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THE NEW FRANCE
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[Illustration: MEDALS AWARDED TO SERGEANT-MAJOR, LATER QUARTERMASTER,
CHARLES WOODEN, 17TH LANCERS, ONE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
_Frontispiece_]
WAR MEDALS
AND THEIR HISTORY
BY
W. AUGUSTUS STEWARD
OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE
AUTHOR OF "FROM THE BREASTS OF THE BRAVE," ETC.
_With 258 Illustrations
in Half-tone and Line_
LONDON
STANLEY PAUL & CO
31 ESSEX STREET STRAND W.C.
_First published in 1915_
FOREWORDS
If any excuse were needed for penning this, it is to be found in the
exceeding interest which was taken in my monograph "Badges of the
Brave." Indeed, many readers have requested me to deal, at greater
length, with a subject which not only opens up a great historical
vista and awakens national sentiment, but, incidentally, serves an
educational mission to those who collect and those who sell the
metallic records of many a hard-fought field, which, when collated,
form an imperishable record of our island story.
The War Medal is a comparatively modern institution, otherwise we might
have learned the names of the common folk who fought so tenaciously in
the old wars, as, for instance, the Welsh infantry and Irish soldiers
who, with the English bowmen, comprised the army of 30,000 which at
Crécy routed an army of 120,000; the followers of the Black Prince
who captured the impetuous King John at Poitiers, or the English
archers whose deadly volleys made such havoc at Agincourt, on that
fateful day in October nearly five hundred years ago; the brave seamen
who, under Lord Howard, Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, fought the
"Invincible Armada"; and those who, under Raleigh, vigorously pursued
the Spaniards on the high seas. We might have learned something of
the men who composed the Royal Scots and the 18th Royal Irish, and
helped to vindicate the reputation of the British soldier at Namur,
and covered themselves with glory at Blenheim; the gallant Coldstream
Guards who did such excellent service under Marlborough at Oudenarde
and Malplaquet, as well as the Gloucesters and Worcesters who fought
so well at Ramillies, or the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who served under
George II at Dettingen.
When, however, war medals were designed for distribution among
successful combatants, a means of decorating surviving soldiers and
sailors was established, and at the same time a sentimental and
substantial record of a man's labours for his country upon the field
of battle. So that, if the veterans of Drake's historic fleet, or
Marlborough's dauntless soldiers, were not possessed of badges to
distinguish them from the soldiers of industry, we, at any rate, may
hold in our hands the medals which were awarded to those who served
the immortal Nelson, and be proud to possess the medals which shone
upon the breasts of our great grandparents who defied the Conqueror
of Europe on that memorable Sunday, and made his sun to set upon the
battlefield of Waterloo.
Have you listened to the smart British veteran as he explains the
disposition of the troops on that historic occasion--how the French
cavalry "foamed itself away" in the face of those steady British
squares? How he makes the Welsh blood tingle as he records the glorious
deeds and death of Sir Thomas Picton, and the Scotsman's dance through
his veins as he explains how, with the cold steel of their terrible
bayonets, the Black Watch at Quatre Bras, and its second battalion, the
Perthshires, at Waterloo, waited for the charge of the cuirassiers; and
how Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys captured the Eagle of the 45th,
and then, with the rest of the Union Brigade (the English Royals and
the Irish Inniskillings), crashed through the ranks of the faltering
French, and scattered the veterans of Napoleon's army! Have you
seen how the mention of the Guards holding the Château of Hougomont
brightens the eye of the Englishman? Yes! Then just think what it is
to touch and possess the solid proofs of the deeds that those men did,
and to feel that you have in your possession the only recompense those
brave and daring men received from a grateful country.
=Historical Value.=--My collection of medals enables me to cover over a
hundred years of history; takes me back to the stirring times when men
yet met face to face in the Peninsula and at Waterloo; to the men who
founded our Indian Empire. It enables me to keep in touch with sailors
who fought in the battle of the Nile, at Trafalgar, and at Navarino,
that last of all naval battles in which we British took part--our
allies were then the French and Russians--until our battleships met
those of the Germans in the great war now waging. It reminds me of the
horsemen who made the world wonder ere, with deathless glory, they
passed their little day, and of that "thin red line" of Scots, whose
cool daring at Balaklava has only been bedimmed by the gallantry of the
Light Brigade. It enables me to think more intimately of the men I know
who faced the Russians in that terrible winter, and then, like heroes,
plodded through the inferno of the Mutiny. It brings back vividly to
my mind the days of the Zulu War and the heroism of Rorke's Drift. It
reminds me of the daring march to Kandahar and the frontier wars so
necessary to hold back the turbulent human surf which beats on the
shores of our great Eastern Empire. It enables me to keep closely in
touch with those who so quickly dealt with Arabi Pasha and later faced
the fanatical hordes of the Mahdi; the young men of this generation
who fought so stubbornly at the Modder River, and who stormed the
Tugela Heights. It enables me to keep in touch with those "handymen"
and scouts on the fringe of Empire who in Somaliland, Gambia, Benin,
Matabeleland, and Bechuanaland uphold the dignity of Britain.
We sometimes read of a man or woman who has shaken hands, sixty,
seventy, or eighty years ago, with some great person, or some one whose
deeds have made him or her a name in history. The possession of war
medals and decorations, or of medals of honour gained by brave deeds
in time of peace, brings us in close touch with those who honourably
gained them. That is an aspect of medal-collecting which appeals to
me, and should to every one who admires pluck, grit, daring, and the
willingness to personal sacrifice which these badges of the brave
denote.
Finally there is an exceptional feature in the collection of war
medals which will also appeal, for, as Sir James Yoxall has pointed
out in "The A B C About Collecting," the collector of war medals "has
concentrated upon a line which can be made complete." If, however,
his inclinations or his means will not permit of the acquisition of a
complete set he may specialise in either Military or Naval Medals, or
those awarded to special regiments or ships, or to men of his own name,
or those earned by boys or nurses.
