border of naval trophies having on the obverse to left and right
cartouches bearing the Arms of Holland and Zealand, and on the reverse
in place thereof side drums. The obverse bears an anchor from the stock
of which are suspended three elaborate shields bearing St. George's
Cross, St. Andrew's Cross, the Irish Harp, and "the Armes of the
Com̃on wealth." A cable attached to the anchor encircles the whole in
a decorative manner. On the reverse is depicted a naval battle; a ship
sinking in the foreground has on the stern the medallist's surname, and
on the prow of another is T.S., while on the lower wing of the anchor
on the obverse is the monogram T.S., so that Thomas Simon made quite
sure that we should know who was responsible for the medal, which, with
the elaborate border, is 2·2 in. by 2 in. with a ring for suspension.
Three of the larger medals are known to be in existence. The medal
given to the four staff officers was 2 in. by 1·8 in., and the obverse
and reverse are the same; but the border on both sides is of laurel as
the one illustrated. One of these medals, presented to Captain William
Haddock, who commanded the "America," was purchased by Messrs. Spink at
auction for £430 in May 1908; it had realised £105 in 1879.
=Gold Medals for Officers.=--Gold medals with a plain border, but with
the same obverse and reverse as those described, were given to officers
of the fleet; and I might here remark that if a copy of this rare
medal comes under the notice of collectors, they should look for the
surname and initials, which forgers have generally overlooked.
[Illustration: (Reverse.)
THE WYARD MEDAL, 1650.]
[Illustration: ARMADA MEDAL AWARDED TO LORD UPPINGHAM.]
[Illustration: (Obverse.)
THE WYARD MEDAL, 1650.]
=Seamen's Medals.=--To the seamen was awarded a small oval medal 0·95
in. by 0·85 in. also by Simon. Like the other medals it has a ring for
suspension, and bears on the obverse an anchor from the stock of which
depends two shields bearing respectively the Cross of St. George and
the Irish Harp, encircled by a cable which runs round the whole. Above
the stock is MERUISTI (Thou hast merited), and on the reverse the House
of Commons as on the Dunbar medal.
=The Triumph Medal.=--During the fight on July 31st Admiral Robert
Blake's old flagship (he was ashore owing to a wound) caught fire, and
many of the men jumped overboard; but those who remained extinguished
the fire and saved the ship. For this service the officers and those
who had stuck to the ship were awarded a special medal with the obverse
and reverse as on the other medals, but with the inscription engraved
above the battle scene: FOR EMINENT SERVICE IN SAVING Y TRIUMPH FIRED
IN FIGHT Wʰ Y DVCH IN IVLY 1653. This medal is 1·6 in. by 1·4 in.
=Blake's Jewel.=--On May 28th, 1657, the House of Commons voted £5,000
for a jewel to be "bestowed on General Blake" for his service in
destroying the Spanish fleet off Teneriffe on April 20th. The jewel,
supposed to have been a ring, was dispatched to Blake, but whether he
received it or not is uncertain, although, as he died within sight of
Plymouth on August 7th, 1657, it is quite probable that he did.
=Charles II Medals.=--In October 1665 Charles II had proclaimed that a
definite percentage of the value of prizes should be paid to those who
captured them from the Dutch, and that a portion of the proceeds should
be set aside to help the widows of those who died in battle, to assist
the sick and wounded, and to provide medals for those who performed
special service.
War was again declared against the Dutch on February 22nd, 1665,
and on June 3rd the Dutch fleet under Admirals Evertzen and Opdam
was engaged and defeated off Lowestoft by the English fleet under
Prince Rupert, the Duke of York, and Admirals Lawson and Penn. Opdam
was killed when his ship was blown up, and two other Dutch admirals
were killed. Twenty ships were sunk or taken by the British ere the
Dutch made off, and through carelessness were permitted to escape.
In the engagement the capable Vice-Admiral Lawson was killed, also
Vice-Admiral Sansome, likewise the Earls of Marlborough, Portland, and
Falmouth, and Lord Muskerry. To commemorate the victory, medals were
issued in gold and silver. One bore on the obverse the bust of the King
with his titles, and on the reverse the Island of Great Britain and
the legend QUATUOR MARIA VINDICO. A smaller medal has on the obverse a
triumphal chariot drawn by sea-horses, with the King seated therein,
and the legend ET PONTUS SERVIET. These medals were not apparently
issued as decorations; but the fine oval medal by Thomas Rawlins was
probably destined for that purpose; it was struck in copper and 1·6 in.
by 1·5 in. in size. It was also struck in gold and in silver. It bears
on the obverse the truncated bust of Charles II in armour, looking to
the left, and around the effigy is the inscription CAROLVS · II · D :
G : M : BR : FR : ET · H : REX., and on the reverse a warship with a
flag on the mainmast bearing the King's initials C R. This side bears
the legend NOS · PENSES · IMPERIVM.
