Medal for capture of Rodrigues, Isle of Bourbon and Isle of France facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Medal for capture of Rodrigues, Isle of Bourbon and Isle of France
This medal is shown on an old cigarette card.
Type	Campaign medal
Eligibility	EIC forces
Awarded for	Campaign service
Campaign(s)	Capture of islands of Rodrigues, Bourbon and Mauritius, 1809–10
Clasps	None
Statistics
Established	September 1811
This is the cord used to wear the medal.

The Medal for the capture of Rodrigues, Isle of Bourbon and Isle of France was a special award. It was given to native Indian soldiers. These soldiers served the East India Company (EIC). They helped capture three islands from French forces. These islands were Rodrigues, Bourbon, and Isle de France. The captures happened between July 1809 and December 1810.

What Was This Medal For?

During the Napoleonic Wars, France and Britain were often at war. French ships used their islands in the Indian Ocean to attack British trade ships. These British ships were sailing between Britain and India. To stop these attacks, the British decided to capture the French islands.

The Island Campaigns

The British operations involved the Royal Navy (their navy) and soldiers. These soldiers came from the British Army and the East India Company's armies. They captured several important islands:

• Rodrigues Island was captured in July 1809. This was a smaller operation. Only about 200 EIC troops were involved.
• The Isle of Bourbon (now Réunion) was taken in July 1810.
• The Isle de France (now Mauritius) was captured in November 1810. This was the largest battle. About 10,000 British and Indian soldiers took part.

Who Received the Medal?

The medal was created in September 1811. It was approved by Lord Minto. He was the Governor-General of India. The medals were made and given out in 1813. This medal was only for native Indian soldiers.

Soldiers from all three main Indian armies took part. These were the Bengal, Bombay, and Madras armies. However, only the Bengal army actually gave out the medals. A total of 2,201 medals were awarded.

• Indian officers received gold medals (45 were given).
• Other Indian soldiers received silver medals (2,156 were given).

European soldiers, including those from the British Army or Royal Navy, did not get this medal. Later, in 1847, new medals were created for British soldiers. But even then, those who fought in these Indian Ocean campaigns were not included.

What Did the Medal Look Like?

The medals were made at the Calcutta Mint. They were made in both gold and silver. Both types were about 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) across.

Front of the Medal

The front of the medal shows an Indian soldier, called a sepoy. He is standing in front of a large field gun. In his right hand, he holds a Union Jack, which is the British flag. In his left hand, he holds a musket with a bayonet attached. He is stepping on a French flag and a French Imperial Eagle. In the background, you can see British ships anchored. There are no words on the front of the medal.

Back of the Medal

The back of the medal has writing in Persian. This writing is inside a wreath design. It translates to: This medal was given to remember the bravery and loyalty shown by the Sepoys of the English Company when they captured the Mauritius Islands in the Hijri year 1226. Around the edge of the medal, outside the wreath, are English words: RODRIGUES VI JULY MDCCCIX. BOURBON VIII JULY & ISLE OF FRANCE III DEC. MDCCCX. This lists the islands and the dates they were captured. The medals were given out without names on them.

How It Was Worn

The medal had a flat loop at the top. A yellow cord passed through this loop. This allowed the medal to be worn around the neck.