The India Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1896Army Order dated 1 April 1896 approved the 'India Medal 1895' with two bars: 'Defence of Chitral 1895' and 'Relief of Chitral 1895'. see British Battles and Medals, p. 177 for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies.
The India Medal was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, chiefly for service on the North-West Frontier during 1895 to 1902. This medal replaced the India General Service Medal (1854). Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon; seven were sanctioned.Wilkinson-Latham, p. 22
Description The medal was awarded in silver to soldiers of the British and Indian armies, and in bronze to native bearers and servants.
The obverse shows the profile of Queen Victoria or, for those awarded the medal with the Waziristan 1901–02 clasp, King Edward VII, both with a suitable inscription.The reverse, designed by G. W. de Saulles, portrays a British and an Indian soldier together carrying a standard with the inscription "India 1895", although the Edward VII version omits the date.The wide ribbon had five equal stripes of red, green, red, green, red.Barthorp, p. 178
The name and details of the recipient were engraved on the edge of the medal, normally in running script.
Obverse variations
Clasps The following clasps were issued with the medal: Defence of Chitral 1895 3 March – 13 April 1895 Relief of Chitral 1895 7 March – 15 August 1895 Punjab Frontier 1897–98 10 June 1897 – 6 April 1898 Malakand 1897 26 July – 2 August 1897 (Awarded to troops involved in the Siege of Malakand.) Samana 1897 2 August – 2 October 1897 Tirah 1897–98 2 October 1897 – 6 April 1898 Waziristan 1901–02 23 November 1901 – 10 March 1902
References and notes
Bibliography Barthorp, Michael. 2002. Afghan Wars and the North-West Frontier 1839–1947 Cassell. Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink Mackay, J. and Mussel, J. (eds) – Medals Yearbook – 2006, (2005), Token Publishing. Mussell, John W. (ed) – Medals Yearbook – 2015, Token Publishing. Wilkinson-Latham, Robert. 1977. North-west Frontier 1837–1947 Osprey Publishing.
External links North East Medals, medal guide: India Medal 1895–1902 retrieved 18 November 2018