Nepal (Kingdom): Campaign Medal for the Nepal-Tibet War 1854-56 'Janganath Regiment'

Reign of Surendra Vikrama, Silver Campaign Medal, VS 1912 (1855), awarded to the soldiers of 'Janganath Regiment' of the Nepalese army during the 3rd Nepal-Tibet War of 1855-1857 AD, dated VS1912, during the reign of King Surendra Vir Vikram Sah Deo

This was the first ever Nepalese campaign medal struck and issued to 'All-Ranks'

Obverse a metaphorical design depicting a Nepalese thrusting sword (the Nepalese Army) piercing an inverted border (Tibet) in centre. This with Nepalese legend Si 1912 Sal Ma Gorkha Sarkar Watbho Tanka

Reverse shield in centre; Nepalese legend Shri 3 Maharaja Jang Bahadur Janganath Paltan

Note: Nepal Army Regiments of this era only numbered a few hundred 'All-Ranks', and only a few of the 'Paltans' (Regiments) were 'Regulars' in what can be considered a standing army. Consequently 'many' different units, regular and irregular fought in the Nepal-Tibet War, with each soldier (Officers & Other Ranks) of each unit being presented with a medal that on the reverse was die struck with the name of the recipients regiment. As many as 35 x different reverse legends of this medal are thought to have been issued

The Jaganath Regiment is reported to have further served in British India, during the Indian Mutiny, as part of, or in support of the Gurkha Contingent

The medal was never issued with a riband, but was issued fitted with a distinctive ornate silver suspension, which could be worn with chains, string or riband as desired. By contrast, portrait photographs exist for several of the senior Officer cadres of the Rana 'Dictatorship', which clearly show the medal fitted with adapted 'Indian Mutiny' type suspensions, and suspended from ribands (for reference only see attached image of General Dhir Shamsher Rana - brother of Jang Bahadur - as an example)

Few of these medals have survived into 2022, and all can now be considered extremely scarce, and or in some cases (smaller units) rare

Condition: Toned VF

Code: 21725