Indian Mutiny Medal

Infobox Military Award
name= Indian Mutiny Medal


caption= Obverse (top left) and reverse (top right) of the medal. Ribbon: 32mm, white with two red stripes.
awarded_by= United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
type= Campaign medal
eligibility= British and Indian forces.
for= Campaign service.
campaign= Indian Mutiny 1857-58.
status=
description= Silver disk, 36mm diameter.
clasps=

Delhi

Defence of Lucknow

Relief of Lucknow

Lucknow

Central India

established= 1858
total= 290,000


caption2=

__NOTOC__The Indian Mutiny Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1858, [Authorisation contained in General Order 363 of 1858 and General Order 733 of 1859] for issue to officers and men of British and Indian units who served in operations in suppression of the Indian Mutiny.

The medal was initially sanctioned for award to those troops who had been engaged in action against the mutineers. However in 1868 the award was extended to all those who had borne arms or who had been under fire, [General Order 771 of 1868, see British Battles and Medals, p136] including such people as members of the Indian judiciary and the Indian civil service, who were caught up in the fighting.John Sly. "Battle Stars". "Ancestors", issue 57, May 2007, pp36-43.] Some 290,000 medals were awarded. [British Battles and Medals, p136]

The obverse of the medal depicts the head of a young Queen Victoria and bears the inscription "Victoria Regina". The reverse shows a helmeted Britannia holding a wreath in her right hand and a union shield on her left arm. She is standing in front of a lion. The words "India 1857-1858" are inscribed on the reverse of the medal. The ribbon is white with two scarlet stripes.

Five clasps were authorised, though the maximum awarded to any one man was four. ["Medal Yearbook" 2004, p137] The medal was issued without a clasp to those who served but were not eligible for a clasp. The vast majority of these awards were made to those who became entitled to the medal as a result of the 1868 extensions of eligibility.

Clasps

*Delhi:"30 May - 14 September 1857". Awarded to troops participating in the recapture of Delhi.
*Defence of Lucknow:"29 June - 22 November 1857". Awarded to original defenders and to the relief force commanded by Sir Henry Havelock - Particularly rare and sought after by collectors. This medal was also awarded to the principal, masters and schoolboys from La Martiniere College in Lucknow [ [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~clday/medals.htm List of the boys and staff who received the medal] ]
*Relief of Lucknow:"November 1857". Awarded to the relief force under the command of Sir Colin Campbell.
*Lucknow:"November 1857 - March 1858". Awarded to troops under command of Sir Colin Campbell who were engaged in final operations leading to the surrender of Lucknow and the clearing of the surrounding areas.
*Central India:"January - June 1858". Awarded to all those who served under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose in actions against Jhansi, Kalpi, and Gwalior. Also awarded to those who served with Major-General Roberts in the Rajputana Field Force and Major-General Whitlock of the Madras Column, between January and June 1858.

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

External links

* [http://users.rootsweb.com/~indwgw/medalpage.htm A list of the names of all 50,700 men of the British Forces who received the Indian Mutiny medal]