India General Service Medal Medal 1908-35. GV silver 1st issue with clasp 'Malabar 1921-22' (3095 Rfmn. Man Sing Chaudri, 1-18 R. Garh Rfls.)

The recipient was an Indian soldier of Garhwali ethnicity and the Hindu faith, who held the rank of Rifleman while serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Garhwal Rifles, a crack infantry regiment of the British Indian Army

Reference 'British Battles & Medals' (Seventh edition, 2006) the regiment is shown as present and entitled to the clasp. This medal and clasp was the medal and clasp awarded in the inter-war era for campaign service in Southern India, when the Government of India deployed British and Indian regiments of the Army in India to present day 'Kerala State' to suppress the Moplah Insurrection of 1921-1922

The 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles regiment was formed in 1922 by the pairing of the former 1st and 2nd Battalion of the 39th Garhwal Rifles. The Garhwalis had fought with great distinction and valour in France during the Great War, where two Garhwali 'Other-Ranks' (one from each of the erstwhile battalions) had earned the Victoria Cross for their conspicuous gallantry while serving with the Indian Corps. In respect of their collective 'outstanding' services in the Great War the regiment was bestowed the rare honorific 'Royal' title, a title held by only a very few regiments of the British Indian Army

The Malabar 1921-22 clasp is the only clasp in the IGS series of medals that was awarded in respect of services in Southern India, the fighting being centred in the region of the 'Malabar Coast', in the present day state of 'Kerala' during the 'Moplah Rebellion' - a particularly hard fought insurrection!

1/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles served in Malabar during period November 1921 - June 1922, during which time the regiment incurred 19 casualties, comprising 3 x killed and 16 x wounded

The silk medal riband fitted with a cast white metal mounting bar. This latter complete with hinged pin and clasp fittings

Condition: Toned GVF

Code: 24717