5102 B Barrett Indian Telegraph Department

5102 – B Barrett Indian Telegraph Department, East Africa or Mesopotamia

(Lt Col E.W.C. Sandes “The Indian Sappers and Miners”)

In January 1890 the Indian Telegraph Department assumed responsibility for military telegraphy in India, and it was decided that in future expeditions the Department should make all arrangements for Army telegraphs, using either civilian telegraphists or Indian Sapper and Miner personnel who had been attached for training.

As a means of training, two sub-divisions of the telegraph system were to be worked entirely by Madras Sappers under the orders of the Director General of Telegraphs.

Meanwhile the Indian Sapper and Miner Regiments trained in other aspects of military signals duties and formed Divisional Signal Companies.

When Indian Expeditionary Force “B” was sent to East Africa in 1914 the Force Headquarters included a Telegraph Section. The manning of this Section included military telegraph operators recalled from service with the Indian Telegraph Department.

 (Courtesy of Great War Forum member Bushfighter.)

When in India, civilian employees were employed in the "Posts and Telegraphs Department". It is suggested that during most of WW1 when outside India the Post and Telegraph Departments operated independently, the Telegraph Department operations being under the Signal Officer-in-Chief.

I am inclined to think that due to the absence of a quoted rank, and military formation within the naming of the medal, that this medal was awarded to a civilian member of the Indian Telegraph Department, for service in Mesopotamia or East Africa.