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Indian General Service Medal (1908-35): CM.1276-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Mint: Royal Mint
Ruler: George V (1910-36)
Artist: Garbe, Richard
Ruler: GEORGIVS V KAISAR. I. HIND (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The India Medal of 1895 having needed alteration for its last issues due to the death of Queen Victoria, in 1908 it was decided to replace it entirely with a new medal of Edward VII, which was first issued in 1909. When the first issue was made under King George V, in 1911, Richard Garbe designed a new obverse but the medal was otherwise unaltered.
The ignominious defeat of Afghan forces in the Third Anglo-Afghan War left considerable dissatisfaction among the border tribesmen, resulting in persistent raiding that various British punitive expeditions were sent to quell. Even after peace had more or less been achieved, considerable garrison forces were required for some years in the areas of Waziristan (technically an independent state at the time, and independent again in defiance of Pakistani claims to the territory for a short while during 2006) and various other districts around the River Indus. The forces in the area were heavily engaged in a road-building programme and the establishment of cantons to make further tribal revolts less likely.
This medal was awarded to Private E. C. Smith of the 1st Border Regiment. It was one of the last pieces acquired by Lester Watson, purchased from the London dealers Baldwin in 1936.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt Baldwin 1936

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.4 mm
Weight: 41.82 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1925 CE - 1935 CE

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of George facing left

  • Text: GEORGIVS V KAISAR-I-HIND
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Jamrud fort overlooking Khyber Pass with mountains behind

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1276-2009
Primary reference Number: 141370
Watson Catalogue: 178
Ordering: M-0159
Previous object number: LW.0159
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 (1908-35)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141370 Accessed: 2024-04-19 17:37:02

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141370 |title=Indian General Service Medal (1908-35) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-19 17:37:02|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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