Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-58, awarded to Major General George Connolly Ponsonby, Bengal Army

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.

George Connolly Ponsonby was born in Dublin on 9 February 1799. He was admitted as a cadet in 1819. Ponsonby was posted as a cornet to the 2nd Light Cavalry of the Bengal Army. He served in the Bhurtpore campaign (1824-1826), the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842) and the 2nd Sikh War (1848-1849). Rising through the ranks Ponsoby was commanding the Benares Brigade at the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). He married Harriet Milling, the daughter of a fellow officer, Captain Ford of the 16th Regiment, in Karnal on 30 August 1832. Ponsonby died of 'paralysis' on 3 June 1866 in Harrow.

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.