Victorian Era UK Punjab Medal (1849)

[stratasfan]

The Punjab Medal was a campaign medal that was approved merely weeks after the service it commemorates. Established 2 April 1849 for all who served in the Punjab campaign between 7 Sept 1848 - 14 March 1849. 

 

The Punjab Campaign (1848-49) finished with the annexation of the Punjab (which was a region of Northern India and Easter Pakistan).

 

 

DESCRIPTION

OBVERSE: Bears the diademed head of Queen Victoria (by Wyon), and the legend VICTORIA REGINA.

 

REVERSE: A scene depicting the Sikh chiefs laying down their arms before a victorious British General seated on horseback in the front of his troops, who are drawn up in line with colours flying. In the background are palm trees, and above TO THE ARMY OF THE PUNJAB. In the exergue is the date MDCCCXLIX.

 

The medal is 1⅖ in. in diameter, and has the name of the recipients impressed on the edge in Roman capital letters. The clasps for suspension, and the bars, are similar to those on the Sutlej medal; the ribbon is 1¾ in. wide, and of dark blue with bright-yellow stripes at the side.

 

CLASPS

The clasps are read from the top down, which differed from the normal way at the time of placing the earliest clasp nearest the planchet. 

 

MOOLTAN - 7 Sept 1848 - 22 Jan 1849. For troops who participated in the Siege of Multan. Almost 19,000 of these clasps were issued, with just under 3,000 to British troops and the rest to Indian forces.

 

One of the British regiments which took part in the siege was the 10th, 32nd, and 1st Batt. 60th Rifles (only 100 of this regiment received the single bar for Mooltan, and fakers frequently remove the Goojerat bar from a medal in order to enhance its value).

 

CHILIANWALA - 13 Jan 1849. For troops who engaged with the Sikh army near Chilianwala, under the command of Lord Gough. Over 21,000 issued with 4,300 to British and the remaining to Indian Troops.

 

GOOJERAT - 21 Feb 1849. For troops under the command of Lord Gough that defeated the Sikh army at Goojerat. Almost 33,000 of these were issued, over 6,000 to British forces and the rest to Indian troops. 

 

 

 

FRONT:

Courtesy of Daniel Griffin

 

BACK:

Courtesy of Daniel Griffin

 

 

If you have one of these medals to show, a picture of a soldier wearing it, or a story about this medal being awarded/earned . . . please feel free to share it here!