Meaning of “War Rewards to the Indian Army”?

[MaureenE]

I have come across a reference to a holding at the British Library

L/MIL/14/237-238 War Rewards to the Indian Army, 1915-1921

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/browse/r/17d18906-1157-45c9-9109-9a7235847999

IOR/L/MIL/14/237 1915-1919 War Rewards to the Indian Army. Printed roll of rewards and promotions appearing in the London Gazette and Gazette of India

Index

IOR/L/MIL/14/238 seems to be similar for the period Jan 1920-Nov 1921

What are "war rewards"? Is this a list of honours/medals or something different?

There is a another catalogue reference OR/L/MIL/17/5/2417. List of honours awarded to the Indian Army August 1914 to August 1921. Calcutta: AG in India for Indian War Memorial. Committee, 1931.

This is a reference to a printed publication in what was previously the Military Library. (India Office)

Would these references in practical terms be the same? Or could there be differences? (The end date seems slightly different)

Cheers

Maureen

[Steven Broomfield]

I don't know, but could it also refer to grants of land made to men whose service was deemed deserving? Plus, of course, awards of titles such as Bahadur or Sardar Bahadur.

[Sepoy]

There is a another catalogue reference OR/L/MIL/17/5/2417. List of honours awarded to the Indian Army August 1914 to August 1921. Calcutta: AG in India for Indian War Memorial. Committee, 1931.

This is a reference to a printed publication in what was previously the Military Library. (India Office)

This particular publication was re-printed by John Hayward during the 1980s and can still be found on Abe Books, etc. Medal dealer, Chris Dixon also has copies in stock at a reasonable price. See here:-

https://www.dixonsmedals.co.uk/honours-awards-indian-army-1914-1921-p-1004413.html

My own copy is now very well thumbed and full of annotations!

Sepoy

[Steven Broomfield]

Thanks, Sepoy. £12.00 + P&P. Not bad. Copy ordered.

[MaureenE]

Thanks both for your comments.

I have since come across a couple of search results which suggest that war rewards could be either promotions (or related) or money, so perhaps Steven's suggestion could be applicable.

*1901 House of Commons question titled: Army Service Corps—War Rewards. HC Deb 12 August 1901

MR. CHANGING (Northamptonshire, E.) I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it is proposed to reward by a step in rank or otherwise the warrant and non-commissioned officers of the Army Service Corps who have gained distinction in the war and received special mention in despatches.

*LORD STANLEY Yes, Sir, as far as possible.

*https://archive.org/stream/indiain19221923031956mbp#page/n68/mode/1up {Bottom of the page) Honorary King's Commissions granted to Indian officers holding the Viceroy's Commission in the Indian Army "mainly as war rewards". From India In 1922-1923

*http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/45497486 Newspaper article August 1919 titled: General Birdwood His Recent War Reward Is Regarded As Inadequate.

So perhaps the information contained in the India Office record L/MIL/14/237-238 War Rewards to the Indian Army, 1915-1921 could be different to the Information in the book quoted by Sepoy Honours and Awards Indian Army 1914 – 1921

Cheers

Maureen