Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. To coincide with the OMRS Convention

A rare MacGregor Memorial Medal group of three awarded to Daffadar Ghulam Ali, Corps of Guides Cavalry

British War Medal 1914-20 (1780 Dfdr., 10 Gds. Cavy.) probably a later or official replacement issue with post-1922 unit designation; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Kurdistan (1780 Dfdr., C. of Guides (Cav.)); MacGregor Memorial Medal, silver, small type with ring suspension, 44.3mm (Awarded for 1929 to No. 1780 Daffadar Ghulam Ali, Guides Cavalry. For Valuable Reconnaissances) nearly very fine and rare (3) £1200-1500

The MacGregor Memorial Medal was founded in 1888 as a Memorial to the late Major-General Sir Charles MacGregor, as an award for outstanding military reconnaissance of exploration, in the remote areas of India or on its frontiers, which produced new information of value to the defence of India. Most journeys involved considerable risk. Hazards could include hostile tribes, armed brigands, extremes of climate, harsh terrain, or dangerous animals. It was envisaged that two awards would be made annually; a large silver medal to officers, and a small silver medal to other ranks. If there were no deserving cases in a particular year, no award would be made, and in a few years an additional award was ‘specially awarded’, as in the case of this recipient. For specially valuable work a gold medal of the smaller size could be awarded whenever the Council deemed it desirable.

The MacGregor Memorial Medal is the only exclusively military award, instituted during British rule, which continues to be granted to the Republic of India’s armed forces. The criteria of endeavour for both officers and other ranks to become eligible for the award have been rigorously upheld. In the one hundred years from its founding until 1987, only 114 awards have been made: 7 in gold, 59 large silver medals to officers, and 48 small silver medals to non-commissioned officers and other ranks.