Why is there no Indian Police Long Service Medal?

[ralstona]

Just a question that has been nagging me for awhile. I am sure there is a perfectly logical explanation:

Why was there no long service award for members of the Indian Police? Seems like every other colonial police force in the empire was either entitled to the Colonial Police Long Service Medal or had their own (R.C.M.P, Ceylon, Malta, Cyprus).

Were the Indian authorities just cheap or was there some philosophical justification?

[QSAMIKE]

I know of the Ceylon Police medals but would the Indian Sub-Continent be covered by the Colonial Police Long Service Medal and the Colonial Special Constabulary Long Service Medal......

I think because there were so many different states they decided to use the above.....

Mike

[ralstona]

No, the Indian Police were NOT eligble for the Colonial Police Long Service Medal. I have never been able to figure it out. They had their own distinguished service / gallantry award (the IPM) which was equal of the Colonial Police Medal (for Distinguished Service or Gallantry) but there was no Long Service conterpart.

[QSAMIKE]

HHHHHHHuuuuuuuuummmmmmmm

Very interesting..... Have you tried posting your question on the British Medals Forum??????

Mike

[ralstona]

HHHHHHHuuuuuuuuummmmmmmm

Very interesting..... Have you tried posting your question on the British Medals Forum??????

Mike

Thanks Mike, I just did it! Thanks so much for the suggestion. I notice you are from Calgary. We'll be up your way in a few weeks. We live in NJ now but my wife is from Edmonton and we are coming up for a month.

[Ulsterman]

Hmmmmm... I reckon SAgongs.org or OMSA might have an answer.....I'll try there.

[Tony Farrell]

.

Edited July 15, 2010 by Tony Farrell

[Nick]

The awarding of Police Long Service through out the Empire including home in Great Britain was a largely disjointed affair with differing awards and medals being appointed for different parts of the Empire . The style of policing also differed with most Colonial Forces being run along military lines. Also remember that when first instituted the Colonial Long Service medal was aimed at Junior Officers, the majority of which would have been White Europeans, it was only later in the Twentieth Century that junior ranks could be awarded it. India also had the Indian Police Medal which despite its limited circulation would have been viewed as a more appropriate method of awarding Meritorious Service as well as Gallantry, perhaps surprisingly the vast majority being awarded to non white indigenous officers. Perhaps someone can give you a more definitive answer but my thoughts are that being the 'Jewel in the Crown of the Empire' and with various awards already in circulation specific to India at the time of institution the Colonial Police long Service Medal was not even considered as being necessary for India, much like the attitudes of the time viewed British police officers (remember British Police did not get a long service medal until the early 1950s well after Indian independence).

[Tony Farrell]

The Colonial Police LSM would have been inappropriate to India, as it was not a colony. Long serving Indian policemen were rewarded with pensions, titles and land prior to the introduction of the IPM, Title Badges and the KPM. A dedicated long service medal - a useful (and respected) token elsewhere - was (thus) pretty superfluous.