A medal was struck for this victory, which was conferred on all present
in the three actions of the 16th., 17th., and 18th. of June, 1815. In a
letter from the Duke of Wellington to the Duke of York, dated Orville,
28th. June, 1815, His Grace wrote, “I would likewise beg leave to
suggest to your Royal Highness the expediency of giving to the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers engaged in the Battle of Waterloo
a medal. I am convinced it would have the best effect in the army; and
if that battle should settle our concerns, they will well deserve it.”
In a letter from His Grace to Earl Bathurst, Secretary of State for the
War Department, on the 17th. of September, this passage occurs:—“I have
long intended to write to you about the medal for Waterloo. I
recommended that we should all have the same medal, hung to the same
ribbon as that now used with the medals.”
The Waterloo Medal has on the obverse the laureated head of the Prince
Regent, inscribed GEORGE P. REGENT; on the reverse is Victory, seated on
a pedestal, holding the palm in the right hand, and the olive branch in
the left. Above the figure of Victory is the name of the illustrious
commander WELLINGTON, and under it the word WATERLOO, with the date of
the battle, June 18th., 1815. This figure evidently owes its origin to
the ancient Greek coin represented in the accompanying engraving. A
specimen of the coin is preserved in the British Museum. The name, rank,
and regiment of the officer or soldier were engraved round the edge[71]
of the medal, which was to be suspended from the button-hole of the
uniform to the ribbon authorized for the military medals, namely,
crimson with blue edges. In the “London Gazette,” of the 23rd. of April,
1816, was published the following official notification:—