5,000 men were defeated by this little force, over 1,000 of the enemy
being killed. The loss in British officers was great; Captain Lister of
the 10th Hussars, heir to Lord Ribbledale, and 2 others being killed,
and 9 wounded. In 1905 the bar for S. NIGERIA 1902-03 was issued to
those who were engaged in South Nigeria between July 1902 and June
1903, against the Iris and the Omonoha and Ebima tribesmen, and in
the operations against the Chief Adukukaiku of Igarra. In 1906 it was
decided to give the same bar to those who took part in the expedition
in the Afikpo district between December 1902 and January 1903. In
April 1905 a bar was issued inscribed S. NIGERIA 1903 to those who
had taken part in the operations between April and July 27th, 1903.
In 1906 it was decided that the war should be issued to those who had
taken part in the expeditions in the Ebegga country west of Anan. In
April 1905 an Army Order set forth that a bar was to be issued to N.
NIGERIA 1903, and granted to those who took part in the Sokoto-Burmi
operations between April 15th and July 27th, 1903. In January 1906 a
bar for N. NIGERIA 1903-04 was authorised for distribution among the
700 native soldiers and carriers engaged in the operations in the Bassa
Province between December 1903 and March 1904. A bar for N. NIGERIA
1904 was granted to those who took part in four little expeditions,
and S. NIGERIA 1903-04 to those employed in the expedition between
December 1903 and January 1904 against the towns of Osca, Oriri, and
N'doto. The bar for S. NIGERIA 1904 was added for a series of five
expeditions, and a further addition to the Nigerian clasps was made in
June 1906 by the approval of one inscribed S. NIGERIA 1904-05, given
for operations between November 1894 and February 1895 in the Ibibio
and Kwa countries. The bar for S. NIGERIA 1905 was awarded to members
of the force which operated in the Kwale district between October 10th
and 18th, 1905, both dates inclusive. The bar for S. NIGERIA 1905-06
was issued to those who took part in the Bende-Onitsha Hinterland
expedition, and the bar for N. NIGERIA 1906 was given to those who
took part in the operations against the Satiru rebels and the Emir
of Hadeija. The bar for KISSI 1905 was awarded to those engaged in
that district from March to June 1905, and for NANDI 1905-06 to those
employed in that neighbourhood between October 1905 and July 1906,
making a total of twenty-seven bars to this medal, and indicating the
constant vigilance and discipline which is necessary to maintain the
outposts of our Empire.
=East Africa, 1902.=--The medal with bar for EAST AFRICA 1902 was
awarded to all officers and men composing the Maruka patrol, which
reached the Maruka district on September 4th, 1902, and operated in the
district until October 25th, 1902, both dates inclusive.
=East Africa, 1904.=--The medal with bar EAST AFRICA 1904 was issued
to all officers and men composing the Iraini patrol, which entered the
Iraini country on February 13th, 1904, and patrolled it between that
date and March 17th, both dates inclusive.
=East Africa, 1905.=--The medal with bar for EAST AFRICA 1905 was
issued to all officers and men who took part in the operations in and
near Sotik, from May 31st to July 12th, 1905, both dates inclusive,
also to the officers and men composing the Kissi patrol, which entered
the Kissi country on September 1st, 1905, and patrolled it until
October 9th, 1905, both dates inclusive.
=East Africa, 1906.=--The medal with bar EAST AFRICA 1906 was awarded
to all officers and men composing the Embo patrol, which entered the
Embo country on June 18th, 1906, and operated there until July 19th,
1906, both dates inclusive.
=West Africa, 1906.=--The medal with bar WEST AFRICA 1906 was issued to
all officers and men composing the Owa column, which left Asaba on June
9th, 1906, and operated against the people of Owa until the restoration
of peace and the breaking-up of the column on August 3rd, 1906, both
dates inclusive.
The medal with bar WEST AFRICA 1906 was also awarded to all officers
and men who operated in the Chibuk country between November 12th and
December 4th, 1906, both dates inclusive.
