Scinde Medal


The Scinde Medal was authorised on 22 September 1843 and issued to soldiers of the Honourable East India Company, the 22nd Regiment of Foot of the British Army and members of the Indian Navy who manned the Indus Flotilla, who participated in Major General Sir Charles Napier's conquest of Scinde between 1842 and 1843.

History

Sir Charles Napier was sent to Scinde for the purpose of quelling the Amirs of Sindh, Mir Rustam Khan Talpur, Mir Nasir Khan Talpur and Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur. They had made various hostile demonstrations against the British government after the termination of the First Anglo-Afghan War, conducting frequent raids on British convoys travelling between India and Afghanistan. General Napier's campaign against these Amirs resulted, after the victories of Miani and Hyderabad, in the complete subjugation of the province of Sindh, and its annexation to the Bombay Presidency of the British Raj.

Description

The medal, designed by William Wyon, was a silver disc wide, with the following design:
Obverse: Left facing, diademed bust of Queen Victoria facing left with inscription VICTORIA REGINA.
Reverse: Three different versions were issued, all containing the name and year of the battle where the recipient was present, surrounded by a laurel wreath and surmounted by a crown:
Suspender: Straight Steel Clip and straight bar suspender. The suspenders on the medals issued to the 22nd Foot were replaced with silver ones at the expense of the unit's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Pennefather after they particularly distinguished themselves.
Ribbon: rainbow pattern watered red, white, yellow, white and blue.
Engraving: Impressed or engraved with recipient's name and regiment around the rim.