Burma 1885-7 Clasp Face – Original

Burma 1885-7 clasp face – original replacement faceplate for the India General Service Medal (1854) campaign clasp.

An original “Burma 1885-7” clasp face from the India General Service Medal (1854), representing the engraved front plate that formed part of the complete campaign clasp. This original Victorian component was manufactured for official issue and would originally have been fitted to the clasp body before being mounted on the medal ribbon. Original clasp faces are considerably scarcer than complete clasps, having often been separated during repairs, alterations, or restoration work over many decades.

The original Burma 1885-7 clasp was awarded to officers and men of the British Army, Indian Army, and supporting forces who served during the Third Anglo-Burmese War and the subsequent operations in Upper Burma between 1885 and 1887. Following the annexation of the Burmese Kingdom and the deposition of King Thibaw Min, British and Indian forces undertook prolonged operations to suppress widespread resistance, secure communications, and establish British administration throughout the newly annexed territory.

Campaigning in Burma presented considerable challenges, with troops operating through dense jungle, mountainous country, extensive river systems, and difficult tropical conditions. Infantry, mounted troops, engineers, artillery, and river flotillas all played vital roles in pacifying the region and extending British authority across Upper Burma.

As this example consists of the clasp face only, it offers collectors the opportunity to obtain an original official component suitable for restoring an incomplete India General Service Medal clasp or for inclusion within a specialist collection of campaign medal parts. Genuine original clasp faces are increasingly difficult to locate and are highly sought after by collectors of Victorian campaign medals and British Empire militaria.

The Burma 1885-7 clasp remains one of the principal campaign bars issued with the India General Service Medal (1854) and is an important reminder of Britain’s military operations in Burma during the late Victorian period.