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Defence of Khelat-i-Gilzie Medal: CM.1292-2009

An image of Defence of Khelat-i-Gilzie Medal

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Issuer: East India Company
Artist: Wyon, William
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901) (Inferred)

Entities

Categories

Description

The First Afghan War of 1839 had culminated in the British restoration of the Shah Shujah al-Mulk, a situation which caused his dissatisfied people to rise in revolt in 1841. The murder of the British envoy provoked an initial evacuation of the British garrison, most of which was massacred on its march back to India. The British forces in Afghanistan were for a short while confined to those at the fort of Khelat-i-Ghilzai and the garrison of Jalalabad.
Khelat-i-Ghilzai withstood an even longer siege than Jalalabad, holding out for four months before its eventual relief in the campaign that restored British control in the area. For participation in the defence of the town the British East India Company issued this silver medal to all combatants.
The particularly dogged defence by the Shah's own Afghan contingent in the town caused them to be enrolled in the British forces in Bengal thereafter as the Khelat-al-Gilzie Regiment, otherwise listed as the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Bombay Pioneers. One of these men was Havildar Maun Singh, and this is his medal. Lester Watson purchased it at some point before 1928.

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.2 mm
Weight: 34.95 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Production date: AD 1842

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Shield bearing inscription, surrounded by laurel wreath and surmounted by mural crown

  • Text: KELAT / I / GHILZIE
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Collection of war trophies surmounting plaque bearing inscription

  • Text: INVICTA MDCCCXLII
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1292-2009
Primary reference Number: 141386
Watson Catalogue: 195
Ordering: M-0175
Previous object number: LW.0175
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) "Defence of Khelat-i-Gilzie Medal" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141386 Accessed: 2024-11-08 14:45:37

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141386 |title=Defence of Khelat-i-Gilzie Medal |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-08 14:45:37|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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