In order to facilitate the search for bars issued with the various
medals, the names inscribed thereon are printed in the text in small
capitals: these, of course, must not be taken as representing the type
used on the official bars; reference must be made to the illustrations,
which, being the same size as the original medals, will materially
assist the reader in recognising official lettering.
In conclusion I have to express my sincere thanks for the help afforded
and the deep interest taken in my book by Dr. A. A. Payne, whose
kindness in providing photographs of examples in his unique collection
has enabled me to illustrate many interesting and rare medals; to G. K.
J. and F. W. G. for clerical assistance; G. T. F. for sketches; and to
Messrs. Heywood & Co., Ltd., for the loan of several of the blocks of
medals which had been used in monographs I had written for publication
by them.
W. AUGUSTUS STEWARD.
LONDON.
CONTENTS
MILITARY SECTION
PAGE
FIRST CAMPAIGN MEDALS 1
EARLY MEDALS GRANTED BY THE HONOURABLE EAST
INDIA COMPANY 9
FIRST MEDAL FOR EGYPT, 1801 16
THE MAHRATTA WAR 20
FIRST OFFICIAL MILITARY OFFICERS' MEDAL 25
THE PENINSULAR WAR 26
CONTINENTAL PENINSULAR WAR MEDALS 66
WATERLOO AND QUATRE BRAS 70
BRITISH AND CONTINENTAL WATERLOO MEDALS 81
NEPAUL, 1814-15 86
FIRST BURMESE WAR 90
FIRST AFGHAN WAR 94
FIRST CHINESE WAR 98
SECOND AFGHAN WAR 100
THE GWALIOR CAMPAIGN 109
THE SIKH WARS 111
SECOND PUNJAB CAMPAIGN 119
FIRST NEW ZEALAND WAR 124
MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL GRANTED 128
INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL GRANTED 133
FIRST KAFFIR WARS 134
SECOND BURMESE WAR 137
THE CRIMEAN WAR 139
PERSIAN WAR 155
INDIAN MUTINY 156
SECOND CHINESE WAR 178
SECOND NEW ZEALAND WAR 182
ABYSSINIAN WAR 189
ASHANTEE WAR 192
ZULU WAR 197
THIRD AFGHAN WAR 202
EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGNS 210
RIEL'S REBELLION 217
ANNEXATION OF BURMA 218
BLACK MOUNTAIN AND BORDER EXPEDITIONS 220
EAST AND WEST AFRICA 227
SECOND ASHANTEE WAR 229
CHITRAL 230
MATABELELAND AND RHODESIA 235
THE SUDAN 239
THIRD ASHANTEE WAR 244
THIRD CHINESE WAR 245
THE BOER WAR 248
NIGERIA 256
AFRICAN EXPEDITIONS 257
NATAL REBELLION 259
TIBET EXPEDITION 259
ABOR 261
SUDAN, 1910 262
NAVAL SECTION
ARMADA MEDALS 266
CHARLES I MEDALS 267
COMMONWEALTH MEDALS 268
THE DUTCH WARS 269
CHARLES II MEDALS 271
LA HOGUE 273
QUEEN ANNE MEDALS 274
GEORGE I AND GEORGE II MEDALS 276
"THE GLORIOUS" 1ST OF JUNE 279
NAVAL GOLD MEDAL INSTITUTED 280
ST. VINCENT 281
CAMPERDOWN 283
THE NILE 284
COPENHAGEN 287
TRAFALGAR 288
TRAFALGAR MEDALS 290
BARS ISSUED WITH NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 293
BARS ISSUED FOR BOAT ACTIONS 305
ALGIERS 306
AVA 307
NAVARINO 308
SYRIA 309
CHINA, 1840-2 310
SCINDE, 1843 310
PUNJAB, 1848-9 311
CHINA, 1856-60 311
PEGU 311
CRIMEA 312
NAVAL BRIGADE IN CRIMEAN WAR 315
INDIAN MUTINY 316
NEW ZEALAND, 1845-6-7 317
CREWS ENGAGED IN ABYSSINIA, ASHANTEE, PERAK,
AND SOUTH AFRICA 318
EGYPTIAN WARS 319
AFRICAN EXPEDITIONS 329
BOER WAR 333
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALS 336
LONG SERVICE MEDALS 348
HOW MEDALS ARE NAMED 352
SOME CONTINENTAL AND FOREIGN WAR MEDALS 357
PISTRUCCI'S WATERLOO MEDAL 374
REGIMENTAL DESIGNATIONS 377
SALE PRICES 382
INDEX 401
ILLUSTRATIONS
V.C. AND MEDALS AWARDED TO QUARTERMASTER WOODEN _Frontispiece_
FACING PAGE
ROYALIST BADGES 1
DUNBAR MEDAL 4
MEDAL FOR OUDENARDE 4
H.E.I. CO.'S MEDAL FOR SERINGAPATAM, 1799 12
H.E.I. CO.'S MEDAL FOR EGYPT, 1801 12
PENINSULAR GOLD MEDAL 16
GOLD MEDAL FOR MAIDA, 1806 20
H.E.I. CO.'S MEDAL FOR AVA, 1824-6 20
PORTUGUESE GOLD CROSS (COMMANDER'S) FOR THE PENINSULAR 28
PORTUGUESE OFFICER'S CROSS FOR THE PENINSULAR 32
SPANISH CROSS FOR ALBUHERA 36
SPANISH CROSS FOR CIUDAD RODRIGO 36
SPANISH GOLD CROSS FOR VITTORIA 36
ALCANTARA MEDAL, 1809 40
MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 40
PENINSULAR GOLD CROSS 44
PENINSULAR GOLD MEDAL WITH BARS 44
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BRACKENBURY'S DECORATIONS 48
PRUSSIAN MEDALS FOR NAPOLEONIC WARS 52
BRONZE MEDAL TO BRITISH GERMAN LEGION 52
SILVER MEDAL TO HANSEATIC LEGION 52
WATERLOO MEDAL 56
ARMY OF INDIA MEDAL, 1799-1826 56
NASSAU MEDAL FOR WATERLOO 60
HANOVERIAN MEDAL FOR WATERLOO 60
PRUSSIAN JUBILEE MEDALS FOR WATERLOO 64
"ST. HELENA" MEDAL 64
BRUNSWICK MEDAL FOR WATERLOO 72
SAXE-GOTHA-ALTENBURG WATERLOO MEDAL 72
PISTRUCCI'S WATERLOO MEDAL 80
GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S MEDAL FOR GHUZNEE, 1839 88
MEDAL FOR GHUZNEE, 1839 88
MEDAL FOR KELAT-I-GHILZIE, 1842 96
FIRST JELLALABAD MEDAL, 1842 96
SECOND JELLALABAD MEDAL ("FLYING VICTORY"), 1842 100
CHINA MEDAL, 1842 100
MEDAL FOR CABUL, 1842 100
MEDAL FOR CANDAHAR, ETC. 108
BRONZE STAR FOR MAHARAJPOOR 108
BRONZE STAR FOR PUNNIAR, 1843 112
