THE 
 
 MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 A GUIDE TO NAVAL.MILITARY 
 
 AIRFORCE S? CIVIL AWARDS 
 
THE 
 
 MEDAL 
 
 COLLECTC 
 
 Dr. STANLEY 
 JOHNSON 
 
 THE 
 COLLECTORS' 
 
 SERIES 
 EDITED BY 
 H. W. LEWER, F.S. 
 
 7/6 
 
 NET 
 
 HERBERT 
 JENKINS 
 
> 
 
 
 
 
THE 
 
 MEDAL 
 
 COLLECTOR 
 
 Dr. STANLEY C. 
 JOHNSON 
 
 THE MEDAL 
 
 COLLECTOR 
 
 A GUIDE TO NAVAL, MILITARY 
 AND AIR FORCE AWARDS BY 
 DR. STANLEY C. JOHNSON, M.A., D.Sc. 
 
 /AEDAL NOMENCLATURE. 
 
 Sects rte. added, above those. 
 
THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME 
 
 THE CHINA COLLECTOR 
 
 THE FURNITURE COLLECTOR 
 
 THE GLASS COLLECTOR 
 
 THE EARTHENWARE COLLECTOR 
 
 THE SILVER AND SHEFFIELD PLATE 
 COLLECTOR 
 
 THE STAMP COLLECTOR 
 THE PEWTER COLLECTOR 
 THE MINIATURE COLLECTOR 
 
THE MEDAL 
 COLLECTOR 
 
 A GUIDE TO NAVAL, MILITARY, 
 AIR-FORCE AND CIVIL MEDALS 
 AND RIBBONS BY STANLEY C. 
 JOHNSON, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.E.S., 
 WITH EIGHT PLATES fN COL- 
 OUR AND NUMEROUS OTHER 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED 
 3 YORK STREET, SAINT JAMES'S 
 LONDON, S.W.i MCMXX1 
 
A 
 
 HERBERT 
 
 JENKINS' 
 
 BOOK 
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED 
 LONDON AND BECCLES 
 
PREFACE 
 
 IT is true that medals or, more strictly speaking, 
 medallions, were struck by the Greeks and 
 Romans, but the fashioning of such pieces did 
 not resolve itself into a distinct art until the Italians 
 produced such masters of the craft as Antonio Pisano 
 in the fifteenth century. Pisano may be spoken of as 
 the father of medal-craft, as we know it to-day, and 
 many delightful specimens of his work are preserved 
 in the British Museum. 
 
 The earliest Italian conceptions served to record 
 events, but more often proclaimed the real or alleged 
 qualities of various people ; whilst later pieces, notably 
 those of the Medici, filled the purpose of political 
 propaganda, pure and simple. 
 
 The utilitarian aspect of medals grew with con- 
 siderable rapidity, and it was not long before men 
 showed their adhesion to this or that cause by wearing 
 a decorative badge bearing some distinctive design 
 and inscription. At much the same time, the soldiery 
 being deprived of its armour and, consequently, its 
 distinguishing marks, took to wearing metal badges 
 to denote where their allegiance lay. 
 
 Such military badges being required in considerable 
 numbers were, of necessity, made in base metal and 
 by rough means, but it naturally followed that the 
 
 5 
 
6 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 leaders and, later, those who performed deeds of 
 outstanding merit, were deemed worthy of a better 
 device. For them, a limited number of silver, gold 
 and jewelled badges were fashioned. The role of this 
 special form of decoration has developed into the 
 present-day bravery medal, whilst the ordinary devices, 
 fashioned in base metal, have their counterpart in 
 regimental helmet plates and cap badges. 
 
 In order to differentiate between the medals 
 intended to be worn and those that are circular like 
 coins and possess no clip attachment, there is a growing 
 tendency to reserve the word medal for the former and 
 to speak of the latter as medallions. It cannot be 
 claimed, however, that the meanings here suggested 
 are universally accepted, though the trend is to observe 
 them, more and more, as time goes on. 
 
 The present work, it should be explained, deals 
 with pieces struck for wearing medals, in fact and 
 describes every official award of note from the time of 
 the Armada down to the honours won in the various 
 theatres of the Great War. The Armada serves as 
 our starting point because it was then that English 
 medals were first awarded, but it may be well to state 
 that foreign countries had struck pieces much earlier 
 for distribution among their own fighting men. 
 
 England was late in appreciating the need for 
 conferring medals ; she was slow, too, in recognising 
 the good feeling which such awards would engender 
 among those who should have received them. As the 
 student of history will note, numbers of wars which 
 took place after the Spanish galleons were sunk receive 
 no mention in the pages which follow for the reason 
 that medals were not granted in connection with them. 
 
PREFACE 7 
 
 This lack of recognition of those who fought so ably 
 led Pope to exclaim 
 
 " Oh ! when shall Britain, conscious of her claim, 
 Stand emulous of Greek and Roman fame ? 
 In living medals see her wars enroll'd 
 And vanquished realms supply recording gold ? " 
 
 It was only when Queen Victoria lent her support 
 to the matter that definite rules were laid down in 
 connection with the granting of medals, and even she 
 was faced with a weight of opposition which would 
 have overcome a less august personage. 
 
 Since her time, there has been an orderly progres- 
 sion in the issue of these honourable decorations. The 
 campaign pieces which form the bulk of the awards 
 have been struck in silver at the Mint, and, as a rule, 
 possess a diameter of one and seven-sixteenths of an 
 inch. Forgeries are seldom quite as large. The reason 
 for this is that spurious specimens are usually cast from 
 original copies, and the shrinkage, inherent to the 
 process, causes the slightly shorter diameter. 
 
 Forged medals, however, are not very common, and 
 the collector is by no means called upon to be ever 
 watchful for their appearance. Certain early British 
 pieces, it is true, have been imitated, and the same 
 may be said of a fair number of continental examples ; 
 but the general run of home issues has not fallen a 
 prey of the counterfeiter. When fictitious specimens 
 do arise, they can be usually detected by their spotty, 
 pimpled surfaces, due to the contact of the hot metal 
 with the sand or other material required for shaping 
 the moulds. 
 
 But though forged medals do not abound, the col- 
 lector of slight knowledge must be wary of impositions, 
 
8 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 none the less. As will be seen from the ensuing 
 pages, the value of a piece depends in great measure 
 upon its bars. Sometimes a certain bar is extremely 
 rare ; at other times, it is a peculiar combination ol 
 these added honours which makes for rarity. What 
 could be easier than to take the bars from two or three 
 medals and place them all on one medal ? The barless 
 pieces would lose in value, but the overloaded specimen 
 might gain enormously. There is even a case where a 
 medal with one particular bar is worth more than the 
 same medal and bar with an additional honour ! And 
 when it is remembered that a small thing like a bar 
 can be easily forged, much more easily than the medal 
 itself can be, the reader will see that these tiny plates, 
 fastened to the ribbon, require careful examination. 
 When some rare combination is in question, the 
 collector must verify the bars and the name engraved 
 on the flange of the piece by hunting through the medal 
 rolls. Then he can tell in a moment whether or not 
 he has a genuine combination of bars and medal. 
 
 The value of a specimen depends not only on the 
 bars, but on the rank and fame of the original recipient. 
 And when the winner of the piece is an unknown 
 hero, his regiment counts for much. The crack corps 
 are more sought after than those of lesser renown, but, 
 personally, we feel that too much notice should not be 
 taken of this factor unless exceptional circumstances 
 are present. 
 
 Groups of medals won by one individual should 
 not be dispersed any more than large diamonds should 
 be cut into sections to make many small ones. Four 
 or five pieces engraved with the same name are thus 
 
PREFACE 9 
 
 worth considerably more than the same pieces won by 
 as many different men. 
 
 If the history, however slight, of the recipient of 
 a medal can be gleaned from any quarter, this will 
 add to the attraction of the item, and where many 
 such histories are obtained the collection will materially 
 benefit in point of interest and worth. 
 
 With the earlier campaign awards, the clasp or 
 other attachment was often clumsy and unsightly, 
 and many men provided a better and more serviceable 
 arrangement at their own expense. In such cases, 
 pieces with the original clasp or hook are always to 
 be preferred to those with a non-authorised attach- 
 ment. For much the same reason, medals that have 
 had the recipient's name obliterated and other parti- 
 culars substituted are considered to have lost some of 
 their value. 
 
 Where the same award is given to various sections 
 of the Navy and Army, the extrinsic worth of a naval 
 specimen is usually greater than that of an army 
 piece. Probably, this is due to the fact that fewer 
 copies are, as a rule, given to the sea-service ; perhaps, 
 the thoughts that Britain gained its supremacy by 
 fighting on the water has also something to do with 
 the matter. As to how the Air Force awards will 
 compare in point of value with similar pieces given to 
 the Navy and Army it is as yet too early to hazard 
 an opinion. 
 
 A little matter of terminology now needs a few 
 words of explanation. A good deal of confusion exists 
 concerning the words clasp and bar. In official circles, 
 the two terms are often used to denote the same 
 portion of a medal, and such looseness of expression 
 
io THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 gives rise to a lack of proper understanding. In the 
 present work we have used the word bar to denote 
 the metal plates fixed to the ribbon, and which serve 
 as additional honours, whilst the word clasp has been 
 applied to the attachment which clasps the medal 
 and joins it on to the ribbon. 
 
 Before concluding these preliminary words, we 
 have the pleasant duty of expressing our thanks to 
 a number of friends to whom we are variously indebted. 
 Commander Taprell Dorling, D.S.O., R.N., must be 
 mentioned first. With a generosity characteristic of 
 the senior service, he has placed a mass of information 
 in our hands which has proved of the utmost assistance. 
 Then, Messrs. Hancock, of Sackville Street, Piccadilly, 
 spared no pains in revealing to us the mysteries 
 attending the construction of a Victoria Cross ; they 
 also lent us the photographs which we include of the 
 Cross. Messrs. Debenham, Storr and Sons provided 
 the prints of the Gold Peninsular Cross as well as the 
 rare eleven-bar Military General Service medal. 
 Messrs. J. R. Gaunt gathered together most of the 
 ribbons used for the colour plates. The Air Ministry 
 favoured us with pictures of the two flying crosses, 
 and Mr. McMillan kindly supplied prints of the two 
 medals for which he is responsible. The Trustees of 
 the British Museum permitted the reproduction of a 
 number * of pieces figuring in their collections. For 
 all such assistance, we are indeed grateful. Mr. Charles 
 Winter, of Messrs. Spink and Son, has given us much 
 valuable assistance on a number of occasions, and we 
 are anxious to record our appreciation of his generous 
 
 * Plates 2, 3, 5A, 6 (A i, 2 : B i) and 24 (A 7). 
 
PREFACE ii 
 
 help. Last, but not least, our thanks are tendered to 
 Mr. H. W. Lewer, who has rendered help which it 
 would be difficult to measure in a few words. To all 
 we acknowledge our indebtedness. 
 
 S. C. J. 
 
 KEW, SURREY, 
 1920. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAG 
 
 PREFACE - - 5 
 
 I. THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND -19 
 
 II. EARLY MEDALS OF THE HON. EAST INDIA Co. - 37 
 
 III. PENINSULAR AWARDS - 51 
 
 IV. WATERLOO AWARDS - - -63 
 V. THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL - -73 
 
 VI. CAMPAIGN MEDALS (FROM GHUZNEE TO THE 
 
 KAFFIR RISINGS OF 1850-3) - - 89 
 
 VII. CAMPAIGN MEDALS (FROM THE CRIMEA TO 
 
 CENTRAL AFRICA, 1894-8) - -113 
 
 VIII. CAMPAIGN MEDALS (FROM MATABELELAND TO 
 
 THE GREAT WAR) - - 139 
 
 IX. BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA - - 181 
 
 X. THE VICTORIA CROSS - - - - 201 
 
 XI. SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. - - 222 
 
 XII. COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS .... 246 
 
 XIII. MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE, GOOD CONDUCT, ETC. 250 
 
 XIV. REGIMENTAL MEDALS - - - 261 
 XV. CIVIL MEDALS - - 265 
 
 XVI. MEDALS OF THE UNITED STATES - - -281 
 
 XVII. FOREIGN AWARDS - - 291 
 
 BIBLIOGRAPHY - 3 11 
 
 APPENDIX ... - 313 
 
 INDEX- .... 318 
 
 13 
 
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 COLOURED AND OTHER PLATES 
 
 PLATE FACING PAGB 
 
 1. Ribbons of British Orders, etc. IN COLOUR Frontispiece 
 
 2. Armada and Dunbar Medals .- - 24 
 
 3. () Early Badges - 32 
 (b) Medals for Victories over the Dutch, 1653 - - 32 
 
 4. Ribbons of Medals for Bravery and other Special 
 
 Services - - - IN COLOUR 36 
 
 5. (a) East India Co.'s Medals - - 48 
 () Peninsular Gold Cross and Military General Service 
 
 Medal - - 48 
 
 6. (a) Waterloo and Naval General Service Medals - 64 
 (b) Kelat and Cabul Medals - 64 
 
 7. Ribbons of Early Campaign Medals - IN COLOUR 72 
 
 8. Gwalior Star ; also Sutlej, Punjab, and First India Medals 96 
 
 9. (a) Crimea Medals - 104 
 () Indian Mutiny and China Medals - - 104 
 
 10. Ribbons of later Campaign Medals - IN COLOUR 114 
 
 11. (a) New Zealand and Zulu Medals - 124 
 () Afghanistan Medals - - - 124 
 
 12. (a) Egyptian Medals - -132 
 (b) East and West ; also South African Medals - 132 
 
 13. Ribbons of recent Campaign Medals - IN COLOUR 140 
 
 15 
 
16 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 FLATS FACING PAGE 
 
 14. India and Sudan Medals - - 144 
 
 15. (a) South Africa Medals - 152 
 (b) Ashanti, China and Africa General Service Medals 152 
 
 16. Ribbons of Meritorious, Long Service and other Medals 
 
 IN COLOUR 1 60 
 
 17. (a) Natal and Sudan Medals; also 1914 Star - - 168 
 (b) Medal Nomenclature - - 168 
 
 18. The British War Medal and Victory Medal - - 176 
 
 19. Ribbons of the British Police ; also U.S.A. Medals 
 
 IN COLOUR 192 
 
 20. (a] The V.C. and D.S.O. ' - - - - 208 
 (b) The M.C. and D.C.M. * (v - - - 208 
 
 21. (a) The Military Medal - - - - 236 
 (b) The Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Force Cross 236 
 
 22. Ribbons of Foreign Orders - IN COLOUR 248 
 
 23. Long Service and Transport Medals - - 256 
 
 24. (a) Police, Arctic and Coronation Medals - 304 
 (b) Three Foreign Awards - 304 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT 
 
 Peninsular Gold Medal - - 53 
 
 Ashanti Star - ... l ^ 
 
 Kimberley Star - ... l ^ 
 
 Mercantile Marine Medal - - . . - 173 
 
 Garter Star - - - - 182 
 
 Thistle Star - - - - 184 
 
 Thistle Collar Badge - - . . - 184 
 
 St. Patrick Star . . - - - 185 
 
 Order of the Bath. Military Badge and Star - - 188 
 
 Order of Merit. Military Badge - - 189 
 
 Star of India. Star - - . . - 189 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT 17 
 
 PAGE 
 
 St. Michael and St. George. Badge - - - 190 
 
 Order of Indian Empire. Badge - - - 192 
 
 Order of the Crown of India. Badge 192 
 
 Royal Victorian Order. Badge - - 193 
 
 Order of British Empire. Badge - - 194 
 
 Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Badge - - 198 
 
 The V.C. Ribbon and Attachments - - 209 
 
 The V.C. The Ribbon decorated to denote one bar - - 220 
 
 The D.S.O. Ribbon and Attachments - 223 
 The D.S.O. The Ribbon decorated to denote one bar - 223 
 
 The D.S.C. Ribbon and Attachments 227 
 
 Bars fixed on Bravery Medals - - 229 
 
 The M.C. The Ribbon and Attachments - - - 230 
 
 The Distinguished Flying Medal - - 238 
 
 The Air Force Medal - - - 239 
 
 The Distinguished Service Cross - 245 
 
 The Albert Medal (Sea) - 245 
 
 The Royal Red Cross (ist Class) - 245 
 
 Volunteer and Territorial Officers' Decoration - 260 
 
 Royal Naval Reserve Officers' Decoration - - 260 
 
 Colonial Auxiliary Forces, Officers' Decoration - 260 
 
 The Royal Humane Society's Medals - 266 
 
 The U.S. Distinguished Service Cross and Medal - - 284 
 
 The Order of Leopold - - 291 
 
 The Order of Leopold II. - 292 
 
 Centre Medallion of Belgian Decorations - - 293 
 
 Belgian Order of the Crown - - 293 
 
 Egyptian Medal for Bravery - - 295 
 
18 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Legion of Honour - 296 
 
 French Me'daille Militaire - - 297 
 
 The Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus - 299 
 
 The Military Order of Savoy - 300 
 
 The Italian Order of the Crown 300 
 
 The Order of the Rising Sun - - 301 
 
 The Order of the Tower and Sword - - 301 
 
 The Roumanian Order of the Crown - - 303 
 
 The Order of St. George - - 303 
 
 The Order of St. Andrew - - 305 
 
 The Order of St. Anne 305 
 
 The Order of St. Vladimir - - 306 
 
 The Order of the White Eagle - 307 
 
 The Order of the Medjidie - - 309 
 
1'i.A'ii: i 
 
 VICTORIA CROSS.* 
 
 ORDER OP GARTER. 
 
 ORDER OF THISTLE. 
 
 ORDER OF ST. PATRICK. 
 
 ORDER OF BATH. 
 
 ORDER OF MERIT. 
 
 ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL 
 AND ST. GEORGE. 
 
 ORDER OF INDIAN EMPIRE. 
 
 ORDER OF CROWN OF 
 INDIA. 
 
 ORDER OF BRITISH EMPIRE. 
 (MILITARY) 
 
 ORDER OF COMPANIONS OF 
 HONOUR. 
 
 IMPERIAL SERVICE ORDER. 
 
 ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED 
 SERVICE ORDER. 
 
 ROYAL RED CROSS. 
 
 ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF 
 JERUSALEM. 
 
 D.S.C. AND CONSPICUOUS 
 GALLANTRY MEDAL. 
 
 RIBBONS OF BRITISH ORDERS, ETC. 
 
 *The blue Navy ribbon is now obsolete. 
 
THE 
 MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 
 
 THE fashioning of medals was a craft almost 
 unknown in England prior to the time of Henry 
 VIII., though it had nourished long before then 
 in such continental countries as Italy and France. 
 Between Henry's reign and that of Elizabeth, the 
 industry grew under the guidance of foreign artists, 
 and by the time Queen Bess had become established 
 on the throne we could boast of a fair number of 
 medallists who had gained experience at their metier 
 by designing pieces commemorative of illustrious 
 people. 
 
 After her accession, historical medals began to be 
 frequent, and some interesting pieces can be found 
 associated with events in Scotland, the voyages of 
 Sir Francis Drake, the relations of the Queen with 
 Holland, and the defeat of the Spanish Armada.* In 
 the latter, we are particularly interested, as they are 
 the first English decorations to be conferred for war- 
 like services. 
 
 * H. A. Grueber, " A Guide to the Department of Coins and 
 Medals " (British Museum). 
 
 19 
 
20 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Prior to the Armada, cases are known to have 
 existed where soldiers who had cast aside their em- 
 blazoned armour wore medallions or badges as a dis- 
 tinguishing sign, and out of these badges grew the 
 earliest English medals. 
 
 The Armada Medals.- Elizabeth was overjoyed at 
 the destruction of the Spanish ships of war, and was 
 eager to mark her appreciation of those leaders who 
 had brought about the defeat. As a consequence she 
 gave orders for the preparation of a number of medals, 
 but it is probable that only three designs were used 
 as fighting awards ; the others were given as favours 
 to court friends. 
 
 These three naval awards the Army did not 
 participate are valuable, and it is by the rarest 
 chance that a specimen comes on to the market. The 
 limited number of copies that are known to exist 
 repose chiefly in national collections, where they may 
 be seen and appreciated by all. The British Museum 
 is fortunate in its possession of these three pioneer 
 medals, and every enthusiast is advised to make a 
 point of inspecting them when an opportunity arises. 
 
 The first gives, on the obverse, a full-faced bust of 
 Queen Elizabeth, crowned, wearing a high ruff and 
 holding a sceptre and orb. The inscription, Ditior 
 in toto non alter circulus orbe, figures around the rim. 
 On the reverse is a bay tree in the middle of an inhabited 
 island. The heavens are agitated but, though lightning 
 is flashing, the tree remains uninjured ; consequently 
 the legend, Non ipsa pericula tangunt, is singularly 
 appropriate. 
 
 This medal records not only the defeat of the 
 Armada, but also the averting of other dangers which 
 
THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 21 
 
 had threatened both England and her Sovereign. 
 The Queen of Scots was dead, James of Scotland had 
 been conciliated, the Duke of Guise had died, and 
 France and the Vatican were baffled. So, as the motto 
 insists, the bay-tree is deemed incapable of injury from 
 lightning.* 
 
 The second medal is much the same, but the sceptre 
 and orb are missing from the upper face, whilst, on 
 the under-surface, the habitations on the island do 
 not appear. The letters E. R. are, however, added 
 to the sky. We are able to illustrate this rare piece 
 by the permission of the Trustees of the British 
 Museum. 
 
 The third medal gives the Queen facing left, with 
 pearls in her hair, and the usual ruff about her neck. 
 The inscription on the upper side is : Elisabeth D. G. 
 Anglie F. et H. Reg. The reverse shows the Ark-in- 
 Flood, in allusion to the English flagship which was 
 named the Royal Ark. Tranquilla per undas is the 
 appropriate legend appearing on this under face. 
 
 All three medals are oval, and have a small fixed 
 ring to take the supporting ribbon or chain. The 
 first, we believe, is to be found in gold only ; the 
 second, in gold, silver and copper ; the third, in silver 
 only. Each medal was cast, somewhat roughly, in 
 high relief, and then carefully chased by hand, a 
 process which admitted of slight variations between 
 one piece and another. 
 
 The Medals of James I. were numerous and very 
 beautiful, but we cannot say whether any of them 
 were used as military awards. Some were worn by 
 
 * Grueber, " Guide to the Exhibition of English Medals " (British 
 Museum). 
 
22 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 soldiers, we know, though there is but little reason for 
 inferring that they were won by bravery or earned by 
 long service. 
 
 One particular medal may have served either of 
 these purposes. It was oval, cast in silver, and bore 
 the Sovereign's bust on the obverse, and the Ark in a 
 storm on the reverse. The design of the front face is 
 found in two styles. In one, the King wears a broad- 
 brimmed hat with feathers, and, in the other, he is 
 clad in armour. It is thought that the former may have 
 served as a civil award, and the latter as some form of 
 military decoration. Whether this is so or not, the 
 two pieces are very attractive, are typical of the 
 medallic art of the time of James I., and serve as a 
 guide to the dress of the period. 
 
 The Forlorn-hope Medal. If the medal bearing 
 the head of James I., just described, be not accepted 
 as a military award, then the honour of conferring the 
 first army decoration falls to Charles I., and the first 
 recipient was Sir Robert Welch, who recovered a lost 
 standard at Edgehill in 1642. He received for this 
 brave act a personal medal, which gave the King's 
 profile and that of his son on the upper surface, and a 
 royal standard on the under face. 
 
 The Welch medal for bravery was followed by a 
 number of other individual awards during this reign. 
 As a rule, each piece is of a different pattern, and 
 one of the faces often bears a design which is in some 
 way appropriate to the circumstances influencing the 
 grant : thus Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, did 
 splendid work as a general of the Parliamentary army 
 during the Civil War. He received a personal medal 
 bearing his profile. Lord Fairfax was appointed 
 
THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 23 
 
 commander-in-chief, and for his services was given a 
 piece specially cast and chased with his bust, whilst 
 Lord Kimbolton, who held a command at Edgehill, 
 was similarly rewarded. A number of other cases 
 could be mentioned. 
 
 All these medals being cast singly, or with very 
 few duplicates, are of great value, and the private 
 collector can do little more than admire the specimens 
 reposing in public galleries. 
 
