Medal Rolls

The medals article has details of medals awarded for various military campaigns. Most of the nominal medal rolls for these awards are at the British Library. Many of the rolls are reprinted in books on the open access shelves. Details of the India Office Records' reference numbers can be found at Your Archives - Medal Rolls in the India Office Library.

FIBIS resources

• Medal roll transcriptions:
  • China Campaign, 1842 (Madras Artillery & Staff only) - 495 recipients of the medal for the 1st China War.
  • Indian Mutiny Medal Roll (British Forces) 1857-1859 Over 50,000 names of British Army soldiers awarded medals after the Indian Mutiny, transcribed by Kevin Asplin.
• Online books
  • Deeds of Valour Performed by Indian Officers and Soldiers during the period from 1860 to 1925 by P P Hypher, Army Department 1927 printed at Simla, is available to read on the FIBIS database as pdf files. Pages to 228 are available. These appear to cover the period to 1913. The years 1914-1925 are not available on the FIBIS database. Total pages c 500. Available at the British Library IOR/L/MIL/17/5/4321.

See also

• Victoria Cross

The National Archives, Kew, England

Research Guides

• Medals, British armed services: campaign medals and other service medals. (Guide reference: Military Records Information 76)
• Medals, British armed services: gallantry medals. (Guide reference: Military Records Information 77)
• Medals, British armed services: gallantry medals, further information. (Guide reference: Military Records Information 78)
• Merchant seamen’s medals and honours
  • Merchant seamen’s campaign medal records 1914-1918. Contains a Search facility.

WO 100 Medal Rolls

The National Archives records WO 100 Medal Rolls are available to download free of charge as pdfs. These records are available on the pay site Ancestry, (refer below) but those do not have access to Ancestry may find the downloads useful. They are large pdfs, which require a broadband connection . For full details refer the National Archives advice page Digital microfilm

The records are mainly in respect of British Army regiments, although there are some in respect of the Indian Army. Some medals do not appear to have rolls in the WO 100 records, and appear to be only available in the India Office records at the British Library, refer above.

The catalogue entry is WO 100 Campaign Medal and Award Rolls (General Series) The following subseries have been noted , following the order of the National Archive’s Discovery catalogue

• WO 100/13. Includes India Medal, 1803-26 and Punjab, 1848-49 in the one download.
• WO 100/19 1845-1879 Includes India. Possibly Royal Artillery
• WO 100/20. India, N.W. Frontier 1849-1863
• WO 100/21A India 1849-1866 for "Staff, 7th Hussars"
• WO 100/21B India - Chin and Kachin Hills clasp 1892-1893
• WO 100/35-39 Indian Mutiny 1857-1858
• WO 100/40-41 China 1842-1860
• WO 100/43 Abyssinia 1867-1868
• WO 100/51-53 Afghanistan 1878-1880
• WO 100/54 Includes Afghanistan 1878-1890
• WO 100/69-70 Burma 1885-1887
• WO 100/73 Burma 1887-1889
• WO 100/74 Hazara 1888, Sikkim 1888, Chin-Lughai 1888-1890
• WO 100/75 India - Burma and Lushai 1889-92, Hazara 1891, Manpur 1891, Miranzai 1891, Waziristan 1894-1902
• WO 100/78 Chitral 1895
• WO 100/84-89 India 1897-1898
• WO 100/94-99 China 1900
• WO 100/111 1897-1902 Includes Delhi Durbar
• WO 100/296-298 Queen's South Africa: Indian Army 1899-1902
• WO 100/369 King's South Africa: Indian Army 1899-1902
• WO 100/386 China 1900
• WO 100/395 Tibet 1903-1904
• WO 100/397 India General Service Medal Rolls 1909-1912 Clasp North West Frontier 1908 Clasp Abor 1911-1912
• WO 100/399 Delhi Durbar 1903
• WO 100/400 Delhi Durbar 1911
• WO 100/401 India General Service Medal with Clasp Waziristan 1921-1924. Medal roll for medals and clasps issued in India
• General Service Medals 1920-1935. Should include include Clasps Iraq 1919-1920, Kurdistan 1919 and 1923, North West Persia 1920 and South Persia 1918-1919
  • WO 100/411-419 General Service Medals (British Units)
  • WO 100/420-421 General Service Medals (British Officers)
  • WO 100/422- 463 General Service Medals (Indian Army)
  • WO 100/ 464-466 General Service Medals (Indian And Iraq Units)
• WO 100/467-493 India General Service Medals 1920-1935. May possibly include Afghanistan/NWF Clasp 1919
• WO 100/494-497 India General Service Medal 1930-1935 Clasps NWF 1930-31, Burma 1930-32 Mohmand 1933, NWF 1935
• WO 100/498-499 India General Service Medal 1936-1939 Clasp NWF 1936-37 Clasp NWF 1937-39

