{ French frigates "La
UNICORN, 8 June 1796. 4 { Tribune," "La Tamise,"
issued. { (formerly the British ship
SANTA MARGARITA, 8 June { "Thames") and "La
1796. 3 issued. { Legere," and capture of
{ the two former. Captain
{ William of the "Unicorn"
{ was knighted.
SOUTHAMPTON, 9 June 1796. 4 issued. Capture of French corvette
"Utile."
DRYAD, 13 June 1796. 7 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Proserpine," which became H.M.S. "Amelia."
TERPSICHORE, 13 Oct. 1796. 3 issued. Capture of the Spanish frigate
"Mahonesa."
LAPWING, 8 Dec. 1796. 2 issued. Action with French ship "Décieux"
and brig "Vaillante," and capture of the former. 1 medal sold for
£21 on July 24th, 1914.
MINERVA, 19 Dec. 1796. 5 { Capture of Spanish frigate
issued. { "Santa Sabina" by the
BLANCHE, 19 Dec. 1796. 2 { "Minerve," and action
issued. { between "Blanche"
{ and "Ceres."
{ Destruction of French
INDEFATIGABLE, 13 Jan. 1797. { "74," "Droits de
8 issued. { L'Homme," off the
AMAZON, 13 Jan. 1797. 6 { coast of France. The
issued. { "Amazon" went
{ ashore and her crew
{ were made prisoners.
ST. VINCENT, 14 Feb. 1797. 363 issued. Action with the Spanish
fleet, and capture of 4 sail of the line. 23 ships engaged (for
list see page 283).
SAN FIORENZO, 8 March 1797. 7 issued. Capture of "Resistance" and
"Constance." The first named became the "Fisgard."
NYMPHE, 8 March 1797. 6 issued.
CAMPERDOWN, 11 Oct. 1797. 332 issued. Battle of Camperdown, when
Admiral Duncan defeated the Dutch fleet. 25 vessels engaged (for
list see page 283).
PHŒBE, 21 Dec. 1797. 7 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Néréide," which was added to the British Navy under the same
name.
MARS, 21 April 1798. 26 issued. Capture of French 74, "L'Hercule."
In this severe action the "Mars" lost her captain, Alexander Hood.
ISLE ST. MARCOU, 6 May 1798. 3 issued. Action at the Island of
Marcou. 2 boats engaged.
LION, 15 July 1798. 21 issued. Action with 4 Spanish frigates and
capture of the "Santa Dorotea," which was added to the British
Navy under the same name.
NILE, 1 Aug. 1798. 351 issued. Battle of the Nile. 15 ships engaged
(for list see page 286).
ESPOIR, 7 Aug. 1798. 1 issued. Action with and capture of a Genoese
pirate, the "La Guria."
12 Oct. 1798. 81 issued. Action under Sir J. B. Warren with a
French squadron, and capture of the "Hoche" "74"--which became
the "Donegal"--and 2 frigates. 8 ships engaged.
FISGARD II, 20 Oct. 1799. 9 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"L'Immortalite."
SYBILLE, 28 Feb. 1799. 12 issued. Capture of the French frigate "La
Forte," after a stern fight in which a detachment of the Scotch
Brigade which was on board the "Sybille" took part.
TELEGRAPH, 18 March 1799. None issued. Capture of "L'Hirondelle II."
[Illustration: BALTIC MEDAL.]
[Illustration: NAVAL MEDAL FOR BEST SHOT.]
[Illustration: AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 1902.]
ACRE, 30 May 1799. 42 issued. The record on the bar for this affair
is ACRE, 30 MAY 1799; but as the French raised the siege on May
20th, and Bonaparte retreated leaving 23 cannon, the bar is
wrongly inscribed, but it is nevertheless official. The bar was
awarded to those who assisted the Turkish fleet to defend "Acre"
from the French attack, the ships taking part under Commodore Sir
Henry Smith being the "Theseus," "Tigre," and "Alliance."
SCHIERMONIKOOG, 12 Aug. 1799. 10 issued.
