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Indian General Service Medal (1854-95): CM.1265-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Artist: Wyon, Leonard Charles
Ruler: Victoria regina (With the title of)
Mint: London

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.
Manipur is one of the more remote states of modern India, and in the late nineteenth century relied on British protection against Burmese aggression. Because of this, when a succession crisis flared there in 1886, the Chief Commissioner for Assam attempted to intervene in force; this succeeded in arranging negotiations, but he and his party did not return from the meeting. A British withdrawal was shortly followed by a larger punitive expedition, which found only the embassy's heads but was able to capture all but one side of the succession quarrel and execute or exile the others for the murders. The state was shortly annexed to British India.
This medal was awarded to Private F. Williams, of the 4th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, for his participation in this campaign. Lester Watson purchased the medal 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: 36.1 mm
Weight: 40 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1892 - 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

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1265-2009
Primary reference Number: 141359
Watson Catalogue: 166
Ordering: M-0148
Previous object number: LW.0148
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://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141359 Accessed: 2024-04-19 02:44:46

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141359 |title=Indian General Service Medal (1854-95) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-19 02:44:46|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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