WO 102 Medal Rolls

The National Archives records Long Service and Good Conduct Awards, Registers: WO 102 are available to download free of charge as pdfs. The records are Registers of candidates noted for, and recipients of, the Long Service and Good Conduct awards between 1831 and 1953. They are large pdfs, which require a broadband connection . For full details refer the National Archives advice page Digital microfilm

• Transcription of the Long Service & Good Conduct medal register for the Royal Artillery (including RA, RFA, RGA & RHA) for 1902-12 . The List includes name, year of issue, rank and regimental number. The Asplin Military History Resources

ADM 171 Naval Medal Rolls

The National Archives records ADM 171 Admiralty, and Ministry of Defence, Navy Department: Medal Rolls 1793-1995 are available to download free of charge as pdfs. These records are available on the pay site Ancestry, (refer below) but those do not have access to Ancestry may find the downloads useful. They are large pdfs which require a broadband connection. For full details refer the National Archives advice page Digital microfilm

First World War

Medal Index Cards

• The National Archives research guide British Army medal index cards 1914-1920. Includes a Search facility, information about the medals and how to read the cards, and reference to the Indian Army Medal Index Cards, catalogue references WO 372/25 to WO 372/29, for the period to 31 December 1918. Note however, there are some Medal Index Cards relating to men in the Mesopotamian Railways, Indian Ordnance Department, Indian Mountain Artillery, and perhaps others, which are not specifically classified as Indian Army, and are catalogued outside this range.

• Images of the medal index cards are also available on the commercial site Ancestry. The Ancestry database also includes the back of the cards which sometimes contain information. Additionally the Ancestry cards are in colour, whereas the National Archives images are in black and white. The Ancestry website advises some records including Indian Army cards are not included. However some Mesopotamian Railways (and perhaps other) entries which are not classified Indian Army may be included on the Ancestry database.
• How to interpret a campaign medal index card The Long, Long Trail

Note

• There are some Medal Index Cards for Indians belonging to the British Army. Lascars in the Royal Artillery and Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers have been noted, together with some soldiers in Indian Artillery Mountain Batteries.
• The Medal Index Cards appear to only contain some of the medal entitlements for soldiers, (both European and Indian), in the Indian Army. Some medals, such as the War Medal and the Victory Medal were issued by the Government of India. Generally these are not included in the Medal Index Cards.

Medal Rolls

• WO 329. The Medal Rolls for some records may contain information additional to that in the Medal Index Cards.

Catalogue reference: WO 329 War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War includes a free download Index and Key to War of 1914-1918 medal rolls. This guide was written prior to the current catalogue, and the relationship between the original index references and the modern WO 329 are described here

The medal rolls for the Indian Army in this series include British War Medal and Victory Medal: officers and other ranks WO 329/2384-2391, Officers WO 329/2303 - Described at item level, WO 329/2304,W0 329/2347-2352; 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2940, WO 329/2941; Territorial Force War Medal: Officers: WO 329/3272- Described at item level.

Note: The WO 329 medal rolls available at the National Archives appear to only contain some of the medal entitlements for soldiers in the Indian Army. It appears that some of the medals may have been issued in India but although the the British Library appears to have a medal roll for the 1914-1915 Star, it is unclear what rolls for other medals are available. Refer "British Library records" below.

The medal rolls are available on the pay site Ancestry. Transcription of some/all of the WO 329 medal rolls are available on the pay site "Naval and Military Archive". See External links below.

• WO 388 War Office: Military Secretary's Honours and Awards Branch: Exchange of Army Decorations between Britain and the Allies Registers.This series of records contains medal rolls for awards from Allied foreign governments. Some of the records may be downloaded for free.

Details inscribed on the medals

For First World War Medals, millions of which were issued, there was plenty of potential for errors in the inscriptions, given the many different clerical steps involved.

Merchant seamen

Eligible Merchant seamen and officers were entitled to British War Medal and the Mercantile Marine Medal. There are Medal Index Cards available in the National Archives series BT 351/1/1, BT 351/1/2 and MT 9/1404. Refer Research Guides, above for a Search facility. Relevant records may be downloaded for a fee.

Members of the Indian Mercantile Marine were also eligible for the above medals, but it seems probable these medals were issued by the Government of India, and do not appear in the National Archives records.

British Library records

As stated above, many of the medal rolls are reprinted in books on the open access shelves at the British Library.

