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General Service Medal (1918-62): CM.1341-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Ruler: George V (1910-36)
Artist: Preston, Carter
Ruler: Georgivs V Britt: omn: rex et Ind: imp: (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The General Service Medal was instituted in 1918 for the Army and Royal Air Force to match that of 1915 for the Navy; it was to be awarded for operations in areas not covered by the existent Africa and India General Service Medals. It was issued intil 1962.
The second bar awarded was this one, for Kurdistan; it covered operations in the north of British-held Iraq after the Great War. The original award was extended in 1924 to cover operations against a Kurdish chief by the name of Shaikh Mahmud who had taken over the fort of Sulaymaniyah with assistance from Turkish forces at Rowanduz.
It was likely for participation in this operation that this medal was awarded, to Sapper Dasappa of the Madras Sappers and Miners. He probably served in the 63rd Company, which was in the Koicol column that went to Sulaymaniyah. Lester Watson purchased the medal from the London dealers Baldwin at some point before 1928.

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.2 mm
Weight: 41.7 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1923 - 1924

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of George facing left

  • Text: GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Britannia with trident standing centre and placing wreath on hilt of winged sword left

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1341-2009
Primary reference Number: 141435
Watson Catalogue: 247
Ordering: M-0224
Previous object number: LW.0224
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) "General Service Medal (1918-62)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141435 Accessed: 2024-11-22 01:37:31

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141435 |title=General Service Medal (1918-62) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-22 01:37:31|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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