 But Charles is remembered more for the Forlorn- 
 hope medal than any of the others granted by him. 
 This was an award for exceptional bravery, as the 
 following curiously worded warrant shows : 
 
 " Charles R. Trusty and well beloved, we greet 
 you well ; whereas we have received information that 
 those soldiers which have been forward to serve us in 
 the Forlorn-hope, are not looked upon according to 
 their merited valour and loyal service. We do, there- 
 fore, require that from henceforward the Commander- 
 in-Chief both of Horse and Foot, which lead up the 
 Forlorn-hope upon whom also we mean to bestow 
 special tokens of our princely favour, do signify in 
 writing the names of those soldiers whom they find 
 most forward in serving us, their King and country, 
 that care may be taken to reward their deservings and 
 make them specially known to all our good subjects 
 For which end we have thought fit to require Sir 
 William Parkhurst, Kt., and Thomas Bushell, Esq., 
 Wardens of the Mint, to provide from time to time 
 certain Badges of Silver, containing our Royal 
 image, and that of our dearest son, Prince Charles, 
 to be delivered to wear on the breast of every 
 man who shall be certified under the hands of their 
 
24 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 2 
 A 
 
 Figs, i and 2. Obverse and Reverse of the Gold Naval Medal 
 for the Defeat of the Spanish Armada, 1588. 
 
 B 
 
 Figs. 3 and 4. Obverse and Reverse of the Silver Medal for 
 the Battle of Dunbar, 1650. 
 
PLATE II 
 
THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 25 
 
 Commander-in-Chief to have done us faithful service in 
 the Forlorn-hope. 
 
 " And we do, therefore, most straightly command 
 that no soldier at any time do sell, nor any of our 
 subjects presume to buy, or wear, any of these said 
 Badges, other than they to whom we shall give the 
 same, and that under such pain and punishment as the 
 Council of War shall think fit to inflict if any shall 
 presume to offend against this our Royal command. 
 And we further require the said Commanders and 
 Wardens of our Mint to keep several registers of the 
 names of those, and of their country, for whom they 
 shall give their certificate. 
 
 " Given at our Court at Oxford, the i8th day of 
 May, 1643." 
 
 It remains to be said that a number of registers 
 at Oxford were destroyed by fire in the year 1644. 
 If the Forlorn-hope registers were kept as required by 
 the warrant they, too, were consumed by the flames. 
 It is, however, a little curious that no rolls of the 
 award of a later date than the fire are forthcoming, 
 and this, coupled with the fact that no medal actually 
 exists which is indisputably that of the " Forlorn- 
 hope," makes it doubtful whether Charles proceeded 
 with his scheme of rewarding the bravery of all ranks 
 on the battle-field. 
 
 The Dunbar Medal. So far, we have seen : (i) that 
 the first war medal was the piece struck for the rout 
 of the Armada, an award confined to the Navy ; 
 and (2) that the Welch medal was the first Army 
 decoration of which we have indisputable evidence of 
 existence. Now we may turn to the Dunbar medal, 
 which claims to be the first campaign award, that is 
 
26 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 to say, the first award given to all soldiers entering 
 into battle, whether field-marshals or privates. 
 
 This medal was struck by the will of Parliament to 
 commemorate the extraordinary success of Cromwell's 
 forces at Dunbar, 1650, when an army of eleven 
 thousand men completely overcame a superior Royalist 
 force under General Leslie. Cromwell lost less than 
 thirty men, but slew a hundred times as many of the 
 enemy's hosts, besides taking a considerable army of 
 prisoners. 
 
 Thus Dunbar was worthy of some special recogni- 
 tion, and the Commons decided to give each valiant 
 warrior a medal bearing the great soldier's profile. 
 Thomas Simon, a skilful medallist, being entrusted 
 with the production, was sent up to Scotland to see 
 Cromwell. The latter gave the artist what sittings 
 were necessary, and, at the same time, sent a feeble 
 protest to the Commons, saying that he would rather 
 his profile did not appear, a show of modesty such as 
 is seldom associated with the Protector. He went on 
 to suggest, probably as a sort of reciprocal compli- 
 ment, that a better subject would be a view of 
 Parliament. 
 
 When the oval medal appeared, the obverse showed 
 an admirable bust of Cromwell, facing left, with a 
 battle scene behind him. Around the edge was the 
 inscription 
 
 WORD AT SEPTEM 
 
 THE LORD OF HOSTS 
 DUNBAR 3. 1650. 
 
 The reverse gave a view of Parliament assembled in 
 one house with the Speaker present. It was an adapta- 
 tion of the Great Seal of 1648. Pieces were struck in 
 
THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 27 
 
 two sizes and in two metals, gold and silver, but a 
 number of proofs in copper (bronze ?) and lead may be 
 found. Some of the proofs have plain reverses. 
 
 This medal, though of great historic association, is 
 not as rare as one might expect, perhaps because it 
 was bestowed on an army of eleven thousand men. 
 Not so many years ago a gold specimen was sold by 
 Messrs. Glendining for twenty guineas. 
 
 The dies of the Dunbar medal were kept in the 
 Cromwell family, " for there was an house hi the 
 County of Suffolk where his son Richard once lived, 
 which being purchased by one oi the Heathcotes, 
 there was lately found (1780) in pulling down, the said 
 dye in the walls thereof." Other Cromwellian dies fell 
 into the hands of disreputable people, who took them 
 across to Holland, and, later, to Geneva, where they 
 made facsimiles from them as long as a decent impres- 
 sion could be obtained. One of the original dies was 
 discarded by the authorities because it was cracked, 
 and this particular die happened to prove a great 
 favourite with the counterfeiters. Much of their 
 spurious work is thus easily distinguishable. Fortu- 
 nately the forgers were not well versed in medallic 
 knowledge, and they became very confused with the 
 obverses and reverses, pairing them in all manner of 
 incorrect ways. 
 
 The Memisti Medals are fine specimens of the work 
 of Simon. One pattern was struck for presentation 
 to Captain Robert Wyard, who, whilst convoying four 
 merchant vessels to Amsterdam, was attacked on 
 July 31, 1650, by six Irish frigates, which he beat off 
 with admirable courage. 
 
 Wyard received a gold, and each of the crew of 
 
28 
 
 the Adventure a silver or bronze, piece, bearing, on the 
 obverse, an anchor supporting the shields of England 
 and Ireland, with rope twined around them, and the 
 word Meruisti above. The reverse gave a little 
 picture of three ships closely engaged with four more 
 in the rear, and the inscription, Service don against 
 six ships, July Y, XXXI 6- August Y, i, 1650. 
 
 A second Meruisti medal was struck with the 
 Wyard obverse and the Dunbar reverse to serve as a 
 meritorious award for seamen. 
 
 The Naval Victories over the Dutch, between 
 February and July, 1653, resulted in the issue of four 
 kinds of medals by Thomas Simon. 
 
 (1) Four copies of the following were ordered by 
 Parliament to be struck. Two of them, with chains 
 worth 300 each, were presented to Admiral Blake 
 and Commander Monck ; and two with chains worth 
 100 each, to Admirals Penn and Lawson. Of these 
 medals, three are known to be still in existence. 
 
 Obverse. An anchor, from which are suspended 
 three shields bearing the arms of England, Scotland, 
 and Ireland, the whole encircled by cable. (Compare 
 with the obverse of the " Meruisti " medals.) Reverse. 
 A naval engagement, the stern of one vessel inscribed 
 Simon : on the prow of another, T. S. A broad 
 border of trophies surrounds both designs. The 
 pieces are oval. 
 
 (2) Four copies of the following were struck for 
 presentation, with chains worth 40 each, to the 
 four flag-officers " as a mark of Parliament's favour 
 and good acceptance of their service." (One of these 
 was purchased some ten years ago for 430 by Messrs. 
 Spink and Son.) 
 
THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 29 
 
 Obverse and Reverse. Similar to No. I, but a 
 border of laurel leaves replaces the trophies. 
 
 (3) Medals were struck for presentation to the 
 captains of the vessels engaged ; they were similar to 
 Nos. i or 2, but the border is absent. 
 
 (4) Medals were struck for presentation to the 
 brave men who refused to abandon Blake's flag-ship, 
 the Triumph, when she took fire. 
 
 They were as No. 3, but with the following inscrip- 
 tion engraved on the reverse : For eminent service in 
 saving y Triumph fiered in fight wh. y. Dutch in July 
 
 1653-* 
 
 Charles n. commanded many medals to be struck. 
 All the pieces we have been able to trace that were 
 intended to be worn were for naval service, and none 
 went to the Army. During this reign the Duke of 
 York, who was Lord High Admiral, decreed that a 
 certain percentage of all prize money should be used 
 for the provision of medals, and " in case of burning 
 by a fireship of an enemy's vessel of forty guns or 
 more, each person remaining on board till the service 
 was performed was to receive 10 and the captain a 
 gold medal. In case of an enemy's flagship being 
 burnt, 20 and the medal of the commander to be such 
 as should express eminence of the service." 
 
 The Battle of La Hogue, which was fought with 
 the assistance of the Dutch against the French, resulted 
 in a complete victory for the English (May 21, 1692). 
 William and Mary, who had long conceived a great 
 antipathy for Louis XIV., were overjoyed at the 
 
 * All these naval medals are of great rarity, but they, or copies, 
 may be seen in the British Museum. We have, accordingly, followed 
 the descriptions given in the British Museum catalogue. 
 
30 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 result, and ordered a number of medals to be struck, 
 but all, however, were not provided with loops for 
 suspension. Of this important group, we may single 
 out one piece for description. It bore the jugate 
 (i.e. placed side by side, one overlapping the other) 
 busts of the King and Queen on the obverse, and a 
 picture of the Soleil Royal, in flames, on the reverse. 
 It was presented to certain officers, but not to seamen. 
 Later, pieces were struck with this obverse and a plain 
 reverse for presentation to seafaring men for isolated 
 acts of bravery. When so awarded, the backs were 
 engraved with the particulars of the incident. 
 
 The fifty years which followed the Battle of La 
 Hogue was a period in which many war medals were 
 struck, but more than a dozen copies were seldom made 
 of each pattern. As a rule, the reverses were engraved 
 with particulars of the award, and the obverses bore 
 the royal features. Few, if any, were intended to be 
 worn as personal adornments, though some were pro- 
 vided, later, with metal rings by those who gained 
 them. Occasions arise when these awards can be 
 purchased for a five-pound note, and we have seen 
 specimens offered for considerably less. It is not 
 every war medal collector, however, who cares to 
 admit such pieces, without loops for attachment, to 
 his cabinet, and it is perhaps this factor which enables 
 the less sophisticated numismatist to secure occasional 
 bargains. 
 
 The Battle of Culloden, which resulted in a signal 
 defeat for the Scotch, under Charles Edward, son of 
 the Old Pretender, was marked by the issue * of 
 
 * Grueber says that it is doubtful if the medal was issued. The 
 pieces in existence to-day may be proofs. 
 
ornate pieces in gold, silver and bronze, bearing 
 the profile of the Duke of Cumberland, called by 
 his adversaries the " butcher." This oval medal 
 is provided with a fanciful framework and a curious 
 loop for suspension. The front shows a bust of 
 the " butcher " with the word Cumberland above, 
 and the back displays Apollo, unclothed, giving the 
 coup de grace to a dying dragon. It is worth noting 
 that the Culloden award was the first to be issued 
 with a ribbon of prescribed colours (crimson with 
 green edging). Very few copies were struck, but 
 we have seen imitations, cast in base metal, which, 
 whilst not pretending to be originals, are not devoid 
 of interest. 
 
 Lord Howe's Victory on the Glorious First of June, 
 off Ushant, when he defeated the French fleet as it 
 was making for Brest, needs no description here. 
 King George III. and his Queen met the noble lord 
 at Spithead on his return and thanked him in person, 
 at the same time proffering rewards to the chief com- 
 manders, and promising the bestowal of gold medals 
 later on. 
 
 These medals were issued in 1796 ; they are of 
 two sizes, and struck in gold. The obverse shows a 
 diminutive figure of Victory, placing a wreath of 
 laurel on the head of Britannia, who is standing with 
 one foot on a helmet. The figures are in frosted gold, 
 whilst the remainder of the medal is burnished. The 
 reverse bears an engraved inscription explaining the 
 award. In the larger pieces, a wreath of laurel and 
 oak leaves encircles the lettering, but this is absent in 
 the smaller ones. The medal hangs from a presentation 
 chain, when such was conferred, or from a white ribbon 
 
32 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 3 
 A 
 
 Such badges as shown here are considered to be the fore-runners 
 of the War Decorations with which this book deals. It was cus- 
 tomary for them to be worn pendant from the neck, or, less usually, 
 as hat badges or breast ornaments. They came into use gradually 
 after the decline of armour. The present illustrations reveal the 
 features of Charles I. and Henrietta Maria (1-3), and Charles II. 
 (4-6). 
 
 Figs, i and 2. The Obverse and Reverse of the Medal Com- 
 memorating the Victories over the Dutch in 1653. The work of 
 Thomas Simon. 
 
PLATE; HI 
 
THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 33 
 
 with wide blue edges. Officers of high rank, alone, 
 received the decoration. 
 
 A hundred and forty pieces were distributed for 
 services rendered on the " Glorious First," * but the 
 same award was conferred later for more than a 
 hundred engagements and battles, such as Cape St. 
 Vincent, the Nile, Trafalgar, and the capture of the 
 Chesapeake, but only to officers. 
 
 Davison's Medal for the Nile. The Battle of the 
 Nile, which was fought by Nelson in Aboukir Bay on 
 August i, 1798, resulted in a rout of the French fleet, 
 and, at the same time, put confusion into the French 
 Army, which had already landed in Egypt. 
 
 For this success Nelson was raised to the peerage, 
 and the chief officers were given gold pieces as stated 
 above ; the common seamen went unrewarded. 
 
 Alexander Davison, Nelson's prize agent, recognising 
 that justice had not been done to the petty-officers and 
 men, sought, and was granted, permission to present 
 a medal at his own expense to every one who took 
 part in the engagement. It is clear, from his actions, 
 that his one desire was to reward the lower deck, but 
 probably his petition would not have been favourably 
 received had he not offered to confer his medal on the 
 higher grades of officers as well. 
 
 The Davison medal is circular, and a trifle large. 
 On the obverse we are shown Britannia, who stands 
 on the ledge of a rock, surrounded by the sea. She 
 supports a medallion of the famous Admiral. The 
 reverse gives the English and French fleets drawn up 
 in a semi-circular formation in Aboukir Bay. Almighty 
 
 * Lord Collingvvood's gold medal may be seen in the Royal 
 United Service Museum. 
 
 C 
 
34 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 God has blessed His Majesty's arms is the appropriate 
 inscription on this face. The edge is engraved with 
 the following wording : Alexr . Davison Esqr. St. James's 
 Square. A tribute of regard. A wide blue ribbon was 
 provided. Gold pieces were given to admirals, com- 
 manders and captains ; silver pieces to lieutenants and 
 warrant-officers ; bronze-gilt pieces to petty-officers ; 
 and bronze pieces to seamen and marines. 
 
 Collectors should find no difficulty in securing 
 specimens of this unusual medal. Gold pieces are 
 naturally rare, and command a hundred pounds or 
 more (Nelson's award was sold some time ago for 180) ; 
 silver pieces are cheap at 5 ; bronze-gilt pieces are 
 to be had for 155. ; whilst bronze pieces average a 
 trifle less. 
 
 Medals for Trafalgar. This splendid victory is 
 represented in our cabinets by a gold piece of the same 
 pattern as the " Glorious First of June " award. As 
 readers have already noted, it was only given to leaders 
 of the rank of captain and above. It is true that, 
 many years after, Queen Victoria issued a Naval 
 General Service medal, which had amongst its crowd 
 of bars one for Trafalgar, which went to all who took 
 part hi the fight. But this N.G.S. award was never 
 seen by the majority of the heroes who helped to gain 
 the day ; death had claimed them long before its issue. 
 
 To provide an honourable badge for the men, and, 
 incidentally, the officers, whilst they still lived, Matthew 
 Boulton, of Birmingham, struck a large medal with 
 Nelson's profile on one face, and a rendering of the 
 battle on the other ; the edge was engraved : To the 
 Heroes of Trafalgar. From M. Boulton. 
 
 These were given to every member of the crews 
 
THE PIONEER MEDALS OF ENGLAND 35 
 
 engaged, and pieces can be found in silver, bronze-gilt, 
 and pewter. The pewter strikings were not received 
 with any show of welcome by the seamen, and many 
 threw their copies overboard. 
 
 Davison, who gave a medal for the Nile, provided 
 pewter pieces for the crew of the Victory. This award 
 is not very satisfactory, as it is overloaded with a 
 mass of lettering and pictorial matter. On the one 
 medal we have pictures of Nelson, his escutcheon and 
 a sailing ship, also the following inscriptions : Admiral 
 Lord Nelson, D. of Bronte, Natus Sep. 2gth, 1758. 
 Hoste devicto requievit Oct. 21 st. 1805. Palmam qui 
 meruit ferat. Tria juncto in uno. England expects 
 every man to do his duty. Victory off Trafalgar over the 
 combined fleets of France and Spain. Oct. 21, 1805, 
 and the text : The Lord is a man of war, Exodus, c. 15, 
 V$ 
 
 The Trafalgar Officers' medal, with the figures of 
 Victory and Britannia, is very rare. We have only 
 known of one specimen coming under the hammer, 
 and that fetched a trifle over 250. A pewter piece of 
 Boulton's award can be picked up for half a guinea, 
 though special copies have sold for six or seven pounds ; 
 whilst Davison's elaborate Victory medal is worth 
 something in the neighbourhood of a guinea. 
 
 The Battle of Maida was fought in Calabria on 
 July 4, 1806, by Sir John Stuart, who defeated the 
 French, under General Regnier. To commemorate 
 this success, King George III. ordered a gold medal to 
 be struck for presentation to the commander-in -chief 
 of the forces, to officers in command of brigades or 
 battalions, and to officers who succeeded when the 
 original commanders had become casualties. 
 
36 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The award gave a very fine laureated head of the 
 King, facing left, with the inscription, Gcorgius Tertius 
 Rex on the obverse, and, on the reverse, Britannia, in 
 a fighting attitude, waving a spear and using her 
 shield. In front of her is the word, Maida, in two 
 lines, and behind, the triple-legged symbol of Sicily. 
 The ribbon is claret with blue edges. 
 
 Maida was speedily followed by the Peninsular 
 Campaign, which is dealt with in a separate chapter. 
 Here, therefore, our notes on the early pioneer medals 
 of England are brought to a close. 
 
PI.ATK IV 
 
 MILITARY CROSS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 MILITARY MEDAL. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FLYING 
 CROSS. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED FLYING 
 MEDAL. 
 
 ALBERT MEDAL IN GOLD. 
 (SEA) 
 
 ALBERT MEDAL. 
 
 [2ND CLASS] SEA. 
 
 KAISAR-I-HIND MEDAL. 
 
 ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC 
 MEDAL. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT 
 MEDAL. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE 
 MEDAL. 
 
 AIR FORCE CROSS. 
 
 AIR FORCE MEDAL. 
 
 I 
 
 ALBERT MEDAL IN GOLD. 
 (LAND) 
 
 III III 
 
 ALBERT MEDAL. 
 [2ND CLASS^ LAND. 
 
 INDIAN ORDER OF MERIT. 
 
 NAVAL GOOD SHOOTING 
 MEDAL. 
 
 RIBBONS OF MEDALS FOR BRAVERY AND OTHER SPECIAL SERVICES. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 EARLY MEDALS OF THE HON. EAST INDIA CO. 
 
 KEEN bidding invariably takes place when medals 
 of the Hon. East India Co. are put up for 
 auction. The reasons for this are many : the 
 pieces are attractive in design, they are well made, are 
 of fair antiquity, and, being awarded almost entirely 
 to native Indian soldiers, have not reached our shores 
 in any great quantity. 
 
 As a group for specialising purposes, the H.E.I.C. 
 medals may be strongly recommended to those who 
 wish to centre their attentions on a class in which some 
 sort of finality may be reached. Specimens, however, 
 will be rarely obtained for less than five pounds each, 
 and the average cost may be given as being in the 
 neighbourhood of twice this sum. It is clear, then, that 
 the reader who can appreciate a small select collection 
 will find this group more compelling than will the 
 treasure-hunter who wishes to amass much with a 
 minimum of outlay. 
 
 These H.E.I.C. medals are not only interesting in 
 themselves, but they recall some of the most thrilling 
 and momentous incidents in the history of the great 
 Indian Empire. In one way, they have performed 
 yeoman service, for it was this brilliant set of attractive 
 pieces which taught the British Government the value 
 
 37 
 
38 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 of instituting campaign medals. As we have men- 
 tioned in other places, the home authorities persisted 
 in refusing to give the rank and file any sort of decora- 
 tion, and it was only by pointing to these Indian medals 
 that the reformer could at last convince the officials 
 in Whitehall of their error. Think, for a moment, of 
 the anomaly of the situation. In many of the en- 
 counters which helped to win for us the great Asiatic 
 empire, we find the British Tommy and the fiery native 
 fighting shoulder to shoulder. The chartered Company 
 saw to it that the latter was suitably decorated for 
 his prowess, whilst the former was denied any sort 
 of recognition. One writer * says that the company 
 " gave medals as a stimulus to recruiting, as it was 
 thought that the sight of such decorations on the 
 breasts of old soldiers would have the effect of inspiring 
 their young relatives and friends with martial ardour. 
 It does not seem to have occurred to the authorities 
 that European officers and soldiers could, or would, 
 stand in any need of a similar incentive." 
 
 But we are not so much concerned with what 
 should have been done as what was actually done, 
 and the incidents of this period may be summarised 
 thus 
 
 (i) Between 1778 and 1824-5, the Hon. East India 
 Company gave medals, without stint, to the native 
 soldiers employed by them, not only for fighting against 
 the enemy, but for meritorious conduct and long 
 service. 
 
 (ii) After 1824-5, up to the Punjab Campaign of 
 1849, they paid for the Indian medals granted by 
 
 * Mayo, " Medals and Decorations of the British Army and 
 Navy." 
 
EARLY MEDALS OF HON. EAST INDIA CO. 39 
 
 Queen Victoria's government. Certain exceptions to 
 this rule must be noted. 
 
 (iii) During the first period, 1778-1825, no British 
 soldier of the ranks was decorated for any Indian 
 campaign (Seringapatam excepted) , but a much belated 
 medal was struck by the H.E.I.C. in 1851 and presented 
 with the Queen's authority to such veterans as could 
 be traced in the United Kingdom. 
 
 It is a little difficult to say which was the first award 
 granted by the chartered company. We have some 
 vague mention of a medal struck for native com- 
 missioned officers who resisted a disturbance at a place 
 called Morighyr, but it is doubtful if a specimen is in 
 existence, or even if the preparations for striking the 
 medal ever matured. More definite evidence affects 
 an award authorised by the Bombay Council for 
 Colonel Egerton's companies of Grenadier Sepoys who 
 went to Poona to put down a local rising in 1778. 
 Although the authority for this medal may be seen 
 to-day, and is clearly in order, we can find no trace of a 
 specimen, and collectors are disposed to claim that 
 the Poona, like the Morighyr piece, never existed. 
 
 The Deccan Medal is, perhaps, the first H.E.I.C. 
 award. It was given to every member of the Bengal 
 Army who fought against Hyder Ali and Tippoo Sahib 
 in the bloody encounters of 1778-84. As the army 
 was large the awards were numerous, and specimens 
 are not unusual to-day. 
 
 The piece, which is circular, as, indeed, are all the 
 medals described in this chapter, is struck in two sizes, 
 and the metals used are gold, silver-gilt, and what is 
 probably a mixture of lead and tin. The obverse 
 shows Britannia leaning against a trophy of arms and 
 
4 o THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 holding out a wreath which she offers to a fortress 
 flying the British flag. The reverse is filled by a 
 Persian inscription describing the award and giving 
 the date of its bestowal.* A ring acts as suspender, 
 and a yellow cord enables the decoration to be worn 
 around the neck. 
 
