Indian Mutiny Medal

The Indian Mutiny Medal was a campaign medal approved in August 1858,[1] for issue to officers and men of British and Indian units who served in operations in suppression of the Indian Mutiny.

Medal with edge inscription, awarded to Corporal D Alderton, 5th (Northumberland) Fusiliers
Indian Mutiny Medal
Obverse and reverse of the medal
Awarded by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
TypeCampaign medal
EligibilityBritish and Indian forces.
Awarded forCampaign service.
Campaign(s)Indian Mutiny 1857-58.
DescriptionSilver disk, 36mm diameter.
Clasps
  • Delhi
  • Defence of Lucknow
  • Relief of Lucknow
  • Lucknow
  • Central India
Statistics
Established1858
Total awarded290,000
Ribbon: White with two red stripes.

The medal was initially sanctioned for award to those troops who had been engaged in action against the mutineers. However, in 1868 the award was extended to all those who had borne arms or who had been under fire,[2] including such people as members of the Indian judiciary and the Indian civil service, who were caught up in the fighting.[3] Some 290,000 medals were awarded.[4]

The obverse depicts the diademed head of a young Queen Victoria with the legend VICTORIA REGINA, designed by William Wyon.[4]
The reverse shows a helmeted Britannia holding a wreath in her right hand and a union shield on her left arm. She is standing in front of a lion. Above is the word INDIA, with the dates 1857-1858 below. The reverse was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, who also engraved the die of the medal.
The 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide ribbon is white with two scarlet stripes, with each stripe of equal width.
The recipient's name and unit is impressed on the rim of the medal in block Roman capitals.[4]

Clasps

Five clasps were authorised, though the maximum awarded to any one man was four.[5] The clasps read downwards from the top of the medal.[4]

  • Delhi
30 May - 14 September 1857. Awarded to troops participating in the recapture of Delhi.[6]
  • Defence of Lucknow
29 June - 22 November 1857. Awarded to original defenders of Lucknow, including the masters and boys of La Martinière College in Lucknow who escaped to the Residency and assisted in its defence,[7] and to the first relief force commanded by Sir Henry Havelock.[6] Awards to original defenders are particularly rare and are sought after by collectors.[5]
  • Relief of Lucknow
November 1857. Awarded to the second Lucknow relief force under the command of Sir Colin Campbell.[6]
  • Lucknow
November 1857 - March 1858. Awarded to troops under command of Sir Colin Campbell who were engaged in final operations leading to the surrender of Lucknow and the clearing of the surrounding areas.[6]
  • Central India
January - June 1858. Awarded to all those who served under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose in actions against Jhansi, Kalpi, and Gwalior. Also to those who served with Major-General Roberts in the Rajputana Field Force and Major-General Whitlock of the Madras Column, between January and June 1858.[6]

The medal was issued without a clasp to those who served, but were not present during these major operations. The majority of these awards were made as a result of the 1868 extension of eligibility.[4]

Notes
  1. Authorisation contained in General Order 363 of 18 August 1858 and General Order 733 of 1859
  2. General Order 771 of 1868, see British Battles and Medals, p136
  3. John Sly. "Battle Stars". Ancestors, issue 57, May 2007, pp36-43.
  4. British Battles and Medals, p136
  5. Medal Yearbook 2015, p145
  6. British Battles and Medals, p140
  7. National Army Museum collection

Bibliography
  • Mussel, J (ed) - Medals Yearbook - 2015, (2014), Token Publishing.
  • Joslin, Litherland, and Simpkin (eds), British Battles and Medals, (1988), Spink

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