEA 1855 appears in the exergue.

On the French version, the Tricolour flies second from right and LA CRIMEE 1855 appears in the exergue.

On the Sardinian version, the Sardinian flag flies second from right and LA CRIMEA 1855 appears in the exergue.

The reverse of the medal shows the Sultan's cypher enclosed within a laurel wreath. CRIMEA appears in Turkish script along with the year (in the Muslim calendar) 1271 A H (1855 AD).

Ribbon:
Watered crimson with green edges. The original ribbon was 18mm wide but the suspension was often altered so that a wider ribbon could be accommodated.

Suspension:
The original suspension was simply a small ring through which the ribbon was passed. However, many of these rings were replaced with a suspender similar to that of the Crimea War Medal or Indian medals.

Naming:
Medals were originally issued unnamed although many of the recipients had these privately named.

Clasps:
None.

Other:
The French issue medal commands the highest prices and is also the only medal of the three for which there is no known miniature.

Acknowledgements:
British version image courtesy of Spink. British Battles and Medals and The Medal Yearbook (Token Publishing Ltd) have been invaluable in putting together the information.

John Samuel Mills - IGS

2011-01-07T13:50:00.007Z

I've just picked up an India General Service Medal with two clasps for Burma. John Samuel Mills signed up for 12 years' service with the Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) at Bermondsey on the 26th October 1883. He was 19 years and eleven months old, a labourer by trade who had been born in the parish of St George's. He was short - five feet, three inches tall - with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He had a circle, presumably tattooed, on his left forearm, dots on his right second finger and right forearm, scars on both upper eyelids, a scar on his chin and another on the back of his head, and two scars on his left wrist. He must have looked as though he been in the wars even before he was through with his first medical inspection.

John was unmarried and gave his next of kin as his father, Samuel Mills, of 28 Commercial Road, Pimlico. He remained in the UK with the Queen's until the 14th December 1885 and then sailed for India where he remained until October 1886. He was in Upper Burma until March 1888 and then back to India again until March 1891. From March 1891 until his discharge on the termination of his engagement, he was based in the UK.

What I like about John Mills' service - and the reason I bought this particular medal - is that he has a surviving service record which lists his overseas stations and his various admissions to hospital. His first spell in hospital was at Tralee in Ireland when he spent 83 days in hospital as a result of syphilis. A boil put him into hospital in Calcutta in March 1886 and he had eneteric fever (typhoid fevere in today's parlance) in Umballa in 1889. Inflamed lymph glands hospitalised him at Solan and Dagshai respectively in 1890.

John Mills's habits are described as temperate and his character as very good. I have not researched his life either before or after his military service. The quality of his medal is VF.

UK Military Campaign Medal & Award Rolls 1793-1949

2010-11-09T11:16:00.004Z

I've just been alerted to this collection which is new on Ancestry:

"This database contains lists of more than 2.3 million officers, enlisted personnel and other individuals entitled to medals and awards commemorating their service in campaigns and battles for the British Army between 1793 and 1949. The original medal rolls were compiled by the War Office and are housed at the National Archives of the UK in Kew, Surrey. The rolls include medals awarded for British campaigns in Europe, India, Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, West and Central Africa, China, the Middle East, and elsewhere during the height of the British Empire. The collection does not include WWI or WWII medal and award rolls.

While medal rolls do not provide very detailed information, the records can include the name, date, and location of a campaign or service, the soldier’s name, and the regiment or unit name and regimental number. Most rolls were arranged by campaign (or battle), then regiment, rank and surname.

The records in this collection can be searched by name, campaign, service location and date, and regimental number. Volumes may also be browsed by region, campaign, and regiment or unit."

This is a very nice addition to Ancestry's offering, and of particular benefit to medal researchers. It is however, not available on the basic subscription package.

The Hong Kong Plague Medal

2010-11-06T06:31:00.003Z

Not technically a British Army medal because it was given by the Hong Kong Community to those who assisted during the 1894 plague in Hong Kong. However, as the majority of recipients were soldiers, and as the medal is included in British Battles and Medals, it gets a mention here.

Instituted:
1894

Qualification:
The silver medal was awarded to around three hundred members of the Shropshire Light Infantry and fifty members of the Royal Navy and Royal Engineers as well as to members of the local police. Around 40 medals were struck in gold and awarded to civilians and nursing sisters (nine).

Description:
36mm diameter medal issued in silver and gold (see above). The obverse portrays a soldier warding off the angel of death whilst a female figure tends to the plague-stricken patient. The words HONG KONG appear in Chinese characters to the left of the soldier, and in the exergue, on a scroll, is the date 1894. The medal was designed by Frank Boucher and this is also indicated to the left of the exergue. The reverse of the medal carries the central text, FOR SERVICES RENDERED DURING THE PLAGUE OF 1894, and around the edge within a beaded border: PRESENTED BY THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; Red with yellow edges, and with two thin yellow stripes running down the centre.

Suspension:
Suspended by a 11mm diameter ring which runs through a loop soldered onto the top of the medal

Naming:
In thin indented capitals which give rank, name and regiment but not number.

Clasps:
None issued.

Acknowledgements:
Image courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb. British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

China War Medal 1900

2010-09-19T07:36:00.008+01:00

Instituted:
1901

Qualification:
Awarded to those who took part in actions against the Chinese in the China War of 1900-1901, more commonly referred to as the Boxer Rebellion.

Description:
36mm diameter silver medal. The obverse portrays the crowned and veiled head of Queen Victoria, the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts an array of trophies arranged under a palm tree. In the centre is a shield displaying the Royal Arms, and above the whole, the legend, ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM [translated as, they demanded peace by force of arms]. CHINA 1900 appears in the exergue.

The obverse of the medal was designed by G W de Saulles and the reverse by William Wyon RA (1795-1851).

Ribbon:
32mm wide; crimson with yellow edges.

Suspension:
Plain, straight swivelling suspender.

Naming:
Medals to the Royal Navy were impressed in block capitals, others indented in thin block capitals and running script.

Clasps:
Three clasps were issued and these are detailed below. The maximum number of clasps appearing on any one medal is two.

1. TAKU FORTS
Awarded for the action of 17th June 1900 when the Taku Forts were captured by the allied naval force.

2. DEFENCE OF LEGATIONS
Awarded for the actions between 20th June and 14th August 1900.

3. RELIEF OF PEKIN
Awarded for the actions of 10th June to 14th August 1900.

Acknowledgements:
Images courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb. British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Crimea War Medal

2010-09-01T12:45:00.010+01:00

Instituted:
15th December 1854

Qualification:
275,000 medals were awarded to all those who took part in the campaign against the Russians on the Crimean peninsular and on the surrounding waters.

The medal was also issued to some French personnel, some of these medals not bearing the 1854 date. These medals are sometimes found with the clasps, Traktir, Tchernaia, Mer d'Azoff and/or Malakof. French medals were issued un-named.

Description:
36mm diameter silver medal. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria, the legend VICTORIA REGINA, and the date, 1854. The reverse depicts winged Victory crowning with a laurel wreath, a Roman warrior armed with a shield in his left hand, and short sword in his right. The word CRIMEA is positioned vertically - reading from bottom to top, on the left.

The obverse of the medal was designed by William Wyon RA (1795-1851) and the reverse by his son, Benjamin Wyon (1802-1858).

Ribbon:
27mm wide; light blue with yellow edges.

Suspension:
Ornate swivelling suspender unique to this medal.

Naming:
Medals were originally issued unnamed but could be returned for naming free of charge. Those medals that were returned were engraved in indented or square capitals. British Battles & Medals suggests - based on a memo held in The National Archives - that all medals sent out to the Crimea were unnamed whilst those issued in the UK were named.

Men who served aboard HMS London, HMS Niger, HMS Rodney and HMS Wasp had their medals officially impressed. There are also examples of medals which have been unofficially engraved.

Clasps:
Five ornate oak leaf and acorn clasps were issued and these are detailed below. Clasps were supposed to be arranged in order from the bottom up - Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol - although there are many examples of medals with incorrectly ordered clasps. The maximum number of clasps found on any one medal is four.

In addition, unofficial clasps for TRAKTIR, MAMELON VERT, MALAKOFF, MER D'AZOFF and KINBURN are sometimes found on medals awarded to French troops.

1. ALMA
The award of an Alma clasp was announced at the same time as the award of the medal itself. It commemorated the deeds at Alma on the 20th September 1854.

2. BALAKLAVA
The award of the Balaklava clasp was sanctioned on the 23rd February 1855 and commemorated the battle on the 25th October 1854.

3. INKERMANN
Like the Alma clasp, the award of the Inkerman clasp was announced at the same time as the award of the medal itself. It commemorated the battle of Inkermann on the 5th November 1854.

4. SEBASTOPOL
The Sebastopol clasp was sanctioned on the 13th October 1855 and commemorated the siege which began on the 11th September 1854 and ended almost exactly one year later on the 9th September 1855.

5. AZOFF
The Azoff clasp was only awarded to Naval personnel who served in the Sea of Azoff between the 25th May and the 22nd September 1855.

Other:
Because many medals were issued before the last clasp was distributed, there is evidence of a variety of fittings, or indeed omissions if men did not bother to fit the clasp at all.

The reason the date 1854 appears on the obverse of the medal is that the medal was originally awarded to commemorate the battles of Alma and Balaklava only. There has been some interesting discussion on the British Medals Forum about the different dies used for the Crimea War Medal and the variation in how the date 1854 appears. Read the thread HERE.

Acknowledgements:
Obverse image courtesy of Spink, reverse image courtesy Dix Noonan Webb. British Battles and Medals and The Medal Yearbook (Token Publishing Ltd) have been invaluable in putting together the information.

Natal Rebellion Medal

2010-07-12T03:37:00.004+01:00

Instituted:
The Natal Government was authorised to issue this medal on the 9th May 1907.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who took part in the suppression of the Zulu rising in 1906.

Description:
36mm diameter silver medal with milled edge featuring the coinage head of King Edward VII on the obverse, and the legend EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse depicts Britannia and Natalia, Britannia holding an orb, surmounted by the figure of Peace, and Natalia holding a sword. Natives can be seen in the distance. The word NATAL appears in the exergue.

The medal was designed and manufactured by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company in London. Some bronze trial strikings still exist.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; crimson with black edges.

Suspension:
Plain straight suspender.

Naming:
Officers' medal are engraved, other ranks' impressed. Some unnamed copies also exist.

Clasps:
One clasp - 1906 - was issued. Around 10,000 medals were issued, and of these around 20 per cent were issued without the 1906 clasp. Entitlement to the clasp was to have served for a continuous period of fifty days or more. Medals without the clasp were awarded to men who had served continuously for between twenty and forty-nine days.

Other:
The Natal Rebellion medal was the first medal to be awarded with the sovereign's head facing to the right.

Acknowledgements:
Photograph courtesy of Aberdeen Medals. British Battles and Medals, as always, has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Arctic Medal

2010-06-20T03:53:00.002+01:00

Instituted:
Sanctioned on 28th November 1876.

Qualification:
Awarded to the crew of the HMS Alert and HMS Discovery for Arctic exploration between 17th July 1875 and 2nd November 1876. Also authorised to be awarded to the crew of the private yacht Pandora which made two voyages to the Arctic between 25th June and 19th October 1875, and 3rd June and 2nd November 1876.

Description:
36mm diameter silver medal with milled edge featuring the crowned and veiled bust of Queen Victoria on the obverse, and the legend VICTORIA REGINA 1876. The reverse depicts a three-masted ship bound in pack ice. The obverse was designed by George Gammon Adams (1821-1898) and the reverse by Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891).

Ribbon:
32mm wide; watered white.

Suspension:
Swivelling straight suspender.

Naming:
In small block lettering.

Clasps:
None issued.

Acknowledgements:
Photograph courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb. British Battles and Medals, as always, has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Tibet Medal

2010-05-09T02:39:00.007+01:00

Instituted:
Authorised on 1st February 1905.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who took part in the Tibet Mission and to the troops who accompanying it who served at or beyond Silgari between 13th December 1903 and 23rd September 1904.

Description:
36mm diameter medal featuring the bust of King Edward VII on the obverse and the legend EDWARDVS VII KAISAR-I-HIND. The reverse depicts the fortress of Potala Lhassa and the words TIBET 1903-4. The obverse of the medal was designed by G W De Saulles, and the reverse by E G Gillick. The medal was struck in silver and bronze.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; a maroon band in the centre, then a white stripe either side, then green.

Suspension:
The same floreated swivelling suspender used for the India Medal (and later, India General Service Medal).

Naming:
Thick running script.

Clasps:
One clasp was issued for Gyantse. This was awarded to all those who took part in the operation around Gyantse between 3rd May and 6th July 1904.

Acknowledgements:
The photographs are courtesy of Aberdeen Medals, whilst British Battles and Medals, as always, has been invaluable in putting together the information.

India General Service Medal 1908-1935

2010-04-11T18:48:00.008+01:00

Instituted:
Approved by King Edward VII on 1st January 1909.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who took part in various Indian campaigns between 1908 and 1935. The medal was never issued without a clasp and a total of twelve clasps were authorised.

Description:
36mm diameter, issued in silver and bronze (but see individual clasps below). There were three versions of the obverse for this medal. The first issue (above) depicts the bust of King Edward VII in uniform and the legend, EDWARDVS VII KAISAR-I-HIND. The second issue, which was started with those medals issued with the Abor 1911-1912 clasp, depicts the crowned and robed bust of King George V and the legend GEORGIVS V KAISAR-I-HIND. The 3rd issue, which was started with those medals issued with the North West Frontier 1930-31 clasp, shows the crowned and robed bust of King George V and the legend GEORGIVS.V.D.G.BRITT.OMN.REX.ET.INDIAE.IMP.

The reverse of all three versions depicts the fort at Jamrud on the Khyber Pass with, below that, the word INDIA over an olive and oak branch tied together by a ribbon.

The medal was designed by Richard Garbe RA (1876-1957).

