Anglo-Persian War

While Andrew Munro was working for the Honourable East India Company, the British declared war on the Persian Empire after Persia took Herat and violated the Anglo-Persian Treaty.[i] As part of his service Andrew fought in the Persian Campaign.

For his service, Andrew was awarded the battle honour of a “Persian Medal with one clasp.”[ii] This was one of four battle honours awarded to those who participated in the Anglo-Persian War.[iii]

The Persian Campaign was fought between 5^th December 1856 and 8^th February 1857,[iv][v] after the end of the Crimean War in April 1856 and before the beginning of the Indian Mutiny in May 1857.[vi]

The Persian Medal with one clasp

The Persian Medal was an India General Service Medal awarded between 1854-1895 for participants involved in minor military campaigns in India and nearby countries.[vii] Each Medal included a Clasp. The Clasp indicates in which theatre of war the soldier fought.[viii]   

Figure 1 India General Service Medal (1854). (2024, March 2). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_General_Service_Medal_(1854) [Note: In Andrew’s case the clasp would have been inscribed “Persia” instead of Burma.]

Gleanings from Andrew’s Military Records 1856/1857

Before the Perian Campaign Andrew had been promoted to Corporal on 13 November 1855 and transferred from the regiment to the “Non Effect List” [N.E.L] becoming employed as a staff member of the Army working in the Store [ordinance warehouse].[ix]

During the period of the campaign, Andrew was promoted to Acting Store w/ Rank Corporal on 8 October 1856 a position he continued to hold after the campaign until he was promoted to the Store with the Rank Corporal [ie he was no longer in an acting position].[x]

The medal indicates that he was in active service in Persia, between 5^th December 1856 and 8^th February 1857.

Useful links for background

WikiTree profile for : Andrew Munro (1826 - 1901)
Related Blog Posts: for Andrew Munro

Blogpost Meta Data 

• The URL for this post is: https://ancestralresearchjournal.blogspot.com/2024/09/anglo-persian-war.html originally published 30 September 2024
• Author 2023, Sandra Williamson

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[i] The Anglo-Persian war https://www.thebluejackets.co.uk/research/period/Anglo-PersianWar

[ii] "United Kingdom, Chelsea Pensioners' Service Records, 1760-1913." Database with Images. FindMyPast. http://findmypast.com  : accessed 15/4/2016. citing WO97, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Entry for Andrew Munro Service Number 96. (Page – 1 of 4)

[iii] Anglo-Persian War. (2024, September 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Persian_War

[iv] Anglo-Persian War. (2024, September 11). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Persian_War

[v] Guide to British Medals, The India General Service Medal 1854-1895 (Accessed https://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/indiageneralservice1854.htm : 30 September 2024)

[vi] Standish, J. F. “The Persian War of 1856-1857.” Middle Eastern Studies, vol. 3, no. 1, 1966, pp. 18–45. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4282185. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024. [page 39]

[vii] India General Service Medal (1854). (2024, March 2). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_General_Service_Medal_(1854)

[viii] Medals and decorations of the British army and navy : Mayo, John Horsley : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/medalsdecoration02mayouoft/medalsdecoration02mayouoft  via Internetarchive : 30 September 2024) citing page 341.

[ix] Jameson, G. I. Code of Military Regulations at Present in Force Under the Presidency of Bombay. government at the Bombay Education Society’s Press, 1844. Governor General Orders (G.G.O.)Town Mayor’s Non Effect list page 872

[x] "United Kingdom, Chelsea Pensioners' Service Records, 1760-1913." Database with Images. FindMyPast. http://findmypast.com  : accessed 15/4/2016. citing WO97, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Entry for Andrew Munro Service Number 96. (Page – 1 of 4)