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British India 1895 General Service Bronze Medal
Punjab Frontier 1897-98 Clasp
The recipient was 1134 A. RHYMAN Pvt. Servt.
The medal is in excellent condition, the ribbon shows light fading.
The engraving tells a very specific story about its original recipient:
Recipient Breakdown
- Service Number:
1134 - Name:
A. RHYMAN - Rank / Role:
Pvt. Servt. (Private Servant)
Medal & Clasp Historical Context
- The Medal (India Medal 1895): This campaign medal was awarded to British and Indian forces.
- Crucially, while combatants received the medal in silver, native Indian non-combatants, camp followers,
- and private servants like A. Rhyman received the medal struck in bronze.
- The Clasp ("Punjab Frontier 1897-98"): This specific campaign bar indicates that he served on
- the North-West Frontier during major tribal uprisings between June 10, 1897, and April 6, 1898.
The Role of a "Private Servant"
In Victorian military campaigns in India, officers routinely hired native private servants (such as bearers,
khansamas/cooks, or grooms) to accompany them into the field. These followers were exposed to the same
harsh climates, disease, and peripheral dangers of the campaign as the troops, which is why they were
officially eligible for the bronze version of the medal to recognize their service.
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