Suspension:
The same floreated swivelling suspender as those used on previous India General Service Medals.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; green with a dark blue band running down the centre.

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

Clasps:
Twelve clasps were issued for this medal, as follows:

1. North West Frontier 1908
Awarded for the campaign on the North West Frontier between 14th February and 31st May 1908. Naming in running script. Medals with this bar were issued in silver and bronze.

2. Abor 1911-12
Awarded for services against the Abors between 6th October 1911 and 20th April 1912. Naming in running script. Medals with this bar were issued in silver and bronze. This was the first bar to be awarded with the second issue obverse (above).

3. Afghanistan NWF 1919
Awarded for service in the Third Afghan War between 6th May and 8th August 1919. Naming impressed in block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

4. Mahsud 1919-20
Awarded for services in the Mahsud territory between 27th November 1919 and 7th May 1920. Naming impressed in thin block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

5. Waziristan 1919-21
Awarded for operations against the Tochi, Wana Wazirs and Mahsuds betyween 6th May 1919 and January 1921. Naming impressed in block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

6. Malabar 1921-22
Awarded to all those who took part in the suppression of the Moplah Rebellion in Malabar between 20th August 1921 and 25th February 1922. Naming impressed in block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

7. Waziristan 1921-24
Awarded to all those who took part in the Waziristan operations between 21st December 1921 and 31st March 1924. Naming impressed in thin block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

8. Waziristan 1925
Awarded to all those who took part in the Waziristan operations between 9th March and 1st May 1925. Naming impressed in thin block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

9. North West Frontier 1930-31
Awarded to all those who served in Kohat, Waziristan and the Peshawur District between 21st December 1921 and 31st March 1924. Naming impressed in block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only. This was the first bar to be awarded with the third issue obverse (below).

10. Burma 1930-32
Awarded to all those who were dispatched from India and served in Burma between 22nd December 1930 and 25th March 1932. Naming impressed in small block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

11. Mohmand 1933
Awarded to all those who took part in operations against the Upper Mohmands between 28th July and 3rd October 1933. Naming impressed in thin block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

12. North West Frontier 1935
Awarded to all those who on the North West Frontier between 12th January and 3rd November 1935. Naming impressed in thin block capitals. Medals with this bar were issued in silver only.

Other:
After the 11th August 1920, permission was given for those who had been Mentioned in Despatches to wear the bronze oak leaf on their medal ribbon. Before this date, the MID emblem had been worn on the Inter-Allied Victory Medal.

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

Also see these other India medal posts:

India General Service Medal 1854-1895
Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-1858
India Medal 1895-1902

India General Service Medal 1854-1895

2010-04-04T15:51:00.015+01:00

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.

Major John Simpson Knox VC

2010-03-26T08:12:00.010Z

Deep pockets will be the order of the day next April. On the 22nd of the month, Spink Auction House will be offering for sale the first ever VC awarded to a soldier of the British Army.

Major John Simpson Knox was a sergeant with the Scots Fusilier Guards during the Crimean War and was present with his regiment in all of the Crimean engagements. His Crimea Medal, sold as part of the group, bears the clasps Alma, Balaclava, Inkermann and Sebastopol. The other two medals in the group are (from left to right, above), the French Legion of Honour and the Turkish Crimean Medal.

It was principally for his gallantry and leadership at the Alma on 20th September 1854 that Sergeant John Knox (pictured above, wearing his medals) was recommended for the Victoria Cross. The entry in The London Gazette of 24th February 1857 reads:

River Alma, Crimea, 20 September 1854, Sergeant John Knox, Scots ( Fusilier ) Guards.

When serving as a Serjeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards. Lieutenant Knox was conspicuous for his exertions in reforming the ranks of the Guards at the Battle of the Alma. Subsequently, when in the Rifle Brigade, he volunteered for the ladder party in the attack on the Redan, on the 18th of June, and ( in the words of Captain Blackett, under whose command he was ) behaved admirably, remaining on the field until twice wounded.

The medals are to be sold with the cannonball (above) which took off Knox's left arm at Sebastopol. He was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Hyde Park on the 26th June 1857.

John Knox's entry for the Crimea Medal with Alma and Inkerman clasps, above. The group is expected to sell for upwards of £120,000.

Acknowledgements:

The Daily Telegraph for the medal group; Spink for the cannonball, The National Archives for the medal roll entry,

Further Information:

John Simpson Knox VC
Lord Ashcroft's VC collection
Victoria Crosses at Dix Noonan Webb
Spink

India Medal

2010-03-15T14:42:00.008Z

Instituted:
An Army Order of 1st April 1896 authorised the India Medal and two clasps for the Defence of Chitral 1895 and the Relief of Chitral 1895.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who took part in North-West Frontier operations between 1895 and 1902.

Description:
There were two issues of this medal, one depicting the head of Queen Victoria, and the other depicting the bust of King Edward VII. Both medals were silver, 36mm diameter, although the Edward version has a thinner gauge.

1. Queen Victoria (first issue)
The obverse depicts the crowned and veiled head of Queen Victoria and the legend, VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse portrays a British soldier on the left and a Punjabi warrior on the right, both men supporting the same standard. The word INDIA appears on the left, and the date 1895 on the right. Thomas Brock (1847-1922) designed the obverse and George William de Saulles (1862-1903), the reverse.

2. King Edward VII (second issue)
The obverse depicts the bust of King Edward VII in Field Marshall's uniform and the legend, EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse is the same as above but with the date omitted. Both the obverse and reverse of the second issue were designed by George William de Saulles.

The medal could be issued in silver or bronze.

Suspension:
A floreated swivelling suspension.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; crimson with two dark green stripes down the centre.

Naming:
Generally in running script. However, medals with the Punjab Frontier clasp or Tirah clasp awarded to the Highland Light Infantry are named in block capitals.

Clasps:
Seven clasps were issued for this medal, as follows:

1. Defence of Chitral 1895
Awarded for the Defence of the Indian state of Chitral on the North West Frontier between 3rd March and 19th April 1895 (above).

2. Relief of Chitral 1895
Awarded for the Relief of Chitral on between 7th March and 15th August 1895.

3. Punjab Frontier 1897-98
Awarded for actions between 10th June 1897 and 6th April 1898. The clasp was authorised in June 1898.

4. Malakand 1897
Awarded for to those who took part in the defence and relief of Chakdara and Malakand between 26th July and 2nd August 1897.

5. Samana 1897
Awarded to the garrisons beyond Kohat for the part they played between 2nd August and 2nd October 1897. This clasp, authorised in June 1898, is always paired with at least one other clasp.

6. Tirah 1897-98
This clasp, authorised in June 1898, was awarded to the Tirah Expeditionary Force for the role it played between 2nd October 1897 and 6th April 1898. Like the Samana 1897 clasp, the Tirah clasp was never awarded singly.

7. Waziristan 1901-2
This bar was awarded to those who were engaged in the Mahsud and Waziri districts between 23rd November 1801 and 10th March 1902. It was authorised in March 1903. All single clasp Waziristan 1901-2 medals were issued with the Edward VII medal version (above).

Acknowledgements:
The photographs are courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb, whilst British Battles and Medals has, as always, proven invaluable in compiling the information.

Scinde Campaign Medals

2010-03-11T20:03:00.007Z

Instituted:
The medal was authorised on 22nd September 1843.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who accompanied Sir Charles Napier in his campaigns against the Amirs of Scinde (India) between 6th January and 24th March 1843.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria with the legend, VICTORIA REGINA. There were three different strikings of this medal, each with a different reverse as follows:

1. Meeannee - 17th February 1843

MEEANEE above the date 1843; surmounted by a crown and surrounded by a wreath.

2. Hyderabad - 24th March 1843

HYDERABAD above the date 1843; surmounted by a crown and surrounded by a wreath.

3. Meeannee and Hyderabad - 1843

MEEANEE above HYDERABAD above the date 1843; surmounted by a crown and surrounded by a wreath.

The medal was designed by William Wyon RA.

Suspension:
Straight suspender or a large ring passing through a silver clip attached to the medal. Medals to the 22nd Foot have the steel suspenders replaced by silver ones. The cost of this was borne by the then Lieutenant Colonel John Lysaght Pennefather (1800-1872) of the 22nd Foot who was wounded at Meeanee. He is pictured seated, below centre in 1855. For his services during the campaign, Lieutenant Colonel Pennefather was awarded the CB

Ribbon:
45mm wide; rainbow pattern: red, white, yellow, white and blue.

Naming:
Impressed or engraved block letters.

Clasps:
None.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph of the obverse comes from the Spink's July 2009 catalogue whilst the three reverse images are courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb. British Battles and Medals has, as usual, been invaluable in putting the information together.

China War Medal

2010-03-06T15:06:00.007Z

Instituted:
1843.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who had taken part in the following actions: "In the Canton River, in the operations at Chusan in 1841 and 1842. At Amoy, Ningpo, at Chinpae, at Tsekee, Chapoo, in the River Woosung, in the Yangtse Kiang, and at the assualt of Chiang-Kiang Foo" [from a letter by Lord Stanley to the Duke of Wellington on 5th January 1843].

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria with the legend, VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts the Royal Arms surrounded by a collection of war trophies under a palm tree. The inscription ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM [Trans: They demanded peace by force of arms] appears above, whilst in the exergue is the word CHINA and underneath that, the date 1842. The medal was designed by William Wyon RA.

Suspension:
A straight nickel silver suspension.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; crimson with two 6mm yellow edges.

Naming:
Impressed in roman capitals.

Clasps:
None.

Other:
The reverse of the original design of this medal, also designed by William Wyon, showed the British lion trampling the fallen Chinese dragon. ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACIM appeared above, whilst NANKING, and underneath that, 1842, appeared in the exergue. This version of the medal was never issued however, as it was considered to be offensive to the Chinese. Despite this, specimens of this medal are known to exist.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph comes from the Spink and Son July 2009 catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has, as usual, been invaluable in putting the information together.

North West Canada Medal

2010-02-14T08:44:00.001Z

Instituted:
Authorised by the Canadian Government on 18th September 1885.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who were serving west of Thunder Bay and who took part in the suppression of Riel's (Second) Rebellion of 1885.

Description:
Silver, 35mm wide. The obverse, designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, portrays the diademed and veiled head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse, designed by Thomas Brock, depicts a maple wreath enclosing the words NORTH WEST CANADA 1885. The words appear in the following order:

NORTH WEST

1885

CANADA

Suspension:
A swivelling suspender.

Ribbon:
33mm wide; blue grey and with red stripe close to each edge.

Naming:
The medal was issued unnamed although many were subsequently named locally and the units often shown in abbreviated forms.

Clasps:
One clasp was issued for SASKATCHEWAN.

Other:
Also see the Canada General Service Medal.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from the Spink & Son July 2009 auction catalogue and shows the North West Canada Medal with Saskatchewan clasp. British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Khedive's Star

2010-01-18T07:57:00.009Z

Instituted:1882.

Qualification:Originally awarded to all those who took part in the 1882 Egypt campaign, qualification was later extended to include later Egyptian campaigns up until 1889.

Description:There were four issues of this star. The undated version, (shown above with Tokar clasp), was awarded to troops who did not qualify for the Queen’s medal. There were also three dated versions. Below is the Star bearing the date 1882.

Below this, the 1884 version:

and finally the version bearing the date 1884-6:

The medal, a five-pointed star, was made of bronze: 60mm high and 45mm wide. The obverse depicts a raised circle with the image of the Sphinx in the foreground and three pyramids behind. The word ‘EGYPT’ is written above followed by a year (or no date). The reverse carries a monogram of the Khedive under a crown within a raised circle.

Straight suspender with a crescent and five pointed star in the centre. The suspender attaches to the star by means of a small metal loop.

Ribbon:Dark blue.

Naming:
Generally issued unnamed although some stars have the name of the regiment stamped in full or abbreviated form on the reverse.

Clasps:
One clasp: TOKAR 1308 was awarded to those who had fought at the battle of Tokar in 1891 (1308 being the Arabic date) but had already received a previous star.

Other:
All recipients of the Egypt Medal (1882-1889) qualified for the Khedive's Star.

Acknowledgements:
The images are all courtesy of Spink and Son. British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Sutlej Campaign Medal

2010-01-03T09:24:00.000Z

Instituted:
17th April 1846.

Qualification:
Awarded to Those who took part in the actions of the Sutlej Campaign in India between December 1845 and February 1846.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter, with an ornamental swivelling suspender. The obverse portrays the diademed of Queen Victoria with the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts the standing figure of Victory facing left. She holds a laurel wreath in her outstretched right hand, and an olive branch in her right. A collection of trophies is gathered at her feet.

There were four different exergues which contain one of the following:

1. MOODKEE 1845
2. FEROZESHUHUR 1845
3. ALIWAL 1846
4. SOBRAON 1846

Recipents were awarded that version of the medal whose exergue contained the name of the first action they had taken part in.

Ribbon:
32mm wide; dark blue with crimson edges.

Naming:
Indented in capital letters or light roman lettering.

Clasps:
There was no clasp issued for the Moodkee action of 18th December 1845. However, clasps were issued for each of the other actions mentioned in the different medal exergues as follows:

1. Ferozeshehur
Awarded for the action of 21st and 22nd December 1845.

2. Aliwal
Awarded for the action 28th January 1846.

3. Sobraon
Awarded for the action of Sobraon on 10th February 1846.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from the Spink & Son July 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Punjab Campaign Medal

2009-12-03T15:37:00.005Z

Instituted:
Authorised by a General Order dated 2nd April 1849.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who were employed in the Punjab between 7th September 1848 and the 14th March 1849.

Description:
A silver, 36mm diameter medal featuring the diademed head of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The medal was designed by William Wyon (1795-1851) who was the official chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death.

The reverse depicts Major-General Sir Walter Gilbert on horseback, receiving the surrender of the Sikh armies. Around the top of the medal is the inscription TO THE ARMY OF THE PUNJAB, whilst the date (1853 expressed in roman numerals) - MDCCCXLIX - appears in the exergue.

