Medals Database > By Country > Great Britain (19th Century Campaign Medals)

The India Medal

Average Price:

£50 to £200
($60 to $260)

(The cost varies based on the medal’s historical significance, the recipient’s background, and the condition of the medal)

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Year of Institution: 1896
Country: Great Britain

The India Medal is a campaign medal approved in 1896 for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies. This medal replaced the India General Service Medal (1854).

The India Medal was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, chiefly for service on the North-West Frontier from 1895 to 1902.

Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon of the medals. Seven were sanctioned:

Defense 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)
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)

The India Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in silver for soldiers of the British and Indian armies, and in bronze to native bearers and servants. It measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse bears 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 portrays a British and an Indian soldier together carrying a standard with the inscription “India 1895“, and the Edward VII version omits the date. The reverse was designed by G. W. de Saulles.

The ribbon measures 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide and has five equal stripes of red, green, red, green, red.

The name and details of the recipient were engraved on the edge of the medal, normally in running script.

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The East and West Africa Medal

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The Crimea Medal

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More Medals from Great Britain

Explore the rich history of British military honors through a captivating display of medals from different periods. Use the images below to learn more about the diverse array of decorations that have adorned the uniforms of British servicemen and women throughout history or use the button at the end to visit the entire UK medals database.