Burma 1887-89 Clasp – Original

Burma 1887–89 clasp, original example of the campaign bar awarded with the India General Service Medal (1854) for service during continued operations in Burma following the annexation of Upper Burma.

Manufactured in silver, this original “Burma 1887–89” clasp was awarded to officers and men of the British Army, Indian Army, and associated forces who took part in military operations in Burma between 1887 and 1889. The clasp was fitted to the ribbon of the India General Service Medal (1854), recognising service during the prolonged campaigns required to establish British control following the annexation of the Burmese Kingdom.

Following the capture of Mandalay and the deposition of King Thibaw Min in 1885, British forces faced widespread resistance throughout Upper Burma. The Burma 1887–89 clasp was awarded for the subsequent operations against insurgent groups and local forces who continued to oppose British rule across the region.

The campaign involved extensive jungle warfare, river operations, and mobile expeditions through some of the most challenging terrain encountered by Victorian troops. British and Indian units conducted numerous patrols and punitive expeditions, often operating in isolated areas with difficult communications, tropical conditions, and persistent opposition. The operations required the involvement of infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers, and locally raised military forces.

The Burma 1887–89 clasp forms part of the wider series of Burma clasps issued with the India General Service Medal (1854), reflecting the prolonged nature of military operations after the initial conquest. It remains an important and desirable clasp among collectors of Victorian campaign medals, British Indian Army history, and British Empire militaria.

Original clasps from the India General Service Medal (1854) series are highly sought after, both as individual collecting items and as components for medal restoration. Their historical significance lies in their direct association with the campaigns that shaped British rule in nineteenth-century Burma.

Manufactured in silver and retaining its original construction, this example represents an authentic and collectable piece of Victorian military history.

Dimensions

Approx. 38mm × 16mm

Condition

Good overall original condition, with crisp lettering and an attractive age-related silver patina. Light wear, minor surface marks, and signs of handling consistent with age may be present. An excellent original example of a desirable India General Service Medal campaign clasp.