Original British Victorian Indian Mutiny Medal 1858 3rd Madras European Regiment Named to Private Edward Sadler Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. The 3rd Madras (European) Regiment was formed at Bellary in the Madras Presidency on 18 November 1853 for service in the Honourable East India Company. It was converted to the 108th Regiment of Foot (Madras Infantry) in 1861, which then amalgamated with the 27th Inniskillings in 1881 to become the 2nd Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

The Indian Mutiny Medal was a campaign medal approved in August 1858, for issue to officers and men of British and Indian units who served in operations in suppression of the Indian Mutiny.

The medal was initially sanctioned for award to those troops who had been engaged in action against the mutineers. However, in 1868 the award was extended to all those who had borne arms or who had been under fire, including such people as members of the Indian judiciary and the Indian civil service, who were caught up in the fighting. Some 290,000 medals were awarded.

The obverse depicts the diademed head of a young Queen Victoria with the legend VICTORIA REGINA, designed by William Wyon.

The reverse shows a helmeted Britannia holding a wreath in her right hand and a union shield on her left arm. She is standing in front of a lion. Above is the word INDIA, with the dates 1857-1858 below. The reverse was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon, who also engraved the die of the medal.

A ribbon would have been issued that measured  1.25 inches (32 mm) wide and is white with two scarlet stripes, with each stripe of equal width. The recipient’s name and unit is impressed on the rim of the medal in block Roman capitals.

This example is beautifully named: 200 PTE. EDWD SADLER 3rd MADRAS EUR. REG.

The medal also has a Central India Clasp. The Central India Clasp was awarded for actions between January – June 1858. Awarded to all those who served under Major-General Sir Hugh Rose in actions against Jhansi, Kalpi, and Gwalior. Also to those who served with Major-General Roberts in the Rajputana Field Force and Major-General Whitlock of the Madras Column, between January and June 1858.