Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-58, with clasp, 'Defence of Lucknow', awarded to Apothecary Edwin Debrosses, Indian Medical Department
Silver, circular campaign medal with, on the obverse, a portrait of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem, with the inscription, 'Victoria Regina'. On the reverse is a robed figure of Britannia, wearing a helmet, holding a wreath and shield with a lion by her side. Above is the word 'India', while below are the dates, '1857-1858'. The medal is suspended on a red and white striped ribbon. The obverse of this medal was designed by William Wyon, Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint from 1828, and the reverse by his son Leonard Charles Wyon who also worked at the Royal Mint.
Debrosses was a 15 year-old student at La Martinière College in Lucknow when the rising began. The insurgents soon occupied his school, but the pupils escaped to the Residency where they assisted in its defence. After the rising, all the masters and boys received the Mutiny Medal for their services. The school still functions today under the name of La Martinere Boys' College.
The Indian Mutiny Medal was approved in 1858 and awarded to officers and men of British and Indian units who served during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). Qualification was widened to civilian and judiciary participants in 1868. The clasp 'Defence of Lucknow' was awarded to the defenders of Lucknow and the relief force led by Sir Henry Havelock, encompassing the dates 29 June 1857 to 22 November 1857.
NAM Accession Number
NAM. 1962-11-217-1
Copyright/Ownership
National Army Museum Copyright
Location
National Army Museum, Study collection
Object URL
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1962-11-217-1
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