Catalogue references are

• Medal Rolls IOR/L/MIL/5/42-141 1799-1911 with links to the sub categories. (These records are those covered in the "Your Archives" link above, but the catalogue references are given again, as the accompanying information may be slightly different)

Additional to the catalogue references for Medal Rolls IOR/L/MIL/5/42-141 the following list contains both medal roll catalogue references and some catalogue references which do not specifically mention rolls but which may possibly contain medal rolls, listed (approximately) according to date of the military action.

• Collection 257/4 Medal rolls of men of Tennasserim or Suakin 1884 operations. IOR/L/MIL/7/11202 1888-1889
• Collection 274/25 Egyptian Medal granted by Khedive: medal rolls. IOR/L/MIL/7/12730 1897-1901
• Collection 274/31 Soudan Medal 1898: grant of to Indian contingent at Suakin 1896. IOR/L/MIL/7/12735 1899-1900
• Collection 322/9 Grant of medal for operations in British Central Africa 1894-1898, Army Order 135 of 1899. IOR/L/MIL/7/14412 1899
• Collection 132/101 Delhi Durbar 1911 medal rolls: replacement of lost medals, claims for issue of medal. IOR/L/MIL/7/5864 1911-1922
• Collection 425/1596 Medal rolls for 1914-1915 Star. IOR/L/MIL/7/18841 1919-1920
• Collection 403/68 Minor operations on North West Frontier 1914-1915: operations on or beyond frontiers of India to be regarded as part of First World War for award of 1914-1915 Star. IOR/L/MIL/7/16888 1915-1919
• IOR/L/PS/20/H143 1917. Roll of rewards and promotions of officers and men of the Indian Army and departments, and of Royal Artillery and Royal Engineer officers and men attached to Indian units, serving in the undermentioned forces:- France (A) East Africa, including Cameroons (B) Mesopotamia (D) Egypt, including Sudan (E) Gallipoli, including Salonica (G) Indian Frontier Indian area, including Aden, Perim, Somaliland, Gulf of Oman, and China Up to and including "London Gazette" dated 11th May 1917 and "Indian Gazette" dated 3rd February 1917 [?London: India Office, 8th edn, 1917]. It is not known whether there are later publications of this roll.
• Records of the British Administration in Aden, 1839-1967: IOR/R/20/A/5014 - File 73 British War Medal & Mercantile Marine War Medal. It is not known whether this is general correspondence or includes a list of names.
• Collection 425/1683 Report on operations of Bushire Field Force April 1918 to March 1919, and recommendations for rewards. IOR/L/MIL/7/18931 1919-1920
• Collection 425/1602 Honours and rewards for minor operations May 1919 to April 1920 (North West Frontier, Persia, Aden). IOR/L/MIL/7/18847 1919-1921
• Collection 89/97 Grant of India General Service Medal with Waziristan 1919-21 or Mahsud 1919-20 clasps to Royal Air Force personnel. IOR/L/MIL/7/4052 1922
• Collection 89/96 Rewards for services in connection with Malabar operations (Moplah) of 1921-1922. IOR/L/MIL/7/4051 1921-1927
• Collection 89/102 Grant of India General Service Medal with Waziristan 1921-24 clasp to Royal Air Force personnel. IOR/L/MIL/7/4056 1925-1926
• Collection 89/119 General Service Medal rolls. IOR/L/MIL/7/4074 1923-1928
• Collection 89/94 Part 1 Award of India General Service Medal for Afghan operations. IOR/L/MIL/7/4048 1920-1925
• Collection 89/94 Part 2 Award of India General Service Medal for Afghan operations. IOR/L/MIL/7/4049 1922-1927
• Collection 89/109 Grant of medal for operations ("disturbances") on North West Frontier 1930-31 and Burma 1930-31. IOR/L/MIL/7/4064 1930-1945
• Collection 89/112 Grant of war medal and clasp for Mohmand (Peshawar) operations of 1933. IOR/L/MIL/7/4067 1933-1935
• Collection 403/146 Part 1 Waziristan operations 1936-1937: recommendations for awards. IOR/L/MIL/7/16974 1937-1938
• Collection 403/146 Part 2 Waziristan operations 1937-1938: recommendations for awards. IOR/L/MIL/7/16975 1939-1940
• File 201/40 Con. General Service Medal for operations in the Aden Protectorate IOR/R/20/C/953 Jan 1940-Feb 1940
• List of recipients in India of the Imperial Service Medal, 1924-1941. Calcutta, Delhi, 1925-41 IOR/V/25/72/2 1925-1941 Annual. Lacking 1936, 1940

The Gazette of India, 1864-1947, and other Government Gazettes IOR/V/11 may be a possible source of information. For some online editions, see Gazette of India online.

