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The Mysore Medal is a
campaign medal that was awarded by the
Governor-General of India to native Indian soldiers of the
armies of the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) who participated in the
Third Anglo-Mysore War of 1790 to 1792.
Criteria
The Third Anglo–Mysore War was fought between the
Kingdom of Mysore
The Kingdom of Mysore was a realm in South India, southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. From 1799 until 1950, it was a princely state, until 1947 in a subsidiary allia ...
and the British HEIC and its allies. The war ended in March 1792 with the
Treaty of Seringapatam, in which Mysore gave up much of its territory.
The medal was authorised in April 1793 by
Lord Cornwallis, the
Governor-General of India, who had commanded HEIC forces in Mysore.
It was awarded to native Indian members of the HEIC forces: in gold to more senior native officers including
Subedar
Subedar is a rank of junior commissioned officer in the Indian Army; a senior non-commissioned officer in the Pakistan Army, and formerly a Viceroy's commissioned officer in the British Indian Army.
History
''Subedar'' or ''subadar'' was the ...
s; in silver to junior officers including
Jemadars and Serangs; with NCOs and
Sepoy
''Sepoy'' () was the Persian-derived designation originally given to a professional Indian infantryman, traditionally armed with a musket, in the armies of the Mughal Empire.
In the 18th century, the French East India Company and its oth ...
s, including
Havildars,
Naiks, Tindals and
Lascars receiving a smaller silver medal.
Europeans, including those in HEIC service and with
British Army, did not receive the medal.
In total, about 7,000 medals were awarded.
[
In addition to the medal, HEIC soldiers who served in the campaign received an additional six months batta allowance.][
HEIC regiments that took part in the campaign received the battle honour ]Mysore (1789–91)
Mysore (), officially Mysuru ( kn, ಮೈಸೂರು, link=Kannada, ), is a metropolitan city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the third- most populous and third-largest city in the state, and is one of the cleanest cities in ...
.
Description
The Government of India commissioned a private goldsmith in Calcutta to prepare the dies Dies may refer to:
* Dies (deity), the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Hemera, the personification of day, daughter of Nox (Night) and Erebus (Darkness).
* Albert Christoph Dies (1755–1822), German painter, composer, and biographer
* Jos ...
and strike the medals in gold and in silver.
The obverse depicts a full-length image of a Sepoy
''Sepoy'' () was the Persian-derived designation originally given to a professional Indian infantryman, traditionally armed with a musket, in the armies of the Mughal Empire.
In the 18th century, the French East India Company and its oth ...
holding a Union Jack in his right hand and the flag of Mysore, upside down, in his left. In the background is the fortress of Seringapatam. There is no inscription.
The reverse has, within a laurel wreath, the English wording ''FOR SERVCIES IN MYSORE AD 1791-1792'' with, around the edge, the Persian inscription that translates as: ''A token of the bravery of the troops of the English Government in the war in Mysore, in the Hijri years 1205-1206''.
The medal was issued unnamed.[Collett, D.W, ''Medals Yearbook'', (1981). Page 43. ]
A ring suspension allowed the medal to be worn around the neck by way of a suspension cord, usually yellow or sand colour.
References
External links
British Army Medals: Mysore Medal
{{Campaign medals of the Honourable East India Company
British campaign medals
Medals of the Honourable East India Company
Awards established in 1793
Third Anglo-Mysore War