__NOTOC__ The Indian Mutiny Medal was a campaign

medal A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are presented as awards. They may be int ...

approved in August 1858, for officers and men of British and Indian units who served in operations in suppression of the

Indian Mutiny The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the for ...

The medal was initially sanctioned for award to 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, including such people as members of the Indian judiciary and the Indian civil service, who were caught up in the fighting.John Sly. "Battle Stars". ''Ancestors'', issue 57, May 2007, pp36–43. Some 290,000 medals were awarded.British Battles and Medals, p136 The obverse depicts the diademed head of a young Queen Victoria with the legend VICTORIA REGINA, designed by

William Wyon William Wyon (Birmingham 1795 – 29 October 1851), was official chief engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death. Biography Wyon was born in Birmingham and, in 1809, was apprenticed to his father, Peter Wyon who was an engraver a ...

.British Battles and Medals, p136
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 Leonard Charles Wyon (23 November 1826 – 20 August 1891) was a British engraver of the Victorian era most notable for his work on the gold and silver coinage struck for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 and the bronze coinage of ...

, who also engraved the die of the medal.
The 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.British Battles and Medals, p136

Clasps

Five clasps were authorised, though the maximum awarded to any one man was four.''Medal Yearbook'' 2015, p145 The clasps read downwards from the top of the medal.British Battles and Medals, p136 *Delhi :''30 May – 14 September 1857''. Awarded to troops participating in the recapture of

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...

.British Battles and Medals, p140 *Defence of Lucknow :''29 June – 22 November 1857''. Awarded to original defenders of

Lucknow Lucknow (, ) is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is also the second largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and divis ...

, including the masters and boys of La Martinière College in Lucknow who escaped to the

Residency Residency may refer to: * Domicile (law), the act of establishing or maintaining a residence in a given place ** Permanent residency, indefinite residence within a country despite not having citizenship * Residency (medicine), a stage of postgrad ...

and assisted in its defence,National Army Museum collection
/ref> and to the first relief force commanded by

Sir Henry Havelock Major-General Sir Henry Havelock (5 April 1795 – 24 November 1857) was a British general who is particularly associated with India and his recapture of Cawnpore during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (First War of Independence, Sepoy Mutiny). E ...

.British Battles and Medals, p140 *Relief of Lucknow :''November 1857''. Awarded to the second Lucknow relief force under the command of Sir Colin Campbell.British Battles and Medals, p140 *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

and the clearing of the surrounding areas.British Battles and Medals, p140 *Central India :''January – June 1858''. Awarded for service during the Central Indian campaign, including to those who served under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose in actions against

Jhansi Jhansi (; Hindi: झांसी, Urdu: ) is a historic city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies in the region of Bundelkhand on the banks of the Pahuj River, in the extreme south of Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi is the administrative head ...

Kalpi Kalpi is a historical city and municipal board in Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is on the right bank of the Yamuna. Once Kalpi was more important Than Orai It is situated 78 kilometres south-west of Kanpur from which it is conn ...

, and

Gwalior Gwalior() is a major city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh; it lies in northern part of Madhya Pradesh and is one of the Counter-magnet cities. Located south of Delhi, the capital city of India, from Agra and from Bhopal, the s ...

. Also to those who served with Major-General Roberts in the

Rajputana Rājputana, meaning "Land of the Rajputs", was a region in the Indian subcontinent that included mainly the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan, as well as parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and some adjoining areas of Sindh in modern-day ...

Field Force and Major-General Whitlock of the Madras Column.British Battles and Medals, p140 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.British Battles and Medals, p136

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

Searchable database of all 50,700 men of the British Forces who received the Indian Mutiny MedalIndian Mutiny Medal, roll of recipients
{{Campaign medals of the Honourable East India Company * British campaign medals Indian Rebellion of 1857