 The prices of the Deccan medal range between 
 7 los. and 10 for silver-gilt specimens, less for those 
 in base metal, and considerably more for pieces struck 
 in gold. 
 
 The Mysore Medal followed in 1793, and was given 
 to the native officers and men, under Lord Cornwallis, 
 who fought against Tippoo Sahib after he had en- 
 deavoured to gain the support of France and Turkey. 
 
 Pieces were struck in gold and silver, the latter in 
 two sizes. The obverse gives a sepoy guarding a 
 British flag and trampling on one belonging to the 
 enemy, whilst the reverse is inscribed, For Services in 
 Mysore, A.D. 1791-2, within a wreath of laurel. The 
 method of attachment follows that adopted for the 
 Deccan award. 
 
 Collectors must examine copies of the silver medal 
 with care as many forgeries have been placed upon the 
 market. If it be remembered that the imitations were 
 made in moulds of sand, and that genuine pieces were 
 used as patterns, the difficulty of detecting the real and 
 the unreal will almost disappear. The sand gives a 
 gritty surface to the face of a cast copy, which is quite 
 absent when the piece is struck ; also the contraction 
 
 * Many of the dates on Eastern medals are those of the era of 
 Hegira, which is computed from the time when Mahomet left Mecca 
 for Medina. This happened in the year A.D. 622. It is well to 
 remember that 33 years of Hegira are equal to 32 of those of our 
 calendar. 
 
EARLY MEDALS OF HON. EAST INDIA CO. 41 
 
 of the cooling metal results in the forgeries being slightly 
 less in size than originals (which were if or i| in. in 
 diameter) . 
 
 Some people declare that a spurious piece can be 
 detected by counting the cannon balls at the foot of the 
 flag-staff. This, however, is not the case ; genuine 
 copies are found with either two or five such balls, and a 
 like number are given on the forgeries. 
 
 Mysore medals are among the most valuable of 
 those struck by the H.E.I.C. Good silver specimens 
 of large size command seventeen or eighteen guineas, 
 whilst the small size would be cheap at ten guineas. 
 There is no great dearth of these pieces, but the high 
 prices are probably due to the fact that the Mysore 
 Campaign was crowded with thrilling incidents, and 
 collectors are always prepared to honour decorations 
 that have been dearly earned. Here is one little 
 incident of the war in question, which will show how 
 the men fought whose medals we are describing. 
 
 " One of the most dashing exploits in the war of 
 Mysore was the capture of Bangalore, the second city 
 in the dominions of Tippoo. It was enclosed by a high 
 wall and a deep ditch, and the gate was covered by a 
 close thicket of Indian thorns. The attack was made 
 without any examination of the ground, and the troops 
 in advancing and endeavouring to force an entrance 
 were exposed to a destructive fire of musketry. Colonel 
 Moorhouse, one of the best officers in the service, fell 
 mortally wounded. At length, Lieutenant Ayre, a 
 man of diminutive stature, succeeded in forcing his way 
 through the shattered gate, which gallant action, being 
 observed by General Meadows, he shouted to the 
 stormers, ' Well done ; now, whiskers, try if you can 
 
42 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 follow and support the little gentleman.' This ani- 
 mated appeal succeeded ; the troops rushed through 
 the gate into the town and drove out the enemy at the 
 point of the bayonet." * 
 
 The Ceylon Medal recalls the assistance which the 
 Dutch extended to the French, a line of action which 
 cost them the above-named island. In 1795-6, English 
 forces aided by less than two hundred Bengal native 
 artillerymen captured Ceylon, and an Order in Council, 
 dated May, 1807, authorised the striking of a suitable 
 medal. The native soldiers received the award whilst 
 the English soldiers, who formed the bulk of the 
 expeditionary force, received nothing. 
 
 The piece is remarkable for its simple character. 
 On the obverse is the inscription, For Services on the 
 Island of Ceylon, A.D. 1795-6, whilst Persian lettering 
 says, on the reverse, that the medal was given in 
 connection with the hostilities in Ceylon, in the year 
 of Hegira, 1209-10. Two gold medals and a few short 
 of two hundred silver pieces were awarded. The yellow 
 cord and loop attachment was provided as before. 
 
 As may be expected, this item, whether in gold or 
 silver, is of considerable rarity, and specimens are very 
 costly. 
 
 The Seringapatam Medal followed as a corollary 
 to the defeat and death of Tippoo Sahib in the closing 
 year of the eighteenth century. This arch-enemy of 
 Britain was preparing to assist the French in sweeping 
 us out of the East, when the JMarquis of Wellesley, 
 noting the traitor's warlike activities, invaded his 
 domains and laid siege to Seringapatam. Wellesley 
 had certain famous regiments of the British Army as 
 
 * Thomas Carter, " War Medals of the British Army." 
 
EARLY MEDALS OF HON. EAST INDIA CO. 43 
 
 supports, besides a number of native troops. With 
 these he completely routed the enemy, and Tippoo met 
 his death during the heat of the fighting. 
 
 In the year 1808 it was decided by the H.E.I.C. 
 to strike a medal to commemorate this important 
 success, and, what was of considerable moment, the 
 home forces were to participate in the awards. However, 
 the authorities in Whitehall did their utmost to rob 
 the men of the honour, and it was only in 1815 that 
 permission was given them to wear the decoration when 
 in uniform ; that is to say, they had to wait many 
 years before they could derive the full enjoyment of 
 their well-earned trophy. 
 
 It is a little difficult to follow the plan adopted in 
 distributing the Seringapatam award, but it may be 
 stated in general terms that gold pieces were given to 
 the loyal native princes and to the officers of the highest 
 rank, and silver-gilt pieces to field-officers, silver pieces 
 to junior officers, copper-bronze pieces to the rank and 
 file of the British Army, and tin pieces to sepoys and 
 other native soldiers. 
 
 The obverse of the medal gave a British lion sub- 
 duing a tiger, which latter animal was the favourite 
 symbol of Tippoo. Above the two beasts is a banner 
 ornamented with the Jack and an Arabic inscription 
 which runs : The lion of God is the conqueror. In the 
 exergue is the date. The reverse gives a view of Seringa- 
 patam whilst being besieged. The exergue on this face 
 is inscribed in Persian : The fort of Seringapatam, the gift 
 of God. 28 Zulkaadeh, 1213 Mahommedan Era. Sink- 
 ings of the award were made at the Soho Mint, in 
 Birmingham, also at Calcutta. 
 
 A good deal of controversy has arisen over the 
 
44 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 ribbon of the medal. None was issued officially, but 
 many people have argued that the yellow cord, favoured 
 on former occasions by the H.E.I.C., or a wide yellow 
 ribbon, was the correct form of suspender a con- 
 tention which seems very reasonable. Others claim 
 that the red ribbon with blue edging had become 
 associated with all medals worn in England after the 
 Peninsular War, and was, therefore, the correct kind of 
 support. In furtherance of this argument it may be 
 stated that a bust of Lord Harris, who commanded 
 at Seringapatam, was shown in the Royal Military 
 Exhibition, held at Chelsea in 1890. Around the neck 
 of the noble lord hung the golden piece, and the ribbon 
 that supported it was red, edged with blue. Lastly, 
 there were people who favoured a plain red ribbon, 
 but we can find no evidence to show that this pattern 
 was ever authorised or suggested officially. 
 
 Seringapatam medals are to be seen with fair 
 frequency. Here is a list of average prices 
 
 L s. d. 
 Officer's gold medal, mint condition . . 52 o o 
 
 Silver-gilt piece in protective glazed 
 
 gold frame 15 15 o 
 
 Ditto, as issued .. .. .. . . n n o 
 
 Silver piece with added suspender . . 600 
 
 Copper-bronze piece, fine condition . . 200 
 
 Tin piece, according to condition . . 15$ to i. 
 
 It must be noted that silver specimens are sometimes 
 gilded by unscrupulous dealers. 
 
 The Egyptian Medal. In 1798 Napoleon made his 
 notorious descent on Egypt with the idea of cutting 
 our communication with the East. How he was beaten 
 
EARLY MEDALS OF HON. EAST INDIA CO. 45 
 
 by Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, how Sir Sidney 
 Smith harassed his forces in Palestine, and how 
 Abercromby's men routed his army at Alexandria are 
 matters of common knowledge. Here we are alone 
 concerned with the soldiers who, under Major-General 
 Baird, sailed from India, landed at Kosseyr, on the Red 
 Sea, and marched across the desert to Rosetta. These 
 H.E.I.C. forces were, by an order dated 1802, granted a 
 medal which, however, was not issued until 1812. 
 
 In that year sixteen gold and 2199 silver pieces 
 were struck (at a total cost of 5519.8 rupees). The 
 obverse reveals a sepoy displaying the Union flag. 
 Behind him a battle rages, and tents are to be seen in 
 the distance. The exergue bears a long Persian inscrip- 
 tion which reads, This medal has been granted as a 
 memorial of the defeat of the French army in Egypt by 
 the victorious and brave English Army. The reverse 
 gives a ship at sea, the Pyramids and an obelisk, also 
 the date MDCCCI. 
 
 Both the gold and silver medals for Egypt command 
 high prices. Baldwin's catalogue recently gave the 
 following entry : 
 
 Egypt, 1801. Captain's, diameter 17 in., heavy 
 swivel suspender, chased clasp inscribed Egypt, 
 and gold buckle engraved " Alexandria 2ist 
 March, 1801." Said to have been granted to a 
 Captain Vernon of the Madras Army. 
 
 Very fine, 15 los. 
 
 The Medal for Rodriguez, Bourbon, and Mauritius, 
 1809-10. During the Napoleonic wars it became 
 imperative to protect British merchant shipping against 
 the attacks of French vessels which infested the trading 
 routes to the East. Certain enemy ships made sallies 
 
46 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 from ports in the islands mentioned above and, accord- 
 ingly, it was deemed advisable to reduce these strong- 
 holds. A British force aided by certain battalions of 
 sepoys, captured Rodriguez in 1809, and Bourbon and 
 Mauritius in the following year. The English soldiers 
 received no medallic reward for their services (at the 
 time), but the Indian regiments were provided with 
 H.E.I. C. decorations, according to the following Order 
 in Council : 
 
 " On this occasion of the approaching return from 
 the late French islands of the Volunteers from Bengal, 
 Fort St. George and Bombay to the Presidencies to 
 which they respectively belong, His Excellency the 
 Vice-President in Council considers it to be no less an 
 act of justice than of indispensable duty to record the 
 high sense he entertains of the services performed by 
 the Native Soldiery who were employed in concert with 
 His Majesty's Troops in the reduction of the Islands of 
 Rodriguez, Bourbon and Mauritius. 
 
 "He is pleased to signify his approbation of the 
 distinguished merits of the Volunteers by conferring 
 honorary medals on all the Native Commissioned and 
 Non-Commissioned Officers, Troopers and Sepoys, 
 Gaulundauze and Gun Lascars employed on that 
 service." 
 
 We wonder if His Majesty's Troops, who received no 
 medal for their services, ever had the opportunity of 
 learning that the Vice-President considered that the 
 granting of a suitable award was an act of justice and an 
 indispensable duty ! 
 
 The medal was struck in gold and silver. The 
 obverse gives a sepoy holding an English flag and a 
 musket. Beneath his feet is a French tricolour, and 
 
EARLY MEDALS OF HON. EAST INDIA CO. 47 
 
 behind him appears the sea. The reverse bears the 
 legend, Rodriguez VI. July. MDCCCIX. Bourbon VIII. 
 July 6- Isle of France III. Dec. MDCCCX., and a 
 Persian inscription which is framed by a laurel wreath. 
 
 We have only seen one copy of this medal for sale ; 
 its price was fourteen guineas (struck in silver). As it 
 is a somewhat uncommon item, it may be of interest 
 to say that a specimen is to be seen in the British 
 Museum. 
 
 The Java Medal, 1811. The capture of Java, like 
 the islands just mentioned, was necessary for the 
 safety of British shipping. The H.E.I.C. troops, 
 under Sir Samuel Achmuty, took part in the campaign, 
 and over a hundred gold and six thousand silver medals 
 were afterwards bestowed on them. 
 
 The front face of this award bears a fine battle 
 scene, depicting a sepoy regiment taking Fort Cornelis 
 by storm. (The capture of this fort, we may mention, 
 decided the success of the campaign.) Flying from the 
 fort is the Union flag, above a Dutch tricolour, an 
 arrangement which seems a little previous since the 
 sepoys are still fighting valiantly. The under face 
 bears a Persian inscription and the legend, Java con- 
 quered. XXVI. August MDCCCXI. 
 
 Silver pieces of the Java award may be obtained at 
 prices ranging from ten and fourteen pounds. 
 
 The Nepaul Medal was given to the troops of the 
 chartered company who fought against the invading 
 Gurkhas in the years 1814-16. Silver pieces were, 
 alone, struck. 
 
 The obverse shows a hilly, fortified country in the 
 distance, and a number of bayonets and cannon peeping 
 into view, close at hand. The latter cleverly suggest a 
 
THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 5 
 A 
 
 Fig. i . Medal for the Battle of Maida. 
 Fig. 2. The Hon. East India Company's Medal for Mysore. 
 Fig. 3. The Hon. East India Company's Medal for Seringapatam. 
 Fig. 4. The Hon. East India Company's Medal for Egypt. 
 
 Fig. i. The Peninsular Gold Cross. 
 
 Fig. 2. The Military General Service Medal. Obverse. 
 
 Fig. 3. The Military General Service Medal. Reverse. 
 
PLATE V 
 
 3 a 
 
EARLY MEDALS OF HON. EAST INDIA CO. 49 
 
 powerful unseen force in the act of marching against 
 strong hostile emplacements. The reverse gives a 
 Persian inscription, which states that the medal is 
 granted by the Nawab Governor-General Bahadar 
 for meritorious service in the hills, in the years of 
 Hegira 1229-30. A yellow cord was provided for 
 suspender. 
 
 In the case of the Nepaul award, pieces were only 
 given to officers and such of the rank and file as con- 
 ducted themselves with conspicuous bravery. It is 
 thus a rare item, and specimens are seldom to be pur- 
 chased. We do not think that a copy is to be found in 
 the British Museum. 
 
 The Burmese Medal o! 1824-6 was one of the last 
 campaign awards struck by the authority and at the 
 expense of the H.E.I.C. It was fashioned in silver for 
 general distribution to the native forces, but one gold 
 copy was struck for presentation to Sir Archibald 
 Campbell. 
 
 The obverse shows the forepart of an elephant, in 
 an attitude of submission, crouching before a lion. 
 Behind the lion is the flag of Britain, flying in the breeze, 
 whilst behind the elephant is the drooping peacock- 
 banner of Burmah. The elephant of Ava submits to 
 the lion of England, year 1826, is the inscription, in 
 Persian, which fills the exergue. The reverse gives a 
 detachment of troops advancing towards a pagoda 
 whilst, in the exergue, we may note the Persian in- 
 scription, The victorious standard of the English army 
 upon Ava. The ribbon is crimson with bine edges. 
 
 Copies of this award are to be had for four or five 
 guineas. It is sometimes listed in catalogues as the 
 H.E.I.C.'s Ava medal. 
 
 D 
 
5& THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 I The Coorg Medal ol 1837* was struck in small 
 numbers for presentation to the native soldiers who 
 fought nobly and courageously when suppressing the 
 insurrection in Canara. 
 
 A Coorg soldier with native weapons in his hands 
 fills the obverse, whilst the reverse is devoted to a trophy 
 of arms. 
 
 The medal was struck in gold and silver, copies of 
 the former having realised 40 at auction ; the latter 
 sell for a quarter of this sum. 
 
 Beyond the awards here described the Chartered 
 Company bestowed many individual pieces on men of 
 rank and soldiers who performed exceptional deeds, 
 as well as Meritorious and Long Service medals on such 
 native soldiers as earned them. All such medals are 
 of considerable interest, and usually command high 
 prices. 
 
 * It is debatable whether this medal should be ascribed to 
 the East India Co. or to Governmental activity. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 PENINSULAR AWARDS 
 
 A DETAILED account of the campaign in the 
 Peninsula would be out of place in such a 
 work as this, especially as the reader who 
 wishes to refresh his memory may turn with ease and 
 profit to Napier's famous " History of the Peninsular 
 War." Here it is sufficient to say that the fighting 
 began in August, 1808, with the Battle of Rolica, 
 officially written Roleia in imitation of a mis-spelt 
 dispatch, and terminated with Toulouse on April 10, 
 1814. The cause of the war will be found in Napoleon's 
 attempt to strangle British commerce. Portugal, at 
 the time in question, was the only avenue by which our 
 merchandise could reach the continental markets and, 
 accordingly, Junot was directed to bar the passage, and 
 so bring about the ruin of the " nation of shopkeepers " 
 an expression which, by the way, is attributed to 
 Napoleon, but was coined by Adam Smith when the 
 great Frenchman was only six years old. The way for 
 Junot into Portugal lay through Spain, and permission 
 to lead the French troops across this strip of neutral 
 territory was easily obtained from the weak Spanish 
 king, Charles IV. On reaching Lisbon, Junot found 
 that the members of the Portuguese royal families had 
 fled to Brazil, preferring to lose their heritage than their 
 
52 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 heads. Success of arms in Portugal and diplomatic 
 intrigue in Spain paved the way for a wholesale occupa- 
 tion of both countries of the Peninsula by the French 
 hordes. The situation was meekly accepted by 
 Charles and his government at Madrid, but in the 
 provinces a spirited attack was directed against the 
 invaders. The junta of the province of Asturias led 
 the way and impassionately declared war on their 
 powerful adversary, at the. same time begging the 
 British to come to their aid. This call to arms was 
 quickly answered, and the incidents 01 the ensuing half- 
 dozen years are responsible for the awards which we 
 shall now proceed to describe. 
 
 The Peninsular Circular Medal. When the war had 
 been raging for a third of its allotted span, the home 
 authorities decided to strike a gold medal for distribu- 
 tion among those officers who had actually faced the foe. 
 The regulations affecting the award were of a reason- 
 able character as far as they went, but as the rank and 
 file were ignored, we can only think that class-distinc- 
 tions once more blinded the authorities to their duty. 
 
 The gold medals were circular and of two sizes, 
 though of one pattern. The larger pieces, which were 
 two inches across, were given to general officers, whilst 
 the smaller ones, a trifle bigger than a shilling piece, 
 went to such commanding officers of corps as were not 
 of rank inferior to lieutenant-colonels. The former 
 medals were made to hang around the neck by means of 
 a crimson ribbon with blue edges, the latter were 
 provided with a short length of the same ribbon and a 
 buckle * for fixing to the coat button-hole. Wellington 
 
 * These may have been added privately, but, none the less, were 
 generally worn. 
 
PENINSULAR AWARDS 53 
 
 did not favour the method of suspension decided on for 
 the larger pieces. It is all right, he said, for an admiral 
 on the quarter deck, but what about the officer who has 
 to gallop to and fro in the field ? 
 
 The medal bears on the obverse " Britannia sitting 
 in that part of the globe called Spain and Portugal, 
 reposing after a victorious battle. In her left hand she 
 holds a palm-branch as an emblem of Victory, and in 
 her right she presents a 
 crown of laurel to the meri- 
 torious officer, as a reward 
 for his great skill and valour 
 by which he has deserved 
 well of his Country." The 
 reverse gives a circular 
 
 Peninsular Gold Medal. 
 
 laurel wreath, within which 
 is inscribed the name of a 
 battle, with the date. As 
 the pieces were struck to- 
 wards the end of 1810, it 
 was only possible to in- 
 scribe them, at first, with 
 the names of Roleia, Vi- 
 miera, Corunna and Talavera, but later the following 
 were added : 
 
 Sahagun, Benevente, Martinique, Guadaloupe, Bu- 
 saco, Barrosa, Fuentes d'Onor, Albuera, Java, Ciudad 
 Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Fort Detroit, Chateau- 
 guay, Vittoria, Pyrenees, San Sabastian, Nivelle, 
 Chrystler's Farm, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. 
 
 Some of these engagements were fought outside the 
 Peninsula, as, for instance, Fort Detroit, and, therefore, 
 it can only be claimed that the name of the award, the 
 
54 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Peninsular Gold Medal, serves in default of a better 
 
 one. 
 
 This Peninsular decoration, it is well to note, was 
 the first British award of any kind to be provided with 
 bars. As we have already indicated, the engagement 
 for which the piece was gained was engraved on the 
 reverse face of the medal. Second and subsequent 
 engagements revealing meritorious service were in- 
 scribed on bars fixed to the ribbon. The bars were very 
 ornate ; the name appeared centrally, and around it 
 was given a wide band of laurel leaves of an attractive 
 character. 
 
 The Peninsular Gold Cross. As the number of the 
 engagements multiplied, it became evident that a 
 recipient of the gold medal might be put to serious 
 inconvenience if he were required to wear his decoration 
 with a long string of bars attached. Wellington, for 
 instance, gained no less than twelve mentions subse- 
 quent to the first, which meant that were he to wear one 
 of the circular medals with a dozen bars his decoration 
 would be, at least, a foot long. 
 
 In order to lighten the burden of glory imposed 
 upon the most meritorious officers, and at the same time 
 to render them distinctive, a gold cross was provided, 
 and the method of awarding the circular medal was 
 simultaneously revised. In the month of October, 
 1813, it was decided to give the circular medal for the 
 first mention, a bar for the second, and another bar for 
 the third mention. When four mentions had been re- 
 ceived, the medal was replaced by the cross, to which 
 bars were added as occasion arose. 
 
 The Peninsular Gold Cross is of the Maltese variety, 
 and bears a lion, facing right. It is more than probable 
 
PENINSULAR AWARDS 55 
 
 that this decoration suggested the pattern for the 
 Victoria Cross. In each of the four limbs the name 
 of an engagement is inscribed, whilst the edges of the 
 limbs are laureated. An ornamental ring and clasp join 
 the cross to a crimson ribbon with blue edges. 
 
 As may be surmised, Wellington received the award 
 with the greatest number of bars ; he was given the 
 cross with nine bars. To other officers, two crosses 
 with seven bars were given, three crosses with six bars, 
 seven crosses with five bars, eight crosses with four 
 bars, seventeen crosses with three bars, eighteen 
 crosses with two bars, forty-six crosses with one bar, 
 and sixty-one crosses with no bars. Eighty-five large 
 gold medals' were issued and five hundred and ninety- 
 five small gold ones. One hundred and forty-three 
 bore one bar, and seventy-two bore two bars, leaving 
 four hundred and sixty-nine medals without bars or 
 clasps.* 
 
 It is very difficult to say with any precision what the 
 Peninsular medals and crosses are worth to collectors, 
 for the status of the original owner and the particular 
 selection of bars, if any, greatly influence the value. 
 However, we are able to append the following figures 
 which will at least give some idea of the prices at which 
 these valuable decorations may be obtained : 
 
 i. A group of four awards engraved with the 
 name of Lieutenant-Colonel Russell Manners, 74th 
 Foot : 
 
 (a) A gold cross inscribed Fuentes d'Onor, Ciudad 
 
 Rodrigo, Badajoz and Orthes. 
 
 (b) A gold medal for Fuentes d'Onor with bars for 
 
 Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz. 
 
 * Augustus Steward, " War Medals and their History." 
 
56 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 (c) A Peninsular silver medal awarded by Queen 
 
 Victoria in 1846-7, with three bars. 
 
 (d) A gold badge of the Order of the Bath. 
 
 The group realised 600. [Item (c) may be roughly 
 valued at 305., and item (d) at 8.] 
 
 2. Another group of four awards engraved with the 
 name of a lieutenant-colonel in the King's Royal 
 Rifles : 
 
 (a) A gold cross inscribed Vittoria, Nivelle, Orthes 
 and Toulouse. 
 
 (6) A gold medal for Vittoria with bar for Nivelle. 
 
 (c) A Peninsular silver medal awarded by Queen 
 
 Victoria, with eleven bars. 
 
 (d) A gold badge of the Order of the Bath. 
 
 The group realised 405. [Item (c) may be con- 
 sidered cheap at 10, whilst item (d) would be worth 
 about 8.] 
 