MEDAL FOR SUTLEJ, 1845 112
MEDAL FOR PUNJAB, 1849 112
FIRST INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 1854 120
FIRST SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, 1853 120
CRIMEA MEDALS 128
FIRST MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE 132
SARDINIAN CRIMEA MEDAL 132
SECOND CHINESE WAR MEDAL 132
VICTORIA CROSS 136
INDIAN ORDER OF MERIT 136
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL 136
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL 140
CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY MEDAL 140
INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL 144
NEW ZEALAND MEDAL 144
ABYSSINIAN MEDAL 148
CANADA MEDAL 148
ASHANTEE MEDAL 148
ZULU WAR MEDAL 148
AFGHAN MEDAL, 1878-9-80 156
ROBERTS STAR FOR KANDAHAR 156
HONG-KONG PLAGUE MEDAL 160
EGYPTIAN WAR MEDAL 160
KHEDIVE'S STAR 160
INDIA MEDAL FOR FOUR CAMPAIGNS 164
EGYPTIAN MEDAL FOR THREE CAMPAIGNS 164
AFRICA MEDAL FOR FIVE EXPEDITIONS 164
JUMMOO AND KASHMIR MEDAL 168
HUNZA NAGAR BADGE 168
MEDAL FOR MATABELELAND 172
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE MEDAL 172
QUEEN'S SUDAN MEDAL (REVERSE) 172
KHEDIVE'S SUDAN MEDAL (OBVERSE) 172
QUEEN'S SUDAN MEDAL (OBVERSE) 176
KHEDIVE'S SUDAN MEDAL (REVERSE) 176
QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL (OBVERSE) 176
KING'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL (REVERSE) 176
BOER WAR MEDALS FOR COMPARISON 180
MAJOR CROOPER'S DECORATIONS 184
MEDALS ILLUSTRATING PHASES IN THE LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA 188
BRONZE STAR FOR ASHANTI, 1896 192
INDIA 1895 MEDAL 192
MAYOR'S STAR FOR DEFENCE OF KIMBERLEY 192
MEDAL FOR ASHANTI, 1900 198
MEDAL FOR TIBET, 1903-4 198
MEDAL FOR NATAL REBELLION 198
INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 1908 204
INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR ABOR, 1911-12 204
MEDAL FOR SUDAN, 1910 204
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS 208
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER 208
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS 208
ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE MEDAL 224
H.E.I. CO.'S MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL 224
KING EDWARD'S ARMY LONG SERVICE MEDAL 224
VICTORIAN VOLUNTEER OFFICER'S DECORATION 240
EDWARDIAN COLONIAL AND AUXILIARY FORCES DECORATION 240
KING EDWARD'S MILITIA LONG SERVICE MEDAL 244
KING GEORGE'S TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY MEDAL 244
VICTORIAN MILITARY LONG SERVICE MEDAL 252
KING GEORGE'S NAVAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL 252
EGYPTIAN MEDAL FOR BRAVERY 256
THE MILITARY CROSS 256
ELIZABETHAN NAVAL MEDAL 266
COMMONWEALTH MEDAL FOR DUTCH WARS 266
LORD UPPINGHAM'S ARMADA MEDAL 270
THE WYARD MEDAL 270
CHARLES II SILVER NAVAL MEDAL 272
QUEEN ANNE SILVER NAVAL MEDAL 276
WILLIAM III SILVER MEDAL FOR LA HOGUE 280
NAVAL GOLD MEDAL FOR THE "GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE" 280
REAR-ADMIRAL USSHER'S DECORATIONS 284
DAVISON'S MEDAL FOR THE NILE 288
BOULTON'S MEDAL FOR TRAFALGAR 290
NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 292
SULTAN'S MEDAL FOR ACRE 292
BALTIC MEDAL 296
NAVAL MEDAL FOR BEST SHOT 296
AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 296
EARL OF ST. VINCENT'S MEDAL, 1800 304
WILLIAM IV NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDAL 308
VICTORIAN NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDAL 308
EDWARD VII NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDAL 308
CROSS OF THE LÉGION D'HONNEUR 320
PRUSSIAN ORDER OF MERIT (2ND CLASS) 324
AUSTRIAN CROSS FOR 1813-14 324
HESSIAN MEDAL FOR 1814-15 324
THE IRON CROSS 332
AUSTRIAN ORDER OF THE IRON CROWN 332
PRUSSIAN MEDAL FOR DISTINCTION IN SERVICE 332
AUSTRIAN OFFICER'S GILT CROSS 332
SILVER CROSS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1846 336
IRON CROSS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1836 336
SILVER MEDAL FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1836 340
BADEN MEDAL FOR 1849 340
BADEN MEDAL "FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE" 340
FRENCH MEDAL FOR MEXICO, 1862-3 348
FRENCH MEDAL FOR TONKIN, 1883-5 348
PAPAL MEDAL FOR 1860 352
CROSS FOR KÖNIG GRÄTZ (SADOWA) 352
GENEVA CROSS FOR 1870-1 352
FRENCH MEDAL FOR 1870-1 356
GERMAN MEDAL FOR 1870-1 356
CHILIAN WAR MEDALS 356
RUSSIAN WAR DECORATIONS 364
GOLD MEDAL FOR MANILA BAY 368
MEDAL FOR SERBO-TURKISH WAR 372
MEDAL FOR SERBO-BULGARIAN WAR 372
SERBIAN MEDAL "FOR COURAGE" 376
SERBIAN MEDAL FOR SERVICE TO WOUNDED 376
GERMAN MEDAL FOR SOUTH-WEST AFRICA 380
GREEK MEDAL FOR GRECO-TURKISH WAR 380
SECOND MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE 384
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT
H.E.I. Co. Honourable East India Company.
