Description
India General Service Medal 1908, EDVII, bar North West Frontier 1908, 2016 Sepoy Yakub, 55th Coke’s Rifles, excellent condition example.
Rare in this condition and a scarce early EDVII award of the IGS.
Officially engraved in script: “2106 Sepoy Yakub 55th Rifles”
In the 1903, the 1st Punjab Infantry was officially redesignated to become a Rifle Regiment, being renamed as the 55th Coke’s Rifles (Frontier Force), in honour of their original founder Captain John Coke back in 1849.
From the 1890s until WW1, the regiment saw significant service in the North West Frontier, during 1908 when this medal was earned by Sepoy Yakub, they were engaged in a campaign in Mohmand Country during the “Mohmand Expedition”.
An interesting regiment as during the Mohmand campaign in 1908, the regiment had the legendary Indian Soldier, Mir Dast VC IOM OBI amongst it’s ranks, at the time he was a Jemadar, and would later during WW1 earn the 55th’s only Victoria Cross.