ARROW, 13 Sept. 1799. 2 issued. Action and capture of "Draak" and
"Gier." 2 vessels. The other boat was the "Wolverine," but no bar
was issued for that.
SURPRISE with HERMIONE, 25 Oct., 1799. 7 issued. Boarding and
recapturing the "Hermione." For this dashing exploit Captain
Hamilton was knighted.
SPEEDY, 6 Nov. 1799. 3 issued. Action with 10 Spanish gunboats and
2 schooners, and successful defence of convoy.
COURIER, 22 Nov. 1799. 3 issued. Action with and capture of the
"Guerrier."
VIPER, 26 Dec. 1799. 2 issued. Capture of French brig "Furet."
FAIRY, 5 Feb. 1800. 4 } Action with and capture
issued. } of the French frigate
} "Pallas," which became
HARPY, 5 Feb. 1800. 4 } H.M.S. "Pique."
issued. }
PETEREL, 21 March 1800. 2 issued. Capture of "La Ligurienne."
{ Night action with "Guillaume
{ Tell"; the "Lion"
{ and "Foudroyant" were
PENELOPE, 30 March 1800. { also engaged and actually
11 issued. { captured the vessel, which
{ was added to the British
VINCIEGO, 30 March 1800. { Navy as H.M.S. "Malta,"
2 issued. { but no award was made
{ to the surviving crews of
{ these ships.
DESIRÉE, 8 July 1800. 23 issued. Boarding and capturing the French
frigate "Desirée," and other French vessels. 18 vessels engaged.
SEINE, 20 Aug. 1800. 9 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Vengeance," between Porto Rico and San Domingo.
PHŒBE, 19 Feb. 1801. 7 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Africaine," which became H.M.S. "Amelia."
EGYPT. 626 issued for services on Coast of Egypt. 117 vessels were
engaged.
COPENHAGEN, 1801. 589 issued. 38 vessels engaged.
SPEEDY, 6 May. 7 issued. Capture of the "Gamo."
GUT OF GIBRALTAR, 12 July 1801. 152 issued. 10 ships engaged.
Action with the French squadrons in the "Gut of Gibraltar," and
destruction of 2 Spanish ships of 122 guns each, and capture of
the "St. Antonio" "74." For his services as commander of the
British squadron Sir J. Saumarez was made a K.C.B. and given a
pension of £1,200 a year.
SYLPH, 28 Sept. 1801. 2 issued. Action with the "Artemise."
PASLEY, 28 Oct. 1801. 3 issued. Capture of the Spanish ship
"Virgen del Rosatio."
SCORPION, 31 March 1804. }
1 issued. } Action with and capture
BEAVER, 31 March 1804. } of vessels in the Ville
None issued. } road.
CENTURION, 18 Sept. 1804. 11 issued. Action with the line-of-battle
ship "Marengo," and frigates "Atalante" and "Semillante."
ARROW, 3 Feb. 1805. 8 } For the protection of 28
issued. } British merchant ships,
ACHERON, 3 Feb. 1805. 2 } when attacked by 2
issued. } French frigates.
SAN FIORENZO, 14 Feb. 1805. 11 issued. Capture of the French
frigate "Psyche."
PHŒNIX, 10 Aug. 1805. 25 issued. Capture of French frigate "Didon."
The vessel became H.M.S. "Didon."
TRAFALGAR. 1,710 issued. 33 vessels engaged (see page 290).
4 Nov. 1805. 298 issued. 8 vessels engaged. Capture of 4 sail of
French line-of-battle ships.
ST. DOMINGO. 410 issued. Battle of "St. Domingo," and capture and
destruction of 4 sail of the line. 11 vessels were engaged.
AMAZON, 13 March 1806. 27 issued. { Capture of " Marengo"
{ and
LONDON, 13 March 1806. 28 issued. { "Belle Poule."
PIQUE, 26 March 1806. 7 issued. Capture of the French brigs "Phæton
" and "Voltigeur."
SIRIUS, 17 April 1806. 12 issued. Action with French flotilla at
Civita Vecchia, and capture of the "Bergere."
BLANCHE, 19 July 1806. 22 issued. Capture of the "Guerrière." For
this deed Captain Lavie was knighted.
