Scarce India General Service Medal 1895-1902 with Two Clasps Awarded to Gunner Joseph More - 5th Company Western Division Royal Artillery - Rocket Section

Here on offer is a scarce silver India General Service Medal, 1895-1902 with two Clasps, the Punjab Frontier 1897-98 and the Tirah 1897-98.

It was awarded to 46329 Gunner Joseph More of the 5th Company, Western Division, Royal Artillery, Rocket Section.

This regiment was previously the Durham Artillery Volunteers and later Durham Territorial Royal Garrison Artillery. By 1890 the regiment consisted of eight batteries and their headquarters was in Sunderland.

The two clasps indicate that Joseph More was present during the operations on the Punjab Frontier and with the Tirah Field Force during 1897 to 1898.

The medal comes with a copy of his medal roll which confirms his entitlement to the award and clasps but also it states that he was part of the Rocket Section of the Royal Artillery.

Rockets were used in battle, since the Napoleonic wars, when they used the Congrave rocket.

During the 19th century the British army were firing the Hale rocket. An Englishman named William Hale was the first rocket designer to adopted a combination of tail fins and secondary nozzles through which exhaust could pass. Hale rockets became the first spin-stabilized rockets and quickly became standard equipment for both the United States and British armies, the latter especially in British colonial wars.

The rockets were carried in special sacks on the backs of mules and 24-pounder had an explosive warhead and could be useful for both anti-personnel use and bombardments of small structures.

Their average range was about 1,200 yards, though depending upon firing angle and other factors could range up to 4,000 yards.

This medal is in great condition, just showing light wear to the high points on the surface and very light edge dings.

The suspension bar clasp fixing hole is slightly higher on one side (as it was made) so it seems to hang at a very slight angle.

It has the correct engraved naming on the edge and both bars or clasps are fixed in the correct manner.

It comes suspended on a section of replacement ribbon along with a copy of his original medal roll.

The India Medal 1895 was instituted in 1896, initially as an award to the defenders and relievers of Chitral, but later extended to further Indian frontier campaigns and actions.

Issued in silver and bronze, this silver medal is 36mm diameter with a swivelling ornate suspender.

The obverse depicts the veiled and crowned bust of Queen Victoria and the legend:

VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX.

The reverse depicts an Indian and British Soldier supporting a Flag and the words:

INDIA 1895

The medal measures 1.4” (3.6cm) diameter and weighs 58g with the clasps.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Code: 51217