War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

Sikkim, 1888.—Another expedition into Sikkim became necessary in March 1888, owing to an attempt on the part of the Thibetans to annex the district which lies to the north of Darjeeling. The British field force under Colonel (afterwards General) T. Graham had to march over rough mountain tracks, and through dense jungle, where pestilent leeches, attaching themselves to man and beast, added to the hardships of the campaign. It was not until September 24th that any really big action was fought, and that was decisive; the Thibetan army of 10,000 men being attacked on the Tukola ridge, and within a short time totally routed by the British force of 2,000 with comparatively little loss to the victors.

The force engaged in this campaign was mainly composed of Goorkas, the 32nd Bengal Pioneers, and two companies of the 2nd Batt. Derbyshire Regiment. The bar for SIKKIM 1888 was added to the medal already won by those who had taken part in the Indian wars, and the medal with bar was granted to those who did not possess one. Bronze medals with the bar were awarded to authorised followers.

The Black Mountain Expedition.—In 1888 a punitive expedition under Brigadier-General M'Queen, C.B., was sent into the Hazara or Black Mountain district on the left bank of the Indus, beyond the north-west frontier of India, to punish Khan Khel and to chastise the Azakis and Hassanzais for the murder on June 18th of Major Battye, Captain Thurston, and a number of the native surveying party which they led. The district lies in a perfect maze of mountains, on the crags and precipices of which watch-towers and villages were perched, frequently 9,000 feet above sea-level; indeed, the Northumberland Fusiliers and the Kybeerees actually carried the Gorapher Peak 9,500 feet above sea-level, thus establishing a record in altitude for an assault by British troops. The expedition entered the district from two directions, and the fourth column concentrating on October 1st prepared to act on the offensive. On the 4th they proceeded against the enemy, who was found in great force—official figures say 4,000—at the village of Kotkai, which, built upon a great mass of broken rocks on a steep spur, was defended by well-built sangars, but this was taken after some hard fighting, in which the 18th Royal Irish met a charge of Ghazis, who rushed from cover and surprised the Irishmen, but they "went at them with a will, bayoneting or shooting every Ghazi within reach." In this rush 88 fanatics paid the penalty of their madness.

Leaving the 29th Punjab Infantry in possession of Kotkai as an advance post, the expedition pushed on and blew up the hill fortress of Maidan; meanwhile the other column had been pressing forward from the Agror Valley, climbing mountains and destroying watch-towers and hostile villages, so that the pressure of the two forces, together with the losses they had sustained, compelled the hillmen to sue for peace, promising better behaviour in the future, and paying the heavy indemnities imposed. In this campaign, which concluded on November 9th, the Hazara field force lost 2 officers mortally wounded, and about 100 men killed and wounded.

The following regiments were engaged in the Hazara or Black Mountain expedition: 1st Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers; 1st Batt. Suffolk Regiment; 2nd Batt. Royal Irish Regiment; 2nd Batt. Sussex Regiment; 2nd Batt. Seaforth Highlanders; 240 men of the Scottish Division Royal Artillery; 4th Goorkas; 3rd, 14th, and 45th Sikhs; 4th, 24th, and 29th Punjab Infantry; 4th Bengal Native Infantry; 34th Pioneers; 15th Bengal Cavalry, and a Native Mountain Battery.

Hazara, 1888.—To those not already in possession of the India medal it was awarded with the bar HAZARA 1888, while the bar was added to the medals of those who already possessed the I.G.S. 1854 medal. Bronze medals were awarded to the followers.

Chin-Lushai, 1889-90.—In February 1889 an attack was made upon another surveying party under Lieutenant Stewart, in which he and his men were killed. A punitive expedition was consequently formed to proceed against the tribes inhabiting the Chin Hills and Lushai. The expedition advanced on November 15th in two columns, Brigadier-General Symons proceeding against the Chin tribes, and Colonel Tregear against the Lushais. The little forces had to make their way through the roadless and pestilent jungle, which caused the troops much suffering from disease, until, having destroyed the enemy's villages and crops, and captured a few stockades, the chiefs of the tribes thought it expedient to submit, which they did, and on April 30th, 1890, the expedition was disbanded.

The following troops took part in the expedition: those under General Symons were the King's Own Scottish Borderers, detachments of the 1st Cheshire Regiment and the Norfolk Regiment, who with the 2nd Batt. 4th and 24th Goorkas, and two companies of the Queen's Own Madras Sappers and Miners, constituted the Burma Field Force. The native troops under Brigadier Tregear consisted of the 2nd Goorkas, 3rd and 9th Bengal Infantry, 28th Bombay Pioneers, and one company of Bengal Sappers and Miners. The India Medal 1854 with bar for CHIN-LUSHAI 1889-90 was given to those who did not already possess the medal, while to those already issued the bar was added. A bronze medal and bar was given to all authorised camp followers.

Samana, 1891.—The Meeranzies, a Pathan tribe, forgetful of the lesson given them by Sir Neville Chamberlain in 1855, again caused considerable trouble in 1891, and Sir William Lockhart marched from Kohat on April 5th to chastise them. Being defeated with considerable losses at Mastaon, they were glad to submit, and by May 25th the war was concluded, and native troops were left to garrison Samana. The British losses in this expedition were over 100 officers and men killed and wounded.