=West Africa, 1908.=--An Army Order issued in July 1910, with the
approval of His Majesty King George V, granted a bar inscribed W.
AFRICA 1908 to the forces who took part in the fighting in and near the
Soukwala Valley on December 11th, 1908, and between December 24th and
31st, 1908, both dates inclusive.
=I.G.S., 1903.=--This medal, precisely similar on the reverse, except
for the deletion of the date, to the India General Service Medal 1895,
bears on the obverse the same bust of King Edward as on the South
Africa medal. The ribbon is the same, also the suspender. With this
new issue the bar for WAZIRISTAN 1901-2 was given to those who took
an active part in the Mahsud Waziri blockade between November 1901 and
November 1902. To those holding the 1895 medal the bar only was issued.
Bronze medals were given to authorised camp followers.
Only three English soldiers received the medal--men of the Cheshires
who were employed as signallers. The troops engaged were: 1st, 3rd, and
4th Sikhs; 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 22nd Punjabis; 1st, 3rd, and 5th Punjab
Cavalry; Sappers and Miners.
=Natal Native Rebellion.=--In 1908 the Natal Government awarded a
silver medal to those who took part in suppressing the native rebellion
in 1906. The medal, which was supplied by the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths
Company, bears on the obverse a portrait bust of King Edward VII facing
to the right, encircled by the legend EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR. On
the reverse Natali is represented holding the sword of justice in her
right hand, and a palm branch in her left, supported and protected by
Britannia, who holds in her left hand the orb of empire. In the exergue
is the word NATAL. A broad plain bar is inscribed ~·1906·~ with a large
dot on either side. The names, etc., are impressed in light square
block capitals, and the ribbon for suspension is a deep red, with black
edges. The medal illustrated facing page 198 was issued to the local
white forces, including the Natal Horse Corps and about 350 chiefs and
leading natives.
=Tibet, 1903-4.=--Owing to the non-fulfilment of treaty obligations on
the part of the Tibetans, Colonel Younghusband was sent by the Indian
Government with a military escort to the seat of Tibetan authority.
For some little time he made peaceful progress, until, on arriving at
Hot Springs, General Macdonald's force of 1,600 men, with 4 field and
2 Maxim guns, found it necessary to attack the Tibetans, and drove
them out of their position. Then, when they had gathered round their
Lhassa General, the political agent, Colonel Younghusband, together
with Brigadier Macdonald, their staffs, and some Sikhs, went forward
to parley with them, and despite the attitude of the Tibetans, the
officers dismounted; some began to eat sandwiches, others to take
photographs. Suddenly the Tibetans turned upon the ring of Sikhs which
surrounded them; all was soon confusion, but the discipline of the
Sikhs, and the coolness of the officers, saved the situation, and
within ten minutes the flower of the Tibetan army was demolished,
despite the grim determination of those composing it, for they
disdained to run away, but solemnly marched off as the fight became too
hot for them.
The medal for the Tibet Mission 1903-4 bears on the reverse the
fortress-capped hill of Potala a Lhassa, with TIBET 1903-4 beneath
it, and to those engaged in the mission about Gyantse a bar inscribed
GYANTSE was awarded. The obverse is the same as the I.G.S. 1903 medal.
The ribbon is dark red edged with green, with two white stripes. It is
noteworthy that with this and the medal I shall next describe the old
curled suspenders, as on the Sutlej medals, are used.
The Tibet Force comprised the Royal Fusiliers; a detachment of the
Norfolks; a Mountain Battery of the R.A.; 8th Goorkas; 40th Pathans;
Queen's Own Sappers and Miners, and the 6th Mule Corps.
