Afghanistan Medal (United Kingdom)
Afghanistan Medal | ||
---|---|---|
Clasps Ali Musjid | Peiwar Kotal Charasia Kabul Ahmed Khel Kandahar | |
Established | 19 March 1881 | |
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Related | Kabul to Kandahar Star |
The Afghanistan Medal, sanctioned on 19 March 1881, was awarded to members of the British and Indian armies who served in Afghanistan between 1878 and 1880 during the Second Afghan War, the first war being from 1839 to 1842.
The war was caused by British fears of increasing Russian involvement in Afghan affairs. In 1877 the Afghan Amir refused to accept a British
Medals awarded to the
When the first phase of the war ended in May 1879, it was proposed that the India General Service Medal be issued with clasps for Afghanistan, Ali Musjid and Peiwar Kotal. However, when the war recommenced in September 1879, it was decided to award a distinct medal to cover the whole campaign.[4]
Description
The Afghanistan Medal is a circular silver medal, 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter, with the following design:[5]
- The obverse shows a veiled effigy of Queen Victoria, facing left, with "VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX" around the edge.
- The reverse shows marching and mounted soldiers with arms with an elephant carrying a cannon. In the upper-left of the medal around the edges is "AFGHANISTAN" and on the bottom in a straight line is "1878-79-80"
- The medal hangs from a plain suspender which is attached to the medal with a double toe claw. The ribbon is 33 millimetres (1.3 in) wide and is dark green with broad crimson edges.
- The recipient's rank, name and unit are engraved on the rim of the medal.
- Plain silver clasps were awarded and are found as follows:
- "ALI MUSJID" (21 November 1878)
- "PEIWAR KOTAL" (2 December 1878)
- "CHARASIA" (6 October 1879)
- "KABUL" (10–23 December 1879)
- "AHMED KHEL" (19 April 1880)
- "KANDAHAR" (1 September 1880)
The maximum number of clasps awarded to any one man was four.[3]
The medal was awarded without a clasp to those who saw service in Afghanistan between 22 November 1878 – 26 May 1879, or 3 September 1879 – 20 September 1880, but did not take part in these major actions.[6]
See also
- British campaign medals
- Second Afghan War
- Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan (Post 2001)
Notes
Bibliography
- Dorling, Captain H. Taprell. (1956) Ribbons and Medals. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London, UK.
- Duckers, P. (2000) British Campaign Medals 1815–1914. Shire Publications Limited, Buckinghamshire, UK.
- Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. (1988) British Battles and Medals. Spink & Son, London, UK.
- Mayo, John Horsley. (1897). Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Volume II. A. Constable & Co, London, UK.
- Mussel, J (eds). (2015) Medals Yearbook – 2015. Token Publishing Limited, Devon, UK.
- Roberts, Field Marshal Lord. (1897). Forty-one Years in India. Richard Bentley & Son, London, UK.