 The two groups realised the figures stated at auction. 
 The disparity in prices is due in the main to the varying 
 amount of interest and competition prevailing at the 
 sale, also to the fact that the gold medal in the first 
 case possessed two bars and one in the second, and that 
 the engagements in Group i are generally of a more 
 attractive character than those in Group 2. The 
 status of the original owners may be omitted from the 
 reckoning in these particular instances. 
 
 3. A Peninsular gold cross with three bars (seven 
 engagements in all). Awarded to a lieutenant-colonel. 
 Price 370. 
 
 4. A large Peninsular gold medal awarded to a 
 brigadier-general, inscribed Talavera. Price 215. 
 (This high figure was the subject of much comment at 
 the time of the sale.) 
 
PENINSULAR AWARDS 57 
 
 5. A small Peninsular gold medal inscribed 
 Salamanca, with two bars for Orthes and Talavera. 
 Price 115. 
 
 6. Another inscribed Fuentes d'Onor. The bidding 
 at the sale rose to 95, but the piece was withdrawn as 
 there was a reserve price of 100. 
 
 7. Another, inscribed Orthes. Price 81. 
 
 8. Another, inscribed Vimiera. Price 72. 
 
 It was a practice among certain of the recipients of 
 the cross to provide themselves with facsimiles of their 
 awards, and to wear these instead of the originals. In 
 this way, the risk of losing the actual piece was over- 
 come. Such imitations were usually made of a base 
 metal with a gilt surface, the underside being plain. 
 Though such pieces fall considerably short of the 
 originals in point of intrinsic and extrinsic value, they 
 are none the less of great interest, and are well worth 
 the collector's attention if offered at an attractive 
 price. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of 5 may be 
 looked upon as a reasonable figure. 
 
 Military General Service Medal. As we have 
 indicated already, the rank and file fought through the 
 Peninsular and gained no medallic award for their 
 services, although the officers of high position were 
 provided with gold crosses and circular pieces. If we 
 wade through the literature of the years which followed 
 this great conflict, we shall find constant references to 
 the discontent that prevailed as a result of the invidious 
 distinction drawn between the soldier of high and low 
 degree. The conflict of opinion which was made the 
 subject of newspaper campaigns and parliamentary 
 squabbles was in no wise a battle between the classes. 
 Gallant officers were in many cases just as eager that 
 
58 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 the humble soldier should have a reward as the men 
 were themselves. It was a superior and detached 
 group of army and government leaders who vetoed the 
 award, and this coterie was led by no less a person than 
 the Duke of Wellington. 
 
 To the Duke every Englishman owes a great debt, 
 for Britain would be a very different place to-day had 
 not his splendid generalship been forthcoming in the 
 hour of need. We also know that tears rolled down his 
 cheeks when he viewed the dead after Badajoz ; so 
 that, all things considered, we must acknowledge his 
 humane disposition. But once the campaign was over 
 and the men had returned to their homes he seems to 
 have spoken of the soldiers who did their duty under 
 the most trying circumstances in a way which was 
 contemptible. Many remarks fell from his lips which 
 clearly show that he had forgotten to whom honour 
 was due. 
 
 After the question of awarding junior officers and 
 men had been the subject of many bitter quarrels, the 
 Duke of Richmond took up the matter with commend- 
 able energy and attracted the sympathies of Queen 
 Victoria. As a result, Her Majesty entered into a long 
 correspondence with the Duke of Wellington, endeavour- 
 ing, so it seems, to win him over to the side of tolerance, 
 a needless though generous and tactful action on her 
 part. " The Queen," she wrote, " thinks this wish (of 
 the soldiers to have a Peninsular medal) very reason- 
 able, considering that for recent exploits of infinitely 
 inferior importance such distinctions have been granted 
 by her." The Duke answered : " Your Majesty and 
 your Majesty's servants must be the best judges upon 
 this point, as well as whether the medal in question 
 
PENINSULAR AWARDS 59 
 
 shall be struck and granted at all or not." Nobody can 
 claim that this reply revealed any strong desires on the 
 part of the Duke to see the men receive their due 
 reward. The Queen diplomatically replied : " The 
 Duke should certainly be relieved from the appearance 
 of having refused honours to others, but agreed to the 
 granting of them the moment it was intended to couple 
 the measure with an honour conferred upon himself. 
 On the other hand, the Queen wishes the step to be 
 taken." And the step was taken. 
 
 In 1848 the circular Military General Service Medal 
 was struck in silver and given to all soldiers of whatever 
 rank who took part in the Peninsular Campaign. The 
 official name of the medal, with its abbreviation 
 M.G.S.M., was selected, as certain engagements honoured 
 by it were fought outside the Peninsula. In cases 
 where the actual fighters had died in the interval 
 between the campaign and the granting of the award 
 and many thousands had so passed away the next-of- 
 kin could lodge a successful claim for the medal.* 
 
 The obverse bears the famous profile of Queen 
 Victoria by William Wyon, of which we shall speak 
 later, with the date, 1848, placed beneath the head. 
 The reverse shows the Queen, on a pedestal, placing a 
 wreath on the head of the Duke of Wellington, who 
 kneels at her feet. A tiny recumbent lion is seen by the 
 side of the pedestal. To the British Army and the years, 
 1793-1814, are inscribed on this face of the medal. 
 
 The following bars were given with the decoration : 
 EgyPt (granted under a special order of February 12, 
 1850 two years after the medal was struck), Maida, 
 
 * Curiously enough this privilege, we understand, was not 
 extended to the cases where the award was for Egypt alone. 
 
60 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Roleia, Vimiera, Sahagun, and Benevente (Sahagun and 
 Benevente besides figuring on separate bars are also 
 to be found together on one bar) . Corunna, Martinique, 
 Talavera, Guadaloupe, Busaco, Barrosa, Fuentes d'Onor 
 (the Fountain of Honour), Albuera, Java, Ciudad 
 Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Fort Detroit, Chateauguay, 
 Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Chrystler's 
 Farm, Nive, Orthes, and Toulouse. Recipients of the 
 medal were informed that all bars were to be worn in 
 the same sequence as the engagements, the earliest bar 
 being placed nearest the medal, then working upwards. 
 
 The ribbon directed to be worn with the M.G.S.M. 
 is deep crimson with blue edges. 
 
 The design of both the obverse and reverse has 
 given rise to a certain amount of comment. Old 
 soldiers who had waited so long and grumbled so much 
 were not at all pleased to find the figure of Wellington 
 appearing on the belated award. Then, again, the 
 date inscribed on the exergue, 1793-1814, requires 
 some explanation, seeing that the Peninsular Campaign 
 opened in 1808 and closed in 1814. Even if we check 
 the dates of the engagements, as given on the bars, 
 the period only embraces the years 1801-14. It is 
 supposed that certain earlier engagements were sug- 
 gested in the first place but were cancelled whilst the 
 die was in process of completion. The head of Queen 
 Victoria appearing on a medal for the Peninsular is 
 another point that has been the subject of comment, but 
 the reader who has noted the facts, as stated above, 
 will see nothing peculiar in this. 
 
 The Military General Service medal makes a very 
 acceptable addition to our collection. It is rare when 
 provided with a bar for Chrystler's Farm or Fort 
 
PENINSULAR AWARDS 61 
 
 Detroit, or when awarded to a member of the Navy or 
 Royal Marines. One bar medals average about 
 2 los. a piece, but, curiously enough, one bar medals 
 for Sahagun, Ciudad Rodrigo, Nive and Pyrenees have 
 been known to sell at higher figures than two or three 
 bar medals on which these engagements appear in 
 company with others. Exceptional prices have been 
 realised for the following : 13 bars, 30 ; 12 bars, 36 ; 
 10 bars, 50 ; another with 10 bars, 38 ; 8 bars, 
 23 i os. ; 7 bars, n guineas. Perhaps it may be of 
 interest to the modest collector to add that the specimen 
 reposing in our own cabinet has one bar for Toulouse, 
 and was bought for i8s. 
 
 Collectors who become attracted to Peninsular 
 awards, and who intend to give special attention to this 
 group, should look out for unusual combinations of 
 bars and for pieces awarded to sections of the Army 
 that either performed brilliant service or were repre- 
 sented by a handful of men. Napier's history, men- 
 tioned earlier, and Fortescue's " History of the British 
 Army," will render much help in this pursuit. The 
 collector will also be well advised to search for awards 
 struck by continental powers during these years of 
 unrest. Many such pieces are available. As a rule, 
 they are expensive, and rightly should be, but as most 
 enthusiasts in this country pass them over in favour 
 of British awards, opportunities do occur of picking 
 them up at ridiculous prices. 
 
 The Portuguese Gold Cross is perhaps the most 
 interesting decoration coming under this head. It is a 
 weird-shaped star, having an engagement inscribed on 
 each ray. As the number of engagements varied 
 according to the service of the recipient, so the number 
 
62 THE MEDAL -COLLECTOR 
 
 of rays was determined. The obverse reveals a cameo 
 profile of the King of Portugal in a central medallion, 
 whilst this position is filled, on the reverse, by the 
 initials of the commander to whom it was granted. A 
 number of British officers were presented with this cross. 
 
 The Portuguese Officers' Cross is another highly- 
 prized decoration which British officers received for 
 service in the Peninsula. It was struck in gold for 
 presentation to those who had taken part in three or 
 more engagements and in silver for a lesser number of 
 encounters. The piece has four slender limbs linked 
 together by a circular laurel wreath. The centre, on 
 the obverse, shows a crowned shield charged with the 
 royal arms of Portugal, whilst, on the reverse, it gives 
 whatever figure denoted the number of engagements 
 peculiar to the recipient. 
 
 The Spanish Decoration for Vittoria is a curiously 
 shaped cross of white enamel on which rests a red star. 
 A laurel wreath, coloured green, runs between the limbs 
 of the cross, whilst a fairly large crown links up the 
 ribbon and the decoration, proper. On both faces there 
 is a central medallion ; in the case of the obverse it is 
 red, and displays three crossed swords, whilst the 
 reverse is gold and inscribed, in plain lettering, 
 Recompensa de la Batalla de Vittoria. 
 
 Other pieces available under this head are fairly 
 numerous as the Spaniards, as well as the Portuguese, 
 were lavish in their tokens of appreciation. The 
 Germans, also, made awards, and if we extend a welcome 
 to the decorations struck by the enemy of those days, 
 we shall have quite an array of continental items to 
 swell the Peninsular section of our medal collection. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 WATERLOO AWARDS 
 
 IN the late afternoon of the first day of March, 1815, 
 Napoleon, with a handful of French Grenadiers 
 and a host of unmounted Lancers, appeared in 
 the Gulf of San Juan, whither he had come from Elba. 
 How he gathered martial strength as the days rolled by 
 is a matter for the history books to tell, as, indeed, are 
 the incidents which culminated in the terrible carnage 
 on that fateful Sunday in June of the same year. 
 Waterloo was a victory for the English, and the Great 
 Eagle abdicated. 
 
 Eleven days later the House of Commons met to 
 shower tributes on the triumphant army. This was 
 no time to discuss the pros and cons of medal granting : 
 the occasion demanded a generous and broad-minded 
 view of such burning questions. Those who had 
 hitherto denounced the claims of the " common 
 soldier " to such awards either held their peace or 
 modified their old convictions with the result that when 
 it was suggested that a medal should be struck for 
 presentation to everybody, from commander-in-chief 
 to private, who had fought at Waterloo, there were 
 practically no dissentients. 
 
 63 
 
64 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 6 
 A 
 
 Figs, i and 2. Obverse and Reverse of the Waterloo Medal 
 (British). 
 
 Figs. 3 and 4. Obverse and Reverse of the Naval General 
 Service Medal. 
 
 Fig. i. Kelat-i-Ghilzee Medal. Obverse. 
 Figs. 2 and 3. The Cabul Medal. 
 
PLATE VI 
 
WATERLOO AWARDS 65 
 
 The sequel to this decision is to be found in the 
 London Gazette of April 23, 1816 
 
 " The Prince Regent," the notice ran, " has been 
 graciously pleased in the name and on behalf of His 
 Majesty, to command that in commemoration of the 
 brilliant and decisive victory of Waterloo, a medal 
 shall be conferred upon every officer, non-commissioned 
 officer, and soldier present upon that memorable 
 occasion. 
 
 " His Royal Highness has further been pleased 
 to command that the riband issued with the medal 
 shall never be worn but with the medal suspended 
 to it." 
 
 Not only was Waterloo a victory for the English 
 nation, but the promise of the Waterloo medal was a 
 win for the English ranker. It was the first award 
 since the Battle of Dunbar to be received by the soldier 
 of no name, as Henry V. used to call the ordinary 
 private, and it was the very first occasion on which 
 officers and men were given the same identical medal. 
 For Dunbar, it will be remembered, pieces were struck 
 in two sizes, and in a variety of metals, but for Waterloo 
 there was but one size and one metal, which was silver. 
 This equality of treatment was welcomed not only by 
 the rank and file, but by most of the soldiers who held 
 commissions, though the Duke of Wellington was not 
 among their number. He strongly objected to wearing 
 the same piece as hung on Tommy Atkins' breast, and 
 the contemporary newspapers of all political shades 
 cast their gibes at him in consequence. 
 
 The Waterloo medal, which is circular, gives a 
 laureated head of the Prince Regent (afterwards 
 George IV.) with the words George P. Regent on the 
 
 E 
 
66 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 obverse and Victory, holding a palm in one hand and 
 an olive branch in the other, on the reverse. She is 
 seated on a pedestal inscribed Waterloo, and above her 
 is the word Wellington. 
 
 This piece is the work of T. Wyon and T. Wyon, 
 junior, members of the famous family of engravers. 
 The reverse they obviously adapted from a coin of 
 Elias in the British Museum. 
 
 When issued, the Waterloo medal was provided with 
 a clumsy steel ring that fastened into an insecure clip, 
 fixed on the medal. As this device served its purpose 
 badly, many recipients had steel or silver slotted bars 
 soldered on to the medal, and through this they threaded 
 the crimson ribbon with blue edges. Specimens with 
 altered attachments are, of course, less prized by the 
 collector than those that appear as issued, though the 
 amount of depreciation is not great in this case. 
 
 The Waterloo medal possesses no bars to affect its 
 value, and depends, in the main, on present condition, 
 rank of the recipient, and name of the regiment. When 
 a regiment filled a specially difficult role or, in any way, 
 gained distinction, pieces received by it are greatly 
 prized, as well they might be. Amongst the regiments 
 the specimens of which are accounted rare, we may 
 mention the ist (Royal) Dragoons, 2nd Dragoons 
 (Royal Scots Greys), 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, the 
 Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, the Scots 
 Guards, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Gloucester- 
 shire Regiment, the Black Watch, the Queen's Own 
 Cameron Highlanders, and the Gordon Highlanders. 
 
 The following list of prices will serve to give the 
 reader an approximate idea of the worth of the medal, 
 but, as much depends on the actual condition of a 
 
WATERLOO AWARDS 67 
 
 specimen, and such can only be indicated here in a 
 general way, we are conscious of the limited value of 
 such a compilation. (All are with original loop, and 
 for privates unless otherwise stated) : 
 
 L *. * 
 
 2nd Life Guards, mint . . . . . . 4 15 o 
 
 ist Dragoon Guards, fine . . . . 330 
 
 2nd Dragoons, mint . . . . . . 8 10 o 
 
 Another, fair only . . . . . . 300 
 
 6th Dragoons, average . . . . . . 800 
 
 7th Hussars, good . . . . . . 400 
 
 loth Hussars, very good . . . . 450 
 
 I2th Lancers, average 440 
 
 I5th Lancers, fine . . . . . . 4 15 o 
 
 i6th Lancers, fine . . . . "". . 4 10 o 
 
 i8th Hussars, fine . . . . . . 500 
 
 23rd Light Dragoons (disbanded), fine 550 
 
 Royal Artillery, mint . . . . . . 3 15 o 
 
 Grenadier Guards, fair . . . . . . 3 15 o 
 
 Coldstream Guards, fair . . . . 320 
 
 Scots Guards (2nd Batt.), fair . . 450 
 
 ist Royal Scots, fine . . . . . . 4 10 o 
 
 4th King's Own, average . . . . 2 15 o 
 
 i4th West Yorkshire, fair . . . . 2 10 o 
 
 Another (rank of ensign), fine . . 8 17 6 
 
 23rd Welsh Fusiliers, fine . . . . 3 10 o 
 
 27th R. Inniskilling Fusiliers. Good 
 
 specimens have fetched as much as 20 o o 
 
 3oth East Lanes, (rank of sergt.), mint 700 
 32nd Duke of Cornwall's (rank of 
 
 corporal), fine .. .. .. 3 15 o 
 
 33rd Duke of Wellington's, fine . . 3 15 o 
 
 4oth South Lancashire, average . . 300 
 
68 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 42nd Black Watch. Good specimens s . d. 
 
 have sold for as much as . . . . 15 o o 
 79th Cameron Highlanders, average . . 850 
 Another (rank of paymaster-sergeant), 
 
 fine 14 o o 
 
 Royal Waggon Train (rank of officer), 
 
 fine 20 5 o 
 
 German Regiments. (Specimens 
 
 awarded to, are worth from i to 2, 
 
 unless in some way unusual). 
 A specimen impressed on the edge with 
 
 the inscription, " The Master of the 
 
 Mint to H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, 
 
 K.G.," in a mint state, sold some 
 
 little time ago for 5 10 o 
 
 Pistrucci's Medal for Waterloo. Soon after the 
 victory of Waterloo, the Prince Regent became desirous 
 of presenting a special medal commemorating the 
 downfall of Napoleon to the sovereigns of the allied 
 countries, as well as to the Duke of Wellington and 
 Blucher. The occasion, he thought, merited an award 
 of unusual excellence and, accordingly, the foremost 
 artists of the day were consulted in the matter. The 
 Prince suggested that the designs for the piece should 
 be thrown open to competition, but his advisers were 
 all of the opinion that nobody was more competent to 
 do the work than Flaxman (1755-1826). The latter 
 was approached and agreed to undertake the task, 
 which he did, and, in due course, his designs were 
 handed to Benedetto Pistrucci, an Italian, who filled 
 the office of Chief Medallist to the Mint. Pistrucci, being 
 an expert engraver, was asked to cut the necessary dies 
 
WATERLOO AWARDS 69 
 
 after Flaxman's designs, but this he was unwilling to 
 do, protesting that it was unreasonable to expect a 
 talented man, as he was, to subjugate his art to that 
 of another. The proper course, we think, would have 
 been to seek for some other medallist who would not 
 have objected to do homage to Flaxman, but the 
 Prince submitted to the will of the foreigner and com- 
 manded Pistrucci to make fresh designs and provide 
 the necessary dies. For this he was to have 3500. 
 
 We now come to the most curious part of the story. 
 Thirty years after Pistrucci was commissioned to do 
 the work, he handed in the dies to the Lords of the 
 Treasury ! By then, every one of the allied sovereigns 
 was dead, and Blucher had met the " grim ferryman." 
 Wellington, alone of the intended recipients, was alive. 
 Nor was this all : foreign diplomacy had materially 
 altered in the three decades that had elapsed and, 
 where favours might be showered in 1819, they could 
 not be in 1849. The medal was, therefore, abandoned. 
 
 We have searched through the literature of the time 
 in the hope of finding some mention that might explain 
 why the Italian engraver was induced to trifle with his 
 commission. Our labours have been fruitless, except 
 for the discovery of a short paragraph in an obscure 
 print which, under the date of 1819, poked fun at the 
 " arrogant foreigner." Was Pistrucci actuated by a 
 sort of revenge ? Was he over-sensitive regarding his 
 critics, or did not his labours at the Mint allow him 
 sufficient leisure to do this extra work ? We cannot 
 answer the questions. 
 
 Undoubtedly, the medal was a masterpiece. A 
 British Museum catalogue describes it as follows : 
 
 " Obverse. Jugate busts, left, laureated, of the 
 
70 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Prince Regent, Francis II., Emperor of Austria, 
 Alexander I., Emperor of Russia, and Frederick 
 William III., King of Prussia : on either side, Justice, 
 left, and Hercules, right, seated ; above, the Sun in 
 quadriga, left, preceded by Castor and Pollux, and 
 followed by Iris and Zephyrus ; beneath, Night in biga, 
 right ; before her, the Furies : behind her, the Fates. 
 
 " Reverse. Wellington, and Blucher on horseback, 
 left, guided by Victory between them : Wellington 
 gallops in advance and Blucher rushes to his aid : 
 above, Jupiter in quadriga facing, hurling a thunder- 
 bolt at giants arranged in a circle. 
 
 " Copper. Size 5-3 inches." 
 
 The two dies, we may say, were never hardened, 
 though electrotypes have been made and are available 
 for collecting purposes. 
 
 The Hanoverian Medal for Waterloo. It may be 
 well to remind the reader that the first four Georgian 
 sovereigns of England, with William IV., ruled the 
 electorate and kingdom of Hanover, and thus when 
 Waterloo was fought the Prince Regent held sway over 
 this small area of Germany. In this capacity we find 
 that in 1817 he issued instructions for the grant of a 
 medal to be distributed to his loyal Hanoverian soldiers 
 who took up arms in the cause against Napoleon. The 
 terms of the award were similar to those affecting the 
 British award, which decreed that all who performed 
 active service, of whatever rank, were to be honoured. 
 
 The medal, which is silver, is now worth about thirty 
 shillings. The obverse gives a profile of the Prince of a 
 more pleasing nature than that depicted on the British 
 Waterloo medal. In this case, he faces left, and, as in 
 the English piece, his head is crowned with a laurel 
 
WATERLOO AWARDS 71 
 
 wreath. The inscription, Georg. Prinz. Regent. 1815, 
 runs around the edge. On the reverse face, we find 
 a cuirass, a couple of flags and some arms, all above the 
 legend, Waterloo. Jun. XVIII. A laurel spray, and 
 the words Hannoversch. Tapferkeit, form an outer 
 circle. The piece is provided with a clip and a large 
 steel ring almost as great in diameter as the medal itself. 
 The ribbon is crimson with blue edges, but, unlike the 
 English ribbon, the silk is watered. 
 
 The Brunswick Medal for Waterloo. The duchy of 
 Brunswick and the kingdom of Hanover were closely 
 allied in the days of Waterloo, and the Prince Regent 
 was, in consequence, called upon to provide medals for 
 the loyal Brunswickers who fought for him. 
 
 In 1818-19 pieces were struck from metal derived 
 from French cannon, the officers' pieces being gilded. 
 The front face did honour to Duke Friedrich, who was 
 killed in one of the engagements. It gives his profile, 
 in military attire, and cannot be considered flattering. 
 Around his head appear the words, in German lettering, 
 Friedrich Wilhelm Herzog. The under face presents a 
 laurel and oak wreath encircling the figures, 1815. As 
 in the case of the Hanoverian medal, there is a steel clip 
 and a fairly large ring for suspension. The ribbon is of 
 watered blue and yellow silk. 
 
 The French Medal for Waterloo. There is a pathetic 
 interest attached to this medal, as it was struck in 
 accordance with one of the last requests of Napoleon 
 before he died in St. Helena, and was given in 1857 to 
 the veterans of his broken army. 
 
 The piece consisted of a circular bronze medallion 
 surrounded by an almost circular laurel wreath, and 
 surmounted by a crown and a ring. The medallion, on 
 
72 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 the obverse, showed Napoleon's effigy, and, on the 
 reverse, the inscription, A ses cotnpagnons dc gloirc, 
 sa dernier epensee, S. Helene, 5 mai 1821 and Campagnes 
 de 1792 a 1813. He died, it may be added, on the date 
 mentioned, May 5, 1821. The ribbon is green with pin 
 stripes of red (as now used for the Croix de Guerre) . 
 
 We have no space to write of the remaining German 
 and Belgian medals issued for this encounter, but 
 sufficient has already been said to show that the 
 Waterloo awards form in themselves a small group of 
 great attraction. If the English medal be sought for 
 according to regiments, the group will no longer be a 
 small one, and where the question of expense need not 
 be studied we suggest this form of collecting. 
 
PLATE Vll. 
 
 NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE. 
 (PENINSULAR, ETC.)' 
 
 WATERLOO AND FIRST 
 BURMAH.* 
 
 INDIA, 1799-1826. 
 
