When Napoleon proposed the institution of the Legion of Honour, he was
met by the assertion that: “Crosses and ribbons were the pillars of an
hereditary throne, and that they were unknown to the Romans, who
conquered the world.” In his reply to this objection—after showing that
Rome rewarded the achievements of her citizens by all kinds of
distinctions—he added: “For the soldier, as for all men in active life,
you must have glory and distinction; recompenses are the food which
nourish military virtue.”
For many years a similar antagonistic feeling to the granting of Medals
to all ranks prevailed in this country, although the propriety of
rewarding the victors of a hundred fights with some decoration was
warmly advocated by the press, and the result eagerly expected by the
veterans who had survived.
It remained for her present Majesty the Queen to carry out the foregoing
maxim of a great military genius, in her Army and Navy; for with the
exception of the Medal given for Waterloo, the soldiers who won the
fields of Assaye, Salamanca, and Vittoria, and the gallant seamen who
conquered at St. Vincent, the Nile, and Trafalgar, remained undecorated
till the year 1847, without even a piece of ribbon to show for the many
actions in which they had risked their lives in the service and defence
of their country.
The following Work, besides describing the Medals, aims at giving a
concise account of the Campaigns and Actions for which Medals and Clasps
have been conferred, drawn from the most authentic sources; interspersed
with notes and anecdotes of regimental and individual acts of bravery.
The engravings have been executed from the Medals themselves, so as to
ensure their exact representation; and it is hoped the narratives of
“How they were won,” will be found equally trustworthy, as no pains have
been spared to secure accuracy.
The accounts of the Wars in New Zealand and South Africa, and of the
numerous Expeditions for which the Indian General Service Medal has been
granted, will be found in a more detailed and collected form than
hitherto published in a single volume.
The first edition of this Work, by the late Mr. T. CARTER, described the
Medals of the British Army, and the Campaigns for which they were
granted, to the year 1860. This part has been carefully revised, and
alterations either of excision or addition made in almost every page.
For the accounts of all Expeditions and Battles, and the Decorations
given for them, from 1860 to the present date, the Editor alone is
responsible.
Descriptions of some Naval Engagements and Actions of Naval Brigades
will also be found, as in most of the campaigns the operations of the
two branches of the service have been so combined, that it is scarcely
possible to describe one without the other.
A complete history of the Medals of the British Navy, and how they were
won; forming a companion volume to the present, is now in the press, and
will be published as speedily as possible.