Ribbon:
32mm wide, two yellow stripes close to each edge, the remainder dark blue.

Suspension:
An ornamental, swivelling suspender.

Naming:
Impressed in roman capitals.

Clasps:
Three were issued and these are described below:

1. Mooltan
Awarded to those who took part in the siege of Mooltan between 7th September 1848 and 22nd January 1849. 2900 clasps were issued to Europeans and 16,067 to natives.

2. Chilianwala
Awarded for the action of 13th January 1849. 4300 clasps were issued to Europeans and 16,153 to natives.

3. Goojerat
Awarded for the action of 21st February 1849. 6200 clasps were issued to Europeans and 26,760 to natives.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from the Spink & Son July 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals, as always, has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Jellalabad Medals

2009-10-18T03:08:00.008+01:00

Instituted:
1842.

Qualification:
Awarded to men who took part in the defence of - and withstood the siege of - Jellalabad (now Jalalabad) in Afghanistan between 12th November 1841 and 7th April 1842.

Two versions of the medal were issued, generally referred to as the Mural Crown (first type) and Flying Victory (second type).

First Type Description:
Silver, 39mm diameter, with a straight steel suspender fastened by a pin. The obverse portrays a mural crown and the word JELLALABAD. The reverse carries the date VII APRIL 1842. The image above shows a replacement suspension.

This medal was struck in Calcutta but was considered (understandably) inartistic. Furthermore, not enough medals were struck to issue to the next of kin. Consequently, a second type was struck in London (below). A free exchange was offered to men who had received the first type but it is recorded that only five men of the 13th Regiment of Foot took up the offer.

Second Type Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter with a straight steel suspender fastened by a pin. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria with the words VICTORIA VINDEX. A few medals were later struck with the words VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts winged Victory holding the Union Jack in her left hand and wreaths in her right. Around the top is the inscription JELLALABAD VII APRIL and in the exergue, the date MDCCCXLII.

The medal was designed by William Wyon (1795-1851) who was the official chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death.

Ribbon:
Watered rainbow pattern: red, white, yellow, white, blue.

Naming:
Different types of naming exist for the The Mural Crown type: around the edge and on the obverse under the crown. The medal was not officially named when first issued.

Winged Victory naming is in the form of indented block capitals around the edge.

Clasps:
None issued.

Other:
British Battles and Medals notes that 2654 medals were issued in total.

Acknowledgements:
The photographs are taken from the Spink & Son July 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Canada General Service Medal

2009-09-24T15:39:00.005+01:00

Instituted
7th January 1899 and awarded to all those who qualified for the medal and were still living. An Army Order of 1906 extended the period of applying for the medal until 1st July 1907 and this was later further extended to 31st December 1928.

Qualification:
Awarded to members of the Imperial and Canadian forces which took part in the suppression of the Fenian Raids in 1866 and 1870, and Riels' First Rebellion, also in 1870. This latter action was also known as the Red River Rebellion or the Red River Resistance depending, presumably, upon which side of the fence you stood.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter, with a plain, straight swivel suspender. The obverse portrays the veiled bust of Queen Victoria with the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts the Canadian flag surrounded by a wreath of maple leafs. The word CANADA appears above.

The obverse on the medal was designed by Thomas Brock (1847-1922) and the reverse by George William de Saulles (1862-1903). Thomas Brock was a prolific English sculptor, probably best known for the Imperial Memorial to Queen Victoria situated in front of Buckingham Palace. He was knighted in 1911. George de Saulles (1862-1903) was, as Chief Engraver, responsible for official medals between 1894 and 1902.

Ribbon:
Three equal stripes of red, white and red.

Naming:
Several different naming types are to be found. Medals issued to English Regiments (approximately 820) were impressed in capitals or engraved. Medals issued to Canadian recipients are to be found in large indented block capitals, indented lower case letters and - for the most part for those awarded to Naval recipients - engraved in large or small capitals.

Clasps:
Three clasps were awarded: Fenian Raid 1866, Fenian Raid 1870, and Red River 1870. The medal was always issued with a clasp. Four different dies were used for the 1866 clasp, five for the 1870 clasp and three for the Red River clasp.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from the Spink & Son July 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal

2009-09-20T11:06:00.003+01:00

Instituted:
Authorised by the Cape of Good Hope Government on 4th December 1900, with the approval of Queen Victoria.

Qualification:
Awarded to men who took part in the suppression of uprisings in Transkei, Basutoland and Bechuanland.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter, with a swivelling straight suspender. The obverse portrays the bust of Queen Victoria wearing a veil and a small crown, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts the arms of Cape Colony and the legend, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

The medal was designed by George William de Saulles (1862-1903) who, as Chief Engraver, was responsible for official medals between 1894 and 1902.

Ribbon:
Dark blue with a yellow stripe running down the centre.

Naming:
Those engraved in the UK were done so in thin, faint block capitals. Later issues engraved in Cape Town were impressed in square capitals.

Clasps:
Three clasps were awarded and these are listed below.

1. Transkei
Awarded for operations in Tembuland and Giqualand East between 13th September 1880 and 15th May 1881

2. Basutoland
Awarded for operations between 13th September 1880 and 27th April 1881 at Mafetang, Maseru, Kalabani and elsewhere.

3. Bechuanaland
Awarded for operations in Bechuanaland between 24th December 1886 and 30th July 1897.

A total of 5252 medals were issued and only ten were issued without a clasp. The breakdown - courtesy of British Battles and Medals - is as follows:

Transkei: 562
Basutoland: 1589
Bechuanaland: 2483
Transkei and Basutoland: 490
Transkei and Bechuanaland: 18
Basutoland and Bechaunaland: 77
Transkie, Basutoland and Bechaunaland: 23
No clasps: 10

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from Spink's's July 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Baldwin's - Orders, Decorations and Medals

2009-09-18T04:48:00.005+01:00

I've just added a new section on the right-hand column for for forthcoming medal auctions. If your name is RENNIE or you have an interest in that surname, there are some fantastic lots coming up in the Baldwin's sale at the end of this month.

CLICK ON THIS BALDWIN'S LINK TO VIEW THE CATALOGUE.

South Africa Medal 1877-1879

2009-09-14T15:30:00.007+01:00

Instituted:
1879

Qualification:
Awarded for operations against various African tribes between September 1877 and December 1879.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter, with an ornamental scroll swivelling suspension. The obverse portrays the diademed head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts the lion of South Africa crouching in front of a protea bush. Above are the words SOUTH AFRICA; below the lion a Zulu shield and crossed spears.

As with the Indian Mutiny Medal, the South Africa Medal design is another father/son collaboration. The obverse of the medal was designed by William Wyon (1795-1851) who was the official chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death. (See also the Army of India Medal). The reverse was designed by his eldest son, Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891) who became Second Engraver at the Royal Mint in 1844 and who succeeded his father as Modeler and Engraver in 1851.

Ribbon:
Watered, orange-yellow with two narrow and two wide stripes in dark blue.

Naming:
Engraved capital letters.

Clasps:
Seven clasps were awarded and these are listed below. The medal could also be issued without a clasp (also below). After a good deal of deliberation on the part of the War Office, and after three Royal Warrants had been issued it was decided to issue only one clasp per medal, that clasp representing the year, or number of years, that the recipient had been employed against an enemy.

1. 1877
The second least common of the clasps with approximately 150 awarded.

2. 1877-8
Approximately 5,820 awarded.

3. 1877-8-9
Approximately 3,520 awarded.

4. 1877-9
The rarest of all the clasps. Approximately eight awarded.

5. 1878
Approximately 2,000 awarded.

6. 1878-9
Approximately 1,180 awarded.

7. 1879
Approximately 18,330 awarded.

Men entitled to any of the above clasps who were already in possession of the earlier South Africa 1853 medal were supposed to declare this to the authorities so that the appropriate clasp from the 1877-79 campaign could be added to their earlier medal.

In all, 36,600 medals were struck, 5,600 of these issued without a clasp to men who took part in the Zulu operations between 11th January and 1st September 1879 but who did not cross into Zululand from Natal.

Operations:
The operations for which the above bars were awarded were as follows:

1. Operations against the Gcalekas and the Gaikas (1877-78).

2. Operations against the Griquas in 1878.

3. Operations against Sekukuni in 1878 and 1879.

4. Operations against Moirosi in 1879.

5. The Zulu War of 1879.

Other:
The medal is also referred to as the Zulu War Medal and the South Africa General Service Medal.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from Dix Noonan's September 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Ashantee Medal

2009-09-10T00:48:00.007+01:00

Instituted:
1st June 1874

Qualification:
Those serving in Major-General Sir Garnet Wolseley's campaign against the Ashantis between 9th June 1873 and 4th February 1874.

Description:
36mm diameter medal, silver and bronze, featuring the veiled head of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts a bush-fighting scene around a tree between British soldiers and Ashanti tribesemen.

The obverse of the medal was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891). The reverse was designed by Sir Edward John Poynter (1836-1919), many of whose works can be seen at The Tate Gallery in London.

Ribbon:
32mm wide. Yellow with black borders and two thin black stripes down the centre.

Naming:
The recipient's name engraved in roman capitals. The rim dated 1873-4.

Clasps:
One clasp was awarded for this medal - Coomassie. However, those men who later qualified for the East and West Africa Medal ( for various operations between 1887 and 1900) were awarded the bar/s only which were then to be attached to the Ashantee Medal.

The Coomassie clasp was awarded to all those who were present at the battle of Amoaful on 21st January 1874 and in the actions between Amoaful and Coomassie, including the capture of the capital on 4th February 1874.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from Spink's July 2009 medal auction catalogue, whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Indian Mutiny Medal

2009-09-06T03:26:00.004+01:00

Instituted:
Originally sanctioned by General Order No. 363 dated 18th August 1858 and No. 733 of 1859 to all troops engaged against the mutineers, this was later extended by General Order 771 in 1868 to all persons who had borne arms or been under fire.

Qualification:
See above.

Description:
A silver, 36mm diameter medal featuring the diademed head of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts the standing, helmeted figure of Britannia. She faces left and holds a wreath in her right outstreched hand. Over her left arm is a shield and behind her the British lion. The word INDIA is written above her, and the dates 1857-1858 beneath.

The obverse of the medal was designed by William Wyon who was the official chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death in 1851. (See alsothe Army of India Medal). The reverse was designed by his eldest son, Leonard Charles Wyon (1826-1891) who became Second Engraver at the Royal Mint in 1844 and who succeeded his father as Modeler and Engraver in 1851.

Ribbon:
32mm wide. White with two 6mm scralet stripes.

Naming:
The recipient's name and regiment, or ship, indented in roman capitals.

Clasps:
Five fish-tailed clasps were issued and these are listed below. Around 290,000 medals were also issued without clasps, the result of the 1868 General Order.

1. Delhi
Awarded to troops involved in the recapture of Delhi between 30th May and 14th September 1857.

2. Defence of Lucknow
Awarded to original defenders, the relief force and a few civilians. The qualifying period was 29th June - 22nd November 1857.

3. Relief of Lucknow
Awarded to troops under Sir Colin Campbell who were involved in the relief of the city in November 1857.

4. Lucknow
Awarded to troops who took part in the final operations resulting in the capture of Lucknow between November 1857 and March 1858.

5. Central India
Awarded to those who served under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose against Jhansi, Calpee and Gwalior, and those who served with Major-General Roberts in the Rajpatana Field Force and Major-General Whitlock of the Madras Column between January and June 1858.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from Dix Noonan's September 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Army of India Medal

2009-09-01T16:30:00.010+01:00

Instituted:
An order dated 21st March 1851 authorised the East India Company to issue a medal to all survivors who served in India between 1799 and 1826.

Qualification:
See above. The period covered encompassed four wars: the Second Mahratta War (1803–4), the Gurkha War (1814–16), the Pindaree or Third Mahratta War (1817–18), and the First Burmese War (1824–26). Because the medal was issued retrospectively, and some 48 years after the first qualifying action at Allighur in 1803, fewer medals were issued than would have been the case had awards been made immediately after the campaigns. As it was, around 4,500 medals were issued in total, the vast majority of these with only a single clasp.

Description:
A silver, 35mm diameter medal featuring the diademed head of Queen Victoria on the obverse and the legend VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts the figure of Victory, seated and facing left. In her right hand she holds a laurel branch, and in her right hand a wreath. A palm tree can be seen to the left and around the top is the wording, TO THE ARMY OF INDIA. The dates 1799-1826 appear at the bottom. The medal was designed by William Wyon who was the official chief engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death in 1851. It was a William Wyon design which was the model for Queen Victoria's head on the Penny Black and other later Victorian postage stamps.

The length of the hyphen between the two dates is known to vary. Those with a long hyphen are thought to have been sent out to India unnamed and then named in Calcutta and sent to claimants still serving in India. Medals with a shorter hyphen and the designer's initials (WW) were largely issued to the Queen's ships and regiments.

Ribbon:
32mm wide and light blue.

Naming:
Generally in indented capitals to British and European troops and various indented capitals and script to natives.

Clasps:
This medal was only issued with clasps and there were twenty-one clasps issued in total. These are listed below in date order, earliest first. The order of the clasps on this medal is different from most medals in that the last award is placed nearest the medal.

1. Allighur
Awarded for the action of 4th September 1803.

2. Battle of Delhi
Awarded for the action of 11th September 1803.

3. Assye
Awarded for the action of 23rd September 1803.
Assye is today, Assaye in the state of Maharashtra. Read more about the Battle of Assye at British Battles.com. The Duke of Wellington, who was a colonel (and acting Major General) at Assye would later say that Assye was his hardest fought battle.

