The shape of things to come?

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

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

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

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

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.