Burma 1887-89 Clasp Face – Original for the India General Service (1854)

Burma 1887-89 clasp face – original replacement face plate for the India General Service Medal (1854) campaign clasp.

An original “Burma 1887-89” 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 1887-89 clasp was awarded to officers and men of the British Army, Indian Army, and supporting forces who served during continued military operations in Upper Burma between 1887 and 1889. Following the annexation of Burma after the Third Anglo-Burmese War, British and Indian troops remained engaged in a prolonged campaign to suppress armed resistance, secure communications, and establish British administration throughout the newly acquired territory.

Operations during this period involved mobile columns operating through dense jungle, mountainous regions, and extensive river systems. British and Indian Army units conducted patrols, expeditions, and security operations against organised resistance and local insurgent groups, often under extremely challenging tropical conditions. These campaigns formed an important part of the wider consolidation of British control over Burma during the late Victorian period.

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 Victorian campaign medal parts. Genuine original clasp faces are increasingly difficult to locate and are highly sought after by collectors of British Indian Army medals, Burma campaign awards, and Victorian militaria.

The Burma 1887-89 clasp remains an important Burma-related clasp issued with the India General Service Medal (1854) and is particularly desirable among collectors of Victorian campaign medals and British Empire military history.

This example would make an excellent addition to a collection of India General Service Medal (1854) components, British campaign medal restorations, or Victorian military memorabilia.

Dimensions

Approx. 36mm × 12mm

Condition

Good overall original condition, with age-related wear consistent with an officially issued Victorian campaign clasp component. Light rubbing, surface marks, and minor signs of handling may be present. An attractive and scarce original clasp face suitable for restoration, display, or specialist collecting.