ARETHUSA, 23 Aug. 1806. } Capture of Spanish frigate
6 issued. } "Pomone."
ANSON, 23 Aug. 1806. }
CURAÇOA, 1 Jan. 1807. Taking of Curaçoa. 4 vessels
engaged--"Arson," "Arethusa," "Fisgard," and "Latona."
PICKLE, 3 Jan. 1807. 1 issued. Capture of the French privateer "La
Favorite."
HYDRA, 6 Aug. 1807. 10 issued. In the harbour of Bergur, attack of
batteries, and capture of "L'Eugene," "Rosario," and "Caroline."
COMUS, 15 Aug. 1807. 10 issued. Capture of the Danish frigate
"Frederickscoarn."
LOUISA, 28 Oct. 1807. 1 issued. Action with and defeat of a French
privateer.
CARRIER, 4 Nov. 1807. 1 issued. Capture of the French cutter
"L'Actif."
ANN, 24 Nov. 1807. None issued. Action with 10 Spanish gunboats.
SAPPHO, 2 March 1808. 5 issued. Capture of the Danish brig "Admiral
Yawl."
SAN FIORENZO, 8 March 1808. 16 issued. Capture of the French
frigate "Piedmontaise." The British commander, Captain Hardinge,
was killed, and a monument to his memory erected in St Paul's
Cathedral at the public expense.
EMERALD, 13 March 1808. 12 issued. Destruction of the batteries at
Vivero and war vessels.
CHILDERS, 14 March 1808. 4 issued. Captain Wilson and a crew of 65
participated in this affair. Action with the Danish brig "Lougen."
NASSAU, 22 March 1808. } Destruction of Danish line-of-battle
37 issued. } ship "Prince
} Christian Frederic." 2
STATELY, 22 March 1808. } ships engaged.
25 issued. }
OFF ROTA, 4 April 1808. 20 issued. Fight with gunboats and convoy.
"Alceste," "Mercury," and "Grasshopper" engaged.
GRASSHOPPER, 24 April } Action with and destruction
1808. 1 issued. } of Spanish ships and gunboats
} at Faro. 2 vessels
RAPID, 24 April 1808. 1 } engaged.
issued. }
REDWING, 7 May 1808. 7 issued. Action with Spanish gunboats and
destroying them.
VIRGINIE, 19 May 1808. 21 issued. Capture of Dutch frigate
"Guelderland."
REDWING, 31 May 1808. 5 issued. Destroying Tarifa Battery near Cape
Trafalgar, and taking 2 vessels.
SEAHORSE WH BANDERE LA ZAFFERE, 6 July 1808. 35 issued. Capture of
the Turkish frigate "Badere Zaffer."
COMET, 11 Aug. 1808. 5 issued. Action with three French brigs, and
capture of the "Sylphe." This became H.M.S. "Seagull."
CENTAUR, 26 Aug. 1808. }
38 issued. } Fight with Russian fleet
} and capture of 74-gun
IMPLACABLE, 26 Aug. 1808. } ship "Sewolod."
45 issued. }
CRUIZER, 1 Nov. 1808. 4 issued. Action with Danish flotilla off
Gottenburgh and capture of brig-of-war.
AMETHYST with THETIS, 10 Nov. 37 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Thetis" by Captain Seymour, who was knighted for his prowess.
OFF THE PEARL ROCK, 13 Dec. 1808. Action with batteries and French
boats. 6 vessels engaged.
ONYX, 1 Jan. 1809. 6 issued. Recapture from Dutch of the brig
"Manly."
CONFIANCE, 14 Jan. 1809. 8 issued. Taking of Cayenne.
MARTINIQUE. 523 issued. Capture of Martinique. 43 vessels engaged.
HORATIO, 10 Feb. 1809. { Capture of the French
14 issued. { frigate "Junon," which
{ was added to the British
SUPÉRIÉURE, 10 Feb. 1809. { Navy under the same
2 issued. { name.
AMETHYST, 5 April. 28 issued. Capture of French frigate "Niemen."
12 April. 646 issued. Fight with French squadron and destruction of
ships in Basque Road. 35 ships engaged.
