The following took part in the defence: Sir George Robertson, K.C., S.I., and 6 officers; Surgeon-Captain H. F. Whitchurch, 90 of the 14th Sikhs, 300 of the 16th Punjabis, and 4th Kashmir Rifles, assisted by about 40 servants and followers, who likewise received the India Medal 1895, with bar for the DEFENCE OF CHITRAL 1895. It is noteworthy that the new medal is thicker than the one it replaced, and weighs 1¼ oz. instead of 1 oz.
The India Medal, 1895.—For the Defence and Relief of Chitral it was decided to issue a new India medal, and as a result that illustrated facing page [192] was designed "to commemorate the military operations in, and on the frontier of, India, and to be in future known as 'The India Medal 1895.'" The bars are the same in design as those used on the old India medal.
In 1898 another bar was awarded to those who had taken part in the operations on the North-West Frontier between June 10th, 1897, and April 6th, 1898, and to those who formed the Tirah expeditionary force which proceeded beyond Kohat or Peshawar between October 1897 and April 6th, 1898. This bar was inscribed PUNJAB FRONTIER 1897-8. In 1897, as a result of the efforts of fanatical priests, the hillmen in the Tochi Valley made an attack upon a British officer and his escort, and then, following an outbreak in the Swat Valley, Malakand was attacked by thousands of the natives, but through the gallant efforts of the little garrison the place was held until the arrival of the relieving force. The troops who took part in the defence and relief of Malakand and Chakdara received the bar inscribed MALAKAND 1897. During the same year it was found necessary to again take up arms against the Pathan Meeranzies, and the troops engaged received the bar for SAMANA 1897. In August 1897 the Afridis, Mohmands, and Orakzais combined against the British, and troops were sent to the frontier. That portion of the Tirah expeditionary force which was also engaged beyond Kohat and Peshawar, likewise the Kurram Movable Column and the Peshawar Column, between October 1897 and the early part of April 1898, received the bar for the TIRAH 1897-98. This campaign is made famous by the storming of the heights of Dargai, and the coolness of Piper Findlater of the Gordon Highlanders, who continued to play his pipes when a bullet had crippled him. He was awarded the V.C.
The following troops were engaged in the various forces employed: the Mohmand Field Force comprised, in the 1st Brigade, 2nd Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; 1st Punjab Infantry; 1st Sikhs; 33rd Bengal Infantry; 2nd Company of the Bengal Sappers and Miners; 6 guns of the Peshawar Battery, and a detachment of the Hospital Staff. The 2nd Brigade included the Somerset Light Infantry; 3rd Batt. Rifle Brigade; 6th Bengal Infantry; 14th Sikhs; 25th Punjab Infantry; a squadron of the 1st Punjab Cavalry; 13th Bengal Lancers; 4 guns of the 6th Bombay Mountain Battery, and 51st Field Battery.
The Malakand Field Force comprised, in the 1st Brigade, 1st Somerset Light Infantry; 2nd Batt. 1st Goorkas, and the 21st Bengal Infantry. The 2nd Brigade included 2nd Oxfordshire Light Infantry; a regiment of the Imperial Service Troops; 9th Goorkas; 37th Bengal Infantry; 28th Bombay Infantry; two squadrons 11th Bengal Lancers, and the 13th Bengal Lancers; 3rd Mountain Battery of the R.A.; No. 5 Bombay Mountain Battery; No. 8 Bengal Mountain Battery; No. 4 and No. 5 Companies Bengal Sappers and Miners. The 3rd Brigade consisted of 1st Royal West Surrey Regiment; two squadrons of the 4th Dragoon Guards and 11th Hussars; K Battery Royal Horse Artillery; No. 1 Mountain Battery R.A.; 22nd and 39th Bengal Infantry; No. 3 Company Bengal Sappers and Miners; two squadrons of the 11th Bengal Lancers.
The Samana Force comprised, in the 1st Brigade, 1st Royal West Kent Regiment; 24th and 31st Punjab Infantry; 45th Sikhs. Included in the 2nd Brigade were 1st Buffs; 35th Sikhs; 38th Dogras; Guides Infantry; two squadrons 11th Bengal Lancers; 5th Bengal Mounted Battery; 5th Company of Bengal Sappers and Miners. The 3rd Brigade was made up of 1st Batt. Queen's; No. 1 Battery R.A.; 22nd Punjab Infantry; 38th Bengal Infantry; 39th Gahrwalis; 3rd Company Bengal Sappers and Miners; half company of Madras Sappers; a squadron of the 10th Bengal Lancers, and 2 of the 11th.
The Tirah Field Force was made up of two divisions of two brigades each. The 1st Division comprised: 2nd Devons; 2nd Yorkshire Regiment; 1st Royal West Surrey; 2nd Royal Irish; No. 1 Mountain Battery R.A.; 2nd Batt. 1st Goorkas; 2nd Batt. 4th Goorkas; 3rd Sikh Infantry; 28th Bombay Infantry; 30th Bengal Infantry; Kapurthala Infantry; two squadrons of 18th Bengal Cavalry; No. 1 Kohat Mountain Battery; No. 2 Derajat Mountain Battery; 3rd and 4th Companies Bombay Sappers and Miners; Maler Kotla Sappers. The 2nd Division included: 1st Gordons; 1st Dorsets; 1st Northamptons; 2nd King's Own Borderers; Nos. 8 and 9 Batteries R.A.; 1st Batt. 2nd and 3rd Goorkas; 36th Bengal Infantry; Jhind Infantry; 21st Madras Infantry; two squadrons 18th Bengal Lancers; No. 4 Company Madras Sappers and Miners; Sirmoor Sappers.
The lines of communication were kept by the 22nd and 39th Bengal Infantry; 2nd Batt. 2nd Goorkas; 2nd Punjab Infantry; 3rd Bengal Cavalry; Jeypore and Gwalior Transport Corps.
The Kurram Column consisted of: 4 guns 3rd Field Battery R.A.; 12th Bengal Infantry; Nabha Infantry; Central India Horse; 6th Bengal Cavalry.
The Peshawar Column was composed of: 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; 2nd Oxford Light Infantry; 3rd Mountain Battery R.A.; 57th Field Battery R.A.; 9th and 45th Bengal Infantry; 9th Bengal Cavalry; No. 5 Company Bengal Sappers and Miners.