British Battles & Medals - FREE this weekend

Here's a nice offer from Naval & Military Press. Spend £80 (including p&p) this weekend and get a copy of British Battles & Medals thrown in free of charge. I have an older version than this 7th edition but I'm still somewhat tempted.

The 7th edition of British Battles & Medals has been completely re-written and features hundreds of photos from the collection of renowned medal expert and authority, John B Hayward.

This offer is valid until 12 noon on Monday 8th June (even though the N&MP blurb above states July rather than June). Click on the images above or any of the text links to go straight through to the Naval & Military Press website.

Imperial British East Africa Company Medal

Qualification:
Initially awarded for bravery and later, after the company ceased to exist, claims made on the basis of campaign service.

Description:
The Imperial British East Africa Company received its charter in September 1888 and was wound up in October 1895. The following campaigns were in the company's jurisdiction:

1. Campaign against the sultan of Witu (1890)
2. Uganda Religious War 1891-92
The medal is 40mm, made of silver and extremely scarce. There are only 29 confirmed medals and post 1895 authorisations.

Obverse:
The company's arms of a crowned sun and ascroll underneath with the motto, LIGHT AND LIBERTY. The Arabic inscription beneath that translates as 'The Reward of Bravery'. Around the outer edge, the name of the company: THE IMPERIAL BRITISH EAST AFRICA COMPANY.

Reverse:
Plain, except for a lotus flower wreath.

Ribbon:
Plain blue

Suspension:
A plain ring suspender (above) or a swivelling scroll suspender (below).

Naming:
Engraved on the edge or the reverse.

Clasps:
None issued.

Acknowledgements:
Dix Noonan Webb for the two images from past auction sales; British Battles and Medals for the background. 

The Pacific Star

Qualification:
Awarded for service in Pacific theatre of operations between 8th December 1941 and 2nd September 1945 inclusive.

Description:
Bronze, 43mm diameter six-pointed star. The Royal cypher GRI with the roman numerals VI below. The cypher is surmounted by a crown and within a circlet which reads, THE PACIFIC STAR. All the Second World War Stars were designed by The Royal Mint.

Ribbon:
32mm wide, a central yellow stripe (symbolising the desert) and two dark green stripes either side (symbolising forests). The red edges and light blue and dark blue stripes represent the army, air force and navy respectively. This ribbon, in common with all WW2 Star ribbons, was designed by His Majesty the King, King George VI.

Suspension:
A ring attached to the uppermost point of the star.

Naming:
Issued unnamed although some stars may have been privately engraved.

Clasps:
One: BURMA. Personnel qualifying for both the Pacific Star and the Burma Star were awarded the Star to which they first became entitled and a clasp denoting the second. When only ribbons were worn, a silver rose emblem signified the award of the clasp.

Qualification by service is listed below. Official visits did not qualify for this star unless these amounted to thirty days or more.

ROYAL NAVY
Service at sea in the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and Indian Ocean east of the line running south of Singapore. Except in the case of those who served in the Pacific for less than six months after 2nd March 1945, the Pacific Star was only awarded to those who had served at least six months and qualified for the 1939-45 Star. Naval personnel serving ashore qualified under the same rules as army personnel.

ARMY
Qualifying service was restricted to territories (except Burma) which had been invaded.

RAF
Awarded to RAF personnel who had completed at least one operational sortie over the appropriate land or sea area.

Acknowledgements
Photo courtesy of medal auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb.  Text assistance from British Battles &amp.

The Africa Star

Qualification:
Awarded for one or more day's service in North Africa between 10th June 1940 and 12th May 1943 inclusive.

Description:
Bronze, 43mm diameter six-pointed star. The Royal cypher GRI with the roman numerals VI below. The cypher is surmounted by a crown and within a circlet which reads, THE AFRICA STAR. All the Second World War Stars were designed by The Royal Mint.

Ribbon:
32mm wide, one central red stripe on pale buff and with two narrow stripes, one of dark blue, one of light blue. This ribbon, in common with all WW2 Star ribbons, was designed by His Majesty the King, King George VI.

Suspension:
A ring attached to the uppermost point of the star.

Naming:
Issued unnamed although some stars may have been privately engraved.

Clasps:
Three: 8TH ARMY, 1ST ARMY and NORTH AFRICA 1942-43. Note that only one clasp was awarded to any one individual. Personnel qualifying for more than one clasp were awarded the first one to which they were entitled.  A silver rose emblem worn on a ribbon denoted the NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 clasp; a figure 8 denoting 8TH ARMY and a figure 1 denoting 1ST ARMY.