 GHUZNEE. 
 
 JELLALABAD.f 
 
 SUTLEJ CAMPAIGN. 
 
 NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 PUNJAB. 
 
 INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 
 
 1854. 
 
 CRIMEA (BRITISH). 
 
 CRIMEA (TURKISH). 
 
 INDIAN MUTINY. 
 
 CANADA. 1866-70. 
 
 ABYSSINIA. 
 
 ASHANTEE, 1873-4. 
 
 EAST AND WEST AFRICA. 
 
 RIBBONS OF EARLY CAMPAIGN MEDALS. 
 
 * When li inches wide = the Military General Service Medal of 1793-18U. 
 
 t Also Medals for Afghanistan, 1842 ; Kelat, 1842; Scinde, 1843 ; and Stars for Gwalior, 1843, 
 
 and Kabul to Kandahar. 1SS(). 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 
 
 THIS medal ranks amongst the most interesting 
 pieces described in the present work. It was 
 issued by Queen Victoria in 1848 to honour 
 the men who had gone unrewarded for the splendid 
 sea -righting which took place between the years 
 1793 and 1840 ; it is thus a companion medal to 
 the Military General Service award, mentioned in 
 Chapter III. 
 
 The obverse of the piece is identical to that 
 described for the M.G.S.M. ; indeed, it is probable that 
 the same die was used in both cases. The reverse 
 gives a picture of Britannia, with her trident and a 
 laurel spray, resting on a sea-horse ; there is no lettering 
 on this face. The ribbon is white with dark blue 
 edges. 
 
 Every medal was issued with one or more bars, of 
 which there were no less than two hundred and thirty 
 different kinds. These bear the names of battles, the 
 names of vessels, the words " Boat Service " followed 
 by a date, or a date by itself. All these variations are 
 carefully noted by the connoisseur, and it may be said 
 that no separate medal has given rise to as much careful 
 study on the part of collectors as this one. We know a 
 
 73 
 
74 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 number of enthusiasts who devote their whole attention 
 to the piece, to the exclusion of all others. 
 
 Below, we give a complete account of all the bars 
 with their dates and the number of pieces issued in 
 each case. Such a list will prove invaluable to those 
 readers who wish to know why any particular bar was 
 granted, and whether it is rare or not. The rarity of a 
 piece, we may say, depends not only on the rank of the 
 recipient, but on the scarcity of the bar or peculiar 
 combination of bars. 
 
 For certain engagements, the authorities were 
 prepared to issue bars, but no claimants came forward 
 to secure awards, probably because all who were qualified 
 were dead. In such cases, the engagements figure in 
 the list which follows with the remark " No pieces 
 issued." 
 
 ENGAGEMENT BARS 
 
 June 18, 1793, Nymph. Capture of the French 
 vessel Clcopatre by Captain Pellew. Four pieces 
 issued.* 
 
 October 20, 1793, Crescent. Capture of the French 
 vessel Reunion. 12 pieces issued. 
 
 March 7, 1794, Zebra. For running the Zebra along- 
 side the bastion of Fort Royal at Martinique and 
 capturing the fort. Two pieces issued. 
 
 May 29, 1794, Carysfort. The Carysfort, under 
 Captain Laforey, re-captured the Castor. No pieces 
 issued. 
 
 June i, 1794, 58 vessels engaged. Lord Howe's 
 victory. 576 pieces issued. 
 
 * This passage has been compiled, chiefly, from data given in 
 the London Gazette, but Mayo has been consulted, also W. A. Staward. 
 
THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 75 
 
 June 17, 1794, Romeny. For the capture of the 
 French vessel Sybille, by Captain Hon. Wm. Pagel. 
 Two pieces issued. 
 
 January 4, 1795, Blanche. For capturing the French 
 frigate Pique. Five pieces issued. 
 
 March 13, 1795, Lively. For capturing the French 
 vessel Tourterelle. Three pieces issued. 
 
 March 14, 1795, 22 vessels engaged. For the action 
 of Vice-Admiral Hotham, in which two French vessels 
 were captured, in pieces issued. 
 
 April 10, 1795, Astrcea. For the capture of the 
 Gloire. Two pieces issued. 
 
 May 17, 1795, Thetis and Hussar. For an action 
 with four French vessels and the capture of La Raison 
 and Prevoyante. Three pieces for Thetis and one for 
 Hussar issued. 
 
 June 9, 1795, Mosquito. For the capture of a 
 privateer. No pieces issued. 
 
 June 17, 1795, seven vessels engaged. For Vice- 
 Admiral Cornwallis's repulse of a large French fleet. 
 38 pieces issued. 
 
 June 23, 1795, 29 vessels engaged. For Admiral 
 Lord Bridport's action with a French fleet, and his 
 capture of three vessels. 201 pieces issued. 
 
 June 24, 1795, Dido and Lowestoffe. For an action 
 with the French vessels, Artemise and Minerve, in which 
 the latter was captured. One piece for Dido and six 
 for Lowestoffe issued. 
 
 August 25, 1795, Spider. For an action with two 
 brigs and the capture of one. One piece issued. 
 
 March 17, 1796, at Port Spergui. For putting the 
 batteries out of action and destroying certain small 
 vessels. Four pieces issued. 
 
76 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 April 20, 1796, Indefatigable. For the capture of 
 the French frigate Virginia. Six pieces issued. 
 
 June 8, 1796, Unicorn and Santa Margaritta. For 
 an action with La Tamise, La Tribune and La Legere 
 and the capture of the first two. Four pieces issued for 
 Unicorn and three for Santa Margaritta. 
 
 June 9, 1796, Southampton. For the capture of the 
 French frigate Utile. Four pieces issued. 
 
 June 13, 1796, Dryad. For the capture of the French 
 vessel Proserpine. Seven pieces issued. 
 
 October 13, 1796, Terpsichore. For the capture of 
 the Mahonesa. Three pieces issued. 
 
 December 8, 1796, Lapwing. For an action with 
 the Decieux and Vaillante, and the capture of the former. 
 Two pieces issued. 
 
 December 19, 1796, Minerve and Blanche. The 
 first ship captured the Santa Sabina, and the second 
 fought an action with the Ceres. Five pieces issued to 
 Minerve and two to Blanche. 
 
 January 13, 1797, Indefatigable and Amazon. For 
 actions off the French coast in which the latter ran 
 aground and the crew was captured. Eight pieces 
 issued to Indefatigable and six to Amazon. 
 
 February 14, 1797, 23 vessels engaged. The Battle 
 of St. Vincent. 363 pieces issued. 
 
 March 8, 1797, San Fiorenzo. For the capture of 
 the French vessels, Resistance and Constance. Seven 
 pieces issued. 
 
 March 8, 1797, Nymphe. Six pieces issued. 
 
 October n, 1797, 25 vessels engaged. The Battle 
 of Camperdown. 332 pieces issued. 
 
 December 21, 1797, Phoebe. For the capture of the 
 vessel Ntreide. Seven pieces issued. 
 
THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 77 
 
 April 21, 1798, Mars. For the capture of the 
 Hercule. 26 pieces issued. 
 
 May 6, 1798, Badger and Sandfty. For an action off 
 the Island of Marcou. Three pieces issued. 
 
 July 15, 1798, Lion. For an action with four 
 Spanish ships and the capture of the Santa Dorotea. 
 21 pieces issued. 
 
 August i, 1798, 15 vessels engaged. The Battle of 
 the Nile. 351 pieces issued. 
 
 August 7, 1798, Espoir. For the capture of the 
 Genoese pirate ship, the Liguria. One piece issued. 
 
 October 12, 1798, eight vessels engaged. For an 
 action, under Commander Sir J. B. Warren, against a 
 French fleet and the capture of the Hoche. 81 pieces 
 issued. 
 
 October 20, 1798, Fisgard II. For the capture of 
 the French vessel L'lmmorlalite. Nine pieces issued. 
 
 February 28, 1799, Sybille. For the capture of the 
 French vessel La Forte. 12 pieces issued. 
 
 March 18, 1899, Telegraph. For the capture of 
 L'Hirondelle. No pieces issued. 
 
 May 30, 1799, Defence of Acre. For the defence 
 of Acre by Tigre, Theseus and Alliance, under Commo- 
 dore Sir Henry Smith. Mr. W. Augustus Steward 
 suggests that the date on this bar should be May 20, 
 1799. 42 pieces issued. 
 
 August ii and 12, 1799, attack on Schiermonnikoog. 
 The British vessels engaged were the Pylades, Espiegle, 
 Courier, Latona and Juno. Ten pieces issued. 
 
 September 13, 1799, Arrow. For the capture of the 
 Draak and Gier. Two pieces issued. 
 
 October 25, 1799, Surprise. For capturing the 
 Hermione. Seven pieces issued. 
 
78 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 November 6, 1799, Speedy. For successfully defend- 
 ing a convoy and fighting an action in which a dozen 
 enemy boats were engaged. Three pieces issued. 
 
 November 22, 1799, Courier. For the capture of 
 the Guerrier. Three pieces issued. 
 
 December 26, 1799, Viper. For the capture of the 
 Furet. Two pieces issued. 
 
 February 5, 1800, Fairy and Harpy. For an action 
 with the French vessel Pallas, which was subsequently 
 captured. Four pieces issued to each vessel. 
 
 March 21, 1800, Peterel. For the capture of the 
 Ligurienne. Two pieces issued. 
 
 March 30, 1800, Penelope and Vinciego. For a 
 night action with Guillaume Tell, n pieces issued to 
 the Penelope and two to the Vinciego. 
 
 July 8, 1800, 18 vessels engaged. For boarding and 
 capturing the Desiree. 23 pieces issued. 
 
 August 20, 1800, Seine. For the capture of the 
 French vessel Vengeance. Nine pieces issued. 
 
 February 19, 1801, Phoebe. For the capture of the 
 frigate Africaine. Seven pieces issued. 
 
 March 8 to September 2, 1801, 117 vessels engaged. 
 For service on the Egyptian coast. 626 pieces issued. 
 
 April 2, 1801, 38 vessels engaged. The Battle of 
 Copenhagen. 589 pieces issued. 
 
 May 6, 1801, Speedy. For the capture of the Gamo. 
 Seven pieces issued. 
 
 July 12, 1801, ten vessels engaged. For an action 
 in the " Gut of Gibraltar." 152 pieces issued. 
 
 September 28, 1801, Sylph. For an action with the 
 Artemise. Two pieces issued. 
 
 October 28, 1801, Pasley. For the capture of the 
 Rosario. Three pieces issued. 
 
THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 79 
 
 March 31, 1804, Scorpion and Beaver. For an 
 action and capture of certain vessels. One piece issued 
 to Scorpion and none to the Beaver. 
 
 September 18, 1804, Centurion. For an action with 
 the French vessels Marcngo, Atalante and Semillantc. 
 ii pieces issued. 
 
 February 3, 1805, Arrow and Acheron. For the 
 most gallant protection of British merchant ships when 
 attacked by French vessels. Eight pieces issued to the 
 former and two to the latter vessels. 
 
 February 14, 1805, San Fiorenzo. For the capture 
 of the French vessel Psyche. 11 pieces issued. 
 
 August 10, 1805, Phoenix. For the capture of the 
 French vessel Didon. 25 pieces issued. 
 
 October 21, 1805, 33 vessels engaged. The Battle 
 of Trafalgar. 1710 pieces issued. 
 
 November 4, 1805, eight vessels engaged. For the 
 capture of four French vessels. Eight pieces issued. 
 
 February 6, 1806, 11 vessels engaged. The Battle 
 of St. Domingo. 410 pieces issued. 
 
 March 13, 1806, Amazon and London. -For the 
 capture of Marengo and Belle Poule. 27 pieces issued to 
 Amazon and 28 to London. 
 
 March 26, 1806, Pique. For the capture of the 
 French vessels Phaeton and Voltigeur. Seven pieces 
 issued. 
 
 April 17, 1806, Sirius. For an action with a French 
 flotilla off Civita Vecchia. 12 pieces issued. 
 
 July 19, 1806, Blanche. For the capture of the 
 Guerriere. 22 pieces issued. 
 
 August 23, 1806, Arethusa and Anson. For the 
 capture of the Spanish vessel Pomone. Six pieces 
 issued to the Arethusa. 
 
8o THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 January i, 1807, four vessels engaged. For the 
 capture of Curafoa. 
 
 January 3, 1807, Pickle. For the capture of La 
 Favorite. One piece issued. 
 
 August 6, 1807, Hydra. For an attack on the 
 batteries at Bergur and the capture of L' Eugene and 
 Caroline. Ten pieces issued. 
 
 August 15, 1807, Comus. For the capture of a 
 Danish vessel. Ten pieces issued. 
 
 October 28, 1807, Louisa. For an action with a 
 French privateer. One piece issued. 
 
 November 4, 1807, Carrier. For the capture of 
 L'Actiff. One piece issued. 
 
 November 24, 1807, Ann. For an action with ten 
 Spanish gunboats and a lugger privateer. No pieces 
 issued. 
 
 March 2, 1808, Sappho. For the capture of the 
 Danish vessel Admiral Yawl. Five pieces issued. 
 
 March 8, 1808, San Fiorenzo. For the capture of 
 the French vessel Piedmontaise. 16 pieces issued. 
 
 March 13, 1808, Emerald. For the damage done 
 to the batteries at Vivero. 12 pieces issued. 
 
 March 14, 1808, Childers. For an action with the 
 Danish vessel Lougen. Four pieces issued. 
 
 March 22, 1808, Stately and Nassau. For the 
 destruction of a Danish battleship. 25 pieces issued 
 for the Stately and 37 for the Nassau. 
 
 April 4, 1808, three vessels engaged. For an action 
 off Rota. 20 pieces issued. 
 
 April 24, 1808, Grasshopper and Rapid. For 
 valuable service at Faro. One piece issued to each 
 vessel. 
 
 May 7, 1808, Redwing. For an action with Spanish 
 
THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 81 
 
 gunboats and effecting their destruction. Seven pieces 
 issued. 
 
 May 19, 1808, Virginie. For the capture of the 
 Dutch vessel Guelderland. 21 pieces issued. 
 
 May 31, 1808, Redwing. For the destruction of 
 Tarifa Battery and capturing two vessels. Five pieces 
 issued. 
 
 July 6, 1808, Seahorse. For the capture of the 
 Turkish vessel Badere Zaffer. 35 pieces issued. 
 
 August n, 1808, Comet. For an action with French 
 vessels and the capture of the Sylphe. Five pieces 
 issued. 
 
 August 26, 1808, Centaur and Implacable. For a 
 light with Russian vessels. 38 pieces issued to the 
 former vessel and 45 to the latter. 
 
 November i, 1808, Cruizer. For an action with 
 Danish vessels off Gottenburgh. Four pieces issued. 
 
 November 10, 1808, Amethyst. For the capture of 
 the French vessel Thetis. 37 pieces issued. 
 
 December 13, 1808, six vessels engaged. For action 
 with the batteries of the Pearl Rock and French vessels. 
 
 January i, 1809, Onyx. For the recapture of the 
 Manly from the Dutch. Six pieces issued. 
 
 January 14, 1809, Confiance. For the capture of 
 Cayenne from the French. Eight pieces issued. 
 
 February 10, 1809, Horatio and Supericure. For 
 the capture of the French vessel Junon. 14 pieces 
 issued to the Horatio and two to the Superieure. 
 
 February 23, 1809, 43 vessels engaged. For the 
 capture of Martinique. 523 pieces issued. 
 
 April 5, 1809, Amethyst. For the capture of the 
 French vessel Niemen. 28 pieces issued. 
 
 April 12, 1809, 35 vessels engaged. For the fight 
 
 F 
 
82 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 with a French squadron in the Basque Roads. 646 
 pieces issued. 
 
 April 17, 1809, Pompee, Castor and Recruit. For 
 capturing a French vessel. The bars are incorrectly 
 dated June 17, 1809. 17 pieces were issued to Pompee, 
 four to Castor, and three to Recruit. 
 
 June 25 and 27, 1809, Cyane and L'Espoir. For an 
 action with Ceres and the taking of 18 gunboats. Five 
 pieces issued to each vessel. 
 
 July 6, 1809, Bonne Citoyenne. For the capture of 
 the French vessel Furieuse. 12 pieces issued. 
 
 September n, 1809, Diana. For the capture of the 
 Dutch vessel Zephyr. Three pieces issued. 
 
 December 18, 1809, nine vessels engaged. For 
 storming the batteries of Anse-le-Barque. 42 pieces 
 issued. 
 
 January 10, 1810, Cherokee. For the capture of 
 the French vessel L'AimaUe Nelly. Four pieces 
 issued. 
 
 January 12, 1810, Scorpion. For the capture of 
 the French vessel L'Oreste. 12 pieces issued. 
 
 January and February, 1810, 50 vessels engaged. 
 For the capture of Guadaloupe. 509 pieces issued. 
 
 February 10, 1810, Thistle. For the capture of the 
 Dutch vessel Havik. No pieces issued. 
 
 April 24, 1810, Surly and Firm. For the capture of 
 the French vessel Alcide. One piece issued to each 
 vessel. 
 
 April 26, 1810, Sylvia. For the capture of the 
 Dutch vessel Echo. One piece issued. 
 
 May 2, 1810, Spartan. For an action with Ceres 
 and the capture of the Sparvieve. 32 pieces issued. 
 
 May and June, 1810, Royalist. For an action in 
 
THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 83 
 
 the Channel when six French vessels were captured. 
 Three pieces issued. 
 
 July 25, 1810, Thames, Pilot and Weasel. For an 
 action including destruction and capture of French 
 vessels at Amanthea. 29 issued. 
 
 August 9, 1810, three vessels engaged. For the 
 capture of the Island of Banda Neira. 69 pieces 
 issued. 
 
 September 18, 1810, Boadicea, Otter and Staunch. 
 For an action with a French squadron in which the 
 British vessel Ceylon was recaptured. 16 pieces were 
 issued to Boadicea, eight to Otter, and two to Staunch. 
 
 October 14, 1810, Briseis. For the capture of the 
 Sans-Souci. Two pieces issued. 
 
 March 13, 1811, four vessels engaged. For an 
 action off Lissa. 130 pieces issued. 
 
 March 27, 1811. For an action in which British 
 vessels defended themselves against a Dutch attack 
 off the islands of Anholt. 40 pieces issued. 
 
 April 6, 1811, Arrow. For an action with French 
 batteries and the vessel Chassemarees. No pieces issued. 
 
 May 20, 1811, four vessels engaged. For an action, 
 when two French vessels were captured off Tamatave. 
 79 pieces issued. 
 
 August 18, 1811, Hawke. For the capture of a 
 convoy and the accompanying French guard ship. 
 Six pieces issued. 
 
 August and September, 1811, 25 vessels engaged. 
 Capture of the island of Java. 715 pieces issued. 
 
 November n, 1811, Skylark and Locust. For an 
 action with the Boulogne flotilla. Two pieces issued 
 to each vessel. 
 
 November 29, 1811, Alceste, Active and Unitie. 
 
84 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 For an action with French frigates at Pelagosa. 64 
 
 pieces issued. 
 
 February 22, 1812, Victorious and Weasel. For an 
 action in which the French vessel Rivoli was captured. 
 Six pieces issued. 
 
 March 27, 1812, Rosario and Griffon. For an action 
 off Dieppe in which two enemy ships were captured. 
 Six pieces issued to Rosario and three to Griffon. 
 
 May 22, 1812, Northumberland and Growler. For the 
 destruction of the Andromache and Arienne. 62 pieces 
 issued to the Northumberland and four to the Growler. 
 
 May 29, 1812, four vessels engaged. For the 
 capture of two French privateers off Malaga. 17 pieces 
 issued. 
 
 July 6, 1812, four vessels engaged. For the 
 destruction of four Danish vessels off Mardoe. 48 
 pieces issued. 
 
 July 21, 1812, Sealark. For the capture of the Ville 
 de Caen. Four pieces issued. 
 
 December 29, 1812, Royalist. For the capture of 
 La Ruse. Three pieces issued. 
 
 April 22, 1813, Weasel. For the destruction of six 
 French vessels in the Adriatic sea. Six pieces issued. 
 
 June i, 1813, Shannon. For the famous capture of 
 the Chesapeake. 49 pieces issued. 
 
 August 14, 1813, Pelican. For the capture of the 
 American vessel Argus. Four pieces issued. 
 
 August and September, 1813, 16 vessels engaged. 
 For an action at St. Sebastian. 292 pieces issued. 
 
 October 9, 1813, Thunder. For the capture of the 
 Neptune. Seven pieces issued. 
 
 January 5, 1814, 14 vessels engaged. For the 
 capture of the fortress of Gluckstadt. 45 pieces issued, 
 
THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 85 
 
 January 16, 1814, Venerable and Cyane. For the 
 capture of two French frigates. 31 pieces issued to the 
 Venerable and 18 to the Cyane. 
 
 February 25, 1814, Eurotas. For the capture of the 
 French vessel Glorinde. 32 pieces issued. 
 
 March 27, 1814, Hebrus. For the capture of the 
 French vessel L'Etoile. 
 
 March 28, 1814, Phcebe and Cherub. For the 
 capture of the American vessels Essex and Essex Junior. 
 28 pieces issued to Phcebe and ten to Cherub. 
 
 August 17, 1814, eight vessels engaged. For a 
 successful raid on navigation in the Potomac river. 
 107 pieces issued. 
 
 January 15, 1815, Endymion. For the capture of 
 the President. 
 
 July 24, 1815, Malta and Berwick. For a successful 
 attack on Gaeta. 89 pieces issued. 
 
 August 27, 1816, 22 vessels engaged. The Battle of 
 Algiers. 1362 pieces issued. 
 
 October 20, 1827, n vessels engaged. The Battle 
 of Navarino. 1137 pieces issued. 
 
 November, 1840, 32 vessels engaged. For the 
 capture of Acre and operations along the coast of Syria. 
 6877 pieces issued. 
 
 BARS AWARDED FOR BOAT SERVICE 
 
 (The figures in brackets denote the number of 
 pieces issued.) 
 
 March 15, 1793 (i). December 20, 1799 (3). 
 
 March 17, 1794 (30). July 29, 1800 (4). 
 
 May 2, 1797 (3). August 29, 1800 (26). 
 
 June 9, 1799 (4). October 27, 1800 (5). 
 
86 
 
 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 July 21, 1801 (9). 
 June 27, 1803 (5). 
 November 4, 1803 (i). 
 February 4, 1804 (10). 
 June 4, 1805 (10). 
 July 16, 1806 (51). 
 January 1-2, 1807 (2). 
 January 21, 1807 (9). 
 April 29, 1807 (i). 
 February 13, 1808 (3). 
 July 10, 1808 (8). 
 August n, 1808 (12). 
 November 28, 1808 (2). 
 July 7, 1809 (33). 
 July 14, 1809 (8). 
 July 25, 1809(35). 
 July 27, 1809 (10). 
 July 29, 1809 (11). 
 August 28, 1809 (14). 
 November i, 1809 (117). 
 December 13, 1809 ( Io )- 
 February 13, 1810 (17). 
 May i, 1810 (18). 
 
 June 28, 1810 (24). 
 September 27, 1810 (34). 
 November 4, 1810 (2). 
 November 23, 1810 (66). 
 December 24, 1810 (6). 
 May 4, 1811 (10). 
 July 30, 1811 (4). 
 August 2, 1811 (10). 
 September 20, 1811 (8). 
 December 4, 1811 (18). 
 April 4, 1812 (4). 
 September 1-17, 1812 (24). 
 September 17, 1812 (n). 
 September 29, 1812 (26). 
 January 6, 1813 (21). 
 March 21, 1813 (6). 
 April 28, 1813 (2). 
 April and May, 1813 (54). 
 May 2, 1813 (49). 
 April 8, 1814 (23). 
 May 24, 1814 (n). 
 September 3-6, 1814 (i). 
 December 14, 1814 (117). 
 
