India Medal 1895-1902 with 3 clasps awarded to 'Jimson' the mule

Silver medal with, on the obverse, a portrait of Queen Victoria wearing crown and veil, with the inscription, 'Victoria Regina et Imperatrix' (Victoria Queen and Empress). On the reverse, designed by George William De Saulles (1862-1903), the figures of an Indian sepoy and a British soldier holding a standard, with the inscription, 'India' and date '1895'. The campaign medal is suspended on a red and green striped ribbon, with three campaign clasps, 'Tirah 1897-98', Punjab Frontier 1897-1998' and 'Relief of Chitral 1995'.

'Jimson' was the mascot of the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment). Although there are a small number of horses known to have been given campaign medals for their war services, 'Jimson' is the only mule known to have had such an award. However, medals were never formally awarded to animals by the Army and this one is not inscribed with 'Jimson's' name. It is likely to have been obtained for him by the Middlesex Regiment or even from a soldier who was very fond of him.

The India Medal, introduced in 1896, replaced the India General Service Medal which had been awarded for various minor campaigns on the subcontinent since 1854. Clasps were awarded for the following engagements: 'Defence of Chitral 1895', 'Relief of Chitral 1895', 'Punjab Frontier 1897-98', 'Malakand 1897', 'Samana 1897', 'Tirah 1897-98', and 'Waziristan 1901-02'.