British India (Victorian era): Bengal Presidency Rifle Association. 1st type 'Champion Best Shot' silver medal (1891 Won By W.H.A. Young. 1st Hants Regt. Points 233.)

Metal: Silver (not hallmarked)

Weight: 112g (inc riband)

Dimension: 55mm

Maker: Pinches London (signed on base of obverse)

Obverse: A left facing prowling 'Lioness' on plinth. Below a tablet with inscription 'N.I.R.A. 1863-1896'

Reverse: Two stylised pen laurel branches, with ties at bottom, in centre a tablet with floral roundels at either end, the centre engraved ' 1891 Won By W. H. A. Young. 1st Hants Regt. 233 ' with the legend Bengal Presidency / Rifle Association above and below the tablet

Suspension: Fitted with a claw and contemporary customised ornate swivel suspender

The Bengal Presidency Rifle Association (1886-1921) had it's roots in the Northern India Rifle Association that had been established in 1866, and was restyled The Bengal Presidency Rifle Association in 1886. Under the patronage of the Viceroy of India and the auspices of the Commander in Chief of the British Indian Army (who in the 1890's was Lord Roberts of Kandahar), the Bengal Presidency Rifle Association held annual Rifle Meetings, that were contested annually at Meerut Cantonment, attracting contestants and teams from both regular and volunteer shotting teams and participants, British and Native from across India. These rifle meetings attracting just over 2000 participants, and was the Indian equivalent of the annual National Rifle Association annual competitions contested at Bisley, in England. As an example of the size, and relevance of the annual 'Meerut' Rifle Meetings in British India, see the exhaustive article published in the 'The Englishman's Overland Mail' newspaper issue of 24 December 1890, showing the fill schedule of results for the third ever Bengal Presidency Rifle Association annual contest, which will readily give an overview to the scale and importance of the B.P.R.A. annual shooting competition

Note: The 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment served overseas in British India (including Burma) between 1886-1903. During their service in the East Indies the battalion served in Burma 1889-1890, including active service in the field for which many men of the battalion qualified for the Indian General Service Medal 1854, with clasp 'Burma 1889-92'. A check of the respective campaign medal roll for 1/Hampshires, shows only one soldier with the surname 'Young' and forename initial W, qualifying for the medal and clasp viz No. 1725 Lance-Corporal William Young, who was still serving with the battalion in British India when the medal roll was compiled at Bareilly Cantonment, India, on 28th January 1894

Considering the appointment held in 1889, and being the only person of name William Young to have served in Burma in 1889 with 1/Hampshires was No 1725 Lance-Corporal William Young, it is almost certain that he is one and the same as the soldier holding rank of Corporal in 1891, to have won the Bengal Presidency Rifle Association Champion 'Best Shot' in India in India Medal in 1891

Important: The sale is for the large Best Shot Medal, and does not include the IGS 1854 medal which we have only here included as an illustrative prop / image to show the comparative size of this large medal against a standard campaign medal

A magnificent Best Shot' medal, only awarded annually circa 1888-1920

Condition: About EF

Code: 25165