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Maker(s):

London; mint
Victoria (1837-1901); ruler; struck in the name of; Queen of Great Britain 1837-1901
Wyon, William; artist
Victoria vindex; ruler; with the title of

Name(s):

Ghuznee & Cabul Medal; denomination
medals; Series
Military; subseries
Britain; subsubseries
British Army; subsubsubseries

Date:

1842

Description:

The First Afghan War of 1839 had culminated in the British restoration of the Shah Shujah al-Mulk, a situation which caused his dissatisfied people to rise in revolt in 1841. The murder of the British envoy provoked an initial evacuation of the British garrison, most of which was massacred on its march back to India, and a response in force for whose three battles variant medals were awarded.
This is the award for participation in the sieges of the mountain pass fortress of Ghazni and the Afghan capital of Kabul. Despite a bloody suppression of the revolt here, it was decided by the East India Company (in the light of the murder of the Shah meanwhile) that it was no longer profitable to occupy the country, and British forces withdrew until 1879.
This medal was awarded to Gunner J. Mason, of the 1st Troop of the Horse Brigade of the Bombay Artillery. Lester Watson purchased it at some point before 1928.

Production
Place (legacy):

London, mint, place

Production
Note:

engraved in running script

Technique:

struck

Material:

silver

Dimension(s):

weight, 31.88, g
diameter, 35.8, mm

Acquisition:

loan; 2005; Cambridge in America

Inscription(s):

design; obverse; VICTORIA VINDEX; Bust of Victoria facing left
design; reverse; One word of inscription each left and right with laurel wreath surround for each, crown above, year below

Alternative
Number(s):

Watson Catalogue; 4
ordering; M-0004

Documentation:

Hayward, John (author, C20th). Birch, Diana. Bishop, Richard. 2006. British Battles and Medals 7th edn.London: Spinkp. 209-210, 213-214, 215

British and other Campaign and Gallantry Medals From the Collection of Lester Watson (d. 1959).
Afghanistan (Ghuznee, Cabul 1842); Gunner J. Mason, 1st Troop Horse Bgde., Bombay, Art.

Accession:

Object Number: LW.0004
(Coins and Medals)
(record id: 141215; input: 2007-03-27; modified: 2009-11-23)

Permanent
Identifier:

http://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/141215