India General Service Medal 1908. GV first type silver issue with clasp 'Malabar 1921-22' (8624 Rfm. Lon Khwe Shong, 3-70 K. Rif.)

Note: Recipient was a Burmese soldier holding the rank of Rifleman while serving in the 3rd Battalion 70th Kachin Rifles, an infantry unit of the British Indian Army

The short lived 3/70 Kachin Rifles had their origins - and complex subsequent re-stylings - in the war raised 3/70 Battalion Burma Rifles that was raised at Meiktila, Burma, on 23 April 1918. On it's raising the battalion's ethnic composition was set at 4 companies of Burmans . The unit served in the Moplah Rebellion 1921-22, at which time it was - initially - still styled as 3/70th Burma Rifles. However, change was imminent and by April 1921, the composition of the unit was: 2 x companies of Burmans, and 2 x companies of Karens. By July 1921, the composition of the battalion had changed to: 2 x companies of Burmans; 1 x company Karens & 1 x company Shans. However, by the time of 1922 January Indian Army List, the unit was re-styled as 3rd Battalion Kachin Rifles, with its ethnic composition, being exclusively drawn from amongst ethnic Kachins (hence the name change). By April 1922 the battalion was re-styled as 5th (Training Battalion) 70th Burma Rifles, and again in 1922 the unit was re-styled as 10th Battalion 20th Burma Rifles (maintaining its role as the 'Training' battalion for 20th Burma Rifles)

A very scarce seen medal to a Burmese unit of the British Indian Army

Condition: About GVF

Code: 23213