Turkish armies and made himself master of Syria, and, as has happened
often since, Great Britain went to the sick man's aid, co-operating
with Austria, Russia, and Prussia, to compel the recalcitrant Pasha
to accept the Vice-Royalty and be satisfied with the governorship of
Syria for his lifetime. An ultimatum was sent to him and his generals
to the effect that Syria was to be restored to the government of the
Sultan of Turkey within twenty-one days, but as no notice was taken
of the demand, a squadron of British ships blockaded Alexandria, in
the harbour of which the Egyptian fleet was at anchor, while the other
portion of the fleet, under Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, bombarded
Beyrout. Meanwhile, the towns on the coast of Syria had been retaken,
Tyre captured on September 24th and Sidon on the 27th. Concentrating
at Acre, the Egyptians were worsted there on November 2nd, and the war
was brought to a conclusion by Mehemet Ali accepting the terms he had
originally refused.
=The Sultan's Medal for Acre.=--To the officers and men a medal,
illustrated facing page 292, was awarded; to the officers ranking
as field officers in gold, in silver to quarter-deck and warrant
officers, and in bronze to petty officers, seamen, and marines.
The following ships were engaged in the operations upon the coast
of Syria in the years 1840-41: "Princess Charlotte," "Powerful,"
"Revenge," "Bellerophon," "Thunderer," "Ganges," "Benbow," "Edinburgh,"
"Hastings," "Vanguard," "Rodney," "Asia," "Implacable," "Cambridge,"
"Pique," "Castor," "Dido," "Carysfort," "Talbot," "Daphne," "Cyclops,"
"Wasp," "Magicienne," "Vesuvius," "Gorgon," "Hazard," "Phœnix,"
"Hydra," "Stromboli," "Medea," "Zebra," and "Hecate."
The bar for SYRIA was given with the Naval General Service medal for
these operations.
=China, 1840-2.=--In this war, already described on pages 98 and
99, the following ships' crews were engaged: in 1840 "Melville,"
"Blenheim," "Wellesley," "Blonde," "Druid," "Conway," "Volage,"
"Larne," "Alligator," "Pylades," "Modeste," "Cruiser," "Nimrod,"
"Algerine," "Columbine," "Rattlesnake," and the following ships'
crews of the Honourable East India Company: "Atalanta," "Queen,"
"Enterprise," "Calliope," "Madagascar," "Samarang," "Herald," and
"Nemesis"; the latter, a well-armed iron steamer, created great terror
amongst the Chinese, who named it the "devil ship." The following
ships were added from time to time to the fleet: H.M.S. "Cornwallis,"
"Endymion," "Vindictive," "North Star," "Cambrian," "Hazard,"
"Pelican," "Harlequin," "Clio," "Wanderer," "Wolverine," "Hebe,"
"Serpent," "Royalist," "Plover," "Starling," "Driver," "Vixen," and the
hospital ship "Minden," likewise the H.E.I. Co.'s steamers "Auckland,"
"Akbar," "Memnon," "Hooghley," "Proserpine," "Pluto," "Sesostris,"
"Medusa," and "Phlegethon."
=Scinde, 1843.=--The same medal as awarded to the army was awarded
to the naval force taking part in the campaign. One hundred and ten
medals were issued to the Indus Flotilla, and of these 40 were to
Europeans. For Hyderabad 115 medals were issued to the crews of H.E.I.
Co.'s "Comet," "Meteor," and "Nimrod." Medals were given to naval men
for Meeanee 1843, Hyderabad 1843, and Meeanee-Hyderabad 1843 (see pages
107-109).
=Punjab, 1848-9.=--A brigade of seamen, 100 strong with 7 officers,
from the Indian Navy under Commander F. T. Powell, served at the Siege
of Mooltan, and it is noteworthy that this was the first occasion upon
which seamen served so far away from their ships. Medals were awarded
with and without bar for Mooltan.