M.G.S. Military General Service.
N.G.S. Naval General Service.
I.G.S. India General Service.
V.C. Victoria Cross.
D.S.O. Distinguished Service Order.
D.C.M. Distinguished Conduct Medal.
D.S.C. Distinguished Service Cross.
D.S.M. Distinguished Service Medal.
C.G.M. Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.
G.S.M. General Service Medal.
[Illustration: MEDALLION OF EARL OF ESSEX.]
[Illustration: SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX MILITARY AWARD, 1645.]
[Illustration: BADGE OF CHARLES I AND HENRIETTA.
ROYALIST BADGES.]
WAR MEDALS AND THEIR HISTORY
Since the days when woad-clad Britons faced Cæsar's legions we have had
a military system, but it was not, so far as we have any substantial
evidence, until the days of Elizabeth that personal decorations were
awarded for military service, or distinction on the seas or in the
field.
In the Middle Ages, a warrior, knighted on the field of battle, was
permitted to use a square instead of a swallow-tailed pennon, as a
knight's banneret, and to use a war cry, from whence we may trace the
origin of the mottoes used with Coats of Arms.
Later, after Sedgemoor (July 6th, 1685), recognition of the lower ranks
is recorded in the bestowal of a gratuity of £40 to Sergeant Weems of
the 1st Royals (now the Royal Scots) for serving the great guns in an
emergency; but these types of award hardly provided that personal note
or record which the war medal, as we know it, gives to the recipient.
It is fitting that the Navy, which had existed for centuries prior
to the establishment of a standing Army, should take precedence in
the bestowal of awards for active service; the rout of the Spanish
Armada--in 1588--probably gave the incentive to Good Queen Bess to
commemorate the auspicious occasion by the issue of medals in gold and
silver, and we may reasonably assume that they were given for personal
decoration to the leading officers engaged in the defeat of the
Armada, or that the recipients thought that by wearing them they would
show respect to the Queen, and thus established the custom of wearing
medals, presented by the Sovereign for War Service. A specimen of these
medals, with rings and chain for suspension, probably from the neck, is
to be seen in the British Museum.
Just over fifty years later, Charles I established the principle for
the Army, and thus strengthened the precedent, which was gradually
extended, until now every boy and man who has acquitted himself
creditably in a campaign, and the nurses also, may rightly claim the
medallic recognition and record of their principal services by land or
by sea.
=Elizabethan Naval Medals.=--A silver medal, with an attached half-ring
loop for suspension, was apparently given by Queen Elizabeth for naval
achievements; it is oval, and bears on the obverse a bust of the
Queen, and on the reverse a bay tree on an island, with the legend
impressed thereon NON · IPSA · PERICVLA · TANGVNT. This is a splendidly
decorative medal. The "Ark-in-Flood medal," though hardly so well
designed or so delicately cut, is characteristic. It is generally
stated that it was given to the principal officers who fought against
the Armada, or to commanders who had distinguished themselves at sea.
The medal was struck in gold and silver and measured 2 in. by 1¾ in.,
and was suspended by a fancy loop. On the obverse of the medal is a
bust of the Queen facing to the left, with the inscription ELIZABETH ◆
D ◆ G ◆ ANGLIE ◆ F ◆ ET ◆ H ◆ REG.
These, like another medal given by Elizabeth, we may reasonably suppose
to have been struck to commemorate the defeat of the "Invincible
Armada." James I issued a similar medal in gold and silver, with a ring
for suspension. On the reverse is the Ark upon the waters, having above
it, like Elizabeth's medal, the symbol indicative of Divine protection,
surrounded by the motto STET · SALVUS · IN · VNDIS. There are two
kinds of obverse to this medal, one with a portrait bust of the King
in armour with a ruff, and the legend FIDEI DEFENSOR encircling the
head. This apparently was for military officers, and the one bearing an
obverse with the King's head surmounted by a broad-brimmed hat, for his
courtiers. Nothing, however, can be stated with any certainty on this
point. The motto on the obverse is JACOBUS · D · G · MAG · BRITA · FR ·
ET · HI · REX; and on the reverse an ark within an oval band containing
the motto PER VNDUS SEVAS TRANQVILLA.
=Charles I establishes Military Medals.=--Having indicated the creation
of the campaign or active-service medal for the Navy, we will leave the
consideration of naval medals for the section which will be reserved
for that purpose and deal with the listing of the military badges of
the brave, commencing with those which were struck in the days of
Charles I, who established medals for military prowess.
They were, according to the order of the Court, held at Oxford on the
18th day of May, 1643, "to be delivered to wear on the breast of every
man who shall be certified under the hands of their commander-in-chief
to have done us faithful service in the forlorn hope." These medals
were only, it will be seen, given for very distinguished conduct in
the field. One bore the Royal image on the obverse, and Prince Charles
on the reverse; and the other the bust of Charles on the obverse, with
the inscription CAROLUS · D · G · MAG · BRI · FR · ET · HIB · REX, and
on the reverse the Royal Arms with the Garter bearing the motto HONI
· SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE. Both medals were silver and oval in
shape, the sizes being respectively 1·7 in. by 1·3 in. and 1·5 in. by
1·2 in.