In 1665 Charles II caused to be struck a large circular silver medal 2
in. in diameter with the motto PRO TALIBVS AVSIS (For such enterprises)
in the exergue of the reverse, whereon is depicted a battle at sea with
a wreck in the foreground and Charles II habited as a Roman general
looking on at the engagement. The medal by Rœttier is a fine example
of his workmanship, and a few very fine specimens are still extant.
This medal, illustrated facing page 272, was probably intended to be
commemorative of the victories of either the first or second Dutch
wars; but as it is undated it may have been issued to commemorate
either or both. It is 2 in. in diameter. Another medal by Rœttier
was struck during the reign of Charles II to commemorate the service
of James Duke of York; but this, again, is commemorative rather than
decorative.
[Illustration: CHARLES II SILVER NAVAL MEDAL.]
Several battles were fought ere in 1667 peace was declared with the
Dutch. It was not, however, of long duration, for in March 1672 war
again broke out, and several battles were fought before peace was
finally signed on February 9th, 1674.
=La Hogue, 1692.=--For this brilliant victory over the French by the
combined English and Dutch fleets, under Admiral Russell, following a
battle which waged for five days, several medals designed by Rœttier
were ordered to be struck by Queen Mary, who expressed her satisfaction
in the result of the conflict--which secured the throne of England to
her and William, and shattered the hopes of James II--by distributing
£30,000 among the soldiers and sailors who had been engaged in the
battle, and ordering medals for officers. The most important medal,
1·95 in. in diameter, was struck in gold and silver; it bears on the
obverse the busts of William III and Mary II, the king habited in
Roman armour and wearing long hair, the Queen simply draped. Around
the conjoined busts is the inscription GVL : ET. MAR : D : G : B :
F : ET · H : REX · REGINA; and on the reverse the representation of
the French Admiral's flagship, "Le Soliel Royal," in flames. This
ship was, with three others, driven ashore and set on fire by English
fire-ships. Above the scene is the legend NOX · NVLLA · SECVTA · EST
(No night followed), and in the exergue PVGN: NAV: INT: ANG: ET · FR:
21 · MAY · 1692. One of the medals in gold, together with a chain of
the value of £50, was presented to Captain John Tupper "for the good
services performed by him" when in a dense fog he sailed through the
French fleet and brought the news of their presence to Admiral Russell
at Spithead.
After this glorious victory Mary founded Greenwich Hospital as a home
for seamen who had been disabled in the service of their country.
=Special Gold Medals.=--A number of gold medals and chains were awarded
during this reign for service at sea, and, although there is no data to
go upon, it may be assumed that the obverse of the medals was struck
from the die used for the La Hogue medal described; the reverse being
left plain for an inscription, as is the case with the gold medal
awarded to Captain Peter Jolliffe, Master of the "Sea Adventure" hoy,
which bears on the reverse "His Maties' Gift as a Reward to Peter
Jollif, of Poole, for his good service agᵗ the enemy in retaking a
Ketch of Weymouth from a French Privateer, and chaceing the said
Privateer on Shoar near Lulworth in ye Isle of Purbeck, where shee was
broken in pieces, 1694."
=War Medals for Fishermen.=--During the reign of William and Mary
medals were not only given to those actually engaged in the profession
of soldier or seaman, but to fishermen and merchant sailors who
performed gallant deeds. Among the recipients was William Thompson,
the master of a fishing-smack, who, with one man and a boy armed with
a couple of small guns and a few muskets, attacked, on May 30th, 1695,
a French privateer armed with two guns and manned by sixteen seamen,
which he defeated and captured after two hours' fighting. For this
service he was awarded a gold chain and medal of the value of £50, and
allowed to retain the vessel he had conquered.
As far as can be ascertained, no medals for land service were issued
during the reigns of William and Mary, 1689-94, and William III
1694-1702.
=Queen Anne.=--For the brilliant attack on Vigo, October 12th, 1702,
Queen Anne caused medals to be struck for distribution among the
officers of the fleet who had taken part in the victory. Vice-Admiral
Hopson was made a knight, and granted a pension for his particular
service. The medal bears on the obverse the bust of the Queen, as on
the medal described hereafter, and on the reverse a representation of
the engagement, with the date.
