Original British 1895 India General Service Medal with campaign clasps for the Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, and Tirah 1897-98, officially engraved 1198 Sepoy Gokal 38th Bl Infy.
The India Medal was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, chiefly for service on the North-West Frontier during 1895 to 1902. This medal replaced the India General Service Medal (1854). Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon; seven were sanctioned.
The Tirah 1897-1898 Clasp was awarded To all troops forming part of the Tirah Expeditionary Force, including Kurram Moveable Column and Peshawar Column, who proceeded beyond either Kohat or Peshawar between 2nd October, 1897, and 31st January, 1898, inclusive.
The Samana 1897 Clasp was awarded to all troops forming part of the garrisons of, and present at, the posts on the Samana, and posts beyond Kohat, from Kohat to Parachinar between the 27th August, 1897 and the 2nd October, 1897, and to such troops who took part in subsequent action on the Samana up to 2nd October, 1897.
The Punjab Frontier 1897-1898 Clasp was awarded:
a. To all troops who proceeded beyond Edwardesabad between the 10th June, 1897, and the 30th January, 1898, inclusive.
b. To all troops beyond Jallala between the 26th July, 1897, and the 23rd January, 1898, inclusive.
c. To all troops present at the action of Shabkadar on the 9th August, 1897.
d. To all troops forming part of the Mohmand Field Force.
e. To all troops forming part of the garrison of, and present at Jamrud, Hari Singh-ka-Burj, Bara, and all outposts in the Peshawar Valley south of the line Jamrud-Peshawar between the 23rd August, 1897 and the 6th April, 1898.
f. To all troops forming part of the garrisons of, and present at the posts on the Samana, and posts beyond Kohat, from Kohat to Parachinar between the 27th August, 1897, and the 2nd October, 1897.
g. To all troops who took part in the action in the Ublan Pass on the 27th August, 1897, and subsequent actions on the Samana and beyond Kohat up to the 2nd October, 1897.
h. To all troops forming part of the Tirah Expeditionary Force, who proceeded beyond either Kohat or Peshawar between 2nd October, 1897, and the 6th April, 1898.