=First Distinguished-conduct Medal.=--The first record we have of the
bestowal of a medal for conspicuous conduct in the field is in the
award made to an Irish commander who distinguished himself at the
Battle of Edge Hill--the first battle of the Civil War, fought on
October 23rd, 1642--by the recovery of a Royal standard, and certain
military accessories. The gallant soldier, who became Sir Robert Welch,
was subsequently presented with an oval gold medal specially cut to
the King's orders by the Royal "graver of seals and medals," Thomas
Rawlins. The King's instructions, given on the 1st day of June 1643,
were to the effect that the medal was to have on the obverse his own
figure, and that of his son Prince Charles, and on the reverse a copy
of the banner Welch saved at Edge Hill, together with the legend PER
REGALE MANDATVM CAROLI REGIS HOC ASSIGNATVR ROBERTO WELCH MILITI.
Encircling the busts of the King and his son was the inscription
CAROLUS REX MAGNAE BRITANNIAE, FRANCAIE ET HIBERNIAE CAROLUS PRINCEPS.
The medal, oval in form, was 1·7 in. by 1·5 in.
=The First Campaign Medal.=--The Dunbar medal--by the famous medallist,
Thomas Simon, was struck in two sizes, in gold (1 in. by ·85 in.) and
silver (1·35 in. by 1·15 in.), for presentation to officers and men who
"did this excellent service," and, to use the quaint words of Oliver
Cromwell, in "commemoration of that great mercie at Dunbar" where the
Scots Royalists were defeated on September 3rd, 1650. Although these
medals, which were worn suspended by a chain from the neck, cannot be
regarded as campaign medals in the modern sense, they have the unique
distinction of being the first of which there is a reliable record,
indicating that the common soldiery and officers equally participated
in the receipt of a military decoration for war service. This issue was
exceptional, for throughout the existence of the Commonwealth, although
medals were struck to commemorate naval victories over the Dutch, they
were given to officers only, and during succeeding years this appears
to have been the rule also until the beginning of the nineteenth
century, when the custom was established to bestow upon all soldiers,
from Field Marshal to drummer-boy, the same medal; that was after the
battle of Waterloo, June 18th, 1815.
[Illustration: THE DUNBAR MEDAL, 1650.]
[Illustration: (Obverse.) (Reverse.)
COMMEMORATIVE SILVER MEDAL FOR THE BATTLE OF OUDENARDE, 1708.]
The Dunbar medal, as the illustration facing page 1 shows, bears on
the obverse the bust of Cromwell in armour with the inscription in a
semicircle above ~WORD AT DVNBAR~·THE LORD OF HOSTS ~SEPTEM Y3·1650~.
On the reverse is quaintly depicted the House of Commons, which
referred to the Committee of the Army the consideration of a grant of
medals to officers and men who had served in Scotland, and to "set
the proportions and the values of them, and their number, and present
the estimate to the House." Bronze medals exist, but the reverses of
these are plain, despite Cromwell's request that an Army should form
the subject, which was only acceded to in so far as the legend is
concerned, and a slight suggestion of a fight behind the bust of the
Lord Protector.
The Cromwellians voted the sum of £100 to provide a gold medal, for
distinguished service, and chain for presentation to Colonel Mackworth,
who, as governor of Shrewsbury, had refused to surrender the castle to
the Royalists. Of Blake's medal and the other decorations for maritime
warfare I shall treat in the section devoted to naval medals, but I
might here remark upon the fact that in those Puritan days the seaman
appears to have been as much a "handyman" as in modern times, for, like
the present-day marine and seaman, he fought _Per Mare et per Terram_;
at any rate Generals Blake and Monk did, for they received naval medals
or awards from the Commonwealth for their services against the Dutch.
Various medals were struck during the Civil War by the Royalists, and
engravings are extant illustrating medals variously bearing on the
obverse the portraits of King Charles I, Prince Rupert, or one or
other of his leading supporters and generals, including the Earl of
Essex and Sir Thomas Fairfax. The reverse bore either a representation
of the Parliament or the arms of the person depicted on the obverse.
The victory of Naseby (June 14th, 1645) is commemorated by a silver
medal--gilt--with ring for suspension, upon the obverse of which is a
portrait of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the inscription THO: FAIRFAX MILES
MILIT PARL DUX GEN, and on the reverse with a circle meruisti and POST
HAEC MELIORA 1645.
During the reign of Charles II (when the foundation of a standing army
was established) and James II, there is no record of military medals
being struck, although during the reign of the former, as I shall
presently describe, naval medals were issued to commemorate victories
over the Dutch, and in the reign of the latter a large silver medal,
apparently for presentation to naval men, was issued.
During the reign of William III and Mary, naval medals only were
struck, and, as far as is known, only one such during the reign of
Queen Anne, for there is no record of any being issued for the famous
battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and Oudenarde (where, as "Prince
Elector of Hanover," George III distinguished himself), or the
sanguinary battle of Malplaquet, although commemorative medals were
struck.
The reign of George I is also barren of military campaign medals,
while there were apparently only two issued during the reign of George
II--one for the Battle of Culloden (April 16th, 1746), where the Duke
of Cumberland well earned the sobriquet of "The Butcher," and the other
for the taking of Louisbourg, in Canada (July 27th, 1758), where,
after a seven weeks' siege, the French garrison surrendered to General
Amherst.
=The Culloden Medals.=--The Culloden medal was struck to commemorate
the crushing of the Jacobite rebellion at the battle of Culloden on
April 16th, 1746, when the Scots under Prince Charles Edward and Lord
George Murray were defeated by the Duke of Cumberland. The medal, oval
in shape, and 1·75 in. by 1·45 in. in size, had on the obverse the head
of "The Butcher," with CUMBERLAND above, surrounded by an ornate ribbed
border and suspender; a nude figure of Apollo, with a wounded dragon at
his feet, occupies the ground of the reverse, with the words ACTUM EST
ILICET PERIIT, and in the exergue PRŒL · COLOD · AP · XVI · MDCCXLVI.