Medal Rolls for Indian Native Troops

The information in respect of Medal Rolls IOR/L/MIL/5/42-141 1799-1911 states that the names of Indian recipients rarely appear (except, however, in L/MIL/5/87-103). These latter records are detailed Your Archives - Medal Rolls in the India Office Library, which also lists a few entries such as L/MIL/5/60 Nominal rolls of Indian Army native troops. 1870-1878.

For details of some medals awarded to Indian troops in the Boer War, see External links below.

Publications containing Medal Rolls

• Published works: British & Commonwealth Orders Decorations and Medals northeastmedals.co.uk
• The Delhi Durbar 1903: A Complete Roll and Index of Recipients by Peter Duckers and Ian McInnes, was published in 2002
• The Delhi Durbar Medal 1911 to the British Army compiled by Peter Duckers was published c 1999 and is available at the British Library
• Reward of Valor: The Indian Order of Merit, 1914-1918 by Peter Duckers was published in 2004 (first published 1999). The 1999 edition is available at the Imperial War Museum, London
• The Indian Distinguished Service Medal by Rana Chhina. Details: Hardcover: 359 pages Publisher: InvictaIndia (2001) ISBN-10: 8187642009 ISBN-13: 978-8187642008 "The definitive study …which contains a detailed list of all those who were awarded the medal". Available at the British Library.

Books currently available

Books currently available (November 2012) which have been noted:

• Army Of The Sutlej 1845-6 Casualty Roll is published by Naval and Military Press. This Casualty Roll has been compiled from the Sutlej Medal Rolls held at the British Library.
• Indian Order Of Merit Historical Records 1837 - 1947 Volume One 1837 – 1860 by Cliff Parrett and Sqn Ldr Rana TS Chhina (Retd) is published in India. "There are two substantial nominal indexes. The first lists 2,700 Indian officers and other ranks of the H.E.I.C. Army, the majority of these being recipients of the I.O.M. The second lists over 900 British officers and other ranks, and civilians, who were somehow or other involved in I.O.M. actions" This book is available at the British Library
• Three companion volumes by K.J. Asplin China Medal Roll 1856-60: British Army, China Medal Roll 1856-60: Royal Navy, Despatches of the China War 1856-60 These books are published by Savannah Publications
• Second Afghan War 1878-1880 Casualty Roll by Anthony Farrington is published by Naval and Military Press. A description of the 1986 original edition says "3,000 British and Indian officers and men, arranged by regiment and giving the precise nature of the casualty, where details available. Bibliography of sources, which are also indicated under each regimental section. Facsimiles of despatches for Ali Musjid, Peiwar Kotal, Charasiah, Kabul-Kandahar March and Battle of Kandahar. Full citations for gallantry awards (VC, DCM and IOM)." The 1986 edition is available at the British Library
• Egypt 1882 by Peter Duckers dixonsmedals.co.uk
• The Whitewash Brigade: The Hong Kong Plague of 1894 by J.J.Platt, M.E. Jones and A. R. Kay dixonsmedals.co.uk
• India General Service Medal 1895 Casualty Roll compiled by Anthony Farrington is published by Naval and Military Press. A 1987 edition of this book is available at the British Library. The book is available to purchase through Amazon.co.uk from the FIBIS Shop
• Taku Forts 1900 by Colin Narbeth dixonsmedals.co.uk
• China War Medal 1900: to the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines is published by Naval and Military Press
• North West Frontier 1908: The Zakka Khel and Mohmand Campaigns by Peter Duckers dixonsmedals.co.uk
• Taming the Tiger: The Story of the India General Service Medal 1908–1935 by Richard G.M.L. Stiles is published by Savannah Publications. Includes Medal Rolls and Rolls of Honour. This edition is either a reprint or more likely a revised, possibly expanded edition of a book printed in 1992.
• India General Service Medal Roll 1908-1935 to the RAF is published by Naval and Military Press
• Naval General Service Medal Roll 1793-1840 is published by Naval and Military Press
• Naval General Service Medal 1915-1962 To The Royal Navy And Royal Marines For The Bars Persian Gulf 1909-1914, Iraq 1919-1920, NW Persia 1920 compiled and edited by WH Fevyer and JW Wilson is published by Naval and Military Press. The description of the book includes a reference to the Royal Indian Marine Service.

