yperman Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 I found in Peter Ducker's 'British Campaign Medals of the 1WW' that India's North West Frontier was a designated war zone for the purposes of issuing the GW Victory and 1914 Star medals. Can someone explain why this area in India qualified as part of the Great War (as opposed to Colonial campaigns)? Many thanks, Yperman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullybrone Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) Hi, Although I haven’t seen the full eligibility criteria recently I’ve always understood the 1914 Star was for service in France & Flanders only. The official U.K. Gov site does not cover the point you raise. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medals-campaigns-descriptions-and-eligibility The criteria for the 1914 and 1914/15 Star are here - https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/ww1_1914_mons_star_wwi.htm https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/ww1_1914_15_star_award.htm Edited 17 May , 2021 by tullybrone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 For the Victory Medal, the eligibility criteria is "In the frontier regions of India, carried out by Forces which actually took the field:—" There are then nine subcategories listed, with very defined areas and dates. https://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/_Master/docs/Imperial/WWI/WWI-criteria-Victory-Medal-1914-19-Australian-transcribed.pdf For the African Theatre the wording states "To include all operations as set forth below, but excluding local military operations against native tribes or rebels, for which the Africa General Service Medal is awarded...." Perhaps the actions in India were considered to be on a bigger scale than "local military operations against native tribes or rebels", or were considered more important from a strategic post of view, protecting the frontiers. Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yperman Posted 17 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Thank you both. Big (by North West Frontier standards) campaigns maybe - but the 1914 and 1915 ones don't seem to fit the presumably required presence of central powers (as at Tsing Tao) or Russian communist forces. It is curious isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajsmith Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 1 hour ago, yperman said: Big (by North West Frontier standards) campaigns maybe - but the 1914 and 1915 ones don't seem to fit the presumably required presence of central powers (as at Tsing Tao) or Russian communist forces. It is curious isn't it? The campaigns in the North West Frontier provinces during 1914-15 were considered to involve the Central Powers because they were supposed to have supplied arms to the rebellious tribesmen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 Was the Indian General Service Medal issued for any operations during WW1? RM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullybrone Posted 17 May , 2021 Share Posted 17 May , 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, rolt968 said: Was the Indian General Service Medal issued for any operations during WW1? RM Hi, Depending what you consider to be the end date of WW1 some of the campaigns that took place between 1919/21, for which the clasp was issued as shown in this list, could be considered to be “WW1 operations”. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_General_Service_Medal_(1909) Steve Edited 17 May , 2021 by tullybrone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 18 May , 2021 Share Posted 18 May , 2021 22 hours ago, tullybrone said: Hi, Although I haven’t seen the full eligibility criteria recently I’ve always understood the 1914 Star was for service in France & Flanders only. The War Office issued the Army Order covering this on 24 November 1917 Item 1 refers to services rendered under Sir John French "in France and Belgium during the earlier phase of the war in 1914, up to midnight 22/23 November, 1914." Signed by R. Brade by Command of the Army Council Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yperman Posted 18 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2021 23 hours ago, ajsmith said: The campaigns in the North West Frontier provinces during 1914-15 were considered to involve the Central Powers because they were supposed to have supplied arms to the rebellious tribesmen. And now I think of it the Germans attempted to encourage an Afghan rebellion against the British. Many thanks everyone. Yperman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James A Pratt III Posted 21 May , 2021 Share Posted 21 May , 2021 The Peter Hopkirk book "Like Hidden Fire" US title "On Secret Service East of Contaninople UK title deals with the German plans to start rebellions in India ect. The there is the Official History "Operations in Persia" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yperman Posted 26 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2021 On 21/05/2021 at 16:33, James A Pratt III said: The Peter Hopkirk book "Like Hidden Fire" US title "On Secret Service East of Contaninople UK title deals with the German plans to start rebellions in India ect. The there is the Official History "Operations in Persia" Now on my to buy list thanks! Yperman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaureenE Posted 27 May , 2021 Share Posted 27 May , 2021 Both the above are available online History of the Great War based on Official Documents: Operations in Persia 1914-1919 by Brigadier-General FJ Moberly in 1929 Qatar Digital Library. Download also available. Like Hidden Fire : the Plot to bring down the British Empire by Peter Hopkirk 1994 Archive.org Lending Library. Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yperman Posted 28 May , 2021 Author Share Posted 28 May , 2021 On 27/05/2021 at 01:01, Maureene said: Both the above are available online History of the Great War based on Official Documents: Operations in Persia 1914-1919 by Brigadier-General FJ Moberly in 1929 Qatar Digital Library. Download also available. Like Hidden Fire : the Plot to bring down the British Empire by Peter Hopkirk 1994 Archive.org Lending Library. Maureen Thank you very much. Yperman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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