India General Service Medal (1854-1895), with bar for Chin-Lushai 1889-90, awarded to Pvt. F. Horton, 1890
Obverse, a bust of Queen Victoria |
Reverse, Victory crowning a seated Classical warrior with a laurel wreath |
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Obverse, a bust of Queen Victoria |
Reverse, Victory crowning a seated Classical warrior with a laurel wreath |
The Army of India Medal's issue in 1849 having marked the previous half-century's combats in the region, further conflicts in the 1850s led in 1854 to the design and issue of a General Service Medal for the theatre, for which bars would be issued as each new campaign merited.
The Lushai Hills and the surrounding areas inhabited by the Chin or Kuki peoples are now split between modern India (Lushai), Bangladesh and Myanmar but in the late nineteenth century were not part of any state. British interests in these zones however led to punitive expeditions being sent against the Chin and the Lushai peoples at the end of 1889, for which this bar was awarded. Major Gordon, writing of the medal, observed: "This bar was very well earned as the country that these expeditions had to go through consisted of trackless jungle."
This medal was awarded to Private F. Horton of the 1st Battalion, Scottish Borderers. Lester Watson purchased it at some point before 1928.