POMPÉE, 17 June 1809. 17 { Chase and capture of French
issued. { ship of the line "Hautpoult"
{ which became
CASTOR, 17 June 1809. 4 { H.M.S. "Abercromby."
issued. { 3 vessels engaged. This
{ action took place on
RECRUIT, 17 June 1809. 3 { April 17 and not as stated
issued. { on the bars.
CYANE, 25 and 27 June { Action with "Ceres," and
1809. 5 issued. { capture of 18 gunboats,
{ and destruction of 4.
L'ESPOIR, 25 and 27 June { Captain Staines, commander
1809. 5 issued. { of the "Cyane,"
{ was knighted.
BONNE CITOYENNE with FURIEUSE. 12 issued. Capture of French frigate
"La Furieuse," July 6th, 1809. Captain Mounsey received the Naval
Gold Medal for this exploit, as already explained.
DIANA, 11 Sept. 1809. 3 issued. Capture of Dutch brig "Zephyr."
ANSE-LE-BARQUE, 18 Dec. 1809. 42 issued. Storming batteries of
Anse-le-barque, and capture of "Loire" and "Seine" frigates. 9
vessels engaged.
CHEROKEE, 10 Jan. 1810. 4 issued. Capture of the French lugger
"L'Aimable Nelly."
SCORPION, 12 Jan. 1810. 12 issued. Capture of the French brig
"L'Oreste."
GUADALOUPE. 509 issued. Capture of Guadaloupe, January and February
1810. 50 vessels engaged.
THISTLE, 10 Feb. 1810. None issued. Capture of the Dutch corvette
"Havik."
SURLY, 24 April 1810. 1 }
issued. } Capture of the French
} privateer "Alcide."
FIRM, 24 April 1810. 1 }
issued. }
SYLVIA, 26 April 1810. 1 issued. Capture of the Dutch brig "Echo,"
in the Straits of Sunda.
SPARTAN, 2 May 1810. 32 issued. Action with the French frigate
"Ceres," and consorts, and capture of the corvette "Sparviéve."
ROYALIST, May and June 1810. 3 issued. Action in the Channel with
and capture of 6 armed French ships.
AMANTHEA, 25 July. 29 issued. Action with gunboats, and capture
and destruction of a number of transports at Amanthea. "Thames,"
"Pilot," "Weasel" engaged.
BANDA NEIRA. 69 issued. Capture of the Island of "Banda Neira," 9
Aug. 1810. 3 boats engaged.
{ Action with French squadron
BOADICEA, 18 Sept. 1810. { and capture of the French
16 issued. { frigate "Venus" and recapture
{ of the British
OTTER, 18 Sept. 1810. { frigate "Ceylon." "Boadicea,"
8 issued. { "Otter," and
{ "Staunch" engaged. The
STAUNCH, 18 Sept. 1810. { "Venus" was added to
2 issued. { the British Navy as the
{ "Néréide."
BRISEIS, 14 Oct. 1810. 2 issued. Capture of the French privateer
"Sans-Souci."
LISSA. 130 issued. Action with French squadron and capture of
frigates off Lissa, March 13th, 1811. 4 vessels engaged.
ANHOLT, 27 March 1811. 40 issued. Action in defence of Anholt
Island when attacked by Danes.
ARROW, 6 April 1811. None issued. Action with "Chassemarées" and
batteries off the French coast.
OFF TAMATAVE, 20 May 1811. 79 issued. Action with French frigates
and capture of "Renommée" and "Néréide"; the vessels became
H.M.S. "Java" and "Madagascar." "Astree," "Galatea," "Phœbe," and
"Racehorse" engaged.
HAWKE, 18 Aug. 1811. 6 issued. Capture of the 16-gun French brig
"Heron" and convoy.
JAVA, 715 issued. Capture of Java, August and September 1811. 25
vessels engaged.
SKYLARK, 11 Nov. 1811. } Action with Boulogne flotilla
2 issued. } of 12 gun-brigs and capture
} of 1.
