"Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to command that a medal should be struck to record the services of her fleets and armies during the wars commencing 1793, and ending in 1814, and that one should be conferred upon every officer, non-commissioned officer and soldier of the army who was in any battle or siege, to commemorate which medals have been struck by command of Her Majesty's Royal predecessors and have been distributed to the general or superior officers of the general armies and corps of troops engaged, in conformity with the regulations of the army at that time in force...." The Order was somewhat lengthy and involved, but its chief clauses were: (_a_) men should receive medals and clasps for all engagements figuring on the superior officers' medals and clasps of 1808-9, and (_b_) relatives of men since deceased could claim the award on production of sufficient title. The medals were issued to 19,000 claimants in 1848. In 1850, the Duke of Richmond suggested that the troops in Egypt, who had fought with great bravery, should also receive the distinction, and the Queen graciously consented to recognize their services. In this case, however, the relatives of dead soldiers could not claim the award. There is much about the rankers' Peninsular medal which is unsatisfactory. In the first place, the reverse bears the figure of Victoria crowning the Duke of Wellington. As he took no part in many of the contributory campaigns, and as his veto so long delayed the granting of the decoration, some other design would have been more appropriate. Again, the date placed in the exergue, 1793-1814, is much too vague. And lastly, the head of Victoria on the obverse has often caused confusion, as she did not ascend the throne until some three years after the campaign had come to a welcome close. The Punjab award, 1848-9, is probably one of the most artistic pieces of work emanating from the London Mint. On the obverse was the familiar Wyon head of Victoria, surrounded by the words "Victoria Regina," whilst on the reverse was a stirring tableau representing Sikhs presenting their arms to Major-General Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert at Rawul Pindee. The ribbon was blue, striped with two narrow lines of yellow. There were three clasps: Chilianwala, Mooltan, and Goojerat. The most desperate encounter in this campaign was the Battle of Chilianwala, during which the brigade under Brigadier Pennycuick and Lieutenant-Colonel Brookes was led to make a disastrous charge owing to a misunderstanding. The 24th Regiment suffered terribly, and their medals are now extremely valuable in consequence. In 1851, Queen Victoria, in furtherance of her policy of rewarding unrecognized actions of the past, decided to issue an Indian General Service medal to cover the following feats of arms:-- Storm of Allighur--September 4, 1803. Battle of Delhi--September 11, 1803. Battle of Assaye--September 23, 1803. Siege of Asseerghur--October 21, 1803.