India General Service Medal (1854)

Infobox Military Award
name= India General Service Medal (1854)


caption= 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.
for= Campaign service.
campaign= India 1852-1895.
status=
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

established= 11 March 1854
total=


caption2=

__NOTOC__The Indian 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, [Medals Yearbook 2005, p143.] the maximum awarded to one man is thought to be seven. [to General Sir AW Lockhart, although there have been unsubstantiated claims that some native Indian soldiers had up to ten bars, British Battles and Medals, p120.] 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. [Medal Yearbook 2005, p143]

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

Notes

Bibliography

* Mackay, J and Mussel, J (eds) - "Medals Yearbook - 2006", (2005), Token Publishing.
* Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), "British Battles and Medals", (1988), Spink