The medal, by Richard Yeo, was struck in gold, silver, and bronze,
and was suspended from a red ribbon with green edges. This is a very
rare medal, and few specimens now exist, and it is assumed it was only
given to regimental commanders, although as Mr. Grueber, of the British
Museum, pointed out there is no evidence of an order that it should be
granted.
In the British Museum there is a bronze medal commemorating this same
battle; it is possible that it was intended to be worn as a war medal.
The striking of the medal is with a scroll suspender at the top with
a hole, which leaves no doubt that it was intended for suspension
by means of a small ring. There is a small ornamental scroll at the
bottom. It is plain on the reverse, the obverse being occupied by the
equestrian effigy of the Duke of Cumberland, with the date 1746 in the
exergue, and above the group GUL · AUG · DUX · CUM · TERROR · REB.
=Capture of Louisbourg.=--For the siege of Louisbourg, gold and silver
medals were struck for presentation to those officers who had been
conspicuous by their gallantry. In gold and silver the medal, 1·7 in.
in diameter, bears on the reverse a representation of the bombardment,
with LOVISBOVRG TAKEN MDCCLVII, and on the obverse a globe resting upon
a figure symbolic of France (some say a fury) dropping fleur-de-lis,
and pointing to boats at sea. On the globe, supported by a British
Grenadier and a sailor, are the words CANADA and AMERICA, and above
all the figure of Fame, with laurel wreath and trumpet flying in front
of the Union Jack, and a scroll with the words PARITER IN BELLA; the
ribbon for this is half brownish-yellow and light purple. This rare
medal is, however, generally placed in the category of historic medals.
It is by Thomas Pingo, who was responsible for a series of historical
medals, including those commemorating the capture of Goree, December
29th, 1758, the capture of Guadaloupe, 1759, the battle of Minden, July
31st, 1759, and the capture of Quebec (where Wolfe lost his life),
September 15th, 1759.
=Carib War.=--For the Carib War in 1773 the Legislative Assembly of
the island of St. Vincent ordered that a medal of silver should be
awarded to those who had taken part in suppressing the rebellion which
had broken out among the natives. The medal bore upon the obverse the
bust of George III in high relief, his hair being tied with ribbon,
as was the fashion of the times, but represented as clad in armour.
Above the bust is the legend GEORGIVS III MB REX. On the reverse
Britannia, characteristically helmeted and resting her left hand upon
the Union Shield, offers to a beaten Carib an olive branch in token of
peace, while the vanquished is represented as having surrendered his
arms, which lie at the feet of Britannia. In the exergue is the date
MDCCLXXIII, and above the group PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO ST. VINCENTS.
The medal, 2³⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, was cast and chased, and bears on the
truncation of the King's head the name of the modeller--C. M. Moser.
It was worn suspended from the neck by a red ribbon. Among the regular
regiments taking part in the campaign were the 14th, 31st, and 70th.
=Isle of St. Vincent.=--Another medal was awarded for service in
the island of St. Vincent. It was given to the militia officers
and non-commissioned officers who commanded about five hundred
natives--slaves--who helped in the campaign against the Caribs and
French troops in 1795. On the obverse of this medal, which was cast
and chased in silver and bronze, is a winged figure of Victory, with
her right foot planted upon the body of a defeated Carib, who has
dropped his musket at her feet. While in her left hand she bears a palm
branch, she shows her determination by grasping a sword in the right.
Above is the inscription ST. VINCENTS BLACK CORPS; on the reverse is
a representation of a black soldier standing at attention with his
musket, with fixed bayonet, resting on the ground, encircled by the
legend BOLD LOCAL OBEDIENT. The whole of the lettering is in a square
type of Roman capitals. This medal is 1⅞ in. diameter.
The next in order we have to consider are those issued by the
Honourable East India Company to the officers and men who took part
in the Deccan and Mysore Campaigns, between 1778 and 1792, against
Hyder Ali and his son Tippoo Sahib, but these, despite the significant
character of the wars, were not official or Sovereign awards, and were
given to the Company's troops only. Previous to this, the Company had
awarded a medal (in 1766) to native officers who had quelled a mutiny
among European troops at Morighyr.
=The Deccan Medal.=--The medal for Guzerat--1778-84--and
Carnatic--1780-84--commonly known as the "Deccan" medal, was issued
to native troops only, and, as Dr. Payne states, is the earliest
Anglo-Indian medal to be awarded to all ranks. On the obverse Britannia
is represented resting upon a trophy of arms, and holding a wreath in
the right hand, which she extends toward a fort over which the British
flag is flying. On the reverse is an inscription in Persian, which
explains that the medal is awarded by the Government of Calcutta to
commemorate "the excellent services of the brave; year of the Hegira
1199, A.D. 1784." The medal, issued in two sizes, was intended to be
worn suspended from the neck by a yellow cord run through a metal loop.
It was issued in gold to Subadars,[1] silver gilt to Jemadars[2] and
other native officers, and of an inferior character to those who did
not hold warrant rank and the ordinary sepoy. A specimen of the smaller
medal, in fine condition, has sold for between £7 10_s._ and £8 5_s._
[1] Infantry captain.
[2] Jemadar--of the same standing as a lieutenant in the Cavalry or
Infantry, or the Sappers or Miners.
=Mysore Campaign.=--During 1791 and 1793 the native troops were
engaged against Tippoo Sultaun in Mysore, during which campaign the
city of Bangalore was captured in an exceedingly brilliant manner,
thanks to the pluck and daring of British officers. On the 1st day
of April 1793 it was decided by an Order in Council to give to the
successful troops a medal as a reward for their services. As in the
case of the forementioned medal, two grades and sizes were issued. The
gold ones were all 1¹³⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, but a smaller silver one
was issued 1½ in diameter, and while some of the medals have only two
cannon-balls at the foot of the sepoy, five are found on others. This
is probably due to different men cutting the replicas of the dies,
which may have cracked in the striking. On the obverse of the medal
a sepoy, standing with his left foot on a dismounted cannon, grasps
the British colours in his right hand and the Mysore flag reversed
in his left; the background shows the fort of Seringapatam in the
distance. On the reverse is the wording, FOR SERVICES IN MYSORE A.D.