 The Naval General Service medal rarely fails to 
 attract attention when sold at auction, but the 
 prices show a wide range. This is due to the interesting 
 nature of the award and the varying number of bars 
 issued for the actions. As the latter considerably 
 influence the value of a piece, the collector must 
 remember that a bar is an easy thing to fake, and many 
 of the Syria specimens, of which there were nearly 
 seven thousand, have been frequently manipulated to 
 
THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 87 
 
 pass as copies of rarer awards. Where suspicion is 
 aroused, the collector should safeguard himself by 
 comparing the bars on the piece with those recorded 
 against the recipient's name in the official rolls. 
 
 The following prices have been realised : 
 
 Three bars : S. Margaritta, Fisgard, Eurotas. 75. 
 
 Four bars : June i, 1794, St. Vincent, St. Domingo 
 and Martinique. 61. 
 
 One bar : San Fiorenzo. 50. 
 
 Three bars : Acre, Nile, Egypt, with a Davison's 
 medal. 40. 
 
 One bar : Boadicea. 40. 
 
 Two bars : Sappho, Algiers. 40. 
 
 One bar : Sybille. 40. 
 
 Two bars : Amazon, Boat Service (Jan. 6, 1813). 
 
 38. 
 
 One bar : Weasel. 36. 
 
 One bar : Nymph. 35. 
 
 One bar : Anholt. 31. 
 
 Three bars : Nov. 4, 1805, Basque Roads, Boat 
 Service (Sept. 27, 1810). 26 IQS. 
 
 One bar : Pompee. 26. 
 
 One bar : Comus. 23. 
 
 One bar : Lion. 23. 
 
 One bar : Lapwing. 21. 
 
 One bar : Harpy. 21. 
 
 One bar : Capture of the Desiree. 20. 
 
 One bar : Redwing. 20. 
 
 One bar : Indefatigable. 17 los. 
 
 One bar : Arethusa. 17 los. 
 
 One bar : Venerable. 16. 
 
 One bar : Mars. 14. 
 
 Two bars : Basque Roads, Gaeta. 13. 
 
88 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Three bars : Trafalgar, Java, Syria. 11. 
 Three bars : June i, 1794, Nile, Copenhagen. 
 10 IDS. 
 
 One bar : Gluckstadt. 10 los. 
 
 One bar : Spartan. 10. 
 
 One bar : Cherub. 10. 
 
 One bar : Camperdown. 10. 
 
 One bar : Nov. 4, 1805. 10. 
 
 Two bars : Trafalgar, Basque Roads (Midshipman). 
 
 9 i5s. 
 
 One bar : Boat Service (April-May, 1813). g los. 
 
 One bar : Boat Service (August 29, 1800). g. 
 
 One bar : Boat Service (May 2, 1813). 8. 
 
 One bar : Copenhagen (Midshipman). 8. 
 
 One bar : Cura9oa. 7 55. 
 
 One bar : Boat Service (Dec. 14, 1814). 6 los. 
 
 Two bars : S. Sebastian, Algiers. 5. 
 
 Two bars : Guadaloupe, Syria. 5. 
 
 One bar : Java. 4 IDS. 
 
 Two bars : Pelagosa, S. Sebastian. {3 los. 
 
 One bar : June i, 1794. 2. 
 
 One bar : Egypt. 2. 
 
 One bar : S. Sebastian. 2. 
 
 One bar : Navarino. 2. 
 
 One bar : St. Domingo. i 155. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 CAMPAIGN MEDALS 
 
 I. FROM GHUZNEE TO THE KAFFIR RISINGS OF 1850-3 
 
 IT is among the British Campaign medals that the 
 general collector will find his work most arrest- 
 ing, though perhaps bewildering, for here there 
 is an almost continuous succession of silver * pieces, 
 each one of which recalls some important encounter 
 that, in its own time, was vital to our national prestige. 
 With a representative set of these items we are able to 
 reconstruct, better than in any other way, our brilliant 
 Empire story. Here are medals that were won by 
 heroic individuals who fought and suffered all the 
 hardships and toils of modern warfare. Assuredly this 
 is sufficient reason for handling these treasures not only 
 with care but veneration. 
 
 The Waterloo and first Burmah awards have been 
 described already, and thus we are able to begin, 
 fittingly, with a brief sketch of the troubles in 
 Afghanistan. 
 
 In the late thirties, British rule in India seemed to 
 be menaced by Russian intrigue. Dost Mahommed, a 
 sovereign of much popularity in Cabul, had welcomed a 
 mission from Russia, but it is averred that he favoured 
 
 * Unless other metals are specially indicated. 
 
90 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 the lion rather than the bear. Whether this was so or 
 not is open to doubt, but the Indian Government was 
 of the definite opinion that Dost could not be trusted. 
 Accordingly, Lord Auckland, with incredible folly, 
 determined to dethrone him in favour of Shah Shoojah, 
 who had been exiled from Afghanistan as long pre- 
 viously as 1809. Wellesley characterised the campaign 
 which put Auckland's plans into execution as a " wild 
 expedition into a distant region of rocks and deserts, 
 of sands and ice and snow." 
 
 The expeditionary force, accompanied by the ill- 
 chosen Shoojah, set out in December, 1838, under the 
 able leadership of Sir John Keane. The journey 
 brought all manner of hardships, but the goal was 
 eventually reached, and Shoojah was crowned at 
 Candahar. The natives evinced little enthusiasm for 
 the new ruler, and many murmured that he owed his 
 position to British bayonets, which was only too true. 
 The first real show of disloyalty took place at Ghuznee, 
 but this was promptly put down by Keane, who stormed 
 the fortress on July 23, 1839, and reduced it in less 
 than twenty-four hours, but not without a daring 
 onslaught by the Somersets and other home and native 
 troops. 
 
 The Ghuznee Medal of 1839. To record his grati- 
 tude, Shah Shoojah instituted the Order of the Dooranee 
 Empire, which he bestowed on the higher command. 
 For all who fought men as well as officers he pro- 
 posed to issue a silver medal, but before this could be 
 prepared he was murdered. The Government, however, 
 proceeded with the plans already set on foot by the 
 dead ruler and Queen Victoria sanctioned the grant 
 of the award to all who took part in the operations. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 91 
 
 The obverse of this piece bears a fine view of the 
 Fortress, with the word Ghnznee in a scroll beneath. 
 
 The reverse consists of a circular frame of laurel 
 leaves, within which is a small mural crown, the date 
 23!) July, 1839, and the recipient's name. (His 
 regiment is inscribed on the border.) 
 
 The ribbon was intended to be green and yellow, 
 and an award so provided may be seen in the Royal 
 United Service Museum, but crimson and green were 
 decided on later. 
 
 The metal attachment or clasp is in this case a 
 straight bar of steel, devoid of any form of ornamenta- 
 tion. 
 
 Pieces are worth about 3 when named and in good 
 condition, but many were issued with no name, and 
 these may be bought for about thirty shillings. As a 
 rule, medals given to native regiments are less prized 
 than those which went to the home forces, and we should 
 be disposed to give the highest prices for those inscribed 
 with the name of the I3th (or Somerset) Light Infantry. 
 
 The Jellalabad Medals. Trouble in Afghanistan 
 proceeded, and one of the outstanding incidents of the 
 campaign was the defence of Jellalabad. Sir Robert 
 Sale, with a handful of followers, fortified the city and 
 held it in the face of overwhelming odds. More than 
 once the supply of provisions almost failed this little 
 band of heroes, but, when hunger seemed likely to 
 prove the deciding factor, a sudden sally into the 
 neighbouring regions would be undertaken with a view 
 to replenishing the food-stores. In this way, life was 
 precariously maintained for more than six months, at 
 the end of which time Major-General Pollock raised the 
 siege (April, 1842). 
 
92 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Such pluck and determination were worth rewarding, 
 and much satisfaction resulted when a general order 
 stated that the garrison was to be honoured with special 
 medals. The Mint at Calcutta struck the pieces which 
 are of an extremely severe design. 
 
 The obverse shows a large mural crown, surmounted 
 by the word Jellalabad. 
 
 The reverse bears nothing beyond the inscription 
 VII. April, 1842. 
 
 The ribbon is red, white, yellow, white and blue in 
 rainbow form, i.e. one colour merges into another. 
 
 The clasp consists of a simple ring and a straight 
 horizontal bar, hardly thicker than a piece of stout 
 wire. 
 
 This medal earned nobody's approval, being 
 accounted clumsy and ugly by all who saw it. As 
 a result, Lord Ellenborough, who succeeded Lord 
 Auckland, arranged with the London Mint to strike 
 another piece, and this was ready in 1845. Recipients 
 of the first award were invited to apply for the second 
 in exchange for the one already given them, but, strange 
 to say, few made an application, although all had con- 
 demned the original medal in no measured terms. 
 Thus the London pattern is very rare, whilst the Cal- 
 cutta issue is much sought after on account of its 
 checkered history. 
 
 The London medal may be described as follows : 
 
 Obverse. Wyon's head of Victoria, as given on 
 the Naval and Military General Service award, but with 
 the words Victoria Vindex, and no date. 
 
 Reverse. A winged figure of Victory holding in 
 one hand a wreath for the victorious army and a 
 British flag in the other. In the exergue, MDCCCXLII. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 93 
 
 The ribbon, as before. 
 
 The first type of Jellalabad award sells at prices 
 ranging between 5 and 10, whilst the second type is 
 rarely offered ior less than 13. It is safe to say that 
 pieces received by the British forces are considered 
 more attractive than those won by natives, the latter 
 being far more numerous. 
 
 The Kelat I Ghilzie Medal was given by the 
 Governor-General of India to about five hundred 
 defenders of the fortress of Kelat who repulsed an army 
 of four thousand Ghazees on May 21, 1842, and lesser 
 hordes subsequently. Most of the recipients were 
 coloured men, in fact, some fifty English alone were 
 favoured, they being mostly in the Royal Artillery. 
 
 The obverse gives a shield inscribed, Kelat I 
 Ghilzie, with a small mural crown above and a laurel 
 wreath around it. 
 
 The reverse is filled by a trophy of arms consist- 
 ing of a helmet, breast-plate, bayonets, colours, etc., 
 all resting on a tablet with the legend, Invicta. 
 MDCCCXLIL 
 
 The ribbon is of the rainbow pattern, mentioned 
 above. 
 
 The clasp is a straight slotted steel bar with a 
 hinged attachment. 
 
 Pieces were struck in both silver and copper. 
 The engraver was William Wyon. 
 It is seldom that the Kelat medal comes upon the 
 market, and thus its value is more or less doubtful. 
 Some little while ago, Messrs. Spink and Sons offered a 
 specimen inscribed with the name of a member of the 
 4th Compy., 2nd Battery, Royal Artillery, for 25. 
 The Afghan Medals for Candahar, Ghuznee and 
 
94 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Cabul, 1842. It is difficult to compress into a few lines 
 the history of the troubles in Afghanistan and, par- 
 ticularly, in Cabul. Shoojah's ineffective rule paved 
 the way for Mahommed to gather about him a consider- 
 able following. On November 2, 1841, the inflamed 
 Afghans rose up in a body and massacred all the 
 British they could lay hands on. General Elphinstone, 
 who had been appointed to the command in Cabul, 
 was infirm and impaired in health, and quite unequal 
 to the great task of meeting the difficulties. Generals 
 Nott and Sale were detained elsewhere. Ten thousand 
 British and Indians left the district in the hope of get- 
 ting through the passes to safety. One solitary man, 
 Dr. Bryden, reached his journey's end. To avenge these 
 excesses, Major-General Pollock led an army through 
 the Khyber Pass and relieved Jellalabad (vide supra), 
 and by September, 1842, had entered Cabul in triumph. 
 A medal was subsequently issued by the Indian 
 Government to Pollock's army. There are four 
 varieties. All are provided with Wyon's head of 
 Victoria and the simple inscription Victoria Vindex 
 on the obverse, and all were given the rainbow ribbon 
 of red, white, yellow and blue. The clasp, in all cases, 
 was a straight bar with a V projection for attachment. 
 The differences appear on the reverse, as follows : 
 
 I. A laurel wreath and crown encircling the word 
 Candahar and the year, 1 842. f A warded to General 
 Nott's army for actions around the town of Candahar, 
 chiefly to members of the 4oth Regiment, as far as the 
 home forces were concerned.) 
 
 II. A laurel wreath and crown, but inscribed 
 Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul, 1842. (Awarded to that 
 part of General Nott's army which served throughout 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 95 
 
 the campaign and accompanied him on the march 
 from Candahar to Cabul.) 
 
 III. Inscription Ghuznee and Cabul (1842), but 
 in this case a separate laurel wreath encircles each name. 
 (Awarded to the army which accompanied Nott on his 
 march from Ghuznee to Cabul.) 
 
 IV. This bears the arrangement described for I. and 
 II., but is inscribed Cabul, 1842. (Awarded to those 
 who were brought up to Cabul to force its entry.) 
 
 It may be well to state that before the above awards 
 were struck the first China medal had been executed 
 (see later). On this latter piece, the head of Victoria 
 was accompanied by the inscription Victoria Regina. 
 For some unaccountable reason, the die for the China 
 obverse was used, in a very few cases, for striking the 
 Afghan obverses, and thus we find instances where the 
 word Regina figures on the medals instead of V index. 
 Such are unusual and rare. 
 
 Though the Afghan 1842 awards represent a good 
 deal of hard fighting, we have never experienced any 
 real difficulty in obtaining ordinary specimens of types 
 I., II. and IV. at fairly low prices. Where special 
 regiments are sought, or when type III. is required, 
 considerable sums may be asked. Type III. is worth, 
 on an average, 10. 
 
 The Scinde Medal of 1843. The Scinde War arose 
 out of the difficulties which beset the Indian Govern- 
 ment when treating with the Ameers of the border 
 states. The expedition was commanded by Sir Charles 
 Napier, who gained two brilliant victories, the first 
 at Meeanee, on February 17, and the second at 
 Hyderabad, on March 22. On both occasions, the 
 enemy forces were considerably greater than those 
 
96 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 8 
 
 Fig. i. The Gwalior Star (for Punniar). 
 
 Fig. 2. The Sutlej Medal. Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 3. The Punjab Medal. Reverse 
 
 Fig. 4. The First India General Service Medal. Reverse. 
 
PLATE VIII 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 97 
 
 led by Napier, who sustained heavy casualties. At 
 Meeanee, three thousand Indians and one regiment of 
 English met thirty-five thousand of the foe, whilst, at 
 Hyderabad, the enemy were four to one. 
 
 The medal for these encounters closely followed the 
 pattern of those given for Candahar, Ghuznee and 
 Cabul. Wyon's head of Victoria again appeared but 
 with the inscription Victoria Regina, whilst a laurel 
 wreath and crown encircled the battle inscription, as 
 before. In this case there are three types 
 I. bears the wording Meeanee, 1843. 
 II. bears the wording Hyderabad, 1843. 
 
 III. bears the wording Meeanee, Hyderabad, 1843. 
 
 The ribbon is of rainbow pattern, as before. 
 
 Rankers, we understand, were given the medal with 
 a steel clasp, whilst officers were provided with them in 
 silver. The colonel of the 22nd Foot, the only English 
 regiment to receive the award, paid out of his own 
 pocket for his men to have silver clasps instead of the 
 clumsy steel attachments. A few English artillerymen 
 were given the medal, and such pieces should be sought 
 with the original steel clip. 
 
 There was, at one time, some want of understanding 
 between the home government and the East India 
 Company as to whether a Scinde medal should be 
 struck, but the position was made clear by a letter, 
 written from the Colonial Office, which we quote 
 
 " Colonial Office, Downing Street, 
 
 " :8th July, 1843. 
 
 " The President of the India Board. 
 " MY LORD, 
 
 " I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship 
 that the Queen, being desirous of commemorating the 
 
 G 
 
98 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 signal success obtained by the Force under the command 
 of Major-General Sir Charles Napier in Scinde, has been 
 graciously pleased to command that a medal, to 
 resemble as nearly as possible that proposed for the 
 troops employed in Afghanistan, should be conferred 
 upon the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and 
 Soldiers in Her Majesty's Service, who were engaged 
 in the Battles of Meeanee and Hyderabad. 
 
 " Without anticipating the course which the Court 
 of Directors of the East India Co. may propose to take 
 for commemorating the success of the Company's 
 troops in Scinde, I think it nevertheless right to add 
 that Her Majesty would readily permit the Officers, 
 Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the Com- 
 pany's Army to whom the Court of Directors might 
 think proper to grant Medals in commemoration of the 
 Battles, to wear such Medals in all parts of Her Majesty's 
 Dominions. 
 
 " I have to remain, etc. 
 
 " STANLEY." 
 
 Prices of the Scinde medals vary considerably. 
 Native awards are less treasured than those given to 
 the home forces, and we often find that one-name 
 pieces fetch more than those with two, which is some- 
 what anomalous. A sprinkling of naval men took 
 part in the encounter, and their awards are much 
 favoured. 
 
 The Gwalior Stars of 1843. The state of unrest 
 along the Indian frontiers had given rise to considerable 
 apprehension, and the storm clouds gathered late in 
 1843, when the Gwalior army was reported to be 
 committing acts of hostility within British territory. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 99 
 
 Nana Sahib had been previously deposed without 
 any reference to the central government. Lord Ellen- 
 borough considered that the time had come to interfere. 
 An ultimatum was sent to the Mahrattas, who treated 
 it with contempt. Sir Hugh Gough then led a force 
 against the enemy and fought a desperate battle at 
 Maharajpoor on December 29, 1843. On the same day, 
 a second battle took place near Punniar under the 
 leadership of Major-General Grey. 
 
 A victory for the British resulted in both cases, and, 
 later, the following regiments were decorated : the 
 9th and i6th Lancers, the Buffs, the 39th and 4oth 
 Foot, the Queen's Own, and various native forces of 
 the East India Company. 
 
 The decoration, fashioned in Calcutta, consists of a 
 six-rayed star, the metal being obtained by melting 
 down cannon captured in the battles under question. 
 In the centre of the star is a smaller star and a circular 
 plate of silver inscribed Maharajpoor or Punniar, 
 2qth Deer. 1843. Gough was given a star with a small 
 silver elephant instead of a circular plate. The 
 reverse was inscribed with the name, rank, and regiment 
 of the recipient. 
 
 The star was issued with a brass (?) hook, and was 
 intended to be slipped into an eye worked on the coat, 
 but this mode of attachment did not appeal to those 
 who were the fortunate recipients. As a result, it 
 became a general thing to fix privately, and quite 
 without authority, a brass clasp through which a 
 rainbow ribbon was threaded. All sorts of clasps were 
 provided, straight slot bars, fanciful curved bars, and 
 even large circular steel rings were de rigueur. So 
 universal was this practice of adding to the star that 
 
ioo THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 we cannot recall having ever seen a single decoration 
 in its original state. 
 
 The Gwalior star is not rare : pieces can often be 
 bought for half a guinea. Awards of the Lancer 
 regiments fetch more than the Foot regiments, and both 
 are more valued than when given to native forces. 
 With the original hook, the star is, of course, very 
 desirable. 
 
 The China Medal of 1842. Leaving affairs in India 
 for a brief space, we must turn our thoughts to China 
 during the time when Afghanistan was in a state of 
 ferment. The opium trade had long given rise to a 
 condition of strained relationship in Chinese diplomatic 
 circles, which reflected but little credit on British 
 merchants. However, Captain Elliot acceded to all 
 the wishes of the Chinese in the year 1839, one of his 
 acts being to decree that every chest of opium on board 
 British trading vessels should be handed over to the 
 Imperial Government and destroyed. This one act 
 alone should have been sufficient to convince China 
 that we were now loyal to her interests, but it had no 
 such effect. Commissioner Lin knew that our hands 
 were full with affairs in Cabul, and took advantage of 
 the situation by enacting that all trade between 
 England and China should cease for ever. So pre- 
 posterous an edict was bad enough, but when outrages 
 were committed on English seamen matters reached 
 a climax. 
 
 A state of war was declared, and a number of forts 
 were soon captured by our blue-jackets. Things moved 
 too swiftly for the far-eastern power, and an armistice 
 was sought, but this was used to gain time in reorganis- 
 ing the army and strengthening certain fortresses. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 101 
 
 Fighting, accordingly, recommenced, and the British 
 by employing both sea and land forces, brought the 
 war to a successful close in August, 1842. 
 
 The medal, which was given to all who took part 
 in the fighting, was the first piece to be issued (as 
 distinct from earned) with the head of Queen Victoria 
 on the obverse. Here are the full particulars 
 
 Obverse. A profile of Queen Victoria by William 
 Wyon and the words Victoria Regina. 
 
 Reverse. A palm tree amidst a trophy of arms in 
 which the shield of Great Britain figures prominently. 
 Around the circular edge of this face are the words 
 Armis Exposcere Pacem. In the exergue, China, 1842. 
 
 The clasp is a plain slot bar, but no engagement 
 bars were issued. 
 
 The ribbon is crimson with moderately wide edges 
 of dull yellowish gold. 
 
 The award was distributed to British and Indian 
 regiments as well as to a considerable force of naval 
 men. Medals inscribed for the latter section are 
 probably worth a trifle more than those of the others, 
 but the difference is seldom great. A minimum price 
 is ten shillings. As the reverse of this medal was used 
 subsequently, we must be careful to note the date, 1842, 
 in the exergue. 
 
 The Sutlej Medal. The Sikhs have had a long and 
 turbulent history, but their military prowess, as far 
 as it concerns us, may be said to commence with the 
 organisation of the native army by Ranjit Singh. 
 This ruler trained his forces until they became highly 
 skilled and, being arrogant by nature, there soon came 
 a time when each man was filled with a desire to 
 measure his strength against any comer. Ranjit 
 
102 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 knew how to handle his army, but when he died, in 
 1839, there was no one who could control its ambitions. 
 It wanted to fight, and an enemy must be found. The 
 Sikhs themselves had beaten the Afghans, and the 
 Afghans had given the British some hard blows, so 
 why not invade the fertile lands of the East India 
 Co.? 
 
 The Sutlej was accordingly crossed on December 12, 
 1845, and though the British suffered great losses the 
 campaign resolved itself into four battles, all of which 
 the enemy lost. 
 
 The medal given for this war was the usual circular 
 silver piece, almost similar in size to a five-shilling 
 piece. 
 
 The obverse shows the Wyon profile of Queen 
 Victoria and the words Victoria Regina. 
 
 The reverse is filled by a full-length figure of 
 Victory, facing left, holding a wreath and a spray of 
 palm. At her feet are some implements of war, whilst 
 around her appear the words Army of the Sutlej. The 
 exergue on this face will be found in four patterns : 
 
 (a) is inscribed Moodkee, 1845. 
 
 (&) ,, Ferozeshuhur, 1845. 
 
 (c] ,, ,, Aliwal, 1846. 
 
 (d) Sobraon, 1846. 
 
 A soldier serving in only one of these battles was 
 given a medal with the exergue inscribed with the name 
 and year of the battle : if he served in two or more 
 battles, his medal bore in the exergue the name and 
 year of the first engagement, and bars were awarded 
 for the second and subsequent battles. As has always 
 been the custom, the bar worn nearest the medal was 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 103 
 
 for the earliest encounter among those indicated by 
 bars. The collector will note that the only previous 
 award to be provided with these added honours was 
 the officers' Peninsular medal. 
 
 Recently we were offered by an obscure dealer a 
 Sutlej medal bearing the name Aliwal in the exergue 
 and Ferozeshuhur and Sobraon as bars. This is, of 
 course, an impossible combination, since Ferozeshuhur 
 was the earliest of these three battles, and would, 
 therefore, appear on the exergue and not as a bar. 
 The dealer adopted a lofty attitude when we pointed 
 out the impossible nature of his treasure which bore 
 either a faked bar or a bar belonging to some other 
 specimen. We have even heard of, but never seen, 
 a bar for Moodkee, a thing which does not exist 
 officially, as this battle honour, whenever it was 
 awarded, appeared on the medal itself. 
 
 The ribbon is blue edged with crimson. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern, which was 
 used on many subsequent occasions. 
 
 The price of this medal does not stand high, con- 
 sidering its age and the number that are still available 
 for collections. Without a bar, it may be picked up 
 for ten shillings, but with three added honours a reason- 
 able figure is three guineas. For special regiments, or 
 rank above a private, more may be safely paid. 
 