4. Asserghur
Awarded for the action of 21st October 1803.

5. Laswaree
Awarded for the action of 1st November 1803.

6. Argauum
Awarded for the action of 29th November 1803.

7. Gawilghur
Awarded for the action of 15th December 1803.

8. Defence of Delhi
Awarded for the actions of 8th-14th October 1804.

9. Battle of Deig
Awarded for the action of 13th November 1804.

10. Capture of Deig
Awarded for the actions of 11th-23rd December 1804.

11. Nepaul
Awarded for the actions of October 1814 to March 1816.

12. Kirkee
Awarded for the action of 5th November 1817.

13. Poona
Awarded for the actions of 11th-16th November 1817.

14. Kirkee and Poona
Awarded for the actions of 5th-16th November 1817.

15. Seetabuldee
Awarded for the actions of 26th-27th November 1817.

16. Napgore
Awarded for the action of 16th December 1817.

17. Seetabuldee and Nagpore
Awarded for the actions of 26th-27th November 1817 and 16th December 1817.

18. Maheidpoor
Awarded for the action of 21st December 1817.

19. Corygaum
Awarded for the action of 1st January 1818.

20. Ava
Awarded for actions between 1824 and 1826.

21. Bhurtpoor
Awarded to men who took part in the siege of Bhurtpoor between 17th and 18th January 1826.

Other:
The first action commemorated on a clasp for this medal was the assault on the fortress at Allighur on 4th September 1803, a date which does not of course agree with the dates 1799-1826 that are mentioned on the reverse of the medal.

Seven clasps were awarded to one man - the most awarded. Two men received five clasps, twenty-three received four, and one hundred and forty nine received three.

Medals with the Ava clasp are the most common; those with the Kirkee (seven known issues) and Seetabuldee (two issues to Europeans) clasps, the most rare.

Sales:
An Army of India medal with a scarce combination of Battle of Deig and Capture of Deig clasps (only 32 entitlements for this combination) was sold at auction by Dix Noonan Webb in June 2009 for £7,800 against a top estimate of £4,500.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is taken from Dix Noonan's September 2009 auction catalogue whilst British Battles and Medals has been invaluable in putting together the information.

Kabul to Kandahar Star

2009-08-26T08:49:00.004+01:00

Instituted:
Authorised on 19th March 1881.

Qualification:
It was awarded to all those who took part in General Roberts’s three hundred mile march from Kabul to Kandahar between 9th and 31st August 1880.

Description:
A five-pointed star with a ball between all of the points except the two uppermost where a crown is fixed. The obverse has the mongram VRI in the centre. Around the border is KABVL TO KANDAHAR and the date 1880 at the bottom. The reverse is plain except for naming in the hollow centre (see below). Designer unknown; manufactured by H Jenkins & Sons of Birmingham.

Ribbon:
38mm wide and a rainbow pattern of red, white, yellow, white, blue.

Naming:
Indented capitals to British troops; engraved in capitals and script to natives.

Clasps:
None issued.

Other:
The Kabul to Kandahar Star was usually issued with the Afghanistan Medal (with Kandahar clasp) and was made from guns captured from the army of Ayub Khan.

Errors in naming to Foot instead of Regt have been found (Childers' 1881 reforms saw the old Regiments of Foot giving way to new County Regiments).

Photo:
Image borrowed from the Dixons Medals website.

Afghanistan Medal

2009-08-20T07:57:00.006+01:00

Instituted:
Authorised on 19th March 1881.

Qualification:
Awarded to all those who took part in the Afghanistan campaigns of 22nd November 1878 to 26th May 1879 and 3rd September 1879 to 20th September 1880.

Description:
Silver, 31mm diameter with plain, swivelling suspender. The obverse portrays the crowned and draped head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse (above) depicts marching and mounted troops and an elephant carrying a cannon. The word AFGHANISTAN appears around the top, and the dates 1878-79-80 at the bottom. The obverse was designed by J E H Boehm and the reverse by R Caldecott.

Ribbon:
Green with crimson stripe on each edge.

Naming:
A variety of different styles. Medals to British troops were engraved in upright or sloping capitals whilst those awarded to natives are found in capitals or script.

Clasps:
Six bars were issued and these are listed below.

1. Ali Musjid
Awarded for the action of 11th July 1882.

2. Peiwar Kotal
Awarded for the action of 2nd December 1878.

3. Charasia
Awarded for the action of 6th October 1879

4. Kabul
Awarded for those involved in operations at or near Kabul between 10th and 23rd December 1879, including the column under Brigadier General C J S Gough which joined Sir Frederick Roberts VC on 24th December that year.

5. Ahmed Khel
Awarded for the action of 29th April 1880.

6. Kandahar
Awarded for the action of 1st September 1880 and also to those who took part in the reconnaissance of the city the previous day but who did not take part in the attack.

Other:
Sixteen Victoria Crosses were awarded for valour during the Afghan campaign and five generals who were VC holders also took part in the campaign.

The Kabul to Kandahar Star was usually issued with the Afghanistan Medal (with Kandahar clasp) and was made from guns captured from the army of Ayub Khan. It was awarded to all those who took part in General Roberts’s three hundred mile march from Kabul to Kandahar between 9th and 31st August 1880.

Photo:
Image borrowed from the Dixons Medals website.

Egypt Medal 1882-1889

2009-08-11T10:29:00.008+01:00

Instituted:October 1882.

Qualification:Originally awarded to all those who took part in the 1882 Egypt campaign, qualification was later extended to include later Egyptian campaigns up until 1889.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter with swivelling suspender. The obverse portrays the veiled head of Queen Victoria and the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts the sphinx atop a pedestal and with the word EGYPT above.

Medals awarded for the 1882 campaign have the year 1882 appearing beneath the pedestal. Medals for the later campaigns are undated.

Ribbon:Three blue stripes left, centre and right,with two white stripes in between these.

Naming:
A variety of different styles although generally engraved in distinctive sloping serif capitals. There are examples of undated medals to the Navy and Marines impressed in large serif capitals, and to Indian units in engraved running script or impressed small serif capitals. Medals issued to local Egyptian forces are engraved in Arabic.

Clasps:Thirteen clasps were issued and these are listed below. The first two - Alexandria and Tel-El-Kabir - were issued for the 1882 campaign only. The dated and undated medal could also be issued without clasps and men who had been issued with the 1882 medal and clasp/s and who subsequently served in a later Egyptian campaign, had to return their medal to have a complete new set of clasps. Thus genuine multi-clasp medals with the Alexandria or Tel-El-Kabir clasp all have uniform rivets.

1. Alexandria 11th July
Awarded for the action of 11th July 1882 and found on dated medals.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1882 Khedive's Star.

2. Tel-El-Kabir
Awarded for the action of 13th September 1882 and found on dated medals.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1882 Khedive's Star.

3. Suakin 1884Awarded for action between 19th February and 26th March 1884.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884 Khedive's Star.

4. El-Teb
Awarded for the action of 29th February 1884.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884 Khedive's Star.

5. Tamaai
Awarded for the action of 13th March 1884.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884 Khedive's Star.

Regiments present: one squadron each from the 10th Hussars and 19th Hussars; M/1 Battery and 6/1st Scottish Divisional Royal Artillery, 26th Company Royal Engineers, 3/60th, 65th, 70th, 75th and 89th Regiments of Foot; also Native Camel Transport. HM Navy was represnted by officers, seamen and marines from the following ships: Briton, Carysfort, Dryad, Euralysus, Hecla, Humber, Inconstant, Inflexible, Northumberland, Sphinx, Thalia and Tyne.

6. El-Teb-Tamaai
Awarded for the actions of 29th February 1884 & 13th March 1884.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884 Khedive's Star.

7. The Nile 1884-1885
Awarded for service with the Khartoum relief expedition prior to 7th March 1885.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884-1886 Khedive's Star.

8. Abu Klea
Awarded for the action of 17th January 1885.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884-1886 Khedive's Star.

9. Kirbekan
Awarded for the action of 10th February 1885.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884-1886 Khedive's Star.

10. Suakin 1885
Awarded for actions between 1st March and 14th May 1885.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884-1886 Khedive's Star.

11. Tofrek
Awarded for the action of 22nd March 1885.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the 1884-1886 Khedive's Star.

12. Gemaizah 1888
Granted to all troops who were landed at Suakin before the action at Gemaizah on 20th December 1888.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the undated Khedive's Star.

Regiments present: 20th Hussars (147), 24 Company Royal Engineers (17), 2/25th Foot, 41st Foot, 86th Foot; also Egyptian Native Troops. There were also Naval detachments from HMS Starling, HMS Racer and the Khedive's Noor-l-Bahr.

13. Toski 1889
Awarded for the action of 3rd August 1889.
Recipients of this clasp would also have been entitled to the undated Khedive's Star.

Note: The Abu Klea and Kirbejan clasps are always paired with The Nile 1884-1885 clasp. The Tofrek clasp is always paired with the Suakin 1885 clasp.

Khedive's Sudan Medal

2009-08-05T06:28:00.006+01:00

Instituted:
12th February 1897.

Qualification:
Awarded to officers and men who took part in battles and actions in the African Sudan between 1896 and 1908. The medal (under Army Order 48) was originally issued to commemorate the reconquest of the Dongola Province in 1896 and with the clasps "Firket" and "Hafir" This was later extended by subsequent army orders to cover actions up to 21st November 1908 (and with a further 13 clasps).

Description:
Silver and bronze 39mm diameter. The obverse bears the Arabic inscription "Abbas Hilmi the Second" and the year Islamic Calendar year (or Hijri Calendar year) "1314". The reverse shows a tablet inscribed in Arabic with "The Reconquest of the Sudan 1314" which supports a trophy of arms. Above this is an oval shield decorated with stars and crescents and behind this, lances and flags.

Ribbon:
Yellow (representing the desert) with a large blue band (representing the Nile) running through the centre.

Naming:
The medal was issued un-named although unofficially named examples are found in a number of different styles.

Clasps:
Fifteen clasps cover the period 1896 to 1908. Men entitled to any of the first six clasps noted below would also have qualified for the Queen's Sudan Medal.

1. Firket
Awarded to those military personnel who were serving at or to the south of Sarras between the 30th March and the 23rd September 1896 inclusive, and to those serving at Suakin between the same dates who took part in the operations south of Akasheh on the 7th June 1896.

2. Hafir
Awarded to those who took part in the operations south of Fareig on 19th September 1896.

3. Sudan 1897
Awarded to troops who had already been granted the medal and who served at and south of Kerma on the Nile or south of No. 6 Station on the Abu Hamed Railway between the 15th July and 6th November 1897.

4. Abu Hamed
There is quite a long list of qualifications for this clasp. Essentially, troops had to have taken part in the engagement at Abu Hamed on 7th August 1897 to receive it.

5. The Atbara
Awarded to those who took part in the battle at Atbara on the 8th April 1898.

6. Khartoum
Awarded to those who took part in the battle near Khartoum on 2nd September 1898.

7. Gedaref
Awarded to those who took part in the capture of Gedaref on the 22nd September 1898, and in the subsequent engagements in that neighbourhood.

8. Gedid
Awarded to those troops who took part in the action at Gedid (or its vicinity) on 22nd and 24th November 1899.

9. Sudan 1899
Awarded to those troops who served on the Blue and White Nile south of Khartoum during 1899.
10. Bahr El Ghazal 1900-1902
Awarded to those troops who took part in the policing operations in the Bahr El Ghazal Province under Sparkes Bey in 1900-1902.

11. Jerok
Awarded to all troops under the command of Miralai Gorringe Bey, CMG, DSO who took part in the operations against the slave raider Ibrahim Wad Mahmud at and around Gebel Jerok between 11th February 1904 and 3rd March 1904.

12. Nyam Nyam
Awarded to all troops under William Arthur Boulnois Bey (Governor of Bahr El Ghazal) who took part in the suppression of trouble in the Bahr El Ghazal Province between January and May 1905.

13. Talodi
Awarded to all troops under the command of Miralai O'Connell Bey who formed part of the garrison at Talodi between the 25th May and 12th June 1906 and who took part in the fighting at Teira on the 15th and 17th June 1906.

14. Katfia
Awarded to all troops who took part in the action of Katfia on the night of 1st/2nd May 1908.

15. Nyima
Awarded to all troops under the command of El Kaimakam Lempriere Bey who served at Dilling, or south and west of Dilling between the 1st and 21st November 1908.

Other:
A second Khedive's Sudan medal was issued in 1910 and clasps for that medal would eventually cover actions and engagements up until 1921.

Image:
Shows the reverse of the Khedive's Sudan Medal and is borrowed from the Dixons Medals website.

Queen's Sudan Medal

2009-08-01T11:59:00.007+01:00

Instituted:
1899.

Qualification:
Awarded to officers and men who took part in the Sudan campaign between 1896 and 1898. Originally mainly an Egyptian affair, two British brigades subsequently joined the campaign (see Other, below).

Description:Silver and bronze 36.5mm diameter. The obverse portrays the bust of Queen Victoria holding a sceptre. Around the perimeter is the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse portrays a plinth inscribed with SUDAN, from underneath which Nile lilies sprout. Victory sits on top of the plinth holding a laurel wreath in her left hand and a palm branch in her right. Behind her, to her right, is the British flag, and behind on her left, the Egyptian flag.

Ribbon:
A thin red stripe running down the centre divides yellow on the left and black on the right.

Naming:
A combination of engraved and impressed largely depending on the nationality of the recipient. British awards are engraved in square upright or sloping serif capitals. Awards to Indian troops are impressed or engraved in running script. Medals to Egyptian troops can sometimes be found engraved in Arabic script.

Clasps:
No clasps were awarded for this medal although an unofficial clasp bearing the name DONGOLA is supposed to exist.

Other:
The British force comprised the 1st British Brigade which was commanded by Brigadier General (later Major General) Andrew (Andy) Wauchope, and the 2nd British Brigade which was commanded by Brigadier General (later General) Sir Neville Lyttelton.

The 1st British Brigade comprised the 1st Bn Cameron Highlanders, 1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regt, 1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders and the 1st Bn Lincolnshire Regt.

The 2nd British Brigade comprised the 1st Bn Grenadier Guards, 1st Bn Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade and the 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers.

