Item number: M232

Year: AD 1918-1934

Material: Silver

The results after XRF testing

Size: 103.3 x 36.2 x 3.1 mm

Weight: 50.15 g

Provenance: Aberdeen Medals 2024

This medal was issued under Army Order No. 3 of AD 1923 to recognise service personnel stationed outside the frontiers of India as well as in regions outside East Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa. In addition to the Army and Air Force, local forces, including the police and the Indian military before AD 1947, were also eligible to receive this medal. Its value is comparable to the Naval General Service Medal issued from AD 1915 to AD 1962, and both were ultimately superseded by the General Service Medal of AD 1962.

The medal is circular in shape, featuring a straight bar with ornate vine patterns, which connects to a ribbon. The ribbon is purple on both sides with a green centre and includes clasps inscribed with “Iraq” and “Kurdistan.” Issued between AD 1918 and AD 1962, the General Service Medal was accompanied by various clasps based on service location and operation, with a total of 18 different clasps:

The obverse of the medal features a left-facing effigy of King George V, with the Latin inscription “GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:” around the edge, which translates to “George V: King of all the British Isles and Emperor of India” in English. Compared to the General Service Medal of the second type issued between AD 1934 and AD 1936, this effigy is simpler, depicting the king without a crown and royal robes, and the inscribed text differs slightly. The differences are summarised in the following table:

The reverse side of the medal features a winged Victor wearing a Corinthian helmet and holding a trident. The victor is depicted standing, placing a laurel wreath on a sword representing the army and wings symbolising the air force. At the Victor’s feet, the initials ” EC^RP ” are inscribed, denoting the designer Edward Carter Preston.

The edge of the medal is inscribed with the recipient’s name and service number: “5635 Rfmn. Dhane Gharti. 1-3-Gurkha R.” The recipient is a Nepalese Gurkha soldier who practises Hinduism and served in the 1st Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles of the British Indian Army, holding the rank of Rifleman.

The campaigns in the Kurdistan and Iraq regions primarily stemmed from promises made by the Allied Powers during World War I, which assured Kurdish independence after the war. However, Britain and France secretly signed the Sykes-Picot Agreement to divide Western Asia. In the British-controlled areas, Kurdish leaders began an uprising against British rule in AD 1919. The Kurds launched multiple revolts and even established the Kingdom of Kurdistan, but these efforts were ultimately suppressed by the British.

物件編號: M232

年代: 公元 1918-1934 年

材質: 銀

XRF分析：

尺寸: 103.3 x 36.2 x 3.1 mm

重量: 50.15 g

來源: 亞伯丁獎章 2024

這枚獎章根據公元1923年第三號陸軍令所發行，以表彰在印度邊境以及東非、西非和中非地區以外的服役人員。除了陸軍與空軍外，包括警察在內的地方部隊，以及公元1947年前的印度軍隊也可以獲得該獎章。其價值等同於公元1915年到公元1962年發行的海軍一般服務獎章，最終皆被公元1962年的一般服務獎章取代。

獎章外觀為圓形，以帶有點壯與藤蔓花紋的直桿懸掛銜接綬帶。綬帶配色兩側為紫色中間為綠色，附有「伊拉克」和「庫德斯坦」兩種銘牌。在公元1918年到公元1962年發行的一般服務獎章皆附有銘牌，而且依據不同服役地點與項目製作了18個銘牌，分別為:

獎章正面是喬治五世左側肖像，邊緣鐫刻一圈拉丁銘文「GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP: 」；中文則為「喬治五世：不列顛群島的國王和印度的皇帝」。相較於公元1934年到公元1936年發行的喬治五世第二型的一般服務獎章，肖像樣式更為簡單，沒有配戴皇冠與皇袍，鐫刻的文字也略有不同，將差異處整理為下表：

獎章背面的圖案為戴著科林斯式的頭盔、手持三叉戟擁有雙翅的勝利者，以站立的姿勢為身旁代表陸軍的劍和象徵空軍的翅膀戴上桂冠。

獎章的側緣則雕刻著獲獎人的姓名和部隊番號「5635步兵 達內．加爾蒂 1-3廓爾喀步兵團」。受獎者為一名尼泊爾廓爾喀族的士兵，信仰印度教，在英屬印度陸軍第1廓爾喀步兵團第3營服役，軍銜為「步兵」。

有關庫德斯坦與伊拉克地區的相關戰役，主要是源自於一戰期間，協約國曾許諾戰爭後允許庫德斯坦獨立，但英國與法國卻秘密簽署「塞克斯-皮科特協議」對西亞進行瓜分。在英國控制區的庫德領導人於公元1919年起義抗英，後庫德人多次發起抗爭甚至建利庫德斯坦王國，但最終還是被英國鎮壓。