=Lampriere Gold Medal.=--Captain James Lampriere was, in 1703, awarded
a gold medal, and probably a chain also, as there is a ring for
suspension, as
"Her Majᵗⁱᵉˢ reward to Capᵗ. James Lampriere for his Zeal to her
Service, and his Successful Conducting yᵉ Squadron commanded by
Rear Admiral Dilkes, who destroyed a considerable number of yᵉ
Enemy's Merchant Ships under convey of 3 Men of War on their own
coast."
This inscription is engraved in writing characters upon the reverse of
the gold medal, with the Arms of Lampriere below, with the motto
TRUE · TO · MY · TRUST · on a ribbon. On the obverse is the bust of
Queen Anne, facing left, wearing the Royal Crown with a row of pearls
in her hair, and round her neck the Collar and Star of the order of the
Garter, surrounded by the legend ANNA · DEI · GRATIA · MAG : BRITAN :
FRA : ET · HIB : REGINA.
=Granville, 1703.=--It is said that gold medals were presented to
Rear-Admiral Dilkes and his officers for their success near Granville
in Normandy in July 1703; but there is no official record of their
being granted. But to Captain Thomas Legge, who distinguished himself
under Rear-Admiral Dilkes in the same year a gold medal was specially
struck to commemorate his gallantry, and Campbell states in his "Naval
History" that "The Queen ... ordered gold medals to be struck on this
occasion and delivered to the Rear-Admiral and all his officers," and
Lampriere was one of the officers.
=Capture of Gibraltar.=--Medals were struck in this reign to celebrate
the capture of Gibraltar by Sir G. Rooke in 1704; but they were not, as
far as I can ascertain, issued as decorations.
A few medals were struck and given to pilots and fishermen; five to the
crew of the "Leonora" in consideration of their courage and resolution
in driving the Frenchmen (13 who had been placed as a prize crew on
the captured ship to pilot her to France) then aboard her "off the
Quarter-deck, and bringing the said shipp into England."
=Boy's Medal for Gallantry.=--In Dr. Payne's collection is a unique
specimen of a Queen Anne medal awarded to a boy for conspicuous
gallantry. On the obverse is the laureated bust of Queen Anne, facing
left, draped, with a row of pearls about the shoulders, with the legend
ANNA D : G : MAG : BRI : FR : ET HIB : REG :. The medal, which is 2·75
in. in diameter, has a raised border of laurel leaves and roses, and
a ring for suspension. On the reverse is the inscription engraved in
writing characters:
"Her Majᵗⁱᵉˢ reward to Robert Taylor Boy of yᵉ Mary Galley, for his
Zeal and Courage at yᵉ taking of yᵉ French Privateer Jacques La
Blonde of Dunkirk."
This medal, illustrated facing page 276, is one of the few struck
during the reign of Queen Anne "to give all due Encouragement to the
Valour and Fidelity of Her Subjects serving aboard any of Her Majesties
Ships of War or Privateers." The cost of providing the medals, it was
further ordered, was to be paid out of Her Majesty's share of prizes.
This declaration, made on June 1st, 1702, in the first year of her
reign, differs from the Act of 1692, which directed that they were to
be provided out of a tenth part set aside for that special purpose.
=George I.=--During the reign of George I there is on record the award
in 1715 of a gold enamelled jewel and £1,000 sterling to Captain
Matthew Martin, Commander of the "Marlborough," for his gallant
defence of his ship against three French ships-of-war in the Bay
of Bengal, and getting her safely to Fort St. George in 1712. The
medal, it will be observed, was awarded for an action in the reign
of George's predecessor. It bore on the obverse the Arms of the East
India Company, and was enamelled and set with diamonds; on the reverse
was an inscription recording the services for which it was awarded. No
official decoration was awarded for the victory of Sir George Byng over
the Spanish fleet off Cape Passaro in the Mediterranean on July 31st,
1718, although a silver medal was struck to commemorate the event.
[Illustration: SILVER MEDAL AWARDED BY QUEEN ANNE TO A BOY FOR
CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY.]
=George II.=--Commemorative medals were also struck in connection
with the taking of Puerto Bello, in the Caribbean Sea, by Admiral
Vernon with six ships in 1739. The city had about 10,000 inhabitants,
and Vernon got possession of the place within forty-eight hours and
destroyed the fortifications. There are several "Vernon" medals in
existence, varying in size and shape, in white metal, bronze, and
silver; but most have on the reverse "He took Porto Bello with Six
Ships only." It is by no means certain that any of these medals were
issued as official decorations.