 The Punjab Medal. On the conclusion of the Sikh 
 War of 1845-6, Lord Hardinge, the Governor-General 
 of India, proclaimed a protectorate, but this proved a 
 disastrous step. " The native council was corrupt, the 
 Queen-Mother unworthy of respect, and the army still 
 strong enough to resent defeat." Accordingly, the new 
 rule began plotting against England almost from the 
 
104 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 9 
 A 
 
 Fig. i. The Crimea Medal (British). Obverse. 
 Fig. 2. The Crimea Medal (British). Reverse. 
 Fig. 3. The Turkish Medal for the Crimea. Reverse. 
 
 Fig. I. The Indian Mutiny Medal. Obverse. 
 Fig. 2. The Indian Mutiny Medal. Reverse. 
 Fig. 3. The China Medal of 1857-60. Reverse. 
 
PLATE IX 
 
 tm 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 105 
 
 beginning and, when Afghanistan promised to lend it 
 support, lost no time in committing acts of hostility. 
 This was in 1848. Lord Gough took command of the 
 British Army, and met the enemy at Mooltan (Sept. 7, 
 i848-Jan. 2, 1849), Chilianwala (Jan. 13, 1849), and 
 Goojerat (Feb. 21, 1849). In the latter battle, the Sikh 
 army was practically destroyed, and the Punjab 
 suffered annexation. 
 
 The Punjab medal was a fina piece of workmanship. 
 
 The obverse gives Wyon's head of Victoria and the 
 inscription, Victoria Regina, as before. 
 
 The reverse has a striking tableau of Major-General 
 Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert (Lord Gough ?), on horse- 
 back, at the head of a British army. Before him is 
 the enemy laying down its arms. Flags and palm 
 trees figure in the background. The inscription is 
 " To the Army of the Punjab. MDCCCXLIX." 
 
 The ribbon is deep blue with a stripe of yellow 
 nearly touching each edge. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern. 
 
 The three bars are inscribed Mooltan, Chilianwala, 
 Goojerat. (It should be noted that the Punjab medal, 
 shown facing p. 48, displays the bars in an incorrect 
 order. They happen to be soldered together and 
 cannot be disconnected. We understand that the 
 original owner wore them thus for many years, which 
 shows that even soldiers are sometimes mistaken as 
 to how their decorations should be displayed.) 
 
 The market price of the Punjab award is not high, 
 though it is a piece which every collector should aim at 
 securing, if only for its fine appearance. Specimens 
 usually command from ten to twenty shillings, according 
 to the number of bars and the general condition. If 
 
106 CAMPAIGN MEDALS 
 
 possessing no bars, it is well to examine the piece to see 
 if it is one of the hundred odd awards bestowed on the 
 men of the Indian Flotilla who fought at Mooltan and 
 perhaps elsewhere. If so it is very rare. The 24th 
 Regiment was almost annihilated at Chilianwala ; 
 awards that went to these men are much prized. 
 
 The India Medal of 1799-1826 appears out of place 
 in the present sequence, but it was not distributed 
 until 1851, and, thus, we may rightly refer to it after 
 the India medals just described. It must be remem- 
 bered that in the late forties Her Majesty Queen 
 Victoria decided that a Naval and a Military General 
 Service medal should be struck, mostly for the sea and 
 land engagements against Napoleon. Work almost as 
 strenuous had been performed by the Army hi India 
 during the first quarter of the century, and on repre- 
 sentations being made to the Queen by the East India 
 Company, Her Majesty ordered that the men who had 
 fought in the contests from Allighur to Bhurtpoor 
 should be rewarded. The London Gazette for Feb- 
 ruary 28, 1851, contained the following notice : 
 
 " East India House, 
 
 "25 February, 1851. 
 
 " Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to 
 assent to a Medal being granted to the surviving 
 officers and soldiers of the Crown, and of the East India 
 Company, who were engaged in the several services 
 enumerated in the following list, notice is hereby given 
 that general and other officers, non-commissioned 
 officers and soldiers of the East India Company's Army 
 who are entitled to this honorary distinction are to 
 apply for the same to the Secretary to the Council of 
 Directors of the East India Company, and to send at 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 107 
 
 the same time in writing a statement of the claim in 
 what action, and at what period of time, they served, 
 accompanied by any certificates calculated to sub- 
 stantiate. the claim. 
 
 " List of Services for which the India Medal is to be 
 granted : 
 
 Storm of Allighur, September 4, 1803. 
 
 Battle of Delhi, September n, 1803. 
 
 Battle of Assay e, September 23, 1803. 
 
 Siege of Asseerghur, October 21, 1803. 
 
 Battle of Laswarree, November i, 1803. 
 
 Battle of Ar gaum, November 29, 1803. 
 
 Siege and Storm of Gawilghur, December 15, 1803. 
 
 Defence of Delhi, October, 1804. 
 
 Battle of Deig, November 13, 1804. 
 
 Capture of Deig, December 23, 1804. 
 
 WarofNcpaul, 1816. 
 
 Battle of Kirkee and Battle and Capture of Poona, 
 
 November, 1817. 
 Battle of Seetabuldee and Battle and Capture of 
 
 Nagpoor, November and December, 1817. 
 Battle of Maheidpoor, December 21, 1817. 
 Defence of Cory gaum, January i, 1818. 
 War in Ava, 1824-6. 
 Siege and Storm of Bhurtpoor, January, 1826." 
 
 This medal possesses an obverse giving Wyon's 
 head of Victoria and the words Victoria Regina. 
 
 The reverse provides a figure of Victory, seated, 
 holding in the left hand a wreath and, in the right, a 
 spray of olive. At her feet are weapons, and behind, 
 a palm tree. The inscription runs, To the Army of 
 India. In the exergue^is the date, 1799-1826. (It 
 
io8 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 should be noted that the above engagements only 
 cover the period 1803-1826, in spite of the mention in 
 the exergue.) The artist was Wyon. 
 
 The ribbon is a plain pale blue. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern. 
 
 The bars represented the encounters mentioned in 
 the above " list of services." 
 
 This is a rare medal, as the following quotations, 
 taken from one of Messrs. Spink and Son's lists, will 
 show : 
 
 One bar: Kirkee (European Regt.). Very fine. 
 20. 
 
 One bar : Poona (ist Batt. and N.I.). Very fine. 
 
 25. 
 
 One bar : Kirkee and Poona (Sergt. Europn. Regt.). 
 Very fine. 25. 
 
 One bar : Maheidpoor (Native 31 st L.I.). Fine. 
 
 . 
 
 One bar : Maheidpoor (Native 27th N.I.). Fine. 
 
 One bar : Maheidpoor (Native 2nd 3rd L.I.). 
 Fine. 15. 
 
 One bar : Nepaul (Surgn. ist N.I.). Very fine. 
 8 IDS. 
 
 One bar : Ava (Lieutenant, 5th Light Cav.). Fine. 
 
 7. 
 
 One bar: Ava (Captain, 43rd N.I.). Very fine. 
 
 12. 
 
 One bar : Ava (Leading Man, " Liffey "). Very 
 fine. 3 IDS. 
 
 Steward says, " Only four medals were issued with 
 the single bar for Seetabuldee and Nagpore, and one 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 109 
 
 of these with the edge impressed and verification of 
 award to a man of the 39th Native Infantry realised 
 74 at auction. Nineteen only were issued for Assaye, 
 thirteen for Gawilghur, twenty-six for Maheidpoor, 
 forty-eight for Laswarree, seventy-nine for Corygaum, 
 but only a few of any of these to Europeans." Delhi, 
 Ava, and Bhurtpoor are amongst the commonest items. 
 
 First India General Service Medal. In 1852 a 
 second war arose in Burma which had its origin in a 
 multitude of grievances that existed between the 
 British and native traders at Rangoon. When it was 
 time to issue a medal to those who had taken part in 
 the campaign, Lord Dalhousie advised the home 
 authorities to strike a piece which could be re-issued 
 on subsequent occasions. The past had brought forth 
 a host of different medals for India, and those in power 
 were desirous of checking their continued growth in 
 numbers. Dalhousie's suggestion was welcomed, and 
 the India General Service medal appeared at the outset 
 on the breasts of these who had fought in Burma. 
 It was rendered distinctive from later awards by a bar 
 for Pegu. 
 
 The obverse gives the usual profile, by William 
 Wyon, of Queen Victoria with the words Victoria 
 Regina. 
 
 The reverse shows a winged figure of Victory 
 crowning a seated warrior. The latter is draped as a 
 classic figure, but we must confess that his features 
 suggest a person living in the middle of the nineteenth 
 century, and not a Roman, as is implied by the shape of 
 his sword. This side of the medal is the work of 
 L. C. Wyon, son of William (who had died in 1851). 
 
 The ribbon is scarlet and deep blue in alternate 
 
no THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 stripes of equal width, three of the former and two of 
 the latter. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern. 
 
 The bars, twenty-three in number, are inscribed : 
 Pegu, Persian North-West Frontier, Umbeyla, Bhootan, 
 Looshai, Perak, Jowaki 1877-8, Naga 1879-80, Burma 
 1885-7, Sikkim 1888, Hazara 1888, Burma 1887-9, 
 Chin-Lushai 1889-90, Samana 1891, Hazara 1891, 
 N.E. Frontier 1891, Hunza 1891, Burma 1889-92, 
 Lushai 1889-92, Chin Hills 1892-3, Kachin Hills 
 1892-93, Waziristan 1894-5. 
 
 The India General Service medal is a very difficult 
 award to price with any claim of accuracy, since it is 
 twenty-three medals struck in one pattern. We have 
 seen specimens offered at prices ranging from five 
 shillings to three pounds, and more might be reasonably 
 asked for curious combinations of bars or where the 
 award has gone to a soldier of high rank. The Navy, 
 it is well to note, has participated occasionally in the 
 grants of the I.G.S.M. 
 
 The South Africa (Kaffir) Medal o! 1850-3. The 
 many Kaffir wars may be said to have started in 1798, 
 but the outbreak in 1834 was on a larger scale than 
 any of its predecessors. On this occasion the British 
 secured a decisive victory, and it was thought that 
 peace and prosperity might reign for many a long year. 
 Unfortunately, further risings took place in 1846 and 
 1850. When, in 1854, a settlement had been once 
 more reached, the authorities decided to strike a suit- 
 able medal to be given to the forces which formed 
 part of the expedition of 1850-3. Then arose a cry 
 from the friends of those who had fought in 1846 and 
 1834. If the fighters of the fifties are to be rewarded, 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS in 
 
 why should not those of the thirties and forties, they 
 queried ; and there was much reason in the argument. 
 As was usual in these early years, there were people in 
 authority who did their utmost to cut down the grants 
 of medals, and these parsimonious officials characterised 
 the agitation as absurd. The wars of 1834 an d ^^ 
 were finished and done with, and it was unreasonable, 
 they urged, to begin lavishing medals on men who 
 were mostly out of the Army and, we might add, in 
 many cases, dead. However, wiser counsels prevailed, 
 and it was agreed to make the award to all who had 
 taken up arms in 1834-5, 1846-7, and 1850-53. 
 
 The same piece was struck for the three occasions, 
 and only by noting the regiments which fought in each 
 war and comparing the inscription on the rim can we 
 tell for which period of hostility any particular medal 
 was awarded. 
 
 In 1834-5 the following regiments were engaged : 
 the 27th, 72nd, 75th Foot. 
 
 In 1846-7 ; the 7th Dragoon Guards, the 6th, 27th, 
 45th, 79th, Qoth, gist Foot, and the Rifle Brigade. 
 
 In 1850-3 ; the I2th Lancers, the 2nd, 6th, I2th, 
 43rd, 6oth, 73rd 74th, gist Foot, the Rifle Brigade, 
 various Marines, a Naval Brigade, and the Cape 
 Mounted Rifles. 
 
 (In cases where a medal belongs to a regiment which 
 fought in more than one of the above periods, it is 
 impossible to decide for which war it was granted.) 
 
 The obverse of the medal gives Wyon's usual 
 profile of Queen Victoria with the inscription Victoria 
 Regina. 
 
 The reverse shows a lion crouching under a bush. 
 Above it are the words South Africa, whilst in the 
 
112 
 
 exergue is the date 1853 and, in very small letters, 
 L. C. Wyon. 
 
 The clasp is of the usual scroll pattern. 
 
 The ribbon is pale orange with four dark blue, 
 almost black, stripes, watered. Near the edges the 
 blue stripes are fairly wide, but the inner ones are 
 narrow. 
 
 There are no bars (compare, however, the South 
 Africa medal of 1877-9). 
 
 Twelve to fifteen shillings is a fair price to pay for 
 this award. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 CAMPAIGN MEDALS 
 
 II. FROM THE CRIMEA TO CENTRAL AFRICA, 1894-8 
 
 THE Crimea Medal. The causes of the Crimean 
 War were many, but, viewing them at this 
 distant date, we may state that Russia's 
 desire to hold Constantinople, England's fear of the 
 Czar's encroachment on her eastern possessions, 
 Turkey's religious intolerance, and France's desire to 
 divert strife at home to unrest abroad, were the main 
 factors which led to hostilities. 
 
 In 1853, the Czar determined to be recognised as 
 the guardian of the Christians living within the Sultan's 
 territory, and to enforce his desires sent a Russian army 
 into the Danube provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia. 
 This was a clear act of war, and when he refused to 
 withdraw his forces, a half of Europe blazed into 
 conflagration. On September 14 an allied army of 
 sixty thousand men arrived at the Crimea and were 
 quickly landed, north of Sebastopol. The battle of 
 the Alma was the first serious encounter, and the siege 
 of Sebastopol began some short while later. 
 
 The war was expected to be of short duration, but 
 so many mistakes were made and so great was the 
 unpreparedness of the English and French that it 
 dragged on until 1856. 
 
 H3 H 
 
ii 4 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 While the conflict was still raging, that is to say, in 
 December, 1854, the Queen decided that a medal 
 should be struck with bars for the Alma and Inker mann, 
 and, three months later, a further bar was authorised 
 for the deathless ride of Balaklava. Sebastopol and 
 Azoffwere decided on later. 
 
 The obverse of the Crimea medal gives the profile 
 of Queen Victoria with the words Victoria Regina, by 
 W. Wyon. 
 
 The reverse is filled by a fine tableau depicting a 
 full-length warrior, in ancient dress, holding a shield 
 and sword. Victory, who is flying up to him, places a 
 wreath of laurel on his head. The word Crimea is 
 printed in a stiff vertical line, which robs the warrior of 
 some of his agile appearance. In small type appears 
 the imprint, B. Wyon, Sc. 
 
 The ribbon is pale blue with yellow edges. 
 
 The clasp is unlike any other, being composed of 
 bent palm stalks. 
 
 The bars, it must be noted, are not worn in the 
 order in which they were authorised. Alma is placed 
 next to the medal, then comes Balaklava, followed by 
 Inkermann and Sebastopol. This is the Army award ; 
 the Navy was given bars for Azoff, Balaklava, Inker- 
 mann and Sebastopol. Thus, although there were 
 five bars, nobody received more than four. Some 
 pieces were awarded with no added honours. 
 
 The bars were elaborately shaped, consisting of 
 oak leaves with acorns at the terminals. 
 
 Crimean medals are by no means rare, in fact, they 
 are unreasonably cheap when one considers the price 
 paid for them by our brave soldiers. A " no-bar " 
 piece can be bought for six shillings ; for one-bar pieces 
 
PLATE X. 
 
 PI 
 
 SOUTH AFRICA, 1877-9.* 
 
 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
 
 AFGHANISTAN, 1878-80. 
 
 Ill 
 
 EGYPT, 1882-9. 
 
 KHEDIVE S EGYPT STAR. 
 
 NORTH-WEST CANADA. 
 
 BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA 
 CO.'S MEDAL. 
 
 CENTRAL AFRICA. 
 
 INDIA, 1895. 
 
 ASHANTI STAR, 1895-6. 
 
 EAST ANDCENTRAL AFRICA 
 1897-9. 
 
 QUEEN S SOUTH AFRICA 
 
 1899 .1902. 
 
 SUDAN, 1896-8. 
 
 KHEDIVE S SUDAN 
 
 1896-1905. 
 
 KING S SOUTH AFRICA, 
 
 1901-2. 
 
 RIBBONS OF LATER CAMPAIGN MEDALS. 
 
 *The South Africa ribbons for 1831-5, 1S40-7. 1850-3 have much darker stripes 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 115 
 
 of either Inkermann or Sebastopol, we may be asked 
 eight and six. A four-bar piece with Alma, Balaklava, 
 Inkermann and Sebastopol, awarded to a sergeant 
 of the Coldstream Guards, has sold at auction for 
 thirty-five shillings, and a three-bar piece, with Alma, 
 Balaklava, and Sebastopol, has gone for thirty 
 shillings. 
 
 Naval awards fetch higher prices, and those for 
 regiments which took part in the Charge of the Light 
 Brigade are naturally much sought after. Such 
 regiments are as follows : the 4th and i3th Light 
 Dragoons, the 8th and nth Hussars, the I7th Lancers, 
 and the 93rd Highlanders. A four-bar piece for any of 
 these is worth about six guineas. 
 
 Unnamed pieces, and there are many, are not prized, 
 as a rule, and awards made to the French are less 
 valued than those given to our own troops. 
 
 The Turkish Crimea Medal. The " sick man " of 
 Europe struck a Crimean medal for presentation to the 
 allied forces. It is silver, similar in size to the British 
 award, and depends from a pinkish-red ribbon with 
 crude green edges. The obverse bears the Sultan's 
 monogram and the year of Hegira, '1271, all within a 
 wreath. The reverse shows a stand of the allied flags, 
 with a map of the Crimea, hanging across a gun. In 
 the exergue is the inscription, Crimea 1855. 
 
 The Sultan prepared three varieties of the medal, 
 one for the English, one for the French, and one for the 
 Sardinians (Italians). In the English, the Union Jack 
 appears in the place of honour, whilst the inscription 
 in the exergue is as mentioned above. In the French, 
 the tricolour fills the honoured position, whilst the 
 inscription is La Crimea, 1855. In the Sardinian, the 
 
u6 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 flag of Italy is the third from the left, and the wording 
 is Crimee, 1855. The ship which set out to carry the 
 English pieces to our shores foundered, and many of 
 the home troops had to be content with French or 
 Sardinian awards. 
 
 There is some doubt as to the form taken by the 
 original clasp, provided with the Turkish medal, but 
 we believe it to be as illustrated in the present work. 
 Many pieces are found with " Waterloo " steel rings, 
 and others with the curved scroll clasp, as used for 
 many of the English awards, already mentioned in these 
 pages. These, however, it may be supposed, were 
 added privately. 
 
 The Sultan's medal is only worth a few shillings. 
 When forming a pair with the English award, the two 
 should not be parted. 
 
 A Sardinian Crimean medal was also awarded to a 
 limited number of English troops (see p. 306). 
 
 The Baltic Medal. " Her Majesty having been 
 graciously pleased to signify her commands that ' a 
 medal shall be granted to the officers and crews 
 of Her Majesty's Army as were employed in the 
 operations in the Baltic in the years 1854-5, the Lords 
 Commissioners of the Admiralty hereby give notice of 
 the same." Such was the note in the London Gazette 
 of June 6, 1856, announcing that a medal was to be 
 given to those sailors and soldiers who had been engaged 
 in maintaining the blockade of the Baltic during the 
 Crimean War. 
 
 The obverse of the medal is similar to that given for 
 the Crimea. 
 
 The reverse gives Britannia seated on a pedestal, 
 looking over her shoulder, and holding a trident. The 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 117 
 
 ports of Sveaborg and Bomarsund appear in the dis- 
 tance. In the exergue is the date iSj^-i^j, whilst 
 above Britannia is the word Baltic. L. C. Wyon was 
 the engraver. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern. 
 
 The ribbon is the reverse of that given for the 
 Crimea, being yellow with blue edges. 
 
 There are no bars. 
 
 Most of the medals were issued unnamed, and these 
 are the cheapest to buy. As fewer pieces were given 
 to the Army than the Navy, the former attain the 
 highest figures at auction. 
 
 The Indian Mutiny Medal. In 1856 the East India 
 Company was at war with Persia, and Great Britain 
 found itself occupied with China ; also British troops 
 had been recently hurried from their eastern garrisons 
 to fight in the Crimea. These embarrassments seemed 
 to provide the Bengal native army with the opportunity 
 it desired to mutiny, but an excuse had to be found. 
 The introduction by the British of greased cartridges 
 was the flimsy argument seized upon to enter into 
 revolt. The grease, it was averred by the seditionists. 
 consisted of hogs' lard and cow fat, the former being a 
 substance abhorred by the Mohammedan, and the 
 latter an article the use of which violated the religious 
 veneration of the Hindoo. To force these ingredients 
 on the people of Northern India was, so the revolu- 
 tionary leaders claimed, merely the beginning of a 
 system of religious intolerance on the part of the 
 British. 
 
 The Mutiny burst into flame at Meerut (May, 1857) 
 and spread to Delhi, Cawnpore, Lucknow, Mooltan, 
 and other centres with lightning speed and terrible 
 
n8 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 consequences. When, in 1859, a medal was struck it 
 was decided to issue five bars, as follows : 
 
 (i.) Delhi. To those who took part in the fighting 
 around this centre between May 30 and September 14, 
 
 (ii.) Defence of Lucknow. To the forces which 
 formed part of the original garrison or which fought 
 under Havelock or Outram until relieved by Sir Colin 
 Campbell. 
 
 (iii.) Relief of Lucknow. To the men who served 
 under Havelock whilst endeavouring to effect the 
 relief of the City. 
 
 (iv.) Lucknow. To those who fought under Sir 
 Colin Campbell between November, 1857, and March, 
 1858, in the neighbourhood of Lucknow. 
 
 (v.) Central India. To those who took part in the 
 encounters of Jhansi, Gwalior and Calpee. 
 
 (vi.) The medal without a bar was given to those 
 who fought under Lord Roberts and General Whitlock, 
 subsequent to the taking of Kotah, on March 30, 1858. 
 
 The obverse of the Mutiny medal gives the usual 
 profile of Queen Victoria with the inscription, Victoria 
 Regina. 
 
 The reverse shows an attractive rendering of 
 Britannia holding out a wreath of laurel, having at her 
 side a lion. The word India is placed above her head 
 and, in the exergue, appears the date 1857-1858. The 
 engraver of this face was L. C. Wyon. 
 
 The clasp consists of a curved scroll, but of a different 
 pattern to any of the foregoing medals. 
 
 The ribbon has five stripes of equal width, two of 
 scarlet and three of white. 
 
 The bars, which are wider at the extremities than 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 119 
 
 at the centre, are spoken of as fish-tailed bars. They 
 are five in number (vide supra). 
 
 Medals with the Defence of Lucknow added as an 
 honour are, of course, prized most. Here are a few 
 useful catalogue quotations : 
 
 One bar : Defence of Lucknow. Fine copy. 
 2 155. 
 
 Two bars : Lucknow and Relief of. Fair copy. 
 255. 
 
 Three bars : Delhi, Lucknow and Relief of. Mint 
 copy. 3 5s. 
 
 One bar : Central India. Fine copy. los. 
 
 One bar : Delhi. Fine copy. 125. 6d. 
 
 One bar : Lucknow. Fine copy. los. 6d. 
 
 No bar : Fine copy. 8s. 6d. 
 
 No bar : (Awarded to Indian Naval Brigade.) Very 
 fine. 2 los. 
 
 The China Medal of 1857-60. The second war with 
 China resulted from an accumulation of hostile acts 
 chiefly concerned with trading operations, but the 
 capture and violation of the Arrow, a ship flying the 
 British flag, brought matters to a head. At first, the 
 fighting was entrusted to a naval force assisted by 
 Marines under the command of Admiral Seymour. 
 This able leader destroyed the Chinese fleet in the 
 Battle of Fatshan, 1857. Later a line regiment and 
 some Marines landed and stormed the forts of Canton. 
 As a result of this second success, a treaty was prepared, 
 and when the British envoy was proceeding up the 
 river Peiho to obtain the necessary signatures to it, 
 he was fired on and forced to turn back. 
 
 The war then entered upon a more serious phase : 
 some thousands of British and French troops were 
 
120 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 collected and, led by Sir James Hope-Grant, captured 
 the Taku Forts and, later, took Canton and Pekin. 
 