=I.G.S. 1908.=--A new medal in place of the 1903 I.G.S., and destined
to be known as the I.G.S. Medal 1908, was awarded by an Army Order
in December 1908. It has a pictorial design on the reverse, somewhat
similar to the above-mentioned medal, and reminding one of the old
Ghuznee Medal. It was issued in 1910 to those who had been engaged on
the North-West Frontier between February 14th and May 31st, 1908. The
obverse bears the bust of King Edward VII in Field-Marshal's uniform,
encircled with the legend EDWARDVS VII KAISAR-I-HIND. On the reverse
is a fort on a hill-top backed by mountains, and beneath, forming
the exergue, an ornamental tablet overlaid by olive and oak branches
bearing the word INDIA. The bar bears NORTH-WEST FRONTIER 1908. This
medal was designed by Mr. Richard Garbe, R.B.S. It was awarded to both
the troops and followers, and was the last issued during the reign of
Edward the Peacemaker. (See facing page 204.)
The regiments engaged in the campaign were: the Gordon and Seaforth
Highlanders; Royal Irish Rifles and Royal Munster Fusiliers; the
Northumberland Fusiliers and Warwickshire Regiment; 10th Hussars; 71st
Company R.G.A.; 6 guns of the 18th and 80th Batteries R.F.A.; 62nd
and 75th Batteries R.F.A.; 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 28th
Mountain Batteries, and Nos. 1 and 7 British Field Hospital; 1st, 4th,
5th, and 6th Goorkas; 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 25th, 28th, 29th, 30th,
and 33rd Punjabees; 15th, 23rd, 34th, 45th, 53rd, 54th, 55th, 57th, and
59th Sikhs; 40th Pathans; Queen's Own Corps of Guides Infantry; Cavalry
of the Q.O. Guides; 21st Cavalry; 19th and 37th Lancers; Sappers and
Miners, and 5 Native Field Hospitals.
=Abor, 1911-12.=--The massacre of Mr. Williamson and his party
necessitated the dispatch of a punitive force, which under
Major-General Hamilton Bower, C.B., entered the Abor country in
October 1911, and for seven months, under the most trying physical
difficulties, operations were pursued. "The paths were quite unfit for
use by laden carriers," and progress was exceedingly slow, but as usual
the regiments pressed on to their destination, and, after inflicting
punishment on the culpable villagers who had been party to the
massacre, captured and brought to trial those immediately responsible
for the murders. An important result of the operations was the breaking
down of the power of the Kebang-Rotung group of villages, and the
freeing of the Lakhimpur districts north of the Brahmaputra from Abor
aggression. For his services in this campaign General Bower was made
K.C.B., and the following officers Companions of the D.S.O.: Majors
James Davidson, M.D., James Alban Wilson, Edward G. Vaughan, Ernest H.
Scott Cullen, M.V.O., and Lieutenant Miles A. Claude Kennedy.
Among the regiments taking part in the expedition were the 1st Batt.
8th Goorka Rifles, on whom the brunt of the fighting fell--medals of
this regiment have realised from £2 10_s._ to £3 in the sale-room;
1st Co. (King George's Own) Sappers and Miners, to whose skill and
energy "the success of the expedition was largely due"; 1st Batt. King
Edward's Own Goorka Rifles; 32nd Sikh Pioneers, who did excellent work
on the line of communications; dismounted detachment Assam Valley Light
Horse; Supply and Transport Corps; Lakhimpur Military Police; 5 Nagar
Carrier Corps.
The medal, although described as the India General Service Medal 1908,
has on the reverse the crowned bust of King George V truncated by the
edge of the medal, a spray of laurel covering the truncation, and
the legend GEORGIVS V KAISAR-I-HIND on a raised band surrounding the
effigy. This was given to those who served at or beyond Kobo between
October 6th, 1911, and April 20th, 1912, both dates inclusive. The
medals are engraved in a coarse kind of script--each letter being
separate--or in a loose running hand. Officers and men already in
possession of the India General Service Medal 1908 received the clasp
only.