1791-1792, encircled by laurel branches, round which is arranged a
Persian inscription to the effect that the medal is "a token of the
bravery of the troops of the English Government in the war in Mysore in
the year of the Hegira 1205-1206." Like the "Deccan" medal, this was
intended for suspension from the neck by means of a yellow cord running
through a loop. The Subadars were granted gold medals, the Jemadars
and Serrangs silver medals--afterwards gilt--and the non-commissioned
officers and men silver medals of less value. The order for striking
these medals was given to Mr. Mair, a Calcutta silversmith.
_Many Counterfeits._--This is a poor class of medal, and doubtless the
ease with which it lent itself to the counterfeiter is responsible
for the number of cast fakes which one meets with. These, however,
are easily detected: in casting, "sandholes" cause little grains on
the surface, while dust on the mould causes holes in the cast; the
granulations need removing and the holes closing up by the chasing
tool, but the "faker" was invariably careless, and the counterfeits
may be distinguished from the genuine medals by the presence of grains
on or small holes in the surface, and the fact that the "fakes,"
having been cast from an original, are slightly smaller, owing to the
"shrinkage" which always takes place in casting. This shrinkage is
responsible for practically closing up the space between the head of
the flagstaff and the rim of the medal. The larger medal is 1¾ in. and
the smaller 1½ in. in diameter. A fine specimen of the larger medal has
fetched as much as £18.
=Capture of Ceylon.=--For capturing Ceylon from the Dutch in 1795-6
it was decided by an Order in Council, dated Fort William, May 15th,
1807, to confer a medal upon the Gun Lascars only who served with the
European Artillery. Only two gold medals were struck and presented to
native officers, and one hundred and twenty to other ranks. Like those
previously mentioned, the medals were intended for suspension from
the neck by a yellow cord. One and nine-tenths inch in diameter, this
is one of the simplest medals ever issued, and the only one in which
lettering suffices for decoration. On the obverse is the inscription,
FOR SERVICES ON THE ISLAND OF CEYLON A.D. ~1795/6~, and on the reverse,
in Persian, "This medal was given by way of acknowledgment of services
in Ceylon in the year of the Hegira 1209-1210."
=Siege of Seringapatam.=--The feeling of animosity on the part
of Tippoo Sahib, the son of Hyder Ali, fed by the fact that the
Directory in France had designs against British India, led him to make
preparations for another conflict, but the Earl of Mornington, who
afterwards became Marquis of Wellesley, smartly marched an army into
Tippoo Sahib's territories, and on March 27th, 1799, advanced in battle
array against the enemy, who, after losing about 10,000 men, retreated
in disorder, followed by the British Army, which, pressing on to
Seringapatam, reached the city on April 5th, and commenced the famous
siege, which terminated on May 8th. Among the slain was Tippoo Sahib,
and the British in a magnanimous manner interred his remains in the
fine mausoleum which he had caused to be built over the resting-place
of his father. Twenty-two officers were killed and 45 wounded; 181 men
killed, 624 wounded, and 22 missing; 119 native soldiers killed, 420
wounded, and 100 missing.
The European regiments that took part in the storming were the 33rd
Regiment (now the 1st Batt. West Riding Regiment), which, led by the
Hon. Arthur Wellesley (afterwards Duke of Wellington), distinguished
itself on the road to Seringapatam--on March 27th--by standing its
ground in the face of an advancing body of 2,000 men, and then, after
firing a volley, boldly charging upon them, and with the aid of cavalry
driving them off. The other European regiments included the 19th
and 22nd (late 25th) Light Dragoons (both disbanded), the 12th and
73rd Regiments, 74th Highlanders, 75th and 77th Regiments, the Scots
Brigade, afterwards the 94th (disbanded in 1818), and the 103rd. For
these excellent services the Honourable East India Company issued a
medal, of which two kinds exist--one produced in the Soho Mint near
Birmingham, the famous place established by Matthew Boulton, and the
other from dies cut in Calcutta after strikings of the Soho medal.
[Illustration: HONOURABLE EAST INDIA CO.'S MEDAL FOR SERINGAPATAM,
1799.]
[Illustration: HONOURABLE EAST INDIA CO.'S MEDAL FOR EGYPT, 1801.]
_Variety of Medals Struck._--Quite a variety were struck. Gold for His
Majesty, the Governor-General of India--Lord Melville, the Marquis
Cornwallis, certain Nizams, Nabobs, and Rajahs, the Commander-in-Chief
and the General Officers on the Staff, and one for the Oriental Museum.
(£15 to £20 has been paid at auction for one of these medals.) Silver
gilt for the members of the Council of the three Presidencies, the
Residents of Hyderabad and Poona, the Field Officers and the General
Staff on Service. (£8 has been given for a fine specimen of the gilt
medal.) Silver medals were awarded to the captains and subalterns.
(As much as £5 and £6 has been paid for one of these.) Bronze for
non-commissioned officers of the British Army, and tin for privates.
The medals were issued unnamed in 1808, but it was not until August
29th, 1815, that the members of the British Army were permitted to wear
them; issued without suspenders, this permission led to the addition
of loops and suspenders, and the adoption of a ribbon for suspension,
and while some used a dark orange ribbon suggestive of a tiger's skin,
in allusion to the victory of the British arms over Tippoo Sahib--"the
conquering tiger of God"--the claret-coloured ribbon with dark blue
edges, as used with the Peninsular gold medals and crosses and the
Waterloo medal, was the recognised ribbon, although some officers wore
a watered yellow ribbon.
