Ghuznee Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ghuznee Medal |
|
|---|---|
 
Obverse and reverse of the medal
|
|
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | British Army |
| Awarded for | Campaign service |
| Campaign(s) | Ghuznee 1839 |
| Description | Silver disk 37 mm wide |
| Clasps | None |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1839 |
 |
|
The Ghuznee Medal is a special award given to soldiers. It was created to honor those who took part in a big battle. This battle happened at a strong fortress called Ghuznee in Afghanistan. It took place from July 21 to 23, 1839. Soldiers from the British and Indian Armies fought bravely there. This event was part of a bigger conflict known as the First Anglo-Afghan War.
This medal was quite important. It was only the second time that all soldiers, no matter their rank, received a medal for a specific battle. The first time was for the Waterloo Medal. The Ghuznee Medal was first ordered by Shuja Shah Durrani, who was the Shah (or ruler) of Afghanistan. He wanted to thank the British forces for helping him get his throne back by capturing the fortress.
However, the Shah died before the medals could be given out. So, the Governor-General of India finally presented the medals. He did this on behalf of the Government of India, which was part of the British Raj (British rule in India).
Contents
What Does the Ghuznee Medal Look Like?
The Ghuznee Medal was designed by John Luard. He was a British army officer and also an artist. The medals were made at the Calcutta Mint in India. They are made of silver and are about 37 millimeters (or 1.4 inches) wide.
The Front and Back of the Medal
- The front of the medal shows a picture of the Ghuznee fortress. The word ‘GHUZNEE’ is written below it.
- The back of the medal has a special crown called a mural crown. This crown looks like a wall with towers. It is surrounded by a laurel wreath, which is a circle made of leaves. The date ’23d JULY 1839’ is also on the back.
The Ribbon and How It Hangs
The medal hangs from a straight bar. A ring goes through a smaller loop at the top of the medal. The ribbon has two equal stripes. One stripe is crimson (a deep red color), and the other is dark green. At first, the ribbon was planned to be half green and half yellow.
Most of these medals were given out without names on them. But many soldiers later had their names carved or stamped onto the back or edge of their medals. There are also two slightly different versions of the medal. One has a wider border around the edge. The other has a narrower and taller picture of the fortress.
Other Medals from the Afghan War
The Ghuznee Medal was one of four different medals given to British-led forces. These medals were for their service during the First Anglo-Afghan War, which lasted from 1839 to 1842.
- Ghuznee Medal: For the storming of Ghuznee fortress in July 1839.
- Jellalabad Medal: For defending the city of Jalalabad from November 1841 to April 1842.
- Medal for the Defence of Kelat-I-Ghilzie: For defending Kelat-I-Ghilzie from January to May 1842.
- Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal: For the major battles in 1842, which was the final year of the war.
Learn More