=Callis Gold Medal.=--In 1742 a gold medal and chain of the value of
£100 was awarded to Captain Smith Callis, R.N., for his gallant service
in taking the "Duke" fireship into the Port of St. Tropez in Provence,
on June 14th, and burning five Royal Spanish galleys which had fired
upon the blockading fleet. On the obverse of the medal, which is 2·1
in. in diameter, George II, laureated and attired as a Roman Emperor,
is represented in the act of presenting a medal to an officer. Under
the group, at the top of the plain exergue, is the medallist's name
T. PINGO F:. Above all on a ribbon is PRO TALIBVS AVSIS (For such
enterprise), and on the reverse five galleys in shore with a squadron
of ships-of-war preparing to attack, and in the exergue OB. V. TRIREM.
HISPAN. A. S. CALLIS. COMBVST. V. IVLII. MDCCXLII. The date on the
medal is the day on which the information was given of the successful
venture; but the actual driving into port of the galleys, and the
successful attack by the "Duke," was on June 14th. It is believed that
the medal in silver was awarded to the other officers who took part in
the general affair.
=Hornby Medal and Chain.=--By a decision of the King given at the Court
held at Kensington on September 18th, 1744, a gold medal and chain
of the value of £100 was granted to Captain Richard Hornby, of the
"Wrightson and Isabella" of Sunderland, and a bounty of £5 to each of
his five men, and 40_s._ to each of his three boys, for having engaged
a French privateer armed with ten carriage and eight swivel guns, and
manned by 75 seamen, and, after a contest renewed again and again over
a period of five hours, sinking the French vessel. A gold medal of the
value of one hundred guineas was also awarded to Captain Phillips of
the "Alexander" privateer for the capture of a large French vessel in
St. Martin's Road off the Isle of Rhe. There were 230 men on board the
ship of 22 guns, and Phillips's crew numbered 150, but he successfully
boarded the vessel and brought her into port, when it was discovered
that she was H.M.S. "Solebay," which the enemy had captured a couple of
years previously.
=Louisbourg, 1758.=--For the taking of Louisbourg on July 26th, 1753,
a medal was awarded to those who distinguished themselves upon land
under Generals Amherst and Wolfe, and at sea under Admiral Boscawen.
The Navy's participation in the affair was to attack and cut out the
two ships, the "Bienfaisant" of 64 guns, and "La Prudente" of 74
guns, which had been left for fighting purposes after some others had
been sunk to obstruct the entrance to the harbour. The boats from the
British fleet set out on their task at midnight on July 25th, cut the
cable under a heavy fire, and having boarded the ships proceeded to tow
them out. "La Prudente" grounded and had to be burned; but the smaller
vessel was successfully got out and added to the British fleet. The
medals, by T. Pingo, with rings for suspension, were struck in gold,
silver, and bronze. Four specimens of the gold medal are known to
exist--one which was in the Montague collection, another which was sold
at Sotheby's in 1895, and those awarded to Sir Alexander Schomberg,
great-grandfather of Lieutenant-Colonel Schomberg, R.M.L.I., and to
Senior Midshipman (afterwards Sir George) Young.
="The Glorious" 1st of June.=--The reign of George III produced a
long record of brilliant achievements by the British Navy. When he
ascended the throne, in October 1760, Britain was still at war with
France and continued to be so almost the whole time he reigned; but
it was not until "The Glorious" 1st of June 1794, when Admiral Lord
Howe gained his great victory off Ushant, that medals were awarded,
and a regulation medal instituted for naval services. Hearing that the
French fleet had sailed for Brest, Howe put to sea to meet it, and
having sighted the enemy on the morning of May 28th, gave chase. A
smart action ensued which was renewed next day; but heavy fog put an
end to fighting until the 31st. On June 1st both fleets prepared for
battle: the engagement commenced, and the French line was soon broken
in several places; but the French seamen fought with great courage. The
furious nature of the British attack, however, was too determined, and
the enemy sailed away, such of the ships as could, having 10 dismasted
and 7 taken by the English fleet, the "Vengeur" going down with 200 of
her crew as she was being towed away. The British Admiral's flagship,
the "Queen Charlotte," was badly injured, also the "Brunswick,"
"Defence," and "Marlborough." It is understood that the 2nd and
detachments of the 25th and 69th Foot served as Marines on board the
ships which fought on that glorious 1st of June.
The vessels engaged were H.M. ships "Queen Charlotte," "Royal
Sovereign," "Royal George," "Barfleur," "Bellerophon," "Impregnable,"
"Queen," "Cæsar," "Culloden," "Defence," "Glory," "Gibraltar,"
"Invincible," "Majestic," "Leviathan," "Marlborough," "Montague,"
"Ramillies," "Russell," "Orion," "Thunderer," "Tremendous,"
"Audacious," "Alfred," "Brunswick," and "Valiant," the frigates
"Aquilon," "Latona," "Phæton," "Niger," "Southampton," "Venus,"
"Charon," and "Pegasus," the sloops "Comet" and "Incendiary," and the
cutters "Ranger" and "Rattler."