Qualification by service is listed below. Note that visits and inspections to or in the areas listed below did not qualify personnel for the award of this star unless these amounted to thirty days or more.

ROYAL NAVY
Any service at sea in the Mediterranean between the qualifying dates and/or service in support of the campaigns in Eritrea, Abyssinia and Somaliland between 10th June 1940 and 27th November 1941. Naval service ashore in the same area as Army operations also qualified.

MERCHANT NAVY
Those Merchant Seamen who took part in operations off the coast of Morocco between 8th November 1942 and 12th May 1943.

ARMY
Those serving in North Africa on the establishment of an operational unit. Service in West Africa was not included, but service in Abyssinia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Sudan and Malta was.

RAF
Those RAF personnel who landed in or flew over Abyssinia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Sudan or Malta (excluding West Africa) or territory occupied by the enemy.

Acknowledgements:

The photograph is courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb and shows the group awarded to Captain Harold John March of the Royal Army Service Corps. Captain March's medal group comprises the British Empire Medal, 1939-45 Star; Africa Star (with 8TH ARMY clasp), Defence and War Medals (with M.I.D. oak leaf), Coronation medal 1937. The group, sold at auction in December 2011 for £250 (hammer price).

British Battles & Medals for chapter and verse on this medal.

The Atlantic Star

Qualification:
Awarded to commemorate the Battle of The Atlantic between 3rd September 1939 and 8th May 1945.

Description:
Bronze, 43mm diameter six-pointed star.  The Royal cypher GRI with the roman numerals VI below.  The cypher is surmounted by a crown and within a circlet which reads, THE ATLANTIC STAR. All the Second World War Stars were designed by The Royal Mint.

Ribbon:
32mm wide, equal bands of (from left) watered blue, white and sea-green (symoblising the waters of the Atlantic). This ribbon, in common with all WW2 Star ribbons, was designed by His Majesty the King, King George VI.

Suspension:
A ring attached to the uppermost point of the star.

Naming:
Issued unnamed although some stars may have been privately engraved.

Clasps:
Two: AIR CREW EUROPE and FRANCE AND GERMANY. Note that only one or the other, not both, could be awarded to the Atlantic Star.

Those personnel who qualified for the Atlantic Star AND the Air Crew Europe Star and/or the France and Germany Star were entitled to wear the clasp for which the second star would have been awarded. When just ribbons were worn, a silver rose on the Atlantic Star denoted the award of a clasp.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb and shows the group awarded to 530644 Flight Sergeant Andrew Brown of the Royal Air Force who completed 40 operational sorties including 18 sorties to Berlin, the famed “Big City”, as a Mosquito Navigator

Flight Sergeant Brown's medal group comprises the Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star (with copy clasp AIR CREW EUROPE); Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, and Mentioned in Dispatches oak leaf; The group, sold at auction in September 2011 for £1700 (hammer price).

British Battles & Medals for chapter and verse on this medal.

The 1939-45 Star

Qualification:
Awarded for service in the Second World War between 3rd September 1939 and 2nd September 1945.

Description:
Bronze, 43mm diameter six-pointed star.  The Royal cypher GRI with the roman numerals VI below this.  The cypher is surmounted by a crown and within a circlet which reads, THE 1939-1945 STAR. All the Second World War Stars were designed by The Royal Mint.

Ribbon:
32mm wide, equal bands of dark blue (symoblising the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy), red (symbolising the Army) and light blue (symbolising the Royal Air Force).  This ribbon, and all WW2 Star ribbons, was designed by His Majesty the King, King George VI.

Suspension:
A ring attached to the uppermost point of the star.

Naming:
Issued unnamed although some stars may have been privately engraved.

Clasps:
One: Battle of Britain.

Acknowledgements:
The photograph is courtesy of Dix Noonan Webb and shows the group awarded to Squadron leader N J Wheeler of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who flew Hurricanes in No 615 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.  The group, sold at auction in December 2011 for £2900 (hammer price) comprises the Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., 1939-45 Star (with copy clasp Battle of Britain); Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue. 
 
British Battles & Medals for assistance with the text.

South Africa Medal 1834-1853

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.

Military General Service Medal

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.

East and West Africa Medal

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.

Turkish Crimea Medal

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.

Crimea War Medal

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

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

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

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

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 Medal

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.

North West Canada Medal

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.

Army of India Medal

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.