Original British & Commonwealth Countries WWII / Post War Medal and Decorations Lot – 35 Total Items Original Items

Original Items: Only One Lot Available. Now this is a rare opportunity! There are 13 genuine British, Pakistani and Indian medals in this grouping. This is the perfect lot for the beginner who is interested in medal collecting!

During the 17th and 18th centuries the service of the ordinary British soldier was simply rewarded with a state pension. During this time, due to the suffering and actions of the soldiers on both sides during the English civil war, public opinion of soldiers was quite low. Usually, only the most desperate volunteered for military service and in some cases it was the only alternative to a prison sentence. Public opinion of the British Army slowly began to change after the Napoleonic Wars (1799 to 1815) due to the heroic actions of soldiers and their officers. However, during this time, medals were only given to highly promoted officers and members of the aristocracy for their services.

The first British Army medal awarded to ordinary soldiers was the Waterloo Medal, issued around 1816-17. This was given to every individual British soldier who could prove that they were present during the campaign against Napoleon in which the British Army, alongside their Dutch and German allies, suffered horrific loss and suffering whilst performing feats of heroism. The medal was unique as not only was it the first of its kind but each soldier or officer who received it had their name stamped into the medal, recognising them individually. Around 39,000 of these medals were issued to the men who applied for them. The material chosen for the medal was Silver, which alongside Bronze, would be used widely for many medals in the coming century.

There are 35 different medals and awards in this lot. While there are some medals that are rim engraved, not all of them are named. There are a mixture of not only British medals but Indian medals as well. Some have their original ribbons still attached while others are missing them completely.

A lovely lot ready for further research and display.