=Naval Gold Medal instituted.=--On June 13th Lord Howe reached
Spithead, and the King and Queen at a levee held on the Admiral's
flagship presented him with a sword set with diamonds in the hilt and
a gold chain with a gold medal attached thereto. At the same time
gold chains were presented by His Majesty to the two vice-admirals,
three rear-admirals, and the captain of the fleet with the intimation
that gold medals for suspension would be distributed to the principal
officers when they had been struck. These were distributed on November
9th, 1796. The obverses of both medals are the same as illustrated
facing this page; but whereas on the larger medal the name of the
recipient and the event for which the medal was awarded are encircled
by a struck wreath of laurel and oak, the reverse of the smaller one
is plain except for the inscription. The larger medal was worn by
the admirals suspended from the neck by the gold chain referred to,
and the other flag officers hung theirs by means of a white ribbon
with dark-blue edges, which became the ribbon for the N.G.S. medal
when issued in 1847. The captains' medals, the smaller size, were
dependent from a ring and bar made from wire and suspended by the
white, blue-edged ribbon through the third or fourth button-hole on
the left side of their coats. Although Lord Howe's fleet consisted
of twenty-five ships of the line, as well as frigates, only fourteen
medals were awarded to his captains, _i.e._ to those whom he had
particularly mentioned in dispatches.
[Illustration: (Obverse.) (Reverse.)
WILLIAM III SILVER MEDAL FOR LA HOGUE, 1692.]
[Illustration: GOLD MEDAL FOR "THE GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE."
Awarded to Captain James (later Admiral Rt. Hon. Lord) Gambier.]
This medal bears on the obverse an antique galley on the prow of
which Victory is represented in the act of alighting and placing a
wreath upon the head of Britannia, who stands with her right foot on
a Greek helmet; she holds in her left hand a spear; beside her is an
oval shield whereon is depicted the Union Jack. The larger medal is 2
in. in diameter and the smaller one 1·3 in. Both sizes were struck in
gold, and the medal became a general award to naval officers who had
distinguished themselves in great naval victories until 1815, and it
is noteworthy that the only officers below the rank of post captain
who earned the captains' medal were Lieutenant Pinfold of the "Ajax"
and Lieutenant Stockham of the "Thunderer," who in the absence of
their captains commanded their ships at Trafalgar; but they were not
given the medal until they had reached the rank of post captain. It
was ultimately awarded to Captain Mounsey of the "Bonne Citoyenne"
for the capture of "La Furieuse" on July 16th, 1809. The total number
of gold medals issued was 140, of which eight were admirals' medals
awarded with chains; flag officers' were issued with broad ribbons
for suspension from the neck, and 117 of the captains' size, as
illustrated, for suspension between the third and fourth buttonholes of
their coats. Gold chains were only given with the admirals' medals for
June 1st.
The vessels engaged were H.M. ships "Queen Charlotte," "Royal
Sovereign," "Royal George," "Barfleur," "Bellerophon," "Impregnable,"
"Cæsar," "Culloden," "Defence," "Gibraltar," "Glory," "Invincible,"
"Leviathan," "Marlborough," "Majestic," "Montague," "Orion,"
"Ramillies," "Russell," "Tremendous," "Thunderer," "Valiant," "Alfred,"
"Audacious," "Brunswick," and the frigates "Aquilon," "Charon,"
"Latona," "Phæton," "Southampton," "Niger," "Pegasus," the sloops
"Incendiary" and "Comet," and the cutters "Rattler" and "Ranger."
=St. Vincent, 1797.=--On St. Valentine's Day, 1797, the battle of St.
Vincent was fought between the Spanish fleet of 27 ships of the line
and 8 frigates under Admiral Don Josef de Cordova, and 20 British
ships of the line, 2 sloops, and a cutter which had been cruising off
the coasts of Spain and Portugal to prevent the fleets of France,
Spain, and Holland--which countries had entered into an alliance
against Great Britain--from combining. Sir John Jervis commanded;
his flagship was the "Victory." Passing through the two divisions
of the Spanish fleet, he cut off nine of the enemies' vessels: the
Spaniards then attempted to break the British line; but the effort
was frustrated, two of the enemy's ships striking their colours. This
action, which only lasted four hours, resulted in the loss of four
ships to the enemy, Commodore Horatio Nelson of the "Captain," 74 guns,
having taken the "San Josef" of 112 guns, and the "San Nicolas" of 80
guns.