SUDAN, 1910
By a Special Army Order, dated from Headquarters, Khartoum, June 12th,
1911, His Highness the Khedive approved of a new medal being struck
to commemorate military operations in the Atwot district and granted
to the troops (including Government police and Jehadia) who took
part in the operations under the command of El Kaimakam W. J. St. J.
Harvey Bey, against the Atwot Dinkas in the Atwot district of the Bahr
el-Ghazal Province. The medal in silver was granted to all troops who
formed part of the columns operating in the district between February
9th and March 17th, 1910, both dates inclusive, or who were disembarked
at Sheikh Tombe, Aliah district, Mongalla province, between March 29th
and April 4th, 1910, both dates inclusive.
=Atwot.=--The bar inscribed ATWOT in English and Arabic was granted
to all troops taking part, and the following non-combatants were
entitled to the medal and bar in silver, who participated under the
same conditions as the troops: Government Civil employees; engineers
of steamers; Raises of steamers; Sheikhs; Armed Guides; whilst
non-combatants, _i.e._ Civilian Syces of Officers, Civilian Servants
of Officers, and Transport Drivers, were granted the medal in bronze
without bar.
=South Kordofan.=--To those who took part in the operations in Southern
Kordofan under the command of El Lewa Asser Pasha, against Jebel Tagoi,
between November 10th and 19th, 1910, inclusive, or who formed part of
the column operating against Jebels Katla and Tima, under the command
of El Kaimakam Conry Bey, D.S.O., between November 27th and December
19th, 1910, both dates inclusive, the silver medal with bar inscribed
in English and Arabic S. KORDOFAN 1910 was granted, and to those
already in possession of the medal, the bar. The Government police were
included in the troops, and therefore received the medal and bar. The
following non-combatants were also entitled to the medal and bar in
silver: Government Civil employees; Sheikhs, and Armed Guides, whilst
the bronze medal without bar was granted to Civilian Syces of Officers,
Civilian Servants of Officers, and Transport Drivers.
=Sudan, 1912.=--To the troops, including Sudan Government police, who
took part in the operations against the Beir and Anuak tribes, the
medal with bar inscribed SUDAN 1912 in English and Arabic was awarded.
Those entitled had taken part in the Pibor reconnaissance under the
command of El Bimbashi Dickinson between October 12th and December
25th, 1911, both dates inclusive, or had formed part of the columns
operating against the Beir tribe under the command of El Miralai Drake
Bey, between the dates stated below, both dates inclusive:
I. Northern Column under the command of El Bimbashi Dickinson,
December 26th, 1911, to March 15th, 1912.
II. Central Column under the command of El Miralai Drake Bey,
December 31st, 1911, to March 15th, 1912.
III. Southern Column under the command of El Kaimakam Arden Bey,
January 1st to February 3rd, 1912.
The column operating against the Anuak tribe under the command of El
Miralai Leveson Bey, D.S.O., between March 4th and April 12th, 1912,
both dates inclusive. The medal and bar in silver was awarded to
Government Civil employees, Sheikhs, and Armed Guides, although classed
as non-combatants; whilst the medal in bronze without bar was again
awarded to Civilian Syces of Officers, Civilian Servants of Officers,
and Transport Drivers.
=Sudan Medal, 1910.=--The medal, 1⅞ in. in diameter, bears on the
obverse the cypher of the Khedive Abbas Hilmi El Thani (Abbas II)
and the date Hegira 1328. On the reverse, modelled by Richard Garbe,
R.B.S., is a lion standing in the attitude of attention, with its
fore paws resting upon a small panel bearing the record SUDAN above
the exergue, in which is a Sudanese shield and spears. Forming the
background to the lion is the Nile within its banks, with the sun
rising and casting its rays over the sky and sparkling the water of the
river. The suspender is like that employed on the South African medal,
and the bars, ⅛ in. wide and riveted the same distance apart, are of
the same character. The photograph (facing page 204) illustrating the
medal does not properly depict the disposition of the bars, as they
are unfixed, the medal with loose bars having been kindly placed at
my disposal for the purpose of illustration herein by the Military
Secretary of the Egyptian Army. The ribbon of watered silk, 1¼ in.
wide, is black with a narrow edge of green and an under, outer edging
of red.
