BRITISH INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 5th PUNJAB REG

The Indian General Service Medal (1908 IGSM) was a campaign medal approved on 1 January 1909, for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies. From 1919, it was also awarded to officers and men of the Royal Air Force, with the Waziristan 1925 clasp awarded solely to the RAF. Clasps: The 1909 IGSM was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India from 1908 to 1935. Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon; 12 were sanctioned. North West Frontier 1908 Abor 1911–12 Afghanistan NWF 1919 Mahsud 1919–20 Waziristan 1919–21 Malabar 1921–22 Waziristan 1921–24 Waziristan 1925 North West Frontier 1930–31 Burma 1930–32 Mohmand 1933 North West Frontier 1935 Description: The medal is 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter. It was struck at both the Calcutta and London mints, for Indian and British forces respectively. For early campaigns it was awarded in silver to combatants and in bronze to native bearers and servants. From 1919 onwards all awards were in silver. The obverse shows the reigning monarch facing left with a suitable inscription. There are three versions: King Edward VII 1908-10 EDWARDVS VII KAISAR-I-HIND - King Edward VII 1908-10 - EDWARDVS VII KAISAR-I-HIND. The reverse depicts Jamrud Fort at the Khyber Pass with the word ‘India’ below between a wreath of oak and olive branches. The ribbon, 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide, was green with a broad blue central stripe. From 1920, those mentioned in despatches in a campaign for which the medal was awarded could wear a bronze oakleaf on the medal ribbon. The name and details of the recipient are engraved on the edge of the medal "2454 Sepoy Milerab Din 5th Pjb Regt.'' Early historyThe regiment was raised on 18 May 1849 by Captain JE Gastrell at Leiah as part of the Transfrontier Brigade. In 1851, the brigade was expanded and redesignated as the Punjab Irregular Force, which later became famous as the Punjab Frontier Force or The Piffers. The Piffers consisted of five regiments of cavalry, eleven regiments of infantry and five batteries of artillery besides the Corps of Guides. Their mission was to maintain order on the Punjab Frontier; a task they performed with great aplomb. The 5th Punjab Infantry took part in numerous frontier operations besides the Great Indian Mutiny of 1857–58, when it operated in Oudh and Nepal. During the Second Afghan War of 1878–80, the regiment fought in the Battle of Peiwar Kotal and took part in the defence of Sherpur Cantonment at Kabul. In 1897, it took part in the Tirah Campaign. 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force): Subsequent to the reforms brought about in the Indian Army by Lord Kitchener in 1903, the regiment's designation was changed to 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force). In 1914, the regiment's class composition was three companies each of Pathans and Sikhs, and one company each of Dogras and Punjabi Muslims. During the First World War, the regiment served on the Western Front in 1914–15, fighting in the Battles of Givenchy-les-la-Bassee, Neuve Chapelle, Aubers Ridge and Loos. In 1915, it served in Egypt moving to Palestine in 1917, where it fought in the Third Battle of Gaza, the Battle of Nebi Samwil and the Capture of Jerusalem. In 1918, it fought in the Battle of Megiddo, which led to the annihilation of Turkish Army in Palestine. Subsequent History: After the First World War, the 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force) was grouped with the 55th, 57th, 59th, and the two battalions of 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force) to form the 13th Frontier Force Rifles in 1922. The 58th Vaughan's Rifles became 5th Battalion of the new regiment. During the Second World War, the battalion served in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, North Africa and Italy. In 1947, the Frontier Force Rifles was allotted to Pakistan Army. In 1948, 5 FF Rifles fought in the Kashmir War against India. In 1956, the Frontier Force Rifles and the Pathan Regiment were merged with the Frontier Force Regiment, and 5 FF Rifles was redesignated as 10 FF. During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the battalion fought in the Battle of Khem Karan in the Kasur Sector. Genealogy: 1849 5th Regiment of Punjab Infantry 1851 5th Regiment of Infantry, Punjab Irregular Force 1865 5th Regiment of Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force 1901 5th Punjab Infantry 1903 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force) 1922 5th Battalion (Vaughan's) 13th Frontier Force Rifles 1945 5th Battalion (Vaughan's) The Frontier Force Rifles 1956 10th Battalion The Frontier Force Regiment