India General Service Medal (1854)

India General Service Medal
Obverse (top left) and reverse (top right) of the medal. Ribbon: 32mm, three crimson and two dark blue stripes of equal width.
Awarded by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Type	Campaign medal
Eligibility	British and Indian forces.
Awarded for	Campaign service.
Campaign	India 1852–1895.
Description	Silver or bronze disk, 36mm diameter.
Clasps	Pegu Persia North West Frontier Umbeyla Bhootan Looshai Perak Jowaki 1877–78 Naga 1879–80 Burma 1885–87 Sikkim 1888 Hazara 1888 Burma 1887–89 Burma 1887–9 Chin Lushai 1889–90 Lushai 1889–92 Samana 1891 Hazara 1891 NE Frontier 1891 Hunza 1891 Burma 1889–92 Chin Hills 1892–93 Kachin Hills 1892–93 Waziristan 1894–95
Statistics
Established	11 March 1854
Example of medal with Perak clasp.

The India General Service Medal (1854 IGSM) was a campaign medal approved in 1854, for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies.

The 1854 IGSM was approved on 1 March 1854. It was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, during 1852 to 1895. Each battle or action covered by the medal was represented by a clasp on the ribbon; 24 were sanctioned,^[1] the maximum awarded to one man is thought to be seven.^[2] The medal was never issued without a clasp.

The medal was initially awarded in silver to all ranks, regardless of race or branch of service. However, starting from 1885 (with the Burma 1885–7 bar) both medal and clasp were issued in bronze to native support personnel such as bearers, sweepers, and drivers.^[1]

Appearance

The medal is silver, 1.4 inches in diameter, and was struck at the Royal Mint. It was later issued in bronze for camp followers and native civilians. The obverse bears a left facing effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem and veil. Surrounding the head is the inscription VICTORIA REGINA.^[3]

The reverse depicts Victory crowning a seated nude warrior. In the exerge of the medal are lotus flowers and leaves.^[3]

The medal is suspended by a silver scrolled bar. The medal hangs from a ribbon 1 1/4 inches wide. It is divided into five stripes, three red and two dark blue, 1/4 inch wide.^[3]

Clasps

Notes

1. 1 2 Medals Yearbook 2016, p. 141.
2. ↑ This was General Sir AW Lockhart, although there have been unsubstantiated claims that some native Indian soldiers had up to ten bars. See British Battles and Medals, p. 120.
3. 1 2 3 Mayo, 337

Bibliography

• Mussel, J et al (eds) - Medals Yearbook - 2016, Token Publishing, ISBN 9781908828248
• Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink
• Mayo, John Horsley (1897). Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Volume 2. A. Constable.