An India born 'Son of Empire' & Railwayman's Indian Volunteers Long Service and Delhi Durbar Medal Pair: Captain Samuel Witherow Jewell, V.D., East Indian Railway Volunteer Rifles

- Delhi Durbar Medal 1911. Silver issue (S. W. Jewell E.I.R.)
- Indian Volunteer Forces Officers Decoration. EDVII. With top bar (Captn S. W. Jewell E. I. Ry Volr Rifles)

The integral top brooch bar, typically adapted for mounting and now sans pin & clasp fittings. The Delhi Durbar medal contemporary script engraved and awarded to the recipient from the 'Civil Allocation'

Reference the standard reference book on the Indian Volunteer Officers Decoration, vide 'The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. The Indian Volunteer Forces Officers' Decoration' (John M. A. Tamplin, Spink, London, 1981) only an estimated 270 +/- EDVII Indian Volunteer Officer's Decorations awarded 1902-1910 (a total of 285 x awards were gazetted & issued 1902-1910, but those awarded in the 1910 total included both EDVII and GV issue medals)

Medals Verification: In addition, to the pair of medals here offered. Samuel Jewell had earlier been awarded a Victorian issue Long Service Medal (India & Colonies issue) - which medal per regulations could no longer be worn in uniform concurrently with the IVD, if a recipient subsequently was decorated with an Indian Volunteer Forces Decoration'. The official medal roll and official published sources are:

- Delhi Durbar Medal 1911. Silver issue: WO 100/400 awarded off the Civilian Allocation per authority of Government of India Railway Department
- Indian Volunteer Forces Officers Decoration. EDVII issue: Gazette of India 3 December 1904
- Volunteer Long Service Medal (India & Colonies). EDVII issue: Gazette of India 1066 of 1902 

Sauel Witherow Jewell, son of John James Jewell (a Master Rope Maker) and Bertha Louisa Jewell (nee Langer) was born in Calcutta, Bengal, British India on, 19 May 1858, and where he was baptized at St. Andrews Church, Calcutta, on, 20 June 1858. The Jewell family were Ships Candlers, Rope Makers & General Merchants in Calcutta. Samuel accepted an appointment with the East Indian Railway Company, with which company he worked more than 30 years. Samuel married Sara Lettice Jane Frost (daughter of William McDonald Frost) a Scottish woman (born, Scotland, Argyllshire, Scotland) at which time Samuel is described as holding the appointment of 'Chief' employed at the District Traffic Superintendents Office, of the East Indian Railway, located at Howrah, Bengal. The couple were subsequently blessed with several children born in India, including; a daughter, Sara Lettice Constance Jewell, born Howrah, Calcutta, Bengal, 1 March 1886;  a daughter Bertha Jewell who sadly died hours after ger birth and was buried ater the same day at Calcutta, on 13 July 1887; daughter Gertrude Jewell, born at Tundla, North Western Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh), 2 April 1889; daughter Mona Jewell born at Hazaribagh, Bengal, 4 September 1892, who sadly died at Bantra, Bengal, 7 February 1893:a daughter Ruby Phyllis Jewell, born Howrah, Calcutta, Bengal, 28 January 1897; a son, John Witherow Jewell born at Asanol, Bengal on, 18 September 1898;   

Latterly held the appointment of Assistant District Traffic Superintendent 

After permanently returning from India, Samuel Jewell and family, retired Devon, England. Samuel is recorded to have died at 2 Springfield Terrace, South Brent, Devonshire, England, on 13 July 1932

East Indian Railway Volunteer Rifles: The corps had its origins dating back to 1869, in which year it was raised as the East Indian Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps, with it's Headquarters located at Jamalpore, where the works of the East Indian Railway Company were located - and a palce that was referred to as the 'Crewe of India', so extensive were the railway works. In January 1897, the name of the corps was restyled as East Indian Railway Volunteer Rifles

Less than 280 x EDVII issues of the Indian Volunteer Forces Decoration ever awarded, and very scarce 

Condition: Surface wear with hairlines to IVD, thus the pair VF 

Code: 25718