This medal is a bronze specimen of the “Army of India Medal,” designed by William Wyon. The official version of the medal, made of silver, was officially established in AD 1851. This bronze medal served as a specimen and was never formally awarded to soldiers. The silver official medal was used to award soldiers involved in military operations in South Asia from AD 1799 to AD 1826.
On the obverse of the medal, there is a portrait of Queen Victoria in the centre, surrounded by the inscription “VICTORIA REGINA” (Queen Victoria). The reverse side features an image of the goddess Victory, holding a wreath in her left hand and a laurel branch in her right. In front of the goddess stands a palm tree, and at her feet lie various weapons such as swords and shields. The top edge of the reverse side bears the inscription “TO THE ARMY OF INDIA,” and the bottom is marked with the campaign duration “1799-1826.”
The medal’s ribbon predominantly features blue and white stripes, giving it a simple and unpretentious appearance. This type of ribbon was exclusively used for the Army of India Medal and was the dedicated ribbon for a series of military actions in South Asia from AD 1799 to AD 1826.
In the 19th century, South Asia was plagued by continuous warfare. After several battles, Britain gradually took control of India and even the entire South Asian region. From AD 1799 to AD 1826, Britain launched a series of military operations in present-day India, Nepal, and Myanmar.
In this period, there were a total of 21 battles, each associated with a distinct clasp, amounting to 21 different clasps in total. During this time, Britain dismantled the Maratha Empire in India and significantly impacted the Kingdom of Nepal and the Konbaung Dynasty in Myanmar.
The Army of India Medal, established in AD 1851, was ultimately awarded to only 4,500 recipients due to the limited number of surviving participants from those years of warfare. Moreover, given the numerous military actions covered by the medal, a recipient might have been awarded more than three clasps, although such instances were rare. In practise, most recipients were awarded only a single clasp.