Indian General Service Medal 1908-1935, with bar for North West Frontier 1908, awarded to Pvt. A. Austin, 1909
Obverse, a bust of King Edward VII |
Reverse, Jamrud fort overlooking Khyber Pass with mountains behind |
|
Obverse, a bust of King Edward VII |
Reverse, Jamrud fort overlooking Khyber Pass with mountains behind |
The India Medal of 1895 having needed alteration for its last issues due to the death of Queen Victoria, in 1908 it was decided to replace it entirely with a new medal of Edward VII, which was first issued in 1909.
The first issue was for actions on the North-West Frontier between British India and Afghanistan, which had been a source of political tension for the length of the nineteenth century, as the precarious Imperial accommodations with local tribes required continual maintenance.
A variety of small operations in and beyond the area of the Khyber Pass into Afghanistan, against the Pashtun Mohmands and others in the years preceding 1908, qualified soldiers for the first issue of this medal. This one went to Private A. Austin of the 1st Royal Warwicks. Lester Watson acquired the medal before 1928.