The Order of British India, 1st Class O.B.I., Sirdar Bahadur, neck badge, 2nd Type from 1939, gold enamel.
The Order of British India, 1st Class O.B.I., neck badge, 2nd Type from 1939, gold enamel, 77mm x 40mm, 37.5g
Condition: Extremely Fine
The Order of British India was an order of merit which was bestowed by the East India Company for "long, faithful and honourable service", beginning in 1837. The Company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny, and the Order was incorporated into the British Honours System in 1859. The order became obsolete in 1947, after the partition of British India into the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.
The Order was awarded in two classes: first and second class. The recipients of the second class were entitled to the title Bahadur (hero) and recipients of the first class were entitled to use the title Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader), both using the post-nominal letters, OBI. The order was awarded for distinguished service on a particular campaign, but was also often awarded to officers for between 20 and 30 years service.