India General Service Medal 1908-35. GV first type. Silver issue with clasp 'Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919' (2526 Nk. Sampat Singh, 16/Rajputs.)

Note: The recipient was a Hindu Rajput who served as a Naik (Corporal) with the 16th Rajputs, a single class infantry regiment of the British Indian Army, comprised entirely of Hindu Rajputs

In 1922 the 16th Rajputs were re-styled as 10th (Training) Battalion 7th Rajput Regiment. All battalions of the Rajput Regiment being descended from former Bengal Army infantry regiments that had remained loyal during the Indian Mutiny, and unique amongst the annals of the descendent units of the erstwhile Bengal Army that served in the later Indian Army.

The 16th Rajputs were referred to as the famous 'Bailey Guard Paltan' which had been formed at Cawnpore in 1857 from amongst the loyal Brahmins and Rajputs of the 13th, and the Sikhs of the 48th and 71st Bengal Native Infantry, who had served so faithfully at the Lucknow Residency (with every living loyal Indian veteran of the battle subsequently being decorated with the Indian Order of Merit). The badge of the 16th was a turreted gateway surmounted by the number 16, representing the Bailey Gate - the most exposed and deadly bastion - of the Lucknow Residency, during the siege of Lucknow

Condition: GVF

Code: 20681