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Indian General Service Medal (1854-95): CM.1255-2009

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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.
This bar was awarded for any of three expeditions in the general area of the modern province of Nagaland in north-eastern India, one in 1875 against the Naga people, or two simultaneous ones against besiegers at Kohima and the Naga stronghold of Konoma, both conflicts being sparked by the murder of British representatives in Naga territories. The Naga people had been headhunters and were often engrossed in civil conflicts which the British used to slowly advance their position in the territory until it was annexed to British India in 1892.
This medal was awarded to Bugler Shaick Khoola Bux of the 44th Native Infantry, a Gurkha unit. 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: 36.2 mm
Weight: 39.93 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1881 - 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

  • Text: L. C. WYON
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1255-2009
Primary reference Number: 141349
Watson Catalogue: 154
Ordering: M-0138
Previous object number: LW.0138
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/141349 Accessed: 2024-11-05 03:35:14

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141349 |title=Indian General Service Medal (1854-95) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 03:35:14|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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