=Second China War.=--The squadron of British ships engaged under
Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour in 1856-60, in the operations
already described on pages 98-100, included the flagship "Calcutta,"
"Sybille," "Pique," "Winchester," "Encounter," "Bittern," "Hornet,"
"Comus," "Racehorse," "Barracouta," "Sampson," "Coromandel," "Nankin,"
"Esk," "Elk," "Amethyst," "Sanspareil," "Cruiser," "Acorn," "Niger,"
"Inflexible," and a number of gunboats. In the attack on the Taku
Forts, August 21st, 1860, the only naval co-operation was made by the
gunboats "Clown," "Drake," "Woodcock," and "Janus." Bars were awarded
for FATSHAN 1857 (navy only), CANTON 1857, TAKU FORTS 1858 (navy only),
TAKU FORTS 1860, and PEKIN 1860. These medals were issued to the navy
unnamed, and very few seamen appear to have troubled about having their
medals engraved. Many issued to the Indian Navy and some of the marines
were, however, impressed in capital Roman letters.
=Pegu.=--To those seamen and marines who took part in the second
Burmese War, 1852-3, the India General Service Medal 1854 was awarded
with the bar for PEGU, which, by the way, is somewhat smaller than the
other bars issued with this medal (see pages 137-138). The following
ships' crews were engaged: H.M.S. "Fox," "Rattler," "Serpent,"
"Sphinx," "Salamander," "Hermes," "Winchester," and a gunboat, together
with the H.E.I. Co.'s boats "Berenice," "Bhagerutee," "Moofuffer,"
"Feroze," "Zenobia," "Sesostris," "Medusa," "Pluto," "Proserpine,"
"Phlegethon," "Soane," "Spy," "Tenasserim," "Mahanuddy," "Fire Queen,"
"Enterprise," "Indus," "Krishna," "Luckea," "Damoodah," "Sutledge," and
"Lord Wm. Bentinck."
=South Africa, 1853.=--This medal, as previously explained, was
awarded to cover all the wars and operations that had taken place in
South Africa between 1834 and 1853. No bar was issued with the medal,
and the only means of discovering when a recipient was engaged is by
looking up the period during which his regiment, or ship, was engaged;
but this is not quite so easy in the case of naval medals, as the
name and rank only are impressed upon them in Roman capitals in the
same type as was used on the Naval General Service medal. The third
Kaffir War was the first in which the navy took part, and from the end
of 1850 to March 1853 a small naval brigade composed of seamen and
marines from the following ships were engaged ashore: "Castor," "Dee,"
"Grecian," "Hermes," "Penguin," "Pantaloon," "Gladiator," "Orestes,"
"Rhadamanthus" and "Styx."
CRIMEAN WAR
During the early stages of the war the combined British and French
fleets were co-operating in Kavarna Bay, and on April 5th anchored
before Odessa, when the Russian commandant firing upon H.M.S.
"Furious," which was carrying a flag of truce, the following ships
were ordered to open fire on the batteries on April 22nd, 1854. H.M.S.
"Furious," "Terrible," "Retribution," "Niger," "Arethusa," and 3 French
vessels. The fort was blown up, and the shipping destroyed. Later the
"Firebrand" and the "Fury" destroyed the Russian batteries at Sulina,
and then with the rest of the fleet took part in the bombardment of
Sebastopol.
=Sebastopol.=--The following ships were engaged in the bombardment
of Sebastopol on October 17th, 1854: "Albion," "Britannia," "London,"
"Agamemnon," "Queen," "Firebrand," "Niger," "Furious," "Trafalgar,"
"Retribution," "Vesuvius," "Rodney," "Bellerophon," "Highflyer,"
"Spitfire," "Arethusa," "Cyclops," "Triton," "Lynx," "Sphinx,"
"Tribune," "Terrible," "Sampson," and "Sanspareil." In the bombardment
44 were killed and 264 wounded on board the British ships, the "Albion"
and the "Agamemnon" suffering most heavily. The French fleet lost about
200 killed and wounded. Prior to the bombardment a naval brigade of
1,050 seamen, under the command of Captain Lushington, landed with 50
heavy guns, and demonstrated their aptitude, and their right to the
name of "handymen," by constructing their own batteries and being ready
to take the defensive long before the artillerymen had their guns in
position. The success of the attack on the Malakoff tower was in no
small measure due to the assistance of the naval brigade with their
heavy guns. In the assault on the Redan the naval brigade also played
a conspicuous and daring part, as the casualty list showed, for out of
120 men 14 were killed and 46 wounded.
