This is a miniature Army of India Medal, also known as the First India Medal.
The obverse of the medal bears a left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria. Her hair is gathered into a chignon bound by two fillets, with a single curl falling from the knot. At the hairline on the forehead she wears, in the manner of a diadem, the front portion of the George IV State Diadem worn at the coronation of King George IV, the rear portion having been omitted through artistic stylisation. The portrait continues the design created by the engraver William Wyon for the commemorative medal of Queen Victoria’s accession in AD 1837, itself inspired by Antonio Canova’s sculpture Fountain Nymph. At the neckline appears the inscription “W. WYON · RA”, identifying the designer as William Wyon, then Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint. Around the portrait is the legend “VICTORIA REGINA”, meaning “Queen Victoria”. The obverse design is identical to that of the China War Medal issued from AD 1843 onwards.
The reverse depicts a seated full-length figure of the goddess Victory, shown in left profile with her wings folded and hanging down. In her left hand she holds a laurel wreath, and in her right an olive branch; beneath her is a lotus leaf. In front of the goddess stands a palm tree, while various weapons such as blades and shields are scattered at her feet. Around the upper edge of the reverse runs the inscription “TO THE ARMY OF INDIA”, and at the lower edge is the date range “1799–1826”, indicating the period of the relevant campaigns.
The ribbon is of alternating blue and white, overall a pale blue tone, conveying a restrained and simple appearance. This ribbon is specific to the Army of India Medal and denotes service in a series of military operations in South Asia between AD 1799 and 1826.
The suspension is floral design, clawed, swivel scroll, a form reused from that first adopted by the British Army on the Sutlej Campaign Medal from AD 1846 onwards.
The First Anglo-Burmese War (AD 1824–1826) was the first large-scale conflict among the three Anglo-Burmese wars fought in the nineteenth century between the British East India Company and the Konbaung dynasty of Burma. It was also one of the longest and most costly military conflicts in the history of British India. The war arose primarily from Burmese expansion along the north-eastern frontier of India, leading to territorial, commercial, and political frictions with British India in regions such as Assam, Manipur, Cachar, and Arakan. These tensions were compounded by British commercial interests in opening new markets and by British concerns over possible French assistance to Burma, ultimately resulting in open hostilities. Fighting began in AD 1824, when Burmese forces under the command of Maha Bandula advanced into British-held Assam. Benefiting from concentrated elite forces and superior knowledge of the terrain, the Burmese initially achieved a series of victories.
The British therefore avoided unfavourable terrain and shifted operations to Burmese territory. In May AD 1824, forces of the Indian Navy landed at Rangoon, taking the Burmese by surprise. Eventually, Bandula was killed in action, Burmese morale collapsed, and their forces were compelled to withdraw, enabling British troops to penetrate further inland.
A succession of defeats forced the Burmese court to recognise its inability to continue the war. British forces advanced towards the former capital, Amarapura, coming within less than 15 kilometres of the capital at Ava. With British troops at the gates, the Burmese king accepted British terms, and on 24 February AD 1826 signed the harsh Treaty of Yandabo. Under its provisions, Burma ceded extensive territories in the north-west and south-west, including Assam, Manipur, Arakan, and Tenasserim (modern Tanintharyi Region), relinquished control over border areas such as Cachar and Jaintia, paid a large indemnity, opened its ports to trade, and permitted the stationing of diplomatic representatives. The costs of war, demographic losses, and the burden of indemnities severely weakened Burma. After two subsequent, smaller Anglo-Burmese wars, Burma ultimately succumbed to British colonial rule.
Most participants in the conflict received the Burma Medal awarded by the East India Company. However, many naval personnel who had supported operations along the Irrawaddy River did not receive recognition until AD 1851, when they were awarded the Army of India Medal with the “Ava” clasp, issued by the East India Company with royal approval.
物件編號: M459
年代: 公元 1851 年
材質: 銀
來源: 克林獎章 2025
這是一枚印度陸軍獎章(Army of India Medal)的迷你版，亦稱第一印度獎章(First India Medal)。
獎章正面為維多利亞女王的左側肖像，頭髮以兩條髮帶(fillet)束成髮髻，一縷捲髮自髮髻垂落。前額髮際處以佩戴髮箍的方式佩戴喬治四世登基典禮所戴之喬治四世國冠(George IV State Diadem)的前半部，後半部因藝術化處理而消失。肖像設計延續了設計者威廉·威恩(William Wyon)於公元1837年為維多利亞女王登基而創作的紀念獎章，參考安東尼奧·卡諾瓦(Antonio Canova)的《噴泉仙女》(Fountain Nymph)雕像而製成。肖像頸線處有「W.WYON· RA」，標示設計者為當時皇家鑄幣廠首席雕刻師威廉·威恩。肖像左右環列「VICTORIA REGINA」，意即「維多利亞女王」。圖文設計與公元1843年起頒發的中國戰爭獎章相同。
獎章的背面中央為勝利女神左側全身坐像，雙翅收攏垂下。其左手持一月桂花冠，右手持一橄欖樹枝，座下置有蓮葉。在女神前方，有一棵棕櫚樹，腳邊還有不少刀械、盾牌等武器。獎章背面的上緣，環列「TO THE ARMY OF INDIA」，即「給印度陸軍」，底部並標示相關戰役的持續時間「1799-1826」。