LOCUST, 11 Nov. 1811. }
2 issued. }
PELAGOSA, 29 Nov. 1811. 64 issued. Action with French frigates
"Pauline" and "Pomone" and capture of same. "Alceste," "Active,"
and "Unitie" engaged.
{ Capture of the French "74"
{ "Rivoli," February 22nd,
{ 1812. The "Victorious"
{ lost 27 killed and 99
VICTORIOUS with RIVOLI. { wounded, but the "Weasel"
WEASEL, 22 Feb. 1812. { did not have a man
6 issued. { injured. Captain Talbot of
{ the "Victorious" was made
{ K.C.B., and the "Rivoli"
{ became a British war
{ vessel.
Note that the bars are named differently for same engagement.
ROSARIO, 27 March 1812. }
6 issued. } Capture of 2 French brigs-of-war
} off Dieppe. Two vessels
GRIFFON, 27 March 1812. } engaged
3 issued. }
NORTHUMBERLAND, 22 } Destruction of the French
May 1812. 62 issued. } frigates "Arienne" and
} "Andromache" and a
GROWLER, 22 May 1812. } brig. 2 vessels engaged.
4 issued. }
MAGALA, 29 May 1812. 17 issued. Capture of French privateers
"Brave" and "Napoleon," at Malaga. The date of the action was 29
April. 4 vessels engaged.
OFF MARDOE, 6 July 1812. 48 issued. Destruction of 2 Danish
frigates and 2 brigs. 4 British boats engaged--"Calypso,"
"Dictator," "Flamer," and "Podargus."
SEALARK, 21 July 1812. 4 issued. Capture of the French privateer
"Ville de Caen."
ROYALIST, 29 Dec. 1812. 3 issued. Capture of the French privateer
lugger "La Ruse."
WEASEL, 22 April 1813. 6 issued. Destruction of 6 French gunboats
in the Adriatic.
SHANNON with CHESAPEAKE. 49 issued. Capture of American frigate
"Chesapeake," on 1 June 1813.
PELICAN, 14 Aug. 1813. 4 issued. Capture of the American brig
"Argus."
ST. SEBASTIAN, Aug. and Sept. 1813. 292 issued. 16 vessels engaged
(see page 53).
THUNDER, 9 Oct. 1813. 7 issued. Capture of the French privateer
"Neptune."
GLUCKSTADT, 5 Jan. 1814. 45 issued. Capture of the fortress of
Gluckstadt. 6 ships and 8 gunboats engaged.
VENERABLE, 16 Jan. 1814. { Capture of the French
31 issued. { frigates "Alcméne" and
{ "Iphigénia," which were
CYANE, 16 Jan. 1814. { added to the Navy as
18 issued. { H.M.S. "Gloire" and
{ "Dunira."
[Illustration: EARL ST. VINCENT'S MEDAL, 1800.
Presented by Admiral Earl St. Vincent to the petty officers, seamen,
and marines of his flagship the "Ville de Paris" for loyalty and good
conduct.]
EUROTAS, 25 Feb. 1814. 32 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Glorinde," which became H.M.S. "Burma."
HEBRUS with L'ETOILE, 27 March 1814. Capture of French frigate
"L'Etoile."
PHŒBE, 28 March 1814. 28 }
issued. } Capture of the American
CHERUB, 28 March 1814. 10 } frigates "Essex" and
issued. } "Essex Junior."
THE POTOMAC, 17 Aug. 1814. 107 issued. Daring navigation of the
Potomac River and destruction of shipping in the Potomac. 8
vessels engaged.
ENDYMION with PRESIDENT, 15 Jan. 1815. Capture of the American
frigate "President."
GAIETA, 24 July. 89 issued. Attack and reduction of Gaieta. "Malta"
and "Berwick" engaged.
ALGIERS. 1,362 issued. Battle of Algiers. 27 Aug. 1816. 22 vessels
engaged. See page 307.
NAVARINO. 1,137 issued. Battle of "Navarino," Oct. 20th, 1827. 11
ships engaged. See page 309.
SYRIA. 6,877 issued. (Quite a number of these were used for
fraudulent purposes, bars being manufactured bearing the records
of rare bars and substituted for the common Syria.) Capture of
"Acre," Nov. 1840, and operations with it on the coast of Syria.
