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Indian General Service Medal (1854-95): CM.1254-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Artist: Wyon, William
Artist: Wyon, Leonard Charles
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler: Victoria regina (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The Army of India Medal's issue in 1849 having marked the previous half-century's combats in the region, further conflicts in the 1850s led in 1854 to the design and issue of a General Service Medal for the theatre, for which bars would be issued as each new campaign merited.
Lushai is now a mountain district of modern India, but was not part of any large state for much of the nineteenth century, and its inhabitants not afraid to raid British India. When one raid massacred the staff of a British plantation and abducted the owner's daughter in 1871, an expedition into the area was finally mounted, which achieved a settlement and the girl's release in 1872. This bar was awarded to the troops involved.
This medal is inscribed to Private J. Cairn, of the 55th Regiment. This unit is not known to have served on this campaign, which was fought entirely with Indian troops, but it is possible that Cairn was on secondment or similar. Be that as it may, Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.4 mm
Weight: 40.43 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

1872 - 1895

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Victory crowning seated Classical warrior with laurel wreath

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1254-2009
Primary reference Number: 141348
Watson Catalogue: 153
Ordering: M-0137
Previous object number: LW.0137
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Indian General Service Medal (1854-95)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141348 Accessed: 2024-11-02 19:26:41

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141348 |title=Indian General Service Medal (1854-95) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-02 19:26:41|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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