External links

• Iain Stewart’s The Victoria Cross has the following pages in relation to India:

• Honorable East India Company and Indian Army Holders of the Victoria Cross
• Burial Locations in India of Victoria Cross holders

• Kevin Asplin’s excellent British Medals Website contains transcriptions including the following Medal Rolls

• Nominal Roll for the Indian Mutiny Medal and Indian Mutiny Medal Roll 1857-59 (British Forces) Corrections and amendments. The latter Includes a partial list of some of the HEIC men who fought in the Mutiny. It is stated "This is not a confirmed or full list". Medal Provenance contains a link to an excel spreadsheet created by David Doorn which lists Indian Mutiny medals known in private collections or museums
• Sutlej Campaign Medal Rolls 1845-1846 for four regiments
• Burma 1887-1889 - Transcribed from WO 100/73 series at The National Archives
• India General Service Medal Rolls Punjab Campaigns 1895-1902 and 1897-1898
• 9th Lancers Afghan Medal Roll 1879-1881
• Army of India – Royal Scots Medal Roll

• Medals of the Regiments from northeastmedals.co.uk contains a number of medal rolls for particular regiments including
  • Medal Roll 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders: Relief of Chitral 1895
• Army of India Medal Roll 1799-1826 for the 1st Regiment of Foot from the archived website YesterYears
• Sutlej Medal 1845/6 Roll for the 10th Regiment of Foot, with clasp "Sobraon" from the archived website YesterYears
• Dix Noonan Webb Medals have a (free) Medal Rolls search facility for

• Army of India Medal Roll (1799-1826) compiled by Colin Message
• Indian Mutiny Medal Roll - (1857-1859) compiled by Kevin Asplin. Includes East India Company Army regiments. Browse the (drop down) 'Units' which are listed by initials only such as 1 Be EF (1st Bengal European Fusiliers)

• The Fee Paying Website "Ancestry" (allows a free search) now hosts
  • UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949, based on the National Archives records WO 100 "This database contains lists of more than 2.3 million officers, enlisted personnel and other individuals entitled to medals and awards commemorating their service in campaigns and battles for the British Army between 1793 and 1949" Campaigns in India are included - but not WWI or WWII medal and award rolls. WWI medal information is available in the following collections.
  • British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 Based on records from the Army Medal Office WWI Medal Index Cards. "The Medal Index Cards collection is the most complete listing of individuals who fought in the British Army in WWI, containing approximately 90% of soldiers’ names"
  • UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920. Based on the National Archives records WO 329. "The volumes in this series record the entitlement to medals and awards of men and women serving in some capacity during the First World War. Most pieces concern those serving in the Army". However there are other categories. Note: Silver War Badge records are in a separate dataset, following.
  • UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920 WO 329, 2958–3255. Awarded to military personnel who had been discharged because of wounds or illness.
  • UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Based on the National Archives records ADM 171. "The rolls include medals awarded for British campaigns and service in Europe, India, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere during the height of the British Empire and into the 20th century. This database also includes medal rolls from the First and Second World Wars".
• Anglo Boer War.com Select Forum- Main Forum- Medals and awards- Indian Contingent, for information about some of the Indian troops sent to South Africa, and the medals awarded.
• Naval and Military Archive. A pay website associated with Naval and Military Press. Includes "Campaign Medal Rolls of the Great War", transcribed from National Archives Medal Rolls, for 1914 Star, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19. Silver War Badge records are also available. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
• Medal Roll for India General Service Medal with clasps 1919-1935: RAF personnel. Surnames A-Brymer only. Includes the Squadrons present. html version pdf version naval-military-press.com. Retrieved 9 August 2014
• The [London] Gazette Official Public Record for the U.K. Free Search for gallantry awards for both officers and other soldiers.
• Geoff Sullivan’s Geoff's WO 373 Lists: Recommendations for Honours and Awards, Second World War includes
  • Burma and India
  • Malaya And Singapore, Java, Hong Kong

Historical books online

• The first part of Deeds of Valour Performed by Indian Officers and Soldiers during the period from 1860 to 1925 by P P Hypher, Army Department 1927 printed at Simla, is available to read on the FIBIS database as pdf files. Pages to 228 are available. These appear to cover the period to 1913. The years 1914-1925 are not available on the FIBIS database. Total pages 491. Available at the British Library IOR/L/MIL/17/5/4321 and also the National Army Museum. There is a previous book Deeds of Valour of the Indian Soldier which won the Indian Order of Merit, during the period from 1837 to 1859 by PP Hypher 1925. Available at the British Library and the National Army Museum.
• Collection 425/95 Operations in East Africa: reports of engagements, honours and rewards IOR/L/MIL/7/17250 1914-1919 British Library Digitised Manuscripts. Awards to both British and Indian soldiers.
• List of ‘Promotions and Rewards' page 347-382 With the Indians in France by Sir James Willcocks 1920 Archive.org