NAVAL WAR MEDALS
I have given military war medals preference over those awarded for
naval service, not because I do not recognise the first line of defence
as worthy of priority, for, as I have pointed out, the first medals of
which we have any record were probably given as mementoes of, or as
rewards for, the defeat of the Armada, but because the variety given
for land service is considerably greater, and, in many instances, as
a naval contingent also participated, it enabled me to deal with the
historical aspect out of hand, a necessity which the concise nature of
the book demands.
=The Armada Medals.=--The story of gallant Drake, Frobisher, and
Hawkins is perennially fresh in the minds of every Briton, and how
the wind came to their aid and practically destroyed the 120 mighty
galleons of Spain, while the flower of her nobility, with 30,000 men,
were killed in battle or drowned. I have already referred _en passant_
to the medals issued in the latter part of the sixteenth century. The
"Ark-in-Flood," a very handsome oval medal, is one of the most striking
of the Elizabethan series (see facing page 270), and a particularly
fine one is in the possession of W. R. Parker-Jervis, Esq., who
inherited it from his aunt, Lady Forester. The medal was given to Lord
Uppingham after the defeat of the Armada in 1588, and it is on record,
in a book at Woburn Abbey, that this medal was awarded to Admirals
and Commanders who took part in the battle, and was worn by them as
a badge. Pinkerton states that it was given, in gold and silver, to
Marine Commanders as a mark of royal approbation, and I think we have
sufficient evidence that it was given to the leading spirits of the
Armada. This medal differs in several respects from the one described
on page 2, for while on the one referred to above there are rays behind
the head of Elizabeth and it is framed in laurel leaves with a twist of
rope as suspender, that referred to in the beginning of the book has
only the simple beaded border, the only embellishment being a fancy
scroll on either side of a double ring suspender, and the motto reads
ELIZABETH · D · G · ANGLIE · F · ET · HI · REG. It will be noted on
comparison that the stops between the letters in the Uppingham medal
are round instead of diamond-shape as on the simpler medal. James I,
as I have previously described, issued a medal very similar. These
were, it may be presumed, suspended from the neck, but medallions were
sometimes worn in the hat.
[Illustration: COMMONWEALTH MEDAL FOR DUTCH WARS, 1653.]
[Illustration: ELIZABETHAN NAVAL MEDAL.]
=Drake's Medal.=--This handsome medal, given to Sir Francis Drake
by Queen Elizabeth after his voyage round the world, now in the
possession of the descendants of the famous commander at Nutwell Court,
Devonshire, is a characteristic example of the Elizabethan jeweller's
art. The frame, set with diamonds and rubies, and enamelled in various
colours, forms a handsome setting for the fine cameo cut in onyx, and
attributed to Valerio Vincenteno. Two heads are carved thereon, one
representing Europe cut in the lower strata of white, while out of the
upper strata of black the head of a negro has been fashioned. Set in
the reverse is a beautiful miniature of Queen Elizabeth by the famous
painter Nicholas Hilliard, with the date Anno Dom: 1575 Regni 20. From
the badge depends a cluster of baroque pearls connecting a pear-shaped
drop with the main body of the badge. The virgin Queen also presented
the intrepid mariner with a jewelled star of twelve points; rubies set
in the rays, and diamonds and opals in the circular centre surrounding
an orb indicative of sovereignty. Loops are attached for fixing on to
the coat.