Additional reinforcements included the 21st Lancers (who would make their maiden charge at Omdurman and who could count Winston Churchill and Douglas Haig amongst their ranks), two field batteries with 5 inch howitzers and 9 pounder Maxim-Nordenfeldt guns, a four gun Maxim battery, and seven gunboats.

Sudan Campaign books from the Naval & Military Press

Egyptian Soudan, its loss and recovery 1896-1898

This book includes a rapid sketch of the history of Sudan, a narrative of the Dongola expedition of 1896, and a full account of the Nile expedition of 1897-1898. The first part describes the early days of the country, its conquest by the Egyptian Khedive, Mahomed Ali, the foundation of Khartoum and its place as the great central slave market. The involvement of the British in suppressing this trade brought Gordon to Khartoum, subsequently the scene of his death in January 1885 when Khartoum was was taken by the Mahdi. A relief force arrived two days too late - and withdrew to Egypt leaving the Mahdi in control. Eventually the decision was taken to reconquer the Sudan and in 1896 Kitchener, the Sirdar of Egypt, was given the task. The account of the two years it took forms the main part of this book, culminating in the battle of Omdurman. There are two very informative appendices, the one provides the organization of the forces of the Dongola and Nile expeditions with a complete nominal roll of all the officers, the other is the roll of honour of British officers, WOs, NCOs and Men who lost their lives in the campaign. CLICK HERE TO ORDER.

With Kitchener to Khartum

This account by war correspondent G W Steevens begins with the background to the Sudan campaign - the rise of the Mahdi, Gordon, the state of the Egyptian Army, the construction of the Sudan Military Railway which was to play a highly significant part in Kitchener’s reconquest of the Sudan in 1898. There is a useful chronology of the chief events of the campaign from from the start of the advance in Feb, through the battle of the Atbara, the move on Khartum culminating in the battle of Omdurman on 2 Sep 1898 which brought the campaign to an end. The description of Omdurman itself, the Khalifa’s capital, after it fell to the Anglo-Egyptian force, is hardly an attractive one: "Everything was wretched. And Foul. They dropped their dung where they listed; they drew their water from beside green sewers; they had filled the streets and khors with dead donkeys; they left their brothers to rot and puff up hideously in the sun. The stench of the place was in your nostrils, in your throat in your stomach." CLICK HERE TO ORDER.

Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal

2009-07-24T07:37:00.002+01:00

Instituted:
1830

Qualification:
The Army Long Service & Good Conduct (LSGC) medal was originally awarded to infantry NCOs and men who had completed 21 years' good conduct, or cavalry NCOs and men who had completed 24 years' good conduct. In 1870 the qualifying period was reduced to 18 years for both the cavalry and the infantry.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter. The metal and the size appear to be the only characteristics of the medal that remained unchanged over the years. The following information comes from a variety of sources.

1830-1831
King William IV - type 1 (small ring)
The medal was designed by by Benedetto Pistrucci (1783-1855). His most famous design was that of St George slaying the dragon, an image that first appeared on British gold sovereigns and crow in 1817 and is still in use today. The obverse depicts the royal coat of arms with a small shield of the House of Hanover, surrounded by a trophy of arms. The reverse carries the legend, FOR / LONG SERVICE / AND / GOOD CONDUCT. (See image below, courtesy of Dixons Medals)

1831-1837
King William IV - type 2 (large ring)
Same as above but with a large ring.

1837-1855
Queen Victoria - type 1 (Hannoverian emblem dropped)
On the accession of the new queen, the Hannoverian emblem was dropped and replaced by Queen Victoria's Royal coat of arms (see image at the top of this post), although new dies were not introduced until 1839. The legend on the reverse remained the same.

1855-1874
Queen Victoria - type 2 - (swivelling scroll suspension)
A swivelling scroll suspension was introduced in 1855. (See image below, courtesy of Dixons Medals).

1874-1901
Queen Victoria - type 3 (smaller lettering)
Swivelling scroll suspension and smaller lettering on the reverse replacing the larger lettering. (See image below, courtesy of Dixons Medals).

1901-1910
King Edward VII

Since 1901, Queen Victoria's coat of arms has been replaced with the head or bust of the reigning monarch. The obverse of the King Edward VII version portrays the bust of the King (facing left) in field marshal's uniform with the legend EDWARDUS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse carries the legend, FOR / LONG SERVICE / AND / GOOD CONDUCT.

1911-1920
King George V - type 1

The obverse depicts the bust of King George V (facing left) with the legend GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP: (George V, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India). The reverse carries the legend, FOR / LONG SERVICE / AND / GOOD CONDUCT.

1920-1930
King George V - type 2
In 1920 the swivelling scroll suspender was replaced by a fixed suspender.

In 1930 the name of the medal was changed to the Long Service and Good Conduct Military Medal.

Ribbon:
Originally dark crimson, this was amended to dark crimson with white edges for awards made from 1917 onwards.

Naming:
A combination of engraved and impressed.

Clasps:
No clasps were awarded for this medal.

Other
A Long Service medal was also issued to members of the Volunteer Force. This was a different design and had a green ribbon.

Image:
I've borrowed the photograph on this page from the Frontier Medals website. It shows a type 2 Army LSGC medal.

Efficiency Medal

2009-07-16T07:32:00.007+01:00

Instituted:
17th October 1930.

Qualification:
Awarded to NCOs and men who had completed twelve years’ service with the Territorial Force, with war service and service in West Africa counting double. Service did not have to be concurrent. This medal replaced the Territorial Efficiency Medal, the Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and other Commonwealth equivalents.

Description:
Silver oval medal, 39mm high and 32mm wide. The obverse bears the reigning monarch's bust. The reverse carries the inscription 'FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE'. The fixed suspension is in the form of two laurel leaves and bears a scroll bar bearing the relevant title (see below).

There have been five medal types (versions) as follows:

Type 1: GV
King George V (1930-1936). A robed bust and the legend GEORGIVS V D G BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: INDIAE IMP.

Type 2: GVI 1
King George VI (1937-1948). A crowned head and the legend GEORGIVS VI D G BR OMN : REX : ET INDIAE IMP.

Type 3: GVI 2
King George VI (1949-1952). A crowned head and the legend GEORGIVS VI DEI: GRA: BRITT OMN: REX: FID: DEF.

Type 4: EIIR 1
Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1953). A crowned head and the legend ELIZABETH II D : G : BR : OMN : REGINA F. D.

Type 5: EIIR 2
Queen Elizabeth II (1953-2000). A crowned head and the legend ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF.

This medal was replaced in 2000 by the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal.

Ribbon:
Three different ribbons have been used throughout this medal's seventy year history. The first ribbon (1930-1969) was green with yellow edges. The second ribbon (1969-2000) maintained the yellow edges with the centre portion equally divided between blue (left) and green (right). The third version of this ribbon was issued to members of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). The yellow edges were retained with the centre portion equally divided between dark blue (left) and scarlet (right).

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Clasps:
Three clasps have appeared at different times on the UK versions of this medal: "TERRITORIAL" (issued 1930-1969 and 1892-2000) " MILITIA" (issued 1930-1951) and " T & A V R " (issued 1969-1982). As indicated, the T A A V R clasp was introduced in 1969 but abandoned in 1982 and replaced with the re-introduced TERRITORIAL clasp. There are 34 differently named Commonwealth clasps.

Image:
King George V, type 1 with TERRITORIAL clasp.

Delhi Durbar Medal 1911

2009-07-14T06:31:00.005+01:00

Instituted:
1911

Qualification:
Awarded to those present at the Durbar celebrations in Delhi, India to mark the coronation of King George V. A large contingent of British Army officers and men was in attendance for the 1911 Delhi Durbar, although only approximately one quarter of those present at the occasion actually received this medal.

Description:
36mm diameter. The obverse portrays the two crowned busts of King George V and Queen Mary facing left, within a floral wreath. The king and queen wear robes of state. The reverse contains Persian script which translates (in the centre) as "Dehli 1911" and around the perimeter, "The Durbar of George V, Emperor of India, Master of the British Lands".

The majority of the medals were issued in silver although a limited quantity were also struck in gold for rulers of the Princely Indian states, and high ranking government officials.

Ribbon:
Blue with two vertical red bands.

Naming:
Issued un-named although occasionally unofficially named.

Clasps:
No clasps were awarded for this medal.

Other:
Around 28,600 1911 Delhi Durbar Medals were awarded. One of the recipients was George A J Welch, commemorated on this site.

Image:
The photograph on this page shows the medal group of Lt Colonel Frederick Charles Laing and comes from the King Emperor website. His medal group comprises (from left to right), the 1895 India General Service medal (with three clasps), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Inter-Allied Victory Medal, and Delhi Durbar Medal 1911.

British Army Medals - Index

2009-07-14T06:07:00.039+01:00

This index of medals awarded to soldiers serving with the British Army will be regularly updated. Medals are indexed in date order. Click on the medal to go to the relevant page on this site.

18th Century

Military General Service Medal [1793-1814]
Army of India Medal [1799-1826]

19th Century 1800-1850

Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal [1830]
Ghuznee Medal [1839]
Ghuznee Medal - Earl of Auckland's Medal [1839]
Candahar, Cabul and Ghuznee Medal [1841-1842]
Defence of Kelat-i-Ghilzie [1842]
Jellalabad Medals [1841-1842]
China War Medal [1843]
Scinde Campaign Medals [1843]
Gwalior Campaign Stars [1843]
Sutlej Campaign Medal [1845-1846]
Punjab Campaign Medal [1848-1849]

19th Century 1850-1899

South Africa Medal 1834-1853 [1854]
India General Service Medal [1854-1895]
Crimea War Medal [1854]
Turkish Crimea Medal [1855]
Indian Mutiny Medal [1857-1858]
Canada General Service Medal [1866-1870]
Ashantee Medal [1873-1874]
Arctic Medal [1876]
South Africa Medal [1877-1879]
Afghanistan Medal [1878-1880]
Kabul to Kandahar Star [1880]
Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal [1880-1897]
Egypt Medal [1882-1889]
Khedive's Star [1882-1889]
North West Canada Medal [1885]
Royal Niger Company's Medal [1886-1899]
East and West Africa Medal [1887-1900]
Hong Kong Plague Medal [1894]
India Medal [1895-1902]
Queen's Sudan Medal [1896-1898]
Queen's South Africa Medal [1899-1902]

1900 - 1913

China War Medal [1900]
King's South Africa Medal [1901-1902]
Tibet Medal [1903-1904]
Natal Rebellion Medal [1906]
Territorial Force Efficiency Medal [1908]
India General Service Medal [1908-1935]
Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 [1911]

1914-1920

1914 Star [1914]
1914-15 Star [1914-1915]
British War Medal [1914-1920]
Inter-Allied Victory Medal [1914-1918]
Territorial Force War Medal [1914-1919]

Inter-war

Efficiency Medal [1930]

Post WW2

The Elizabeth Cross [2009]

King's South Africa Medal (KSA)

2009-07-10T05:40:00.006+01:00

Instituted:
1902

Qualification:
Boer War. Issued to all those who were in a theatre of war on or after 1st January 1902 and who had completed 18 months’ service in the conflict before 1st June 1902.

Description:
Silver, 36mm diameter, with the same swivelling suspension as that on the Queen’s South Africa Medal (QSA). The obverse portrays the bust of King Edward VII (facing left) in field marshal's uniform with the legend EDWARDUS VII REX IMPERATOR. The reverse is the same as the reverse of the 3rd version QSA, namely Britannia, her trident and shield on the ground behind her, holding a standard in her left hand and offering a wreath (pointing to the letter F of AFRICA) with her right. A column of soldiers advances towards and past her whilst at her back, battleships can be seen offshore. The words SOUTH AFRICA are written above.

Ribbon:
From the left, equal widths of green, white and orange.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals. There are some known examples of officers’ medals which have been engraved.

Clasps:
Two clasps were awarded: South Africa 1901 (awarded to all those who served in South Africa between 1st January 1901 and the 31st December 1901 inclusive)and South Africa 1902 (awarded to all those who served in South Africa between 1st January 1902 and the 31st May 1902 inclusive).

Other:
The KSA was never issued on its own and was always paired with the Queen’s South Africa Medal (QSA). Nurses received the KSA without clasps.

Alexander Burns and George A J Welch, commemorated on this site, both served during the Second Boer War and received the QSA and KSA.

Queen's South Africa Medal (QSA)

2009-07-09T08:03:00.005+01:00

Authorised:
1900.

Qualification:
Second Boer War 1899-1902. Awarded to military personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines who served during the Second Boer War in South Africa between 11th October 1899 and 31st May 1902. The medal was also awarded to members of colonial forces who took part in the conflict, “non-enlisted men of whatever nationality who drew military pay”, and war correspondents. Additionally, the QSA without bar was awarded to troops guarding Boer prisoners of war on the island of St Helena.

Description:
The majority of the medals were silver, although bronze versions were issued to some Indian troops and the “non-enlisted men” above.

36mm in diameter. The obverse portrays the veiled head of Queen Victoria facing left, and the legend, VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX (which translates as VICTORIA, QUEEN AND EMPRESS). The reverse depicts Britannia, her trident and shield on the ground behind her, holding a standard in her left hand and offering a wreath with her right. A column of soldiers advances towards and past her whilst at her back, battleships can be seen offshore. The words SOUTH AFRICA are written above.

Variants:
So confident were the authorities that the campaign against the Boers would be a swift one, that the QSA was struck with the dates 1899-1900 which appeared at approximately the 3 o’clock position on the medal, above the heads of the advancing column. When it was realised that the war was going to last beyond 1900, the dates were machined off, but not before around 50 had been issued. Subsequent releases of the medal were issued without the dates and with Britannia’s wreath pointing to the letter F in AFRICA and not the letter R where it had pointed on the first, dated version of the medal. Dated versions of the QSA are rare. Undated versions and versions of the medal with “ghosting” or “ghosted dates” are common.

Ribbon:
Orange centre (12mm width) and then, on either side, dark blue (5mm width) and red (5mm width) width.

