Established in 1842 this medal was issued in two different types to those men who took part in the defence of, and withstanding the siege of Jellalabad in Afghanistan between 12th November, 1841 and 7th April, 1842.

The first medal was approved by General Order from Allahabad dated 30th April, 1842 and was minted in Calcutta. This medal in known as the “Mural Crown”, since the obverse shows a distinct mural crown superscribed “JELLALABAD” and the reverse has the date “VII APRIL, 1842” occupying three lines.

The first type was considered inartistic and the Governor General of India was dissatisfied with the crude design. Also insufficient amounts had been minted of the first type, so a second medal was designed by W. Wyon, R.A. and struck at the Royal Mint, London. This latter type was also awarded to the next of kin of soldiers killed in action and known as the “FLYING VICTORY”

Description:

Materials: The majority of the British medals and clasps are made of solid silver, though some were issue in bronze versions, mainly to Indian non-combatants. The majority of the British campaign awards are circular, usually 36mm in diameter.

Ribbons: Medals are worn suspended from their own specific ribbons. These were first made of silk but cotton was increasingly used as the nineteenth century developed. Their own colours often have a symbolic significance: the equal stripes of the ‘1939 to 1945 Star,’ for example, are dark blue to represent the service of the Royal and Merchant Navies, red, to represent that of the Armies and light blue to represent that of Air Forces.

Ribbon width can vary slightly though it is generally 32mm wide.

Ribbon – Rainbow pattern watered red, yellow and blue.

Jellalbad Medal ribbon

Suspension – A plain straight suspender fitter to the rim of the piece, though some are to be found suspended from a ring.

Type – Campaign Medal

Eligibility – Indian and British troops who took part in the defence of Jellalabad between 12th November, 1841 and 7th April, 1842.

Campaign – First Anglo-Afghan war.

Established – 30th April 1842.

Designer – W. Wyon, R.A. (designed the second type only).

Naming – Vary considerably so that the medal cannot have been named when issued. The ‘second type’ medal recipients name and regiment are indented in block capitals on the edge.

Clasps – none issued.

Description – the head of Queen Victoria with the legend “VICTORIA VINDEX”. The first type ‘Mural Crown’ medal has the date “VII APRIL, 1842” occupying three lines on the reverse. The second type ‘Flying Victory’ has the winged figure Victory with wreath in her right hand and the staff of a Union Jack in her left hand whilst flying over the fortress of Jellalabad. Around the top is the inscription “JELLALABAD VII APRIL,” and the exergue is the date “MDCCCXLII”. The ‘Flying Victories’ were issued in March 1845 and could be exchanged for the earlier issue, though flew took this offer.

This guide will help you through all the parts and descriptions of military medals

Sources:

Major L L Gordon ‘British Battles and Medals’

Some of the material on this page was also partially derived from

<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jellalabad_Medals>

Which are released under the terms of

Creativecommons.org/licenses/by-s/3.0/.

Jellalbad Medals 1842