=Charles I Naval Medals.=--Charles I issued a medal which, because of
its size, could not have been intended as a personal decoration, but
rather to commemorate the launching of the famous three-decker, the
"Royal Sovereign," in 1637. On the obverse is a portrait in profile
of the King looking left: it varies, however, and on one the monarch
is represented with a ruff round the neck, and a jewel depending from
stars on the shoulder; and on the other he is represented in armour,
with long curling hair over a turn-down collar. Around the bust is the
motto CAROLVS ◆ I ◆ D ◆ G ◆ MAG ◆ BRITAIN ◆ FRAN ◆ ET ◆ HIB ◆ REX. On
the truncation is 1639. The medal is in silver 2·35 in. in diameter,
and is by Nicholas, Bristol. On the reverse is the "Royal Sovereign"
under full sail, and to the left tiny promontories with forts thereon;
around the ship is the inscription NEC ◆ META ◆ MIHI ◆ QVÆ ◆ TERMINVS ◆
ORBI. A smaller medal, probably for naval service, was likewise issued
with the same inscription. It was not, however, a small replica of the
medal just described, although it bore the same effigy of King Charles
I on the obverse, and a ship in full sail on the reverse, for the
actual design and modelling differ.
=Commonwealth Naval Medals.=--Although I have stated that the Dunbar
medal was the first campaign medal to be distributed to military
officers and men of all ranks, the Navy holds the distinction of being
the first to be honoured in this way, for in June 1649 it was decided
to issue rewards to the officers and men who had "done good service
at sea." The medal, designed by Thomas Simon, has on the obverse the
Parliament in session, and on the reverse two distinctive cartouches,
depending from the stock of an anchor. The one to the left bears the
St. George's Cross for England, and that on the right the Harp for
Ireland; a rope attached to the anchor is disposed so as to form a
decorative surrounding by the arrangement of three twists; above is the
word MERUISTI. On the stock of the anchor are the medallist's initials
T. S. An order of the Council of State records that Simon was granted
the use of the press in the Tower of London on condition that he did
not use it for any other purpose than that of striking these medals,
and he had to enter into a surety for £500 that he would "make no
unlawful use of the presse."
=Wyard Medal.=--Robert Wyard of the "Adventure," with 22 guns, was
on the night of July 31st, 1650, bold enough to engage six royalist
frigates, and after fighting a whole day made them sheer off. Wyard
received a gold medal, which I illustrate, valued at £50, and his
officers and men medals varying in value from £5 to 10_s._ The obverse
of the medal is as that above described. The reverse shows the
"Adventure" engaging two of the royalist frigates with the other ships
in the distance. Above is the inscription SERVICE ◆ DON ◆ AGAINST ◆ SIX
◆ SHIPS ◆ IVLY ◆ Y ◆ XXXI ◆ & AVGVST ◆ Y ◆ 1 ◆ 1650. The medal is oval,
1·6 in. by 1·35 in., and was struck in gold and silver. (See facing
page 270.)
THE DUTCH WARS
For the victories over the Dutch some fine medals were struck. Probably
the most interesting is the gold medal awarded to the Admirals who
participated in the war and in the decisive battle fought on July 31st,
1653.
On February 28th, 1653, Generals Blake, Deane, and Monk defeated
the Dutch fleet under Admirals Van Tromp and De Rutzer, and after
a three-days' fight defeated them off Portland. In this engagement
soldiers served for the first time on board ship, and the Marines came
into existence. At the beginning of June the Dutch admirals were again
defeated by the English Generals Deane, Penn, and Monk; but although
the English did not lose a ship, General Deane was killed in the
action. The English then followed the Dutch to their own coasts, and on
July 31st the enemy was badly beaten after a terrific fight in which
they lost 26 ships, their Admiral, Van Tromp, and about 6,000 men. The
English losses were 2 ships and 1,300 men killed and wounded. The
English Parliament was not slow to reward the victors, for on August
8th it was resolved to award Generals Blake and Monk gold chains valued
at £300 apiece; to Vice-Admiral Penn and Rear-Admiral Lawson chains of
the value of £100, and to the four staff officers chains worth £40 each
for their brilliant services. The money was ordered to be deducted from
the £2,000 voted, and the balance spent in the issue of medals among
the officers of the fleet.