India Service Medal 1939-45, specimen

Sanctioned by King George VI in June 1946, just over a year before Indian and Pakistani independence, this medal was awarded to British and Indian officers, warrant officers and other ranks of the Indian Forces and Indian Civil Defence Service for three years non-operational service in India or elsewhere between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945.

Those eligible for the medal included enrolled non-combatants and civilians in Military employ and Emergency Commissioned Officers and British other ranks of either the British or Indian Army, providing that they resided in India prior to 3 September 1939. It was not to be awarded to those who qualified for the Defence Medal.

The light blue of the ribbon represents the Order of the Star of India and the dark blue the Order of the Indian Empire.