Delhi Durbar Medal (1903)

Delhi Durbar Medals were instituted by the United Kingdom to commemorate the Delhi Durbar where the new Emperor of India was proclaimed, in 1903 for Edward VII, and in 1911 for George V.^[1] On both occasions the medals were one and a half inches in diameter and were awarded in both gold and silver.^[2] They were worn in date order alongside Coronation and Jubilee medals on the left chest, suspended from a ribbon one and a quarter inches wide.^[3] These Royal commemorative medals were worn before campaign medals until November 1918,^[4] after which the order of wear was changed, with them now worn after campaign medals and before long service awards.^[5]

Delhi Durbar Medal, 1903
Obverse and reverse of 1903 Durbar Medal
Type	Commemoration medal
Awarded for	Participation in Durbar, or broader service to the Indian Empire
Presented by	United Kingdom and British Raj
Established	1903
Total	140 gold and 2,567 silver medals
Ribbon bar

Delhi Durbar Medal, 1903

Obverse: The crowned head of the king facing right wearing an ermine robe of State, with the Collar of the Garter, and Badge of the Order of the Bath. Below the bust a branch of laurel with, around the rim, the legend, EDWARD VII DELHI DURBAR 1903.
Reverse: Inset within a floral wreath of roses - a Persian inscription reading : By the Favour of the Lord of the Realm Edward, King, Emperor of India, 1901.^[6][7][8]
The medal was awarded unnamed.^[4]

140 gold medals were awarded to ruling chiefs and 2,567 in silver to other dignitaries, government officials and members of the armed forces,^[9] who were actually involved in the celebrations.^[10]

See also

• Delhi Durbar Medal (1911)
• Delhi Durbar
• British colonial India
• Empress of India Medal

References

1. Christopher McCreery (2012). Commemorative Medals of the Queen's Reign in Canada, 1952-2012. Dundurn. pp. 32–. ISBN 978-1-4597-0756-6.
2. Howard N Cole. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals. pp. 24 and 37. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
3. "Order of wear: London Gazette: 22 April 1921, issue: 32300, page:3184".
4. Howard N Cole. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals. pp. 3–4. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
5. "No. 32300". The London Gazette. 22 April 1921. p. 3184.
6. Awards of honour: the orders, decorations, medals, and awards of Great Britain & the Commonwealth, from Edward III to Elizabeth II. Arthur Jocelyn - 1956 pp:124,127
7. British orders and awards: a description of all orders, decorations, long service, coronation, jubilee and commemoration medals, together with historical details concerning knighthood, service ranks and similar information by Lawrence L. Gordon, Kaye & Ward, 1968 pp:78-79
8. Henry Taprell Dorling (1918). Ribbons and Medals. G. Philip & Son. pp. 19, 40–41.
9. Howard N Cole. Coronation and Royal Commemorative Medals. p. 25. Published J. B. Hayward & Son, London. 1977.
10. John W. Mussell, editor. Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 289. Published Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. 2015. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)