Indian Mutiny Medal : Sergeant W Ralph, Commissariat Department

Indian Mutiny Medal with the bar 'DEHLI'. The recipient's rank, name and unit are impressed on the edge. Obverse: The diademed head of Queen Victoria with the legend 'VICTORIA REGINA' around the circumference. Reverse: A standing helmeted figure of Britannia holding a wreath in her outstretched right hand. Over her left arm is the Union Shield. Behind her is the British lion and above the word 'INDIA'. In the exergue are the dates '1857-1858'. The medal is fitted with a cusped swivel suspension and a fish tail bar that has rosettes on the lower edges. A piece of white 32 mm ribbon with two central 6 mm scarlet stripes is attached to the suspender bar.

Awarded to Sergeant William Ralph of the Commissariat Department for service during the recapture of Dehli. The Commissariat Department was a field train that accompanied the army when on active service for the supply of warlike stores. In 1857 it was commanded by the Commissary of Ordnance and formed part of the Royal Artillery. The Indian Mutiny Medal was granted to all troops engaged against mutineers and to civilians who had borne arms against them or who had been under fire. There were five clasps issued with the medal: Dehli (30 May to 14 September, 1857), Defence of Lucknow (29 June to 22 November, 1857), Relief of Lucknow (November, 1857), Lucknow (November, 1857 to March, 1858) and Central India (January to June, 1858). This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916, and of his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.