=Azoff.=--The following ships were engaged in the expedition which,
together with 3 French men-o'-war and 20 frigates, sailed on May
22nd, 1855, for the Sea of Azoff, blowing up _en route_ the works and
magazines at Kertch, and destroying Yenikale: H.M.S. "Agamemnon,"
"Algiers," "Hannibal," "St. Jean d'Acre," "Princess Royal," "Royal
Albert," and 27 frigates. The bar for AZOFF was awarded to the officers
and crews of the following ships: "Vesuvius," "Stromboli," "Miranda,"
"Swallow," "Curlew," "Beagle," "Lynx," "Ardent," "Viper," "Snake,"
"Medina," "Recruit," "Arrow," "Clinker," "Boxer," "Grinder," "Fancy,"
"Sulina," "Weser," "Jasper," and "Cracker"; also the first and second
launches of the "Agamemnon," "Hannibal," "Algiers," "St. Jean d'Acre,"
"Princess Royal," and the "Royal Albert."
During these operations Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral Sir) E.
Commerell of the "Weser" gained the Victoria Cross for his intrepid
conduct while engaged in destroying stores on the shore of the Sivash.
=The Baltic Medal.=--For their services in connection with the blockade
of the Baltic, Queen Victoria commanded in 1856 that a medal should
be struck and issued to the officers, seamen, and marines who had
been engaged in the Baltic from March 1854 to August 1855, during
which period they had blockaded Bomarsund, attacked and captured it,
and bombarded and destroyed Sveaborg. Two officers and 90 sappers
and miners who served aboard the flagship and at Bomarsund were also
awarded the medal, which bears on the obverse the same bust of Queen
Victoria as on the medals previously described, and on the reverse the
seated figure of Britannia, holding a trident in her right hand, with a
naval gun and pile of shot, flags, and a naval coronet beside her, and
behind in the distance the fort of Bomarsund to the left, and Sveaborg
to the right; above all is BALTIC, and in the exergue ~1854-55~. The
medal, by L. C. Wyon, is 1⅖ in. in diameter, and depends from a yellow
ribbon 1¼ in. wide with blue edges, by means of a curled suspender
similar to the Sutlej type. The medals were issued unnamed, except in
the case of the officers and sappers mentioned above, and theirs were
issued with their names impressed.
The following ships were employed in the Baltic: H.M.S. "Duke of
Wellington,*" "Saint George," "Neptune," "Princess Royal," "Royal
George,*" "Saint Jean d'Acre," "Majestic,*" "Nile,*" "James Watt,*"
"Prince Regent," "Cæsar,*" "Monarch," "Boscawen," "Cumberland,"
"Cressy,*" "Blenheim,*" "Hogue,*" "Edinburgh,*" "Amphion,*"
"Arrogant,*" "Ajax,*" "Euryalus,*" "Imperieuse,*" "Cruiser,"
"Odin," "Dauntless," "Archer," "Leopard," "Valorous," "Desperate,"
"Magicienne," "Vulture," "Dragon," "Porcupine," "Bulldog," "Conflict,"
"Driver," "Hecla," "Basilisk," "Rosamund," "Lightning," "Alban," and
H.M. Hospital Ship "Belleisle."
After the recall of Sir Charles Napier, who was censured for not
attacking Sveaborg, a fleet was dispatched to the Baltic under
Rear-Admiral Hon. R. Dundas. It included the ships named above
marked with an asterisk, and the "Calcutta," "Colossus," "Orion,"
"Cornwallis," "Exmouth," "Russell," "Hawk," "Pembroke," "Hastings,"
"Retribution," "Falcon," "Esk," "Tartar," "Cossack," "Archer,"
"Harrier," and "Pylades," with a number of smaller vessels and
gunboats. During the second operations in the Baltic, Lieutenant Dowell
of the Marine Artillery gained the V.C. for leading a volunteer crew
in a boat from the "Ruby," and taking the cutter of the "Arrogant" in
tow when she was swamped after the explosion of her magazine during an
attack on some vessels at Viborg.