32 ships engaged. See page 310.
BARS GRANTED FOR BOAT ACTIONS
The boat actions commemorated by these bars cover a number of brilliant
actions performed by boats' crews in cutting out, and in some instances
actually recovering, British vessels lost to the enemy, or capturing
enemies' vessels.
15 March 1793. 1 only issued. 17 March 1794. 30 issued. 29 May 1797. 3
issued. 9 June 1799. 4 issued. 20 Dec. 1799. 3 issued. 29 July 1800. 4
issued. 29 Aug. 1800. 26 issued. 27 Oct. 1800. 5 issued. 21 July 1801.
9 issued. 27 June 1803. 5 issued. 4 Nov. 1803. 1 issued. 4 Feb. 1804.
10 issued. 4 June 1805. 10 issued. 16 July 1806. 51 issued. 2 Jan.
1807. 2 issued. 21 Jan. 1807. 9 issued. 19 April 1807. 1 issued. 13
Feb. 1808. 3 issued. 10 July 1808. 8 issued. 11 Aug. 1808. 12 issued.
28 Nov. 1808. 2 issued. 7 July 1809. 33 issued. 14 July 1809. 8 issued.
25 July 1809. 35 issued. 27 July 1809. 10 issued. 29 July 1809. 11
issued. 28 Aug. 1809. 14 issued. 1 Nov. 1809. 117 issued. 13 Dec. 1809.
10 issued. 13 Feb. 1810. 17 issued. 1 May 1810. 18 issued. 28 June
1810. 24 issued. 27 Sept. 1810. 34 issued. 4 Nov. 1810. 2 issued. 23
Nov. 1810. 66 issued. 24 Dec. 1810. 6 issued. 4 May 1811. 10 issued. 30
July 1811. 4 issued. 2 Aug. 1811. 10 issued. 20 Sept. 1811. 8 issued.
4 Dec. 1811. 18 issued. 4 April 1812. 4 issued. 1 Sept. 1812, 18 Sept.
1812. 24 issued for these 2 clasps. 17 Sept. 1812. 11 issued. 29 Sept.
1812. 26 issued. 6 Jan. 1813. 21 issued. 21 March 1813. 6 issued. 28
April 1813. 2 issued. April and May 1813. 54 issued. 2 May 1813. 49
issued. 8 April 1814. 23 issued. 24 May 1814. 11 issued. 3 and 6 Sept.
1814. 1 only issued. 14 Dec. 1814. 117 issued.
The last two bars are for actions in the war with America.
* * * * *
=Algiers.=--For this battle, fought on August 27th, 1816, 1,362 medals
with a single bar, or combined with others, were issued. The action
was brought about by the piratical depredations of the Algerines, and
the enslavement of Christians by them. Lord Exmouth sailed for the
port with 5 ships of the line and 8 smaller vessels, being joined at
Gibraltar by 6 Dutch frigates under Admiral Van de Capellen. They
appeared before Algiers on August 26th, and proposed certain terms to
the Dey, which were not accepted, so next day they commenced to bombard
the city. The Algerine fleet was destroyed, and the Dey accepted the
terms he had refused. Over 1,200 Christian slaves were freed, and a
promise given that piracy and slavery should cease. For a time the
promise was kept, but in 1830 the French had to take strong steps to
deal with the Algerines, and in the end Algeria became a French colony.
=Exmouth Gold Medal.=--As a reward for his services, Admiral Lord
Exmouth was created a Viscount, and received from the Prince Regent a
large gold medal, bearing on the obverse the bust of the Prince Regent
encircled by TO TAME THE PROUD, THE FETTER'D SLAVE TO FREE. THESE
ARE IMPERIAL ARTS, AND WORTHY THEE, and in the exergue PRINCE GEORGE
REGENT. On the reverse is a representation of the bombardment, and in
the exergue ALGIERS BOMBARDED ITS FLEET DESTROYED AND CHRISTIAN SLAVERY
EXTINGUISHED, AUGUST 27TH, 1816. Only 4 medals of this kind were struck.
