INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 2 CLASPS AFGHANISTAN 1919 & WAZIRISTAN 1921-24 13TH LANCERS

Description

Offered is a India General Service medal with 2 clasps Afghanistan 1919 & Waziristan 1921-24. Impressed named to 3163 SOWAR BABOO SINGH. 13 LNCRS.

Sowar is a rank in the Indian army equivalent to Trooper. It is possible that this man served in the Mesopotamia campaign.

13th Duke of Connaught’s Lancers (Watson’s Horse) During the First World War, the regiment remained on the Northwest Frontier until July 1916, when it moved to Mesopotamia for the relief of Kut-al-Amara. On its return, it served in Waziristan during the Third Afghan War in 1919.

The 1^st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade, at the outbreak of the First World War was headquartered in the Risalpur Cantonment and commanded the following units: 13th Duke of Connaught’s Lancers, 14th Murray’s Jat Lancers, 1st Duke of York’s Own Skinner’s Horse, Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides (Frontier Force) (Lumsden’s) Cavalry, M Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides (Frontier Force) (Lumsden’s) Infantry (at Mardan).

Of the six cavalry brigades in the Indian Army in August 1914, the 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade was the only one that was not sent to the Western Front. It remained in India throughout the war, guarding the Frontier (with particular responsibility for the post at Mardan). A large number of units rotated in and out of the brigade throughout the war.

Clasp Afghanistan 1919:

The Third Anglo-Afghan War, also known as the British-Afghan war of 1919 and in Afghanistan as the War of Independence, began on 6/5/1919 when the Emirate of Afghanistan invaded British India and ended with an armistice on 8/8/1919.

Casualties during the conflict amounted to approximately 1,000 Afghans killed in action, while the British and Indian forces lost 236 killed in action. In addition, 615 were wounded, 566 died from cholera, and 334 died as a result of other diseases and accidents.

The clasp Waziristan 1919 – 24:

A large number of troops were employed in small garrison over a large area during this campaign.