Ghuznee Medal
Encyclopedia
The Ghuznee Medal is a British campaign medal
that was awarded for participation in the storming of the fortress of Ghuznee
in Afghanistan, on 21 to 23 July 1839. This action, the Battle of Ghazni
, took place during the First Anglo-Afghan War
.
This was the second medal awarded to all ranks of the British Army
for a specific campaign, the Waterloo Medal
being the first. It was struck in 1839 on the orders of Shuja Shah Durrani
, the Shah of Afghanistan, to show his appreciation to the British forces who had restored him to his throne by storming the fortress.
and the date ’23 JULY 1839’. The suspender is straight with a ring passing through a smaller loop sweated to the top of the medal. Two separate dies exist for this medal with one having a wider border around the edge than the other. The second also has a narrower and taller fortress. The medal was issued un-named but many were later privately engraved or impressed in varying styles on the reverse or rim.
British campaign medals
British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces and civilians participating in specified military campaigns...
that was awarded for participation in the storming of the fortress of Ghuznee
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
in Afghanistan, on 21 to 23 July 1839. This action, the Battle of Ghazni
Battle of Ghazni
The Battle of Ghazni took place in city of Ghazni in central Afghanistan on July 23, 1839 during the First Anglo-Afghan War.-Prelude:...
, took place during the First Anglo-Afghan War
First Anglo-Afghan War
The First Anglo-Afghan War was fought between British India and Afghanistan from 1839 to 1842. It was one of the first major conflicts during the Great Game, the 19th century competition for power and influence in Central Asia between the United Kingdom and Russia, and also marked one of the worst...
.
This was the second medal awarded to all ranks of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
for a specific campaign, the Waterloo Medal
Waterloo Medal
The Waterloo Medal was awarded to any soldier of the British Army who took part in one or more of the following battles: Battle of Ligny , Battle of Quatre Bras , and the Battle of Waterloo ....
being the first. It was struck in 1839 on the orders of Shuja Shah Durrani
Shuja Shah Durrani
Shuja Shah Durrani was ruler of the Durrani Empire from 1803 to 1809. He then ruled from 1839 until his death in 1842. Shuja Shah was of the Sadozai line of the Abdali group of Pashtuns...
, the Shah of Afghanistan, to show his appreciation to the British forces who had restored him to his throne by storming the fortress.
Description
The obverse depicts the fortress of Ghuznee with the word ‘GHUZNEE’ below, while the reverse has a mural crown surrounded by a laurel wreathLaurel wreath
A laurel wreath is a circular wreath made of interlocking branches and leaves of the bay laurel , an aromatic broadleaf evergreen. In Greek mythology, Apollo is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head...
and the date ’23 JULY 1839’. The suspender is straight with a ring passing through a smaller loop sweated to the top of the medal. Two separate dies exist for this medal with one having a wider border around the edge than the other. The second also has a narrower and taller fortress. The medal was issued un-named but many were later privately engraved or impressed in varying styles on the reverse or rim.