The following ships were engaged in the bombardment: the flagship
"Queen Charlotte," "Impregnable," "Leander," "Superb," "Minden,"
"Albion," "Severn," "Glasgow," "Hebrus," "Granicus," and the sloops
"Mutine," "Cordelia," "Heron," "Britomart," and "Jasper," and the
following bomb vessels "Fury," "Infernal," "Beelzebub," "Hecla," and
three vessels for transport, ordnance, and dispatch. Eighty-four men
of the 1st Batt. Royal Sappers and Miners served as marines on the
flagship and the "Impregnable."
=Ava.=--To those officers and seamen who took part in the Burmese War
of 1824-6, the Army of India Medal, described on page 133 as having
been awarded to officers and soldiers, was also awarded with a bar for
AVA. Dr. Payne has in his collection medals with this bar awarded to a
junior captain of the Bombay Marine, with his name impressed, likewise
one awarded to a man of the H.E.I. Co.'s "Asseeghur," and one to an
ordinary seaman of the "Boadicea" with the name engraved.
The following ships' crews took part: H.M.S. "Liffey," "Larne,"
"Slaney," "Avachne," "Sophie," "Satellite," "Diana," "Tees,"
"Alligator," and "Mercury," and the H.E.I. Co.'s "Thetis" and
"Teignmouth." These were later joined after the capture of Martaban by
the crews of the "Boadicea" and "Champion."
=Navarino.=--This battle was fought on October 20th, 1827. 1,137 Naval
General Service Medals bearing the bar for NAVARINO were issued. In
1821 the Greeks had revolted against the Turks, and the latter treated
them with ruthless barbarity, murdering in cold blood the inhabitants
of Morea and laying waste the country. To put an end to this state of
affairs, Great Britain, France, and Russia signed a treaty to ensure
the independence of the Greeks, and in September 1827 Vice-Admiral
Cordington sailed with the British fleet to Navarino, in the harbour
of which the Turco-Egyptian fleet was at anchor. He was joined later
by the French and Russian fleets, and an ultimatum was then sent to
Ibrahim Pasha to the effect that the barbarities and the ravagings were
to cease, and this he agreed to pending communication with the Grand
Vizier at Constantinople, but because the allied fleets refused passage
to some of his ships from the harbour of Navarino he again resorted to
his fiendish practices. The British Admiral thereupon determined to
take his ships into the harbour, and anchor near the Turco-Egyptian
fleet.
On October 20th, followed by the French and Russian squadrons, Admiral
Cordington entered the harbour and anchored close to the hostile
fleet, when fire was opened by the Turks upon a ship's boat, killing
the lieutenant in charge and several of his men. The "Dartmouth" then
opened fire, and the battle commenced. The batteries of the fortress
of Navarino then began to fire on the combined fleets, but so bad was
the aim of the enemy's gunners that they did as much damage to their
friends as to their foes. For four hours the fight continued with great
vigour, and had it not been for the splendid co-operation of the French
and Russian fleets it is doubtful whether the issue would have been
satisfactory to lovers of freedom. It is noteworthy, however, that the
French Admiral's flagship was only saved from grappling by a Turkish
fireship through the speedy assistance given by the British brig "Rose"
and some boats of the Russian fleet. The British losses were 75 killed,
and 197 wounded. The French lost 43 killed, and 144 wounded, and the
Russians 59 killed, and 139 wounded, while the enemy--according to his
own estimate--had thousands killed.
[Illustration: WILLIAM IV.]
[Illustration: QUEEN VICTORIA. (Reverse.) EDWARD VII. (Obverse.)
NAVAL LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS.]
The following British ships were engaged: the flagship "Asia,"
"Albion," "Genoa," "Glasgow," "Cambrian," "Dartmouth," and "Talbot,"
and the brigs "Brisk," "Mosquito," "Philomel," and "Rose." There were 4
French ships of the line, a frigate and a schooner, and 5 Russian ships
of the line and 3 frigates.
Hereafter the history of the British Navy and its engagements was,
until 1914, confined to the bombardment of ports, or combined with that
of the army in land service.