The Army of India Medal was a campaign medal issued by the British government in 1851 to members of the British Army and the Honourable East India Company's forces who had participated in various campaigns in India between 1803 and 1826. It was a retrospective medal, awarded long after the actions it commemorated, a practice that became common for early 19th-century British military campaigns due to lobbying efforts by veterans and their families for recognition comparable to more recent campaigns.
History and Authorization Prior to the mid-19th century, campaign medals were not routinely issued for all military service. Veterans of earlier campaigns in India, particularly those from the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805) and other conflicts, felt their service was unrecognised. Following the successful retrospective issuance of the Military General Service Medal (for land campaigns, 1793-1814) and the Naval General Service Medal (for naval campaigns, 1793-1840), pressure mounted for a similar medal for Indian campaigns. The Army of India Medal was finally authorized by Queen Victoria on 21 March 1851.
Eligibility The medal was awarded to all surviving officers and men of the British Army, Royal Navy, and the Honourable East India Company's military forces who had served in the specified campaigns. Due to the long delay in its authorization, the number of recipients was relatively small compared to the number who actually served in the campaigns. Many potential recipients had already died.
Design
- Obverse: Features the diademed head of Queen Victoria, facing left, with the inscription "VICTORIA REGINA."
- Reverse: Depicts a standing figure of Victory, crowning an antique warrior with a laurel wreath. The warrior, holding a sword and shield, represents the British or Company forces. Below, the word "INDIA" is inscribed, and the dates "1803-1826" appear beneath. This reverse design is identical to that used on the earlier Ava Medal (1826), a specific campaign medal for the First Anglo-Burmese War.
- Naming: The recipient's name and unit were typically impressed on the rim of the medal.
- Ribbon: The ribbon is watered light blue with dark blue borders.
Clasps The medal was never awarded without a clasp, and recipients could receive multiple clasps for different engagements. There were 15 authorized clasps, representing key battles and campaigns:
- Allighur (1803)
- Battle of Delhi (1803)
- Assaye (1803)
- Asseerghur (1803)
- Argaum (1803)
- Gawilghur (1803)
- Defence of Delhi (1804)
- Laswarree (1803)
- Battle of Kirkee (1817)
- Poona (1817)
- Seetabuldee (1817)
- Nagpoor (1817)
- Maheidpoor (1817)
- Corygaum (1818)
- Guzerat (1821) - This clasp is sometimes listed, but more commonly the first 14 are considered the main ones. Some sources state 14 clasps, other 15 or 17 (due to variations in naming conventions or inclusion of sub-campaigns). The most commonly accepted list includes the first 14.
The Army of India Medal is a significant award in British military history, representing a major step in the recognition of long and arduous service in colonial campaigns. It also serves as a valuable historical record of early 19th-century British involvement and expansion in the Indian subcontinent.