Naming:
Some medals were impressed in sand serif capitals around the edge, whilst others were engraved in sloping serif capitals and lower case.

Clasps:
Twenty six clasps were issued. Five of these clasps detailed South African states. Two detailed dates and 19 detailed actions or engagements. It is common to find multiple clasps issued to army personnel but the majority of QSAs issued to Royal Navy personnel were issued “bare=arsed”, only around 1500 issued with one clasp and 700 issued with two clasps.

The five South African state clasps are:
Cape Colony, Natal, Rhodesia, Transvaal, Orange Free State. (Note, a man could qualify for either the Cape Colony clasp or the Natal clasp, but not both).

The two date clasps are:
South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902. These were awarded to troops who served between 1st January 1901 and 31st December 1901 inclusive and/or between 1st January 1902 and 31st May 1902 inclusive who were not entitled to receive the King’s South Africa Medal.

The 19 battle clasps (in alphabetical order) are:
Belfast, Belmont, Defence of Kimberley, Defence of Ladysmith, Defence of Mafeking, Diamond Hill, Driefontein, Elandslaagte, Johannesburg, Laing’s Nek, Modder River, Paardeberg, Relief of Kimberley, Relief of Ladysmith, Relief of Mafeking, Talana, Tugela Heights, Wepener, Wittebergen.

Other:
Alexander Burns and George A J Welch, commemorated on this site, both served during the Second Boer War and received the QSA and KSA.

Territorial Force Efficiency Medal

2009-07-07T12:20:00.002+01:00

Authorised:
1908.

Qualification:
Awarded to NCOs and men who had completed twelve years’ service with the Territorial Force, with war service counting double. Service did not have to be concurrent.

49,526 TFEMs were awarded, 835 with a one bar and 64 with two bars (see below).

Description:
Silver oval medal, 38mm high and 31mm wide. The obverse bears the head of the reigning monarch with legend. Two monarchs appeared on this medal: King Edward VII and King George V. For King Edward VII, the legend reads: EDWARDUS VII REX IMPERATOR. For King George V, the legend reads GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP.

The reverse carries the inscription: TERRITORIAL FORCE EFFICIENCY MEDAL. An ornate claw mount on the medal links to a metal loop through which the ribbon passes.

Ribbon:
Green with yellow stripe running vertically through the middle.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Clasps:
Bars were awarded for further periods of 12 years’ service.

Other:
This award, instituted when the Territorial Force was formed, superseded the Volunteer Long Service And Good Conduct Medal. It was itself superseded in 1921 by the Territorial Efficiency Medal.

Image:
King George V TFEM image from BRITISHMEDALS.INFO

The Elizabeth Cross

2009-07-02T08:46:00.004+01:00

Authorised:
Announced by the MoD on Wednesday 1st July 2009.

Qualification:
Awarded to the next of kin of members of the armed forces killed in action or as a result of terrorist attack since September 1945.

Description:
The Elizabeth Cross is the first award to be issued by a reigning British monarch since 1940.

Dimensions unknown. Issued in sterling silver. Cross surmounted on laurel wreath with E II R and crown in the centre of the cross. The four compass points of the cross bear the English rose (north), Scottish thistle (east), Irish shamrock (south) and Welsh daffodil (west). The medal is manufactured by Gladman and Norman. Issued in presentation box.

Ribbon:
Not known

Naming:
Not known.

Other:
Awarded with a miniature Elizabeth Cross and memorial scroll signed by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Families of personnel who lost their lives before 2000 have to apply for the award. Those who have died since 2000 will be contacted by the Ministry of Defence.

Image:
MoD Crown Copyright.

Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919

2009-07-01T05:11:00.006+01:00

Authorised:
1920.

Qualification:
First World War. Recipients either had to be members of the Territorial Force on 4th August 1914 or had to have completed four years or more of service prior to the 4th August 1914 and re-joined before 30th September 1914.

In addition to the above, recipients had to have volunteered - prior to 30th September 1914 - to have served outside the United Kingdom and to have actually served between 4th August 1914 and 11th November 1918. Recipients of the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star were inelligible to receive the Territorial Force War Medal 1914-1919.

Description:
This is the least common of the Great War campaign medals with just under 34,000 medals issued to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service.

36mm diameter bronze with fixed plain suspension. Obverse: King George V and the legend: GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP: which is the abbreviated 1919 'txt' equivalent of "George V, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India." (This is the same as the obverse of the British War Medal). Reverse: TERRITORIAL WAR MEDAL is inscribed around the top half perimeter. The words FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE OVERSEAS 1914-19 are inscribed within a laurel wreath.

Ribbon:
Yellow with two green stripes.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Other:
Image borrowed from North East Medals.

Inter-Allied Victory Medal

2009-06-26T04:22:00.006+01:00

Authorised:
1919.

Qualification:
First World War. There were many versions of this medal which were issued to qualifying participants from the victorious allies. Qualification for the British/colonial version was extensive and has been covered comprehensively by North East Medals. Essentially though, the award covered those who had been serving within a theatre of military operations between 4th/5th August 1914 and midnight on the 11th/12th November 1918. It was also awarded to members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919-1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea between 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919.

Description:
Approximately 6,335,000 Victory medals were issued to British and Imperial forces.

36mm diameter bronze gilt finish suspended by a ring. Obverse: the standing figure of Victory holding a palm. Reverse: inscription 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919' appears within a laurel wreath. William McMillan (1887-1977) was responsible for the design which appeared on the British/colonial and South African version of the Victory Medal. The South African version carries a bilingual inscription: 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION' and, in Afrikaans, 'DE GROTE OORLOG VOOR DE BESCHAVING 1914-1919'.

Ribbon:
Double rainbow pattern, graded and watered. From the centre the colours are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.

Naming:
Impressed in sans serif capitals around the edge.

Clasps:
None issued with this medal.

Other:
Men who were Mentioned in Dispatches were awarded an Oak Leaf which was worn on the ribbon of the Victory Medal.

For other versions of the Inter-Allied Victory Medal, visit the Digger History page devoted to Allied Victory Medals from the Great War.

Image shows the medal group awarded to Captain William Balfour Campbell of the 8th Punjab Regiment. The oak leaf for his MiD is affixed to his Victory Medal ribbon (centre).

British War Medal

2009-06-22T05:25:00.001+01:00

Authorised:
1919.

Qualification:
First World War. Qualification for this medal was extensive and North East Medals has already published a wealth of information on this WW1 award. What follows below is a summary.

The original qualification was for officers and men of British and Imperial Forces who had rendered service between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918. This was later extended to include women who had served (subject to those qualifications which North East Medals outlines), and also the immediate post-war period 1919-1920 which covered mine-clearance operations at sea as well as operations in the eastern Baltic, Siberia, The Black and Caspian Seas, and north and south Russia.

Description:
6,390,000 silver British War Medals were issued with a further 110,000 bronze British War Medals issued mostly to the Chinese Labour Corps, Indian Labour Corps and Maltese Labour Corps.

36mm diameter silver or bronze (as above) with non-swivelling suspender. Obverse: King George V and the legend: GEORGIUS BRITT: OMN: REX: ET: IND: IMP: which is the abbreviated 1919 'txt' equivalent of "George V, omnipotent King of Great Britain and Emperor of India." The reverse of the medal depicts St George on horseback holding a short sword. His horse tramples his adversaries’ shield, to the left of which lies a skull and crossbones. 1914 and 1918 are recorded behind St George’s back and in front of the horse’s left fore-leg respectively.

Ribbon:
Orange with, from each edge, blue, black and white stripes.

Naming:
Impressed in a variety of styles.

Other:
Sixty eight naval bars and seventy nine army bars were proposed although ultimately the idea was abandoned and the medal was issued, in Frank Richards’ words, “bare-arsed".

Image:
Courtesy of John Duncan, taken from his excellent Newbattle at War website.

'Missing' family medals

2009-06-20T03:33:00.007+01:00

If not already in good hands within the family, I seek the medals for the following relatives:

3819 Pte Herbert Richard Hallam, 20th Hussars, later Z/211 Pte, Rifle Brigade.
My paternal great grandmother's brother, Bertrand Elam enlisted under the pseudonym, Herbert Richard Hallam, on 2nd November 1894. He earned the QSA with clasps 1901, 1902, Orange Free State and Transvaal whilst serving with the 20th Hussars, and during WW1 added the 1914 Star, and British War & Victory medals to his collection. He later served with the Rifle Brigade, Gloucestershire Regiment (pictured above) and Royal Defence Corps.

S/18321 Pte John Frederick Nixon, 8th London Regiment.
My great uncle, John F Nixon, was attached to the 8th London Regiment when he was killed in action on 3rd October 1918. Jack, as he was known to his family and friends, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois memorial in France. He was entitled to the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and a memorial plaque would also have been sent to his next of kin. In the undated photograph above, Jack Nixon stands next to his brother Sid. A photo of Jack in army uniform has recently come to light. See header on Army Ancestry Latest.

34714 Pte Alfred Arthur Nixon, Essex Regiment.
My great uncle, A A Nixon was entitled to the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Territorial Force War Medal. The photograph above dates to 1916. Alf Nixon is flanked by his brothers Edgar Albert Nixon (RFC) and Walter Leonard Nixon (RGA). Walter Nixon was my grandfather.

DM2/137673 Private Charles Arthur Roberts, Army Service Corps.
My maternal great grandfather, Charles A Roberts was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The photograph above was taken "somewhere in France"; date unknown.

A/Capt Alfred Eldred Iliffe MC, Bedfordshire Regiment
Alfred Iliffe went to the Balkans in 1915 as 1630 Pte A E Iliffe with the 1/1 Suffolk Yeomanry. He was later commissioned into the Bedfordshire Regiment and would win the MC in 1918. I seek his 1915 Star (Suffolk Yeo), his British War and Victory Medals (Beds Regt) and his Military Cross.

Alfred is distantly related. His mother was a maternal great-grandmother's sister.

1914-15 Star

2009-06-16T03:18:00.000+01:00

Authorised:
1918.

Qualification:
First World War. Officers and men of British and Imperial Forces who served in any theatre of war between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, but excluding those officers and men who were already entitled to receive the 1914 Star. No bars were issued for this medal.

Description:
The 1914-15 Star is similar to the 1914 Star. A bronze four-pointed star design, Wikipedia gives the dimensions as 50mm high and 45 mm wide. Obverse; the upper point is replaced with a crown and solid fixed suspension ring. Two crossed short swords are positioned between the arms of the star and a scroll, longer than that on the 1914 Star, and bearing the date 1914-15 passes around the centre of the swords. The central area is surrounded by an oak wreath bearing a King George V (GV) monogram on the lower point. Reverse: plain. Recipient’s details impressed on the reverse.

Ribbon:
Red white and blue in shaded and watered stripes. The same ribbon is used for the 1914 Star.

Naming:
Impressed in sans- serif capitals.

Other:
In total, around 2, 366,000 1914-15 Stars were issued. Men serving during WW1 and qualifying for this medal were also entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

The image above shows the 1914-15 Star court-mounted trio awarded to 236418 Sapper Henry Peirce of the Royal Engineers.

Citations of the DCM 1914-1920

2009-06-11T11:03:00.000+01:00

Citations of The Distinguished Conduct Medal in the Great War 1914-1920

The Naval & Military Press has this to say about this four volume set:

"This much-needed series lists the full citations of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (and second and third award bars) in the Great War. The DCM may not have the cachet of the VC, but the deeds told in the citations for the award are just as heroic and inspiring.

"Section 1 of the series lists DCMs won by members of the Royal Flying Corps and (from April 1918) of the Royal Air Force; the Foot Guards; and the Yeomanry and Cavalry. Section 2 covers the Line Regiments. Section 3 the Territorial Army Regiments including the RGLI/RNVR/RMLI and RMA; the Royal Engineers and the Royal Artillery. Section 4 covers the Corps and the overseas forces of the Crown in alphabetical order: Australia; the British West Indies Regiment; Canada; India; Newfoundland; New Zealand; Rhodesia; South and East Africa.

"The citations for DCMs are hard to find - unit histories often have no space for more than a brief mention; or just the bare fact of the award tucked away in an appendix. Others are lost in the labyrinth of small print in the official ‘London Gazette’. But, thanks to the research of Rob Walker, who compiled the citations, and the tireless work of Chris Buckland who oversaw the mammoth task of typing of all 25,000+ citations, the brave deeds which won the medals are here for all to see."

1914 Star

2009-06-09T09:36:00.002+01:00

Authorised:
Army Order 350, April 1917.

Qualification:
First World War. Officers and men serving with the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces in France or Belgium between 5th August 1914 and midnight on 22nd November 1914. (This included Naval personnel serving ashore between these dates). Also see Appendix A below.

Description:
Bronze four pointed star design, 62mm high, 44.5 mm wide. Obverse; the upper point is replaced with a crown and solid fixed suspension ring. Two crossed short swords are positioned between the arms of the star and a scroll bearing AUG 1914 NOV passes around the centre of the swords. The central area is surrounded by an oak wreath bearing a King George V (GV) monogram on the lower point. Reverse: plain. Recipient’s details impressed on the reverse.

Ribbon:
Red white and blue in shaded and watered stripes. The same ribbon is used for the 1914-15 Star.

Naming:
Impressed in sans- serif capitals.

Clasps:
A bronze clasp bearing the text 5th Aug – 22nd Nov 1914 was announced in 1919 for those who came under fire between those dates.

Other:
A total of 365,622 1914 Stars were awarded. As the ribbon was the same as that issued for the 1914-15 Star, men awarded the 1914 Star were permitted to wear a small silver rosette on their ribbon when not actually wearing the medals themselves. The bar and the rosette are referred to on medal index cards as "clasp and roses". The medal is also erroneously known as The Mons Star.

Eligible units:
In 1919, Appendix A of Army Order 361 listed the eligible units with which a man qualifying for the 1914 Star could have served. This list was later amended by Army Order 52 of 1920 and Army Order 70 of 1921 and it is this latter list (which removed some units and added others) which is published below. Links in the list will take you to an external page giving details about army service numbers in that particular regiment.

