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The China War Medal (1842)

The China War Medal is a military medal awarded to members of the British and Indian forces who took part in the First Anglo-Chinese War.

The China War Medal is a military medal designed by William Wyon and issued by the British Government in 1843 to members of the British and Indian forces who took part in the First Anglo-Chinese War (1839–42).

The medal was originally intended by the Governor-General of India to be awarded exclusively to all ranks of the Honourable East India Company’s Forces. In 1843, however, the British Government authorized its award to all members of the British Army, Royal Navy and the Indian Army and Navy, who had “served with distinction” in China between 5 July 1840 and 29 August 1842 in the Canton River operations of 1841 (First and Second Battle of Canton), First and second capture of Chusan, in 1840 and 1841, the Battles of Amoy, Ningpo, Chinhai, Tzeki, Chapu, Woosung, in the Yangtze River, and the assault of Chinkiang.

This campaign became known as the First Opium War, ending in the seizure of Nanking and the treaty that opened five ports to trade and ceded Hong Kong to Great Britain.

The China War Medal Design

The medal measures 35 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter, with a wide ribbon in crimson with wide yellow edges (the crimson representing the heraldic color of Great Britain, and the yellow the imperial color of China). The non-swiveling suspender is plain and straight being sweated directly to the medal.

The First China War Medal’s reverse was originally designed depicting the British lion trampling on the fallen Chinese dragon. However, this was considered too insensitive to the Chinese. It was changed to a shield bearing the Royal coat of arms with a palm tree and trophy of arms behind, with the inscription “ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACIM” above and “CHINA 1842” in the exergue below.

The obverse shows the diademed head of Queen Victoria with the legend “VICTORIA REGINA”.

No clasps were authorized for this medal.

The Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal

The Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal was awarded to those who took part in the campaign in Afghanistan in 1842.

The Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal was was approved by General Order at Simla 4 October 1842 and awarded to those who took part in the campaign in the spring and summer of 1842 to restore British standing in Afghanistan after earlier defeats during the First Anglo-Afghan War.

Approximately 22,100 Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul medals were awarded, some 4,400 to members of the British Army and 17,700 to the mainly native forces of the Honourable East India Company.

The Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal Design

The medal was designed by William Wyon and struck in silver. It measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse shows the diademed head Queen Victoria facing left with the inscription ‘VICTORIA VINDEX’ (PROTECTOR). Four different reverses were struck, indicating the campaigns in which the recipient served: ‘CANDAHAR 1842’ within a laurel wreath, surmounted by a crown. ‘CABUL 1842’ within a laurel wreath, surmounted by a crown. ‘GHUZNEE’ ‘CABUL’, each within a separate laurel wreath, surmounted by a single crown and with the year ‘1842’ below. ‘CANDAHAR, GHUZNEE, CABUL 1842’ within a single laurel wreath, surmounted by a crown.

The suspension consists of a straight steel suspender, attached to the medal by way of a steel clip and pin. The ribbon is the watered rainbow colored ribbon common to most East India Company medals, with a pattern of red, white, yellow, white and blue.

The recipient’s name and regiment were engraved on the edge for the medal.

The Army of India Medal

The Army of India Medal is a British campaign medal issued to officers and men of the British Army and the Army of the East India Company.

The Army of India Medal (AIM) is a British campaign medal approved on 21 March 1851 and issued to officers and men of the British Army and the Army of the Honourable East India Company.

The Army of India Medal was as a retrospective award to survivors of various actions during the period 1803–1826, among them four wars: the Second Mahratta War (1803–04), the Gurkha War (1814–16), the Pindaree or Third Mahratta War (1817–18), and the First Burmese War (1824–26) with the siege of Bhurtpoor (1825–26).

Each action or battle was represented by a clasp on the ribbon. A total of twenty-one ribbons were sanctioned, and while the maximum awarded to one man was seven, most medals were awarded with a single clasp.

Because the medal was only awarded to survivors, there are substantially fewer medals compared with the number of men who served during this period. Forty-eight years had passed between the first battle commemorated and the date of issue. A total of 4,500 medals were awarded.

The Army of India Medal Design

The Army of India medal is circular and made of silver. It measures 1.4 inches (36 mm) in diameter and was designed by William Wyon.

The obverse bears an effigy of a young Queen Victoria wearing a diadem. On either side of the effigy is the inscription VICTORIA and REGINA. The reverse bears and an allegorical representation of Victory holding a laurel branch in her right hand and a wreath in her left. In the foreground is a lotus flower, with a palm tree and trophy of arms in the background. Above is the inscription TO THE ARMY OF INDIA, below in the exergue 1799-1826.

The pale blue ribbon is 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide.

The Ghuznee Medal

The Ghuznee Medal is a campaign medal awarded to troops for participation in the storming of the fortress of Ghuznee in Afghanistan.