To the native commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers,
sergeants, bandsmen, and trumpeters of European corps, and to others
who might be ranked as non-commissioned officers, the bronze medal
was also granted, while the tin medals were given to corporals,
gunners, and European privates, and to native doctors, guides, and
general-utility men with the Army.
=The Soho Medal.=--This, 1⅑ in. in diameter, bears on the obverse a
representation of the British lion, with a defeated tiger beneath him,
a long pennon flying above, and held erect by the lion's tail, bearing
near the staff the Union Jack, and in Arabic the defeated Tippoo's
title, "Assad Allah El Ghaleb," and in the exergue IV MAY MDCCXCIX.
On the reverse is represented the storming of Seringapatam, with the
meridian sun indicating that when the sun was in its full glory the
successful assault was made and glorious victory was won. Underneath
is the legend in Persian, "Seringapatam God conquered 28th day of the
month Zikadah, 1213 of the Hegira." The Soho mint was responsible for
the striking, in the years 1801 and 1802, of 30 gold, 185 silver gilt,
5,000 bronze, and 45,000 tin medals.
=The Calcutta Medal.=--Like the medal of Mysore, there are two
varieties of the Seringapatam medal owing to mistakes on the part of
the die-cutters. The sun at its meridian, a significant and symbolic
feature in the Soho medal, is omitted in that struck at Calcutta;
moreover the medal is not so large, being only 1⅛ in. in diameter,
is thinner, has a loop for suspension by a cord, and, what is very
important, of inferior craftsmanship--so that in considering the value
or authenticity of a medal for the famous battle of Seringapatam the
collector has to remember several important features, since while he
may hold in his hand two medals differing somewhat in size, design, and
quality of craftsmanship, he may find that both are perfectly genuine.
The Calcutta mint issued 83 gold and 2,786 silver medals, so that the
collector must carefully consider what he is about when a silver-gilt
medal is offered for sale; only 185 _bona-fide_ medals of that quality
were issued, but of the 850 British-struck silver medals many have been
gilded to simulate the rarer medals, while a number of the smaller and
inferior Indian-struck medals have been gilded and offered as original
gilts. Despite the large number of tin medals issued (45,000), I have
seen many fetch £1 each at auction. No bronze or tin medals were struck
from the Calcutta die.
=Egypt, 1801.=--Napoleon, with an eye upon our Indian Empire, invaded
Egypt in order "to conquer the East and take Europe in the rear."
Fortunate in eluding Nelson, who was cruising in the Mediterranean, he
managed to disembark his troops, but he had to suffer the humiliation
of Nelson's brilliant victory in the Bay of Aboukir (on August 1st,
1798), by which he lost practically all his fleet. This famous sea
battle is known as the Battle of the Nile. It left Napoleon stranded
in Egypt with his army, which he marched across the desert. He stormed
Jaffa and besieged Acre for two months, but Sir Sidney Smith and his
garrison of British and Turks not only held the fort, but in so doing
caused the loss of 4,000 of Napoleon's finest troops. Falling back
on Egypt he found disquieting news awaiting him, so he returned to
France and proclaimed himself First Consul. Meanwhile his troops had to
prepare to meet the British expedition which, under Lieutenant-General
Abercromby, had been dispatched to evict them. The total British force
which landed under the brilliant but fated General was 15,330 men,
but of these, it is stated, only about 12,000 could be counted as
fighting units. The French had made formidable preparations to resist
the disembarkation, and the seamen had to row the troops ashore under
a hail of round shot, grape and shell. Many a boat-load of brave men
was sent to the bottom, but those who reached the shore rushed through
the surf, formed line, fixed bayonets, and, led by Major-General Moore
(who found a soldier's grave at Coruña), charged up the slope, drove
out the French battalions, and after withstanding a charge of cavalry,
compelled the French to retreat along the road to Alexandria, whither
they were ultimately pursued by the British army, many daring exploits
taking place _en route_. One is particularly noteworthy. The Perthshire
Regiment, wearing at the time brass helmets, were mistaken by the
French cavalry for dragoons, and the Scots were consequently charged in
an impetuous manner by them. The affair, which took place at Mandora,
was a precursor of the brilliant action of the 93rd Highlanders at
Balaklava, for, standing firm, the Perthshires coolly awaited their
mounted adversaries until they were within fifty yards of them, and
then, firing a volley, caused the main body to wheel off by their left
and retreat in confusion. Sir Ralph Abercromby narrowly escaped death
in this affair, but, as Archibald Forbes states, he "was rescued by the
devoted bravery of the Perthshire Regiment."
=The Highlanders at Alexandria, 1801.=--At the battle of Alexandria,
March 21st, 1801, Generals Moore and Oakes were wounded, but continued
to lead their men, who did prodigies of valour ere the French
retreated to their entrenchments before Alexandria. Abercromby had,
during the day, kept close to the Highlanders, whom he cheered with
the words, "My brave Highlanders, remember your country! Remember
your forefathers!" ere ordering them to pursue the enemy; but having
sent his staff officers on different missions, he was left a solitary
and conspicuous figure. A couple of French cavalrymen, seizing the
opportunity, endeavoured to capture the gallant Commander-in-Chief,
but, refusing to yield, he made a brilliant fight until a corporal of
the 42nd (Black Watch) ran up and shot one of the men, when the other
made off, but was bayoneted by another of the 42nd. Meanwhile it was
noticed that he dismounted with difficulty from his horse, but as he
exhibited no sign of suffering it was not until blood was observed
on his thigh that any idea was entertained that he had been wounded.
It was then found that a musket-ball had lodged in his hip joint.
This caused his death on board the _Foudroyant_ on March 28th, 1801.
General Hutchinson, who took command of the force, ultimately invested
Alexandria, and after a three days' armistice the terms of capitulation
were signed, and arrangements made for the departure of the armies.
The French, who were commanded by General Menou, left Egypt with about
27,500 men, and the British with 22,350.