CAVALRY & YEOMANRY

Household Cavalry
1st & 2nd Life Guards, Royal Horse Guards

Cavalry of the Line - Corps of Dragoons

2nd Dragoon Guards (The Queen's Bays)
3rd (Prince of Wales') Dragoon Guards
4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards
5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales') Dragoon Guards
7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards
1st (Royal) Dragoons, 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys)

Cavalry of the Line - Corps of Hussars

3rd (King's Own) Hussars
4th (Queen's Own) Hussars
11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
15th (King's) Hussars
18th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars
19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars
20th Hussars

Cavalry of the Line - Corps of Lancers

5th (Royal Irish) Lancers
9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
12th (Prince of Wales' Royal) Lancers
16th (The Queen's) Lancers

Special Reserve Cavalry

North Irish Horse ('A' and 'C' Squadrons)
South Irish Horse ('B' Squadron).

Yeomanry

Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars
North Somerset Yeomanry
Leicestershire Yeomanry
Northumberland Hussars
Northamptonshire Yeomanry

ROYAL ARTILLERY

Royal Horse Artillery

Batteries:
'C', D', 'E', F', 'G', 'H', T, T, 'K', 'L', 'N', 'O' and 'Z' Batteries.

Ammunition Columns:
IIIrd, Vth VIIth, XIVth, XVth, Brigades.

Royal Field Artillery

Brigades:
II, IV, VII, IX, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVIII, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIX, XL, XLI, XLII, XLIII, XLIV, XLV.

Divisional Ammunition Columns:
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Divisions, Lahore Division, Meerut Division.

Anti-Aircraft Sections:
Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12.

Royal Garrison Artillery

Heavy Batteries (including Ammunition Columns):
24th, 26th, 31st, 35th, 48th, 108th, 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th, 113th, 114th, 115th, 116th, 118th, 119th.

Siege Batteries:
Nos. 1-8 (inclusive).

Anti Aircraft Sections:
No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1st Pom-Pom Anti-Aircraft Section.

ROYAL FLYING CORPS

2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Aeroplane squadrons.

ROYAL ENGINEERS & SIGNALS

Field Companies:
2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 23rd, 26th, 38th, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th and 59th.

Field Squadrons:
1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Fortress (Lines of Communication) Companies:
20th and 42nd.

No.1 Bridging Train, No. 2 Bridging Train.

The Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers, No 1 Siege Company.

Signals

1st, 2nd and 3rd Signal Squadrons, Cavalry, Corps Signal Squadrons.

lst-8th Divisional Signal Companies, 32nd and 35th Divisional Signal Companies.

"A" or I Corps Signal Company—"D" and "G" Airline Sections and "H" and "K" Cable Sections.

"B" or II Corps Signal Company—"E" Airline Section and "E", "O", "P" and "N" Cable Sections.

"C" or III Corps Signal Company—"F" Cable Section.

Sappers and Miners

No. 1 Field Troop, 1st Sappers and Miners.
Nos. 3 and 4 Companies, 1st Sappers and Miners.
Nos. 20 and 21 Companies, 3rd Sappers and Miners.

FOOT GUARDS

Grenadier Guards, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Coldstream Guards, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions.
Scots Guards, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Irish Guards, 1st Battalion.

INFANTRY OF THE LINE

Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 2nd Battalion.
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Border Regiment, 2nd Battalion
(Buffs) East Kent Regiment, 1st Battalion.
(Queen's Own) Cameron Highlanders, 1st Battalion.
Cheshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Connaught Rangers, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Devonshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Dorsetshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 1st Battalion.
Durham Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion.
East Lancashire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
East Surrey Regiment, 1st Battalion.
East Yorkshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Essex Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Gloucestershire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Gordon Highlanders, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Hampshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Hertfordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Highland Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion.
Honourable Artillery Company, 1st Battalion.
King's Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd Battalion.
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion.
King's Royal Rifle Corps, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion.
Leicestershire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Leinster Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Lincolnshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Liverpool Regiment, 1st Battalion.
London Regiment, 5th, 13th, 14th, 16th Battalions.
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Manchester Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Middlesex Regiment, 1st, 2nd and 4th Battalions.
Monmouthshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Norfolk Regiment, 1st Battalion.
North Staffordshire Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Northamptonshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Battalion.
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 2nd Battalion.
Rifle Brigade, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions.
Royal Berkshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Royal Fusiliers, 1st and 4th Battalions.
Royal Highlanders, 1st, 2nd and 5th Battalions.
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion.
Royal Irish Fusiliers, 1st Battalion.
Royal Irish Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Royal Irish Rifles, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Royal Lancaster Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Royal Munster Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion.
Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Royal Scots, 2nd and 8th Battalions.
Royal Sussex Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Royal West Kent Regiment, 1st Battalion.
Royal West Surrey Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Scottish Rifles, 1st, 2nd and 5th Battalions.
Seaforth Highlanders, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion.
Somerset Light Infantry, 1st Battalion.
South Lancashire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
South Staffordshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
South Wales Borderers, 1st Battalion.
Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
West Riding Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
West Yorkshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Wiltshire Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions.
Worcestershire Regiment, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions.
York and Lancaster Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Yorkshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.

INDIAN CAVALRY

4th Cavalry, 15th Lancers, 20th Deccan Horse, 34th Poona Horse, Jodhpore Lancers.

INDIAN INFANTRY

6th Jat Light Infantry
9th Bhopal Infantry
15th Sikhs
34th Sikh Pioneers.
l/39th Garhwal Rifles
2/39th Garhwal Rifles
41st Dogras
47th Sikhs
57th Rifles (F.F.)
58th Rifles (F.F.)
59th Rifles (F.F.)
107th Pioneers
129th Baluchis
2/2nd Gurkha Rifles
2/3rd Gurkha Rifles
2/8th Gurkha Rifles
1/9th Gurkha Rifles

INDIAN SUPPLY & TRANSPORT CORPS

Headquarters, Lahore and Meerut Divisional S.T.
Lahore and Meerut Divisional Trains and Supply Columns.

CYCLIST COMPANIES

lst-8th Divisional Cyclist Companies (inclusive)

ARMY SERVICE CORPS

Headquarters, Royal Army Service Corps, of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Divisions.

Drivers attached to 111th, 112th, 113th (less "A" Section), 128th, 129th and 130th Indian Field Ambulances.

Drivers attached to Nos. 2 and 3 Motor Ambulance Convoys. 90th Company (1st Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company) and 91st (Motor Bus) Company.

Ammunition Parks and Supply Columns, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Divisions.

Divisional Ammunition Parks, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 7th. Divisional Trains and Supply Columns, lst-8th Divisions (inclusive).

19th Infantry Brigade Train.

ARMY VETERINARY CORPS

1st-15th Mobile Veterinary Sections.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS & BRITISH TROOPS

lst-7th Cavalry Field Ambulances:
lst-26th Field Ambulances.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th Ambulance Trains.
Nos. 3, 4 and 6 Casualty Clearing Hospitals.
7th, 8th, 19th and 20th British Field Ambulances, (attached Lahore and Meerut Divisions),

COMBINED MEDICAL UNITS (BRITISH & INDIAN)

Combined Field Ambulance, Indian Medical Service (originally designated 9th Cavalry Brigade,

Indian Field Ambulance, subsequently 141st Cavalry Field Ambulance). Indian Medical Units with Indian Troops:
111th, 112th, 113th (less "A" Section), 128th, 129th and 130th Indian Field Ambulances)

Servicemen who believed they qualified for the bar but who had not served with any of the formations listed in Appendix A were required to submit a certificate to that effect, attested by an officer, warrant officer or non-commissioned officer not below the rank of sergeant.

Acknowledgements:
Description and Appendix A copied, with minor amends, from North East Medals. Image courtesy of Spink.

Captain Arthur Prestwood, 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers

2009-06-03T11:19:00.004+01:00

Medals held:
India Medal, 1st issue, plus three bars: Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98; 1914 Star and bar, British War Medal and Victory Medal (Mentioned in Dispatches).

Arthur Prestwood was born in Shifnal Wellington, Shropshire on 24th February 1876. He joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers on 24th April 1894, his papers noting that he was 18 years and two months old and employed as an iron worker. He was given the number 4556.

Arthur's papers survive at the National Archives in London and therefore we have a pretty clear idea of his interesting military career with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. After enlisting, he remained in the UK with the 1st Battalion until 23rd September 1896. During this time he obtained his 3rd Class Certificate of Education (19th March 1896) and then his 2nd Class Certificate (22nd June 1896). Three months later, he sailed for India and would remain there until 8th March 1904, taking part in the campaigns on the Punjab Frontier (1897-98), Samana (1897) and Tirah (1897-98).

On 17th December 1898 Arthur was promoted to corporal and on 31st October 1900 he qualified as an assistant instructor in army signalling. The following year, on 11th May 1901, he was promoted to sergeant. It was whilst he was a sergeant and stationed at Allahabad, that he signed on to complete twelve years with the Colours. This was on 15th October 1902 and he was re-engaged at Allahabad on 17th November 1903.

He was back in the UK between 9th March 1904 and 14th February 1907 and then it was back to India again, this time for a shorter spell between 15th February 1907 and 10th January 1908. Returning to the UK that month, it would appear that Arthur had again extended his service as he was appointed Cook Sergeant on 2nd August 1908 and was passed by the School of Cookery at Aldershot on 19th April 1909. On 14th January 1910 he was promoted to the rank of Colour Sergeant.

It would appear that Arthur was then transferred to the Reserve,and on 15th August 1914, with the war against Germany less than a fortnight old, he was promoted to a commission with the 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers as 2nd Lieutenant. He arrived overseas on 15th September 1914.

On 3rd February 1915 he was promoted Lieutenant and it was whilst he was serving with the battalion that he received a severe gun-shot wound at Hooge on 16th June 1915. He returned to the UK on 4th July 1915 and after recuperating, was stationed with the 3rd Battalion at Fort Matilda in Greenock. On 22nd June 1915, The London Gazette noted that he had been Mentioned in Dispatches.

During his time with the 3rd Battalion, Arthur Prestwood held a number of appointments and he was promoted to captain on 1st January 1918. He retired on account of ill-health caused by wounds on 18th July 1921 but despite this, had a long life, dying at the age of 94 on 8th November 1970. There is a letter in his file dated 24th November 1970 in response to an enquiry from a Colonel C R Buchanan who was collecting information about Arthur's military career in order to write an obituary.

Arthur's papers also indicate that he originally recorded his next of kin as his father, James Prestwood, who was living at 34 Globe Buildings, Motherwell. Later however, Arthur marrried Louisa Bone, a spinster, the wedding taking place at St Mary's, Buriton, Hampshire on 27th January 1907. Henry Bone and Martha Robins were the witnesses on that day.

Arthur appears to have been a career soldier through and through, rising through the ranks from private to colour sergeant during a 16 year career and then serving for a further seven years as a commissioned officer from 1914. Apart from the addresses already noted, his medal index card at the National Archives also records an address at 83 Loughborough Park, Brixton, London SW9.

I've borrowed the image of the reverse of the India General Service Medal 1895 (showing the bars which Arthur Prestwood was entitled to) from Neate Medals in Suffolk.

India General Service Medal 1895: Casualty Roll

Definitive casualty roll of recipients of the medal arranged by clasp and by regiment. Seven clasps awarded: Defence of Chitral (1895), Relief of Chitral (1895), Punjab Frontier (1897-98), Malakand (1897), Samana (1897), Tirah (1897-98) and Waziristan (1901-02). Lists 2,400 officers and men. Re-published by the Naval & Military Press.

R/4232 Rifleman Harry E Hudson MM, 13th King's Royal Rifle Corps

2009-06-03T11:15:00.001+01:00

Medals held:
Military Medal (Geo V), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Photo and text to follow.

G/1559 Private Edward Plumridge, 8th East Kent Regt (The Buffs)

2009-06-03T11:11:00.002+01:00

Medals held:
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Edward Plumridge was a Kitchener volunteer who joined up in early September 1914 and lost his left leg a year later as a result of being wounded at the Battle of Loos. This is his story.

Edward was born at Bradenham, near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire in 1883. He was the son of Frederick and Sarah Plumridge and when the 1891 census was taken, was living with them in Bradenham. The household comprised, Frederick (head, aged 50, an agricultural labourer), Sarah (aged 40) and four children: Minna Plumridge (aged 11), Gertrude Plumridge (aged nine), Edward (aged seven) and Reginald Plumridge (aged three). The children and their mother had all been born at Bradenham but Frederick is recorded as having been born at Boullen End, Bucks.

Frederick does not appear with the family on the 1881 census but his wife is noted on it as a lace beader and she was living in Bradenham village with her 75 year old widowed father, Thomas Plumridge, and her one year old infant, Minna. Frederick may have been a patient in All Saints Convalescent Hospital, Eastbourne at the time. A married, 42 year old Buckinghamshire-born man by that name was certainly there in 1881, giving his place of birth as Poges and his occupation as railway plate layer.

In any event, by 1901 the family had somewhat dissipated. Sarah is recorded as a 50 year old widow on the census that was taken that year, visiting Henry and Sarah Wooster at their house in Bradenham. Minna had moved to London and was working as a 21 year old nursemaid for solicitor Henry Rawstone and his wife Madeleine in their home at 65 Queen’s Gate, Kensington, and I have been unable to trace Edward, Frederick or Gertrude.

Thankfully, Edward’s army service record survives in the WO 364 pension series so we are able to see that he attested with the East Kent Regiment at Battersea, London on 8th September 1914. He stated his profession as a male attendant at Tooting Bec Asylum and his age was noted as 30 years and 291 days. Edward had a sallow complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. He was five feet, five and a half inches tall and weighed 132 lbs. Four days later, Edward was posted to the 8th Battalion and promoted lance-corporal at the same time. He then remained in England until 31st August 1915 when he arrived in France, being promoted to corporal on the same day. He would not retain his stripes for very long.