The Ghuznee Medal is a British campaign medal struck in 1839 and awarded to troops of the British and Indian Armies for participation in the storming of the fortress of Ghuznee in Afghanistan, from 21 to 23 July 1839 (known as the Battle of Ghazni that took place during the First Anglo-Afghan War).

The Ghuznee Medal was the second medal awarded to all ranks of the British Army for a specific campaign (the first one was the Waterloo Medal).

The medal was struck on the orders of Shuja Shah Durrani, the Shah of Afghanistan, to show his appreciation to the British forces who had helped him restore his throne by storming the fortress. Because the Shah died before the medals could be distributed, it was then bestowed by the Governor-General of India in the name of the Government of India.

The Ghuznee Medal Design

The Ghuznee Medal is made of silver and is based on a design by John Luard, a British army officer and artist. It was struck at the Calcutta Mint. It measures  37 millimeters (1.5 in) in diameter.

The obverse shows the fortress of Ghuznee with the word ‘GHUZNEE’ below. The reverse depicts a mural crown surrounded by a laurel wreath and the date ’23d JULY 1839’.

The suspender is straight with a ring passing through a smaller loop soldered to the top of the medal. The ribbon has two equal stripes of crimson and dark green. Originally the ribbon was to have been half green and half yellow.
The medal was issued unnamed.

Two separate dies exist for this medal with one having a wider border around the edge than the other. The second also has a narrower and taller fortress.

The Burma Medal (1826)

The Burma Medal was granted to native officers and men who participated in the campaign for the subjugation of Burma.

In 1824 raiding by Burmese troops of King Bagyidaw of Ava (in what is now modern-day Myanmar) into the border states of Sylhat and Cachar (today India) caused their independent rulers to appeal for help from the British in India. This led to a reprisal expedition with the aim of taking Rangoon.

The campaign lasted through two years of extremely difficult fighting, until in 1826 King Bagyidaw agreed a treaty with the British. He was to abdicate in 1837.

This medal was awarded by the British East India Company to the Indian troops involved in what was called the “war in Ava”.

The Burma Medal is a very seldom seen award from the reign of George IV.

The Burma Medal Design

The Burma Medal was the first of the H.E.I.C. campaign medals in what was to become a standard 1.5 inch (38mm) diameter. The silver issue of the medal was awarded to Indian troops from Bengal and Madras in 1832; officers received a gold version.

The obverse shows the elephant of Ava at right bowing before the British lion at left, who stands before a Union Jack flagstaff. The reverse is an army approaching a coastal city, with boats at sea to the left beyond a tall palm.

The medal was fitted with a large steel clip and ring for suspension (just like the Waterloo Medal). British troops in this campaign were belatedly awarded the “AVA” clasp to the Army of India Medal.

The Capture of Ceylon Medal

The Capture of Ceylon Medal was instituted on 15 May 1807 by an Order in Council at Fort William, India and awarded to part of the forces under the command of the East India Company that participated in the British Invasion of Dutch Ceylon.

The Invasion of Ceylon was part of the French Revolutionary Wars, over the 21 July 1795 – 16 February 1796 period. Two medals were cast in gold for officers (some believe natives), with 120-121 being cast in silver for members (Gun Lascars) of the Bengal Artillery.

The Capture of Ceylon Medal Design

The Capture of Ceylon measures 1.9 inches (48 mm) in diameter, and is struck in gold or silver.

The obverse face displays an English inscription For Services on the Island of Ceylon A.D. 1795/6. The reverse face shows a Persian inscription: “This medal was given by way of acknowledgment of services in Ceylon in the year of the Hegira 1209-1210.”

The medal was intended to be worn round the neck with a yellow cord.

The Medal for Egypt 1801

The Medal of Egypt 1801 (also known as the 1801 East India Company’s Egypt Medal) was issued by the Honourable East India Company to British and Indian troops from India who formed a Division under Major General Baird.

In July 1802 the EIC authorized a medal for service in Egypt, although it wasn’t issued until 1811. The medal was produced by the Calcutta Mint, and warded in gold (126 of them have been awarded) and silver (some 2200 medals were given).

The Medal of Egypt 1801 was not given to British troops.

The Medal of Egypt 1801 Design

The medal is struck in gold or silver. The obverse illustrates a standing sepoy, holding a large ensign, an attack upon a fortified position in the distance, inscribed below in Persian “This medal has been presented in commemoration of the defeat of the French armies in the Kingdom of Egypt by the great bravery and ability of the victorious army in England“.

The reverse is a starboard quarter view of a full rigged ship under sail approaching land, four pyramids and an obelisk in the distance at the right, Roman numeral dated “MDCCCI” (1801) below.

The silver medal measures 51.7 mm.

The Mysore Medal

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Year of Institution: ~ 1790
Country: Great Britain

The Honourable East India Company Medal for Mysore 1790-1792 was awarded to Havildars, Naiks, Tindals, Sepoys and Lascars, to Indian troop of the Honourable East India Company and to all those who served under Cornwallis, Abercromby and Medows in the defeat of Tippoo Sahib in the Third Mysore War of 1790 to 1792.

