Date
Instituted: 1896.
Campaign: India 1895-1902.
Description: There are two obverses for this
medal. The first bears the head of Queen Victoria and the
legend ‘VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX’ while the second (post 1901
issue) has the head of King Edward VII and the legend ‘EDWARDVS
VII REX IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts a British soldier
with rifle and an Indian Sowar with sword both holding upright the
Royal Standard. The word ‘INDIA’
appears on both versions to the left but the date ‘1895’ appears
only on the Victorian awards. The
suspender is an ornate scroll type with a claw mount sweated to
the medal.
Metal: Silver.
Size: 36mm.
Clasps: ‘DEFENCE OF CHITRAL 1895’,
‘RELIEF OF CHITRAL 1895’, ‘PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897-98’, ‘MALAKAND 1897’,
‘SAMANA 1897’, ‘TIRAH 1897-98’ and ‘WARIRISTAN 1901-02’. The
last clasp appears only on the Edward VII issue.
| Ribbon: |
 |
Naming: Most
medals are found engraved in running script but those with the ‘PUNJAB
FRONTIER 1897-98’ and ‘MALAKAND 1897’ clasps are usually in indented
capitals. However other styles have been encountered.
Comments: Many of the recipients
received this medal while still serving in India. As a result
the clasps are often added by local India craftsmen and the rivets
appear quite poorly done. This should not be seen as a possible
fake or altered medal but more the norm. Also it should be
noted that the Edward VII issues are slightly thinner than Victorian
ones.
|