The following vessels took part in the attack on Sveaborg: H.M.S.
"Duke of Wellington," "Arrogant," "Euryalus," "Exmouth," "Cornwallis,"
"Cossack," "Pembroke," "Merlin," "Vulture," "Dragon," "Locust,"
"Volcano," "Lightning," "Hastings," "Amphion," "Edinburgh,"
"Magicienne," "Geyser," "Eolus," "Belleisle," "Cruiser," "Princess
Alice," and the gunboats and mortar vessels "Redwing," "Lark,"
"Magpie," "Starling," "Skylark," "Stork," "Drake," "Redbreast,"
"Weasel," "Badger," "Mastiff," "Snapper," "Biter," "Growler,"
"Pincher," "Porpoise," "Snap," "Blazer," "Dapper," "Pelter," "Pickle,"
"Havock," "Prompt," "Manly," "Sinbad," "Beacon," "Carron," and
"Grappler."
=Naval Brigade in Crimea.=--Some of the naval brigade in the Crimea
received medals with three clasps for BALAKLAVA, INKERMANN, and
SEBASTOPOL; others two clasps for INKERMANN and SEBASTOPOL, or
BALAKLAVA and SEBASTOPOL. Others, showing they had fought _per mare_,
_per terras_, three clasps for AZOFF, BALAKLAVA, and SEBASTOPOL, or
AZOFF, INKERMANN, and SEBASTOPOL. The only single bars are for AZOFF
or SEBASTOPOL. Some of the marines who fought ashore received the whole
four clasps for land service as awarded to soldiers. The medals issued
to the navy were generally unnamed, but I have in my possession a few
named with the same impressed lettering as on the medals issued to
the army. The sailors and marines who fought in the Crimea were also
awarded the Turkish medal described on page 152, while fifty of them
received the Sardinian medal described on page 153.
INDIAN MUTINY
The deeds of the "Pearl" and "Shannon" Brigades during the Indian
Mutiny have always impressed students of the war, and collectors
have invariably been found willing to pay relatively high prices
for medals without a bar if awarded to a man of the "Pearl" Brigade
of 250 men, because of the splendid work they did in no less than
twenty engagements. The "Shannon" Brigade was composed of 410 seamen
and marines from that vessel, under the command of Captain W. Peel,
who landed with six 68-pounders--which were employed for the first
time as field pieces--eight 24-pounders, a battery of 8 rockets, and
2 howitzers, also some of the crew of the "Pearl," together with
120 sailors recruited from merchant ships. At Allahabad part of the
"Shannon's" company was left to garrison the place, the rest marching
to Cawnpore. Near Futtehgur 100 men of the naval brigade, co-operating
with 450 soldiers, defeated a force of 4,000 mutineers and captured
2 guns. In November the brigade was attacking and assisting in the
capture of the Martinière, and later breached the walls of the
Secundrabagh and Shah Nujeef at Lucknow. In this daring work Lieutenant
(afterwards Admiral Sir) M. Salmon and three of his men won the V.C.
In January the brigade took part in the battle of Kallee Nudee, and in
March 1858 was again at Lucknow storming the Dilkoosha and breaching
the Martinière, where Captain Peel was wounded. He died on March 27th
from an attack of smallpox, just when his gallantry had earned for him
a knighthood. With the capture of Lucknow the work of the "Shannon"
brigade was finished, and on September 15th she sailed for home.
Five hundred and thirty medals were issued to men of the "Shannon"
and 232 to men of the "Pearl." Three hundred Europeans of the Indian
Marine also received the medals without bars; this medal was generally
inscribed INDIAN NAVAL BRIGADE.
=Persia, 1857.=--The crews of the following ships of the Indian Navy
received the medal with bar for PERSIA: "Ajdaha," "Assyria," "Assaye,"
"Berenice," "Clive," "Comet," "Constance," "Euphrates," "Falkland,"
"Ferooz," "Hugh Lindsay," "Lady Falkland," "Napier," "Nitocris,"
"Planet," "Punjab," "Semiramis," "Victoria."