Tippoo Sahib, the Maharajah of Mysore in south India, attacked in 1790 the British allied state of Travancore, causing the British to retaliate. The south Mysore region of Coimbatore was reduced, whilst General Abercromby captured the west coast province of Malabar. But Tippoo in turn invaded the British held Carnatic region.

One year later, the Governor General Lord Cornwallis took the field and launched a major offensive into the heart of Mysore. They managed to capture the town and fortress of Bangalore in the face of heavy opposition in March 1791.

Cornwallis then continued with the stronghold of Seringapatam but had to withdraw until 1791, when he captured a series of strongly held fortresses between Bangalore and Seringapatam, capturing the town on 6th to 7th February. As a result Tippoo Sahib came to terms, signing a treaty, 19th March, in which a substantial tract of land was ceded to the British and her Mahratta allies and a war indemnity paid.

The Mysore Medal Design

The Mysore medal is a small medal. It was produced in two sizes: 43mm in diameter for gold and silver, and 38mm for small silver. The big medal was given to Indian officers, and the smallest to other ranks.

It measures 38 mm in diameter and it’s struck in silver.

The suspension is fitted with cord.

The Deccan Medal

The Deccan Medal is a silver medal issued by the East India Company to Indian officers and men for service in Gujerat during the First Maratha War (1778-1782) and for service in the Carnatic during the 2nd Mysore War (1780-1784).

The First Anglo-Maratha War was the first of three Anglo-Maratha wars fought between the British East India Company and Maratha Empire in India. The war began with the Treaty of Surat and ended with the Treaty of Salbai. British troops under the command of Colonel Keating, left Surat on March 15 1775 for Pune. They were totally defeated on May 18, 1775 with some 96 people killed. 

The Supreme Council of Bengal condemned the Treaty of Surat, sending Colonel Upton to Pune to annul it and make a new treaty with the regency. An agreement between Upton and the ministers of Pune called Treaty of Purandar was signed on March 1, 1776.

The Deccan Medal is the earliest Anglo-Indian medal issued alike to all ranks and is considered the first ‘general issue’ war medal.

The Deccan Medal Design

Minted in Calcutta, the Deccan medal was round and struck in gold, silver and small silver. The medal was awarded in two sizes: 40.5mm for gold and silver, and 32mm for small silver. The larger medals were given to Indian officers only.

The medal was worn round the neck suspended from a yellow cord.

The Coburg Badge

The Coburg Badge (Das Coburger Abzeichen in German) was the first badge recognized as a national award of the Nazi Party or NSDAP.

The Coburg Badge (or Das Coburger Abzeichen in German) was the first badge recognized as a national award of the Nazi Party or NSDAP.

Adolf Hitler ordered the Coburg Badge to be struck on 14 October 1932 to memorialize the event which took place ten years earlier, on Saturday, 14 October 1922. On that day, Hitler led 800 members of the SA from Munich and other Bavarian cities by train to Coburg for a weekend rally. Once there, numerous pitched street battles with leftists and communists occurred. In the end, the final victory belonged to the Nazis. Later, the day was known as the Deutscher Tag in Coburg (German Day in Coburg). Hitler had one his first decisive victory, as it was to become Nazi folklore and led to the expression, in ardent Nazi circles, ‘But were you at Coburg?‘

The badge was declared an official party and national decoration in a decree signed by Hitler, on 6th November 1936, who had taken a personal interest in the design. Only 436 names were entered on the official party roll of recipients who were entitled to the badge.

On 1 August 1939, Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler decreed that any SS member (whether enlisted or officer) who wore the Coburg Badge was eligible to wear the Totenkopf ring.

The Coburg Badge Medal Design

The award consists of an oval, slightly convex badge that was originally produced in massive bronze. It is 40mm wide and 54mm high, with a narrow wreath of laurel leaves around its edge measuring 2 mm across.

The badge features, in the obverse, a sword placed tip downward across the face of a swastika within an oval wreath of three leaves in each bunch and two berries at their tips. There are ten bunches on either side and the top two bunches on either side do not have the laurel berries. At the top of the wreath is Coburg Castle and village. The Castle has two spires on the viewer’s left with a large roofed building and a small adjacent pinnacle on the right. The wreath contains the words, “MIT HITLER IN COBURG 1922-1932″ (with Hitler in Coburg 1922-1932). Inside the wreath is a flat field that measures 4 mm, with a raised 0.5 mm line.  The central oval void has a large swastika measuring 16 mm across and the width of the individual arms is 4 mm. From the top of the badge, superimposed over the castle and swastika is a double-edged sword with straight quillons, twisted grip handle and a pronounced ball pommel.

The reverse is plain with a thin hinge and a pin that has a circular retainer and a ‘C’ type hook at the bottom. There is a second version of the badge which is thinner and has the RZM mark on the reverse.