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Indian General Service Medal (1908-35): CM.1278-2009

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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.
British rule in Burma, formalised after the British victory in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, naturally involved a more demanding taxation system than the Burmese had been used to, and a monk and healer by the name of Saya San became a spokesman of resistance during a survey of the peasantry that he conducted in 1927. New taxes imposed in 1929 led Saya San to instigate a local revolt, which rapidly flared out of his control all across the country. The subsequent British campaign took two years to quell all unrest; Saya San was hanged.
Participation in this campaign earnt this clasp to the Indian General Service Medal. This example was awarded to Private F. Delaney of the Manchester 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: 36.3 mm
Weight: 42.31 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1912 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.1278-2009
Primary reference Number: 141372
Watson Catalogue: 180
Ordering: M-0161
Previous object number: LW.0161
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/141372 Accessed: 2024-11-08 17:49:01

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141372 |title=Indian General Service Medal (1908-35) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-08 17:49:01|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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