=New Zealand.=--I have already described at some length the extended
operations in New Zealand between 1845 and 1866. In these operations
the navy on many occasions took an important part, particularly the
crew of H.M.S. "Hazard" at the beginning of the war in 1845. The ships'
crews engaged in 1845-7 were H.M.S. "Hazard," "North Star," "Castor,"
"Elphinstone," "Racehorse," "Osprey."
=New Zealand, 1845-6-7.=--The ships engaged during this period were
H.M.S. "Castor," "Calliope," "Driver," "Elphinstone," H.E.I. Co.'s
"Hazard," "Inflexible," "North Star," "Osprey," and "Racehorse."
=New Zealand, 1860-6.=--Members of the crews of the following ships
received the medal for this period, although after August 1864,
following the Gate Pa affair--in which Samuel Mitchell, captain of the
foretop of H.M.S. "Harrier," gained the V.C.--the navy was not actively
employed: H.M.S. "Brisk," "Cordelia," "Curaçoa," "Eclipse," "Esk,"
"Falcon," "Harrier," "Himalaya," "Iris," "Miranda," "Niger," "Pelorus,"
and "Victoria" (see page 186 for description of medal).
=Abyssinia.=--In the Abyssinian campaign (1867-8), already referred
to on pages 189-191 a naval brigade consisting of 83 men, with twelve
12-pounder rocket tubes, commanded by Commander Fellowes of H.M.S.
"Dryad," took part, forming part of the first division under General
Staveley. Men of the "Octavia," "Dryad," "Spiteful," and "Satellite"
took part.
=Ashantee.=--In this campaign (1873-4) seamen and marines from H.M.S.
"Argus," "Encounter," "Barracouta," "Druid," "Seagull," "Simoom,"
"Rattlesnake," and "Beacon" were employed ashore and afloat, while the
gunboats "Bittern," "Decoy," and "Merlin" were actually engaged on the
coast.
=Perak.=--The crews of H.M. gunboats "Charybdis" and "Hart" were
employed in the operations against the Malays during 1875, and
the crews of H.M.S. "Egeria," and the gunboats "Fly," "Philomel,"
"Ringdove," "Thistle," and the corvette "Modeste" in 1876. The I.G.S.
Medal 1854, with bar for PERAK, was issued following a General Order of
September 1st, 1879. The officers and crews of H.M.S. "Egeria" and the
gunboats "Hart" and "Charybdis" received the medal for their services
up the Lakut and Lingie Rivers. The naval medals are named in squat,
sloping Roman capitals.
=South Africa, 1877-8.=--Sailors and marines from the following ships
were engaged at different periods in the various wars in South Africa
from 1877 to 1879 (see pages 196-202): H.M.S. "Active," "Boadicea,"
"Euphrates," "Forester," "Himalaya," "Orontes," "Shah," "Tamar," and
"Tenedos."
In the campaign against the Galekas and Gaikas in 1877-8 two small
naval brigades composed of men from H.M.S. "Active" and "Florence" were
engaged, and both did excellent work with their rocket batteries.
=Zulu War, 1879.=--In this war a naval brigade of 170 seamen and
marines from H.M.S. "Active" were attached to the third column under
Colonel Pearson. They were under the command of Captain Campbell, and
had with them two 7-pounders, a Gatling gun, and two rocket tubes. A
brigade from H.M.S. "Boadicea," "Shah," and "Tenedos" marched with
the relieving force to Ekowe. At the expiration of the war the naval
brigade was warmly thanked by General Sir Garnet (later Viscount)
Wolseley for the services they had rendered.
