Order Of British India First Class

Order Of British India Second Class

History

The Medal was originally instituted by the East India Company on the 18th of April 1837 for long, faithful and honourable service. The company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny and it became a part of the British honours system in 1859. The order became obsolete after India was granted independence in 1947 East India Company was the name of several historic European companies chartered with the monopoly of trading with Asia for their respective countries. ...

The Medal

The Order was awarded in two classes, first and second class. The recipients of the second class were entiteled to the post nominal title Bahadur (hero) and recipients of the first class were entitled to use the title Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader), and the post nominal letters OBI. The order was highly regarded and was awarded for distinguished service on a particular campaign, but was also often awarded to officers for between twenty and thirty years service.

The Ribbon

The original Ribbon, Between 1837 and 1838

The Second Ribbon, Between 1838 and 1939

Stripes were added in 1939, two for the first class and one for the second class

Reference

British Orders And Deccorations, Peter Duckers