A note on Edward’s service record for 16th September 1915 reads, “In confinement awaiting trial by FGCM [Field General Court Martial]. When on active service disobeying a lawful command given by his superior officer. Sentence guilty. Reduced to the Ranks. Confirmed by Brig Gen commanding 72 Bgde.”

Edward returned to his battalion and was wounded and gassed at the Battle of Loos twelve days later. His service record states G[un shot] W[ound] leg & Gas. Next to the line, Effects of Wounds, is written simply, amputation. Rushed into action on the 26th September after lengthy forced marches, the division suffered terribly at Loos, Edward being one of more than 3,900 casualties.

On 10th October 1915, a telegram was sent from No 5 General Hospital Rouen stating that Edward was dangerously ill and that his relatives should be informed. He recovered sufficiently though to return to England 16 days later on the Hospital Ship George.

Edward would have been a stretcher case and appears to have been taken straight to the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth where he remained until 23rd March 1916. On his discharge from hospital he signed for one ankle boot, one cap, two pairs of woollen drawers, one jacket, one pair of puttees, one pair of service trousers, one waistcoat, one great coat, one kit bag, one pair of braces, one cap comforter, three shirts and three socks.

Edward returned to Bradenham until 14th August 1916 when he was admitted to Roehampton Hospital in London for the fitting of his artificial leg. He appeared before a medical board at The King George Hospital, Stamford Street, south east London (a clerk noting his name incorrectly as Edwin) and he was discharged from the army two weeks later on 7th October. He then appears to have spent time in a convalescent home in Devon (105 Barton Road, St Thomas’s, Exeter) and was certainly at that address on 15th October, writing to the officer in charge of records at Hounslow that he would like a silver war badge. This was duly sent to him (badge number 59999) on 4th December that year.

On 29th October 1916, Edward was awarded a pension of 25/ a week for two months and then 12/6 per week for life. He received his King’s discharge certificate on 22nd July 1918 and on 14th June 1920 was living at 113 Tooting Bec Road, Balham, London SW17.

Edward’s 1914-15 Star is inscribed to G-1559 L-Cpl E Plumridge, E Kent R (indicating that he must have been promoted after he set foot in France). His BWM and VM are inscribed to G-1559 Pte E Plumridge, E Kent R. His silver war badge is not in my possession.

Sub Conductor George A J Welch, Indian Army Ordnance Corps, formerly Yorkshire Regiment

2009-06-03T11:05:00.004+01:00

Medals held:
Queen's South Africa Medal and three clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal), King's South Africa Medal and two clasps (1901, 1902), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Delhi Durbar Medal 1911, Military Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

George A J Welch was born in Allahabad, India around 1880 or 1881. He appears on the 1891 census as a ten year old scholar; the eldest child of James and Lily Welch. James Welch, born at Shepton Mallet in Somerset, is recorded as a 39 year old quartermaster sergeant serving with the Yorkshire Regiment. His wife Lily is recorded as 31 years old; a British subject born in Burma. Apart from George, the other children are noted as John L Welch, a seven year old scholar born at Netley, Hampshire; Frederick H D Welch, a four year old scholar born at Richmond, Yorkshire; Thomas R Welch aged two, also born at Richmond; and Louisa M L Welch aged one month, born at Richmond. At the time the census was taken, the family was living at Allen Place, Richmond.

Neither George nor John appear on the 1901 census (both were away fighting the Boers in South Africa). The rest of the family though - including two additions - had moved to Potternewton in Leeds and was living at 18 Leopold Square. The household comprised James (head, aged 49, recorded as an army storekeeper and noted by the census takers as an army pensioner), his wife Lily (aged 41, this time recorded as having been born in India), and the couple's five children. They were: Frederick Welch aged 14, Thomas Welch aged 12, Louisa Welch aged 10, Isabelle Welch aged seven, and Herbert Welch aged five. Both Isabelle and Herbert had also been born in Richmond, suggesting that the family moved to Leeds some time after July 1895 (Herbert's birth was registered at Richmond in the September quarter of that year).

George's army service record does not appear to have survived, although his brother John's has. Like his elder brother, John Leeson Welch joined the Yorkshire Regiment, initially serving with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion during the Boer War and then joining the regular Yorkshire Regiment on 15th June 1903. Enlisting for a period of 3 years with the colours and nine on the reserve his approving officer wrote, "Smart lad. Served two and a half years in S Africa with 3rd Yorkshire Regt. Has father and brother in Corps. Has been employed in an office and will prob[ably] soon develop. Is a drummer and bugler. Character exemplary. Corps [unclear but possibly "advised"] to obtain him." John would extend his service with the Yorkshire Regiment, serve overseas in India and again in South Africa, transfer to the Reserve in 1911 and then be recalled to the colours on 5th August 1914. Exactly two months later he would land in France, remaining there until wounded in 1917. He would return there in May 1918, this time with the Coldstream Guards, finally earning his discharge in 1919. John's medal group would have been almost identical to George's, the absence of the Transvaal clasp on his QSA and no Delhi Durbar medal being the only difference.

So George was certainly still with the Yorkshire Regiment in 1903 but by 1911 he'd transferred to the Ordnance Department. His Delhi Durbar medal is inscribed to O Sub Condr G.A.J. Welch, Ordnance Dept.

George's First World War medal card (below) makes no reference to an award of a 1914-15 Star so I am currently puzzled how this forms part of his group. Like the British War and Victory medals it is inscribed to Sub Condr G A J Welch, I.O.D. Finally, George's QSA is inscribed to 4596 Cpl G Welch, Yorkshire Regt, whilst the KSA is inscribed to 4596 Serjt G Welch, York Regt. His Military Long Service and Good Conduct medal is inscribed to Staff Serjt G.A.J Welch.

236418 Sapper Henry Peirce, 353rd Electrical and Mechanical Company, Royal Engineers

2009-06-03T10:42:00.001+01:00

Medals held:
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, British Victory Medal.

Henry Peirce was born in the village of Cowfold, Sussex in 1889, his birth registered in Cuckfield in the September quarter of that year. He appears on the 1891 census living with his family at Edwards Cottages in Nutfield, Surrey. The household comprised Philip Peirce, aged 37, a domestic gardener born in Petersfield, Sussex; his wife Mary Peirce, aged 35, born in Cowfold, and their five children: James Peirce (aged 11), Anne Peirce (aged nine), Phillip Peirce (aged eight), Esther Peirce (aged three) and Henry (aged one). All of the children are noted as having been born in Cowfold.

By the time the 1901 census was taken, the family had moved and grown. Philip Peirce was now living at Avenue Cottage, South Nutfield with his family. James, now 21, is recorded as a labourer, his brother Philip recorded as a domestic under gardener. Thirteen year old Esther is noted as a scholar whilst Henry, who must also have been at school, has nothing recorded against his name. There were also four other siblings, all born in Nutfield. In age order they were Fred Peirce (aged nine), Charles Peirce (aged five), William M Peirce (aged three) and Catherine Peirce (aged one). The family surname is recorded incorrectly as Pearce on the 1901 census.

Henry’s service record, if it survives, does not exist in the WO363 or WO364 series held at the National Archives. We do know however that he enlisted in September 1914 in Redhill, Surrey with the 16th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps (The Church Lads’ Brigade). Indeed, his number C-30, suggests an enlistment into this battalion on the day it was formed: 19th September 1914. He may have been married at the time of joining up but if he wasn’t, he certainly was by the time he was killed in action in 1918. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the additional information that he was the son of Philip Peirce and the husband of Flora E M Peirce of 44 Earlsbrook Road, Redhill, Surrey.

Henry arrived in France on Christmas Eve 1915 and if he was still with the battalion in 1916, almost certainly took part in the Somme battles later that year. At some point though, he transferred to the Royal Engineers and it was whilst serving with the 353rd Electrical and Mechanical Company that he was killed in action on 19th August 1918. He is buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery in France. Soldiers Died in The Great War notes Henry’s place of birth as Horsham, Sussex which goes against the information recorded on the 1901 census. Nevertheless, the name H Peirce does appear on the Horsham town memorial.

Henry’s brothers also served during the First World War. Fred served with the London Regiment, William served with the Royal Field Artillery and Philip served with the 11th Middlesex Regiment. Like Henry, he too lost his life in the service of his country; killed in action on 12th May 1917 he has no known grave and is commemorated on the war memorial at Arras.

Henry and Philip Peirce are both recorded on the war memorial in South Nutfield, the war memorial in the parish church – Christ Church - at South Nutfield and the war memorial in Nutfield High Street. Additionally, photographs of all four brothers appeared in a album kept by the vicar of Christ Church. When I visited the church in September 2008, I met the current vicar, the Reverend Trevor Kemp, and he kindly dug out acetates of three of the Peirce brothers: Henry and Fred photographed together (above; Henry, standing) and their brother Philip. Henry and Philip were also both mentioned by name in the South Nutfield Parish Magazine.

A memorial plaque (also known as dead man’s penny) would also have been sent to Henry’s wife some time after his death, but if it exists still, it is not in my collection.

228 Quartermaster John Keatinge, 1st Battalion, 8th Regiment of Foot (King's Liverpool Regiment)

2009-06-03T10:37:00.001+01:00

Medal held
India Mutiny Medal with two clasps: Delhi / Relief of Lucknow

John Keatinge was born in Ireland around 1827. He appears on the 1861 census stationed with the 1st Battalion, 8th Regiment of Foot at Gosport Barracks, Alverstoke, Hampshire. He is noted as quarter master and the 33 year old head of a small family: Eliza Keatinge (wife) aged 25, born in Sunderland, and two sons: George Keatinge aged four, born in Jullundur, East Indies (India) and A S J Keatinge aged one, born in Fort William (Calcutta).

By the time the 1861 census was taken, John Keatinge had been with the regiment for 15 years and spent most of that time in India. He had enlisted as a private in the 8th Regiment of Foot (King’s Liverpool) on 7th April 1846 and shortly afterwards, 228 Private John Keatinge sailed with his regiment for Bombay.

He was in India when the sepoys mutinied in 1857 and served with the regiment as a colour-sergeant during the Indian Mutiny campaign of 1857-59. (It was whilst the regiment was stationed at Jullunder in 1857 that his son George was born). He was present at the siege, assault, and capture of Delhi and took part in the battle of Agra and other actions of Colonel Greathed’s column. He was present at the relief of Lucknow, at the actions near Cawnpore on 2nd and 6th December 1857; at the action of Khuda Gunj on 2nd January 1858. He took part in the operations at Oudh between 18th October 1858 and 2nd February 1859 (and was appointed quartermaster-sergeant on 19th November 1858). He received the commission of quartermaster on 23rd September 1859.

John Keatinge was awarded the India Mutiny Medal with two clasps: Delhi and Relief of Lucknow. (Note, the illustration above is taken from the website of North East Medals and is not John Keatinge’s medal).

In 1863 a memorial commemorating the services and deaths of the 243 officers, NCOs and men of the 8th Regiment of Foot during the Indian Mutiny was erected at 1863. In 1877 it moved to Chelsea and then, finally in 1911, to its present location in Whitley Gardens, Liverpool.

John Keatinge died of heart disease in 1883 and was buried at Hazaribagh in India.

721276 Bombardier John Gracie, Royal Field Artillery

2009-06-03T10:32:00.004+01:00

Medals held:
From left to right, above (in incorrect order): Efficiency Medal (EM), Territorial Force Efficiency Medal (TFEM), Territorial Force War Medal (TFWM) Victory Medal (VM) British War Medal (BWM). The correct order should be: TFWM, BWM, VM, TFEM, EM.

The Territorial Force War Medal is the least common of the Great War campaign medals. Instituted in 1920, some 33,944 TFWMs were awarded to members of the Territorial Force and Territorial Force Nursing Service. To qualify, servicemen and women had to either be members of the Territorial Force when war was declared on 4th August 1914 or members who had completed four years' service or more prior to August 4th 1914 and who had rejoined before September 30th 1914. In addition, they had to have a) volunteered to serve overseas before September 30th 1914 b) actually served overseas between 4th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 c) did not qualify for the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star.

John Gracie's medals are inscribed to 3050 Gunner John Gracie on the British War and Victory Medals and 3050 Driver John Gracie on the TFWM. The TEM and TFEM are inscribed to 721276 Bombardier John Gracie.

William Balfour Campbell - 8th Punjab Regiment

2009-06-03T10:27:00.001+01:00

Medals held:
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and MiD, General Service Medal 1918 (clasps Kurdistan and Iraq), India General Service Medal (clasp Waziristan 1921-24).

Text to follow.

7162 Private Alexander Burns - 1st Royal Highlanders

2009-06-03T10:15:00.003+01:00

Medals held:
Queen's South Africa Medal and three clasps (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal), King's South Africa Medal and two clasps (1901, 1902), 1914 Star and bar, British War Medal, Victory Medal, King George VI Defence Medal.

This was the first group that I bought and there is still a lot of research to be done.

Alexander Burns's service record does not appear to have survived in the WO 363 and WO 364 series at the National Archives. His number indicates that he joined the Royal Highlanders in late 1898 or early 1899 and he may have been with the original draft when the 2nd Royal Highlanders embarked for South Africa from Tilbury Docks on 22nd October 1899. The battalion comprised 29 officers and 887 men and they sailed aboard the SS Orient. Alexander's Boer War medals are inscribed to 7162 Pte A Burns, 2nd Rl Highlanders.

When the First World War was declared, Alexander Burns should have completed his seven years with the Colours and five on the Reserve. It seems possible though that he either extended his service before war was declared or rejoined his old regiment and was allowed to retain his earlier number. Certainly, by 26th August 1914 he was in France albeit with the 1st Battalion Royal Highlanders rather than his old battalion. His medal card indicates his entitlement to the three WW1 medals noted above, as well as the clasp and roses. He was also entitled to a silver war badge (not in this collection) and was discharged from the army as no longer physically fit for war service, on 9th August 1915.