EGYPTIAN WARS
=Alexandria, 1882.=--In this campaign the navy played an important
part--indeed, it was opened by the bombardment of Alexandria on July
11th, 1882, the fortifications of which had been strengthened, and the
garrison increased by the rebel Arabi Pasha in anticipation of the
allied fleets of Britain and France acting on the offensive. Noticing
the preparations which Arabi was making, Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour
called upon him to desist, and as no notice was taken of his demand, or
of his ultimatum that unless work was stopped on the fortifications the
place would be bombarded, he prepared his ships for action. Meanwhile
the French fleet had left the harbour. The British steamed out, and
took up a position facing the outer forts; at half-past 6 on July 11th
the British ships cleared for action, and the bombardment began by the
"Alexandra" firing a shell into Fort Ada. The fort responded, and then
the duel between the ships' guns of the British fleet and those of the
fort began. In a couple of hours Fort Marsa-el-Kanat was blown up, and
very shortly after, nearly all the guns in Fort Mex were silenced. At
half-past 10 an attack was made upon the Lighthouse Fort, and within a
couple of hours the Ras-el-Tin batteries were silenced.
=The Plucky "Condor."=--Meantime Fort Marabout had been the scene of a
memorable action on the part of Lord Charles Beresford. Noticing that
the rifled guns of the fort were dropping their shot very near to the
ships anchored at about 4,500 yards, viz. the "Monarch," "Penelope,"
and "Temeraire," he steamed the gunboat "Condor" within range, and by
his daring action in pounding away at the fort for two hours diverted
the enemy's fire, and thus materially assisted in the reduction of
Fort Mex. The "Condor" was assisted in its plucky work by the gunboats
"Beacon," "Bittern," and "Cygnet," which the Admiral had sent to help
in the work, and so enabled her to be the means of silencing the guns
of the fort by 2 p.m. Three hours later all firing ceased, and the
battle of Alexandria was won with comparatively small loss to the
fleet, the "Alexandra" suffering most from the effects of the enemy's
guns. On this vessel gunner Israel Harding won the V.C. for throwing
water over a live shell, which had pierced the side of the ship, and
then picking it up and placing it in a tub of water; this hero rose to
be chief gunner before he retired. A force of sailors and marines were
landed, and engaged in keeping order. The successful Admiral became
Lord Alcester, and received a grant of £25,000.
The ships engaged in the bombardment of Alexandria were the flagship
"Alexandra," "Sultan," "Invincible," "Inflexible," "Temeraire,"
"Monarch," "Penelope," "Superb," and the gunboats "Beacon," "Bittern,"
"Condor," "Cygnet," "Decoy," and the dispatch vessel "Helicon."
=Tel-el-Kebir.=--In the operations leading up to the battle of
Tel-el-Kebir, a number of seamen were engaged; several strategic points
were seized by them, and several minor but vital engagements won by
them. Lieutenant Wyatt Rawson, R.N., who guided the Highland Brigade
across the desert to Tel-el-Kebir by his correct reading of the stars,
was the first to enter the entrenchments--alas! to meet his death
shortly after. In the battle of Tel-el-Kebir a naval brigade of 250
men, with 6 Gatling guns, took part; also marine artillery and marines.
The latter, attached to General Graham's brigade, were placed in the
front line, and suffered somewhat heavily, but the naval brigade did
not lose a man.
[Illustration: First type.]
[Illustration: Republican Variety.
CROSS OF THE LÉGION D'HONNEUR.]
For the bombardment of Alexandria the Egyptian Medal 1882 with a bar
inscribed ALEXANDRIA JULY 11 1882 was awarded to the officers, seamen,
and marines, and for TEL-EL-KEBIR to those who took part in that
decisive battle (see facing page 160 for medal, also the Khedive's Star
which was issued by Prince Tewfik); the naval medals were named.
=El-Teb.=--When the Mahdi incited the Sudanese to rise against the
Khedive in 1883, and practically gained control over the entire Sudan,
it became necessary, as I have already explained, to send a British
force to deal with the Mahdi and his principal lieutenant Osman Digna.
In the war in the Sudan the men of the navy again distinguished
themselves by their cheery willingness and ability. At Suakin, Admiral
Sir William Hewitt's brigade of sailors and marines was landed from the
"Decoy," "Euryalus," "Ranger," and "Sphinx" to defend the place, which
they did quite successfully against Osman Digna. On February 1st, 1884,
Osman Digna's force practically annihilated the army of 5,000 Egyptian
troops at El-Teb under Valentine Baker Pasha (at one time Colonel of
the 10th Hussars).