 In 1 86 1, a China medal was struck but it was, in 
 reality, a re-issue of the 1842 medal with slight 
 differences. 
 
 The obverse is exactly similar to the earlier piece. 
 
 The reverse is the same, but the date, 1842, is 
 omitted from the exergue. 
 
 The ribbon, at first, was blue, yellow, red, white 
 and green, in equal widths, but for some unaccountable 
 reason this was changed to crimson with yellow edges, 
 the crimson being much deeper than in the 1842 ribbon. 
 
 The clasp is identical to that described for the 
 Mutiny medal. 
 
 The bars, which are of the fish-tail shape, are 
 inscribed China, 1842. (For those who already 
 possessed the 1842 medal.) Canton 1857, Taku Forts 
 1858, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860, and Fatshan 1857, 
 the latter for the men who fought under Admiral 
 Seymour. 
 
 The second China medal is not rare unless in ex- 
 ceptional condition. Copies may be freely purchased, 
 without bars, for five or six shillings, whilst with one 
 bar about ten shillings is a fair price, and with two bars, 
 fifteen shillings. However, a specimen was sold for 
 thirty shillings at auction some time ago with the 
 honour Taku Forts 1860, and inscribed with the name 
 of an acting-master of the H.M.S. Bernici (Indian 
 Navy). Pieces for the ist Dragoon Guards with the 
 two bars, Taku Forts 1860 and Pekin 1860, are very 
 uncommon. Only one five-bar medal was issued, and 
 it is highly prized by Lord Cheylesmore.* 
 * According to Mr. Augustus Steward. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 121 
 
 The New Zealand Medal. Between the years 1860 
 and 1866 the Maoris of New Zealand, under a chief 
 named Wirrimu Kingi, caused much trouble with 
 respect to the sales of land to white settlers. In 
 particular, there was one block of land known as the 
 Waitara purchase which was offered to the British 
 Government, and when it was accepted and paid for 
 the natives resented the transaction and took up arms 
 rather than allow the Government settlement to pro- 
 ceed. A somewhat similar state of affairs had arisen 
 in 1845-7, when fighting resulted owing to the natives 
 taking money for territory against which they would 
 give no valid title. On one occasion, a British magis- 
 trate when proceeding to a Maori encampment, hoping 
 to settle a dispute, was killed, and the local chief, 
 Hone Heke, tore down the colour from a British 
 flagstaff. 
 
 In 1869 a medal was struck for presentation to the 
 soldiers who had served in the warfare between 1845-7 
 and 1 860-6. (It is clear that the earlier encounters 
 would have gone unrewarded had not the later 
 hostilities taken place.) 
 
 The obverse of the New Zealand piece reveals a 
 profile of Queen Victoria, which appears on no other 
 campaign medal except that given for Abyssinia. She 
 faces left, and her crowned head is heavily veiled. 
 Running around the effigy is the inscription Victoria 
 D : G : Britt : Reg : F : D : 
 
 The reverse contains a laurel wreath, outside which 
 are the words New Zealand, Virtutis Honor. Within 
 the wreath is a date, appropriate to the period of active 
 service of the recipient. Medals may be found with 
 twenty-two different dates, being combinations of the 
 
122 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 years 1845, 6, 7 and 1860, i, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ; also 
 pieces are to be had with no dates, but they are unusual. 
 Each different date, it is interesting to note, was struck 
 by a separate die. 
 
 Both faces of the medal are the work of J. S. and 
 A. B. Wyon. 
 
 The ribbon consists of two stripes of deep blue with 
 a central width of red. 
 
 The clasp comprises a plain ball from which project 
 straight arms, chased with the design of fern fronds. 
 No other medal has used this arrangement. 
 
 There were no bars, the dates on the reverse serving 
 the purpose. 
 
 The medal with 1845-7 dates is worth on an average 
 from two to five pounds, and with 1 860-6 dates from 
 fifteen shillings to two and a half guineas. Pieces have 
 sold for slightly higher figures, it is true, but they have 
 possessed special peculiarities. 
 
 The Abyssinian Medal. In 1867 it became necessary 
 to send a force into Abyssinia to punish Theodore, the 
 Negus, who had imprisoned a number of British 
 residents because the English did not view with favour 
 his quarrels with the Khedive of Egypt. Theodore did 
 not make a good stand against our trained soldiers, and 
 ended by committing suicide. 
 
 In 1869, a medal was struck for presentation to 
 those who took part in the campaign under Sir Robert 
 Napier. The authorities were growing tired of the 
 stereotyped pattern of the awards which had prevailed 
 since Waterloo, and decided to strike out in a new 
 direction, not, we think, with great success. Accord- 
 ingly, a piece was designed consisting of a circle of 
 silver, slightly smaller than customary, which was 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 123 
 
 surmounted by a crown and ring, the latter for taking 
 the loop of ribbon. 
 
 The obverse consists of a bust of Queen Victoria, 
 crowned and veiled as on the New Zealand award, but 
 of considerably smaller dimensions. Around the head 
 is a circle from which nine points of a star radiate. 
 Between the limbs of the star appear the letters, 
 A-B-Y-S-S-I-N-I-A. 
 
 The reverse gives a laurel wreath, in the centre of 
 which are printed the particulars of the recipient. 
 In the case of the awards given to the English forces, 
 these particulars are shown in raised letters, and, 
 consequently, necessitated a separate die for the 
 striking of each piece a most expensive and unusual 
 plan to follow. In the case of the awards that went to 
 the men of the Indian forces, the particulars are en- 
 graved by hand. In their case the silver suspension 
 ring is replaced by a steel clip. Whether this was always 
 so with the Indian awards, we cannot say, but all the 
 pieces handled by us have been engraved and provided 
 with a steel clip. 
 
 The ribbon of the Abyssinian medal is slightly wider 
 than usual, being composed of wide white outside bars, 
 and a still wider bar of red. 
 
 Pieces are worth from fifteen to twenty shillings with 
 the raised lettering on the back, but not more than half 
 these sums for the engraved reverses. Both varieties, 
 however, are worth placing in the collection. 
 
 The Ashantee Medal, 1873-4. Trouble arose in 
 Ashantee, in the year 1871, over a strip of disputed 
 territory which ran between the Prah river and the 
 Gold Coast. The British had exchanged the island of 
 Sumatra with the Dutch for this piece of land, but the 
 
124 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE n. 
 A 
 
 Fig. I. Medal for New Zealand. Obverse. 
 Fig. 2. Medal for New Zealand. Reverse. 
 Fig. 3. The South Africa (Zulu) Medal of 1877-9. Reverse 
 
 Fig. I. The Afghanistan Medal, 1878-80. Obverse. 
 Fig. 2. The Afghanistan Medal, 1878-80. Reverse. 
 
PLATE XI 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 125 
 
 local king, Coffee Calcali, claimed it as his own. Whilst 
 the English were preparing to give him proof of their 
 rights, the savage ruler marched on the town of 
 Elmina and endeavoured to capture it. This he was 
 not able to do, but Sir Garnet Wolseley's forces, 
 though they were able to check him, were not sufficiently 
 strong to secure a victory, and much time was lost in 
 waiting for more troops to sail from Europe. On 
 reinforcements arriving, Coffee Calcali was beaten and 
 forced to retire as well as to give up his abominable 
 practices of sacrificing human lives by way of amuse- 
 ment. (" The March to Coomassie," by G. A. Henty, 
 gives an admirable, though sordid picture of the life 
 and surroundings of this degenerate king.) 
 
 In 1874 a medal was struck for the campaign of 
 1873-4, and, as it has been re-issued since, the collector 
 must note its particulars with care. 
 
 The obverse bears a profile of Queen Victoria of a 
 fresh presentation, similar to that afterwards used on 
 the familiar medal for Egypt, 1882. It is the work of 
 L. C. Wyon. 
 
 The reverse gives Sir E. J. Poynter's picture of a 
 bush fight. To the left of a centre tree are English 
 soldiers, with the sun blazing on them, whilst, to the 
 right, are natives bared to their waists for the fray. 
 
 The clasp is officially described as straight. 
 
 The ribbon is yellow with two wide edges of black 
 and two inner narrow bars of the same colour. 
 
 The bar is inscribed Coomassie. (On a later medal 
 this town is spelt differently.) 
 
 Fifteen shillings is a fair price for this medal. 
 
 The South Africa (Zulu) Medal of 1877-9. The 
 story of how Goghill and Melvill gained the Victoria 
 
126 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Cross for concealing the Queen's colour at the Buffalo 
 river is probably the most popularly appreciated 
 incident of the Zulu War of 1877-9. Isandhlwana 
 and Rorke's Drift are also household words, but we 
 are more concerned here with the medal which was 
 given to all the soldiers who took up arms against 
 Cetewayo and his trained hordes. This piece was a 
 re-issue of the award struck in 1854 to commemorate 
 the Kaffir risings of 1834, 1846, and 1850. 
 
 The obverse shows a return to the old profile of 
 Queen Victoria by William Wyon. 
 
 The reverse depicts the crouching lion of the earlier 
 South African piece, but in the exergue are a Zulu 
 shield and spears. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern. The 
 ribbon is orange with four dark blue, almost black, 
 stripes, watered. Near the edges, the blue stripes are 
 fairly wide, but the inner ones are narrow. 
 
 The bars are inscribed with the dates 1877-6, 
 1877-8-9, 1878-9 and 1879. No recipient received 
 more than one added honour. 
 
 The points of difference between the Kaffir and Zulu 
 strikings are 
 
 Kaffir (1834, 1846, 1850). Zulu (1877). 
 
 The date, 1853, in the A Zulu shield and spears 
 exergue of the reverse. in the exergue of the 
 
 reverse. 
 The ribbon is pale orange. The ribbon is a medium 
 
 coloured orange. 
 There are no bars. Bars were issued. 
 
 The 1877 piece is often obtainable for seven-and- 
 sixpence, though mint specimens command a trifle more. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 127 
 
 The Afghanistan Medal of 1878-80. In the early 
 seventies, Shere All, the ruler of Afghanistan, found 
 himself in financial and other difficulties. On appealing 
 to the British Government, assistance was given him 
 conditionally that he acted impartially to the powers 
 which bordered on his territory. At the same time, 
 an agreement was drawn up with Russia, constituting 
 Afghanistan as a neutral country. After a few years 
 it was found that Shere Ali was intriguing with the 
 Czar's government, and according his ambassadors 
 privileges which were not extended to the Queen's 
 plenipotentiaries. A party of diplomats was, therefore, 
 despatched to Cabul to inquire into the reasons for 
 this lapse of good faith, but it was not allowed to 
 proceed beyond Ali Musjid. The British Government 
 considered this an act of hostility, and declared war, 
 which Shere Ali met by declaring, on his part, a holy 
 war. Of the subsequent events, the march from Kabul 
 to Kandahar by Lord Roberts, with some twenty 
 thousand followers, is perhaps the most outstanding. 
 
 When the campaign had been brought to a successful 
 conclusion it was proposed to grant the India General 
 Service medal with appropriate bars, but the Queen 
 pointed out that this special piece was intended for 
 " little wars " which was not a fair description of 
 the incidents then terminating in Afghanistan. Her 
 Majesty gave orders for the striking of a special piece, 
 which was issued in 1881. It may be described as 
 follows : 
 
 Obverse. A profile of Her Majesty, not used either 
 before or since, with the inscription Victoria Regina et 
 Imperatrix, the work of J. E. Boehm. 
 
 Reverse. A picture of a British army in full 
 
128 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 marching order. An elephant carrying a gun is the 
 central figure : near it is an officer mounted on a horse. 
 In the background are mountains and the word 
 Afghanistan. In the exergue, 1878-79-80. The reverse, 
 we understand, was sketched by Randolph Caldecott, 
 and engraved by L. C. Wyon. 
 
 Clasp. Straight. 
 
 Ribbon. Green with wide edges of purple red. 
 (This ribbon may be spoken of as being ubiquitous 
 among the Chelsea Pensioners at the time of writing.) 
 
 Bars. Six in number, inscribed Ali Musjid, Peiwar 
 Kotal, Charasia, Ahmed Khel, Kabul, Kandahar. (It 
 is curious to note how official spelling changes with 
 time. We have had Afghanistan with a double F, and 
 Kabul with a C, Kandahar with a C, and elsewhere 
 Coomassie with a K.) 
 
 Prices of the Afghanistan medal average 
 
 No bar : 55. 
 
 One bar : Kabul. los. 
 
 One bar : Ali Musjid. 8s. 
 
 Two bars : Kabul and Kandahar. 155. 
 
 Two bars : Ali Musjid and Charasia. 145. 
 
 Three bars : Charasia, Kabul and Kandahar. 255. 
 
 Three bars : Peiwar Kotal, Charasia, Kabul. 2 is. 
 
 The Kabul to Kandahar Star. This decoration was 
 given to the forces which marched with Lord (then 
 General Sir Fred.) Roberts from Kabul to relieve General 
 Primrose, who was hard pressed in the fortress of 
 Kandahar. The journey, which measured some three 
 hundred odd miles, lay through most difficult country- 
 mountainous and treacherous. The force set out in 
 the early part of August, 1880, and reached its goal 
 on the last day of that month. All who took part in 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 129 
 
 the memorable march were given the star, besides those 
 who garrisoned Khelat-i-Ghilzie, and who proceeded 
 with Roberts from this place to Kandahar. 
 
 The decoration consists of an unattractive five- 
 pointed star, having a small ball in each angle and a 
 crown between the two uppermost limbs. The centre 
 of the piece is a circle containing the cypher, VRI, and, 
 in a circular band, the inscription Kabul to Kandahar, 
 1880. A ring, fixed to the crown, takes the rainbow 
 ribbon of red, white, yellow, white and blue. 
 
 The star is cast in bronze, made from guns captured 
 at Kandahar, September i, 1880. The surface is 
 lacquered a deep brown, but, when this has worn off, 
 many recipients have renewed it with a black lacquer. 
 
 The award in good average condition is worth eight- 
 and-six, but more when the original surface has been 
 well preserved. The star should be obtained, for 
 preference, in company with an Afghanistan medal 
 won by the same recipient. 
 
 The Egyptian Medal, 1882-9." Many were the 
 circumstances which led to the Egyptian War of 1882, 
 but probably the chief factor concerned the sale to 
 Great Britain, in 1875, of about two hundred thousand 
 shares in the Suez Canal. After some while it was 
 found that the finances of this national undertaking 
 were considerably involved, and, as the country was 
 also a large debtor to France, both France and England 
 decided to place some control upon its money affairs. 
 This step caused a good deal of ill-feeling in Cairo and 
 elsewhere, and paved the way for the cry of ' Egypt for 
 the Egyptians ' which Arabi Pasha, a cunning agitator, 
 had put into the mouths of the people. In June, 1882, 
 Arabi, knowing he had a considerable following, set 
 
 I 
 
130 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 the British diplomats at defiance and began constructing 
 earthworks around the harbour of Alexandria. The two 
 powers pointed out that this was an act of war, and, 
 as the cunning soldier refused to desist, war was 
 declared on June n, when the French withdrew their 
 vessels. Alexandria was bombarded by our ships, and 
 a landing effected.' Then Tel-el-Kebir was attacked 
 by Viscount Wolseley in the month of September, and 
 such was the success of the encounter that the rebellious 
 spirit of Egypt was crushed for a time. 
 
 " In 1883, the valley of the Nile was once more in a 
 state of ferment. A fanatic, called the Mahdi, had 
 fanned the people into a restless condition, and a force 
 under Baker Pasha was set upon suddenly at El-Teb 
 and cut to pieces. As a relief measure, reinforcements 
 were landed at Suakin, and again a battle was fought 
 at El-Teb, and, later on, at Tamaai, both being British 
 successes. Then events centred around General Gordon 
 and his band of followers at Khartoum. Lord Wolseley's 
 march across the deseit to relieve him is one of the out- 
 standing feats of the British Army, and so are his 
 victories at Abu Klea and Abu Kru. When Khartoum 
 was relieved, unfortunately too late to preserve the life 
 of the heroic Gordon, the native resistance fell to pieces, 
 and the war dragged on sporadically until 1889." * 
 
 A medal was struck in 1882 or 1883. The obverse 
 gives L. C. Wyon's head of Victoria, as shown by the 
 Ashantee award of 1873-4. The inscription runs, 
 Victoria Regina et Imperatrix. (The Ashantee die 
 could nothave been used on this occasion, as the wording 
 on the earlier piece is Victoria Regina.) 
 
 The reverse bears a sphinx resting on a pedestal 
 * From " The A.B.C. of Medals." 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 131 
 
 with the word Egypt above, and the year 1882 below. 
 When the medal was struck for the engagements 
 between 1883 and 1889, the date was omitted and the 
 space left blank. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is deep blue and white in five equal bars, 
 three of the former and two of the latter. It is said 
 that these colours were chosen to symbolise the Blue 
 and White Nile. 
 
 The bars are inscribed; Alexandria, Tel-el-Kebir , 
 Suakin 1884, El-Teb, Tamaai, El-Teb-Tamaai, The Nile 
 1884-85, Abu Klea, Kirbekan, Suakin 1885, Tofrek, 
 Gemaizah 1888, and Toski 1889. Medals were also issued 
 with no bars. 
 
 The following list of prices may prove useful. In 
 no case are the items of special interest, but in each 
 instance the pieces are in good condition : 
 
 Egypt, 1882, no bar. 5$. 
 
 Egypt, no date, no bar. 55. 
 
 Egypt, 1882, Tel-el-Kebir. 55. 6d. 
 
 Egypt, no date, Suakin, 1885. 6s. 
 
 Egypt, no date, Nile. 75. 6d. 
 
 Egypt, no date, Suakin, 1885, and Tofrek. 8s. 6d. 
 
 Egypt, no date, Gemaizah and Toski with the 
 Khedive's star. i. 
 
 Egypt, no date, Tel-el-Kebir, Suakin, 1884, El-Teb- 
 Tamaai, Nile. 1. 
 
 Egypt, no date, Tofrek, Gemaizah, Toski, with the 
 Khedive's star. 4 guineas. 
 
 The Khedive's Star for Egypt. In the year 1883 
 the Khedive gave a decoration to all English soldiers 
 who had received the Queen's award, just described, 
 and by Royal assent recipients, when in uniform, were 
 
132 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 12 
 A 
 
 Fig. I. Egyptian Medal of 1882. Obverse. 
 
 Fig. 2. The Khedive's Star for Egypt. 
 
 Fig. 3. Reverse of the Egyptian Medal of 1882. 
 
 B 
 
 Fig. i. The East and West Africa Medal of 1887-1900. Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 2. The British South Africa Company's Medal for Rhodesia. 
 Obverse. 
 
 Fig. 3. The British South Africa Company's Medal for Rhodesia. 
 Reverse. 
 
PLATE XII 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 133 
 
 allowed to wear the piece. The grant of the Khedive 
 was extended later to all who fought in the engagements 
 lasting until 1889. 
 
 The star was cast in bronze and darkened by means 
 of a lacquer, but it was never awarded with a black 
 lacquer as often appears on pieces that have been 
 privately restored. The star possesses five points, in 
 the centre of which is a circular band enclosing a view 
 of the Pyramids and a sphinx. The band is inscribed, 
 Egypt 1882, and " Khedive of Egypt, 1299 ; " but the 
 latter is given in Arabic. The reverse of the piece bears 
 the initials T.M. (Twefik Muhammad). A bronze bar, 
 carrying a small star and crescent, is chained to the 
 decoration and, through loops on its undersurface, a 
 deep blue ribbon runs. 
 
 The star is also found with the dates 1884 and 
 1884-6, but when awarded later than 1886 is undated. 
 Some undated pieces were distributed with a bar 
 inscribed Tokar 1308, in Arabic. Also, a few pieces 
 were given to men who had not received the Queen's 
 Egyptian medal. 
 
 The Khedive's star is probably the cheapest decora- 
 tion that collectors can buy, a fair copy being priced 
 no higher than four shillings and sixpence. It is, 
 however, rare when undated, as most of the men who 
 fought after 1886 had already received the piece with 
 one of the earlier dates. 
 
 The North-West Canada Medal. In the early 
 spring of 1885, discontent arose among the Indians of 
 Saskatchewan and the French half-breeds over the 
 question of territorial rights. " The prairie Indians 
 had no tangible grievance against the Government 
 beyond their natural dislike to sharing their country 
 
134 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 with white men. They had been given ample reserves 
 and daily rations of beef and flour, blankets, and a 
 small sum of money annually. But with the buffalo 
 had disappeared not only food and clothing, but happy 
 hunting. The transition from hunter and horse-thief 
 to rationed loafer was too sudden." * The discontent 
 of these primitive men was noted by the firebrand, 
 Louis Kiel, who promised them " unrationed whisky 
 and a land for themselves " if they rose and fought the 
 government with the assistance of the Fenian Brigade. 
 The terms were alluring, and we find that within a 
 short space of time Kiel, backed by an army of followers, 
 proclaimed self-government for the Redskins of 
 Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The Canadian 
 forces manning the outlying stations were, at first, 
 overcome by the rebels, but, once the Militia was 
 brought into line, Riel and his dupes stood little chance 
 of success. He was cornered at Batoche in May, 1885, 
 by General Middleton, and, being tried, was found 
 guilty and paid, later, " the penalty of the folly that 
 becomes crime." 
 
 Militia Orders, under the date of September 18, 
 1885, announced that a medal as follows would be 
 struck : 
 
 Obverse. Made from the same die as used for the 
 Egyptian, 1882, obverse. 
 
 Reverse. A wreath of maple enclosing the wording, 
 North-West Canada, 1885. 
 
 Clasp. Straight. 
 
 Ribbon. A greyish-blue with two wide bars of red, 
 not quite touching the edges. 
 
 Bar. One for Saskatchewan. 
 
 * Major-General T. Bland Strange. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 135 
 
 These medals are worth about 2 each, but often 
 command as much as eight or ten pounds. We believe 
 that none were given to English soldiers, fighting as 
 such, but a number of men on the home establishment 
 who were filling special posts in Canada certainly 
 received the award. 
 
 The East and West Africa Medal of 1887-1900. 
 Though it was not the original intention of the authori- 
 ties to re-issue the Ashantee award of 1873-4 on a 
 subsequent occasion, it was found that a medal was 
 needed to serve for a number of small expeditions in 
 East and West Africa and, accordingly, the Ashantee 
 piece was constituted a temporary General Service medal 
 for this purpose. The dies which served for the original 
 award were turned to and pieces were struck exactly 
 similar to those made in the seventies. Even the 
 ribbon was matched. Thus, in all respects, the 1873-4 
 and 1887-1900 medals are alike, and the only way to 
 tell one issue from the other is to examine the bars. 
 
 For 1873-4 there was only one of these added 
 honours, which was inscribed Coomassie. 
 
 For 1887-1900 the bars were as follows : 
 
 (a) 1887-8. (Warfare with the Yonnie tribe.) 
 
 (b) Witu, 1890. (For Naval operations.) 
 
 (c) 1891-2. (Gambia River expedition.) 
 
 (d) 1892. (Actions against Tambi, Toniataba, and 
 
 the Jebus.) 
 
 (<?) Witu, August, 1893. (For Naval operations.) 
 (/) Liwondi, 1893. (Operations by H.M.S. 
 
 Mosquito and Herald.} 
 (g) Juba River, 1893. (Operations by H.M.S. 
 
 Blanche.) 
 (h) Lake Nyassa, 1893. (Operations by H.M.S. 
 
136 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Adventurer and Pioneer, assisted by a party 
 of Sikhs.) 
 
 (i) 1893-4. (Operations against the Sofas.) 
 
 (j) Gambia, 1894. (Operations by a number of 
 ships and troops of the West India Regiment.) 
 
 (k) Benin River, 1894. (Operations by four ships.) 
 
 (/) Brass River, 1895. (Operations by four ships.) 
 
 (m) 1896-97. 
 
 (*) 1896-98. 
 
 (o) 1896-99. 
 
 (p) Niger, 1897. (Expeditions to Egbon, Bida and 
 Ilorin.) 
 
 (q) Benin, 1897. (Operations by nine ships.) 
 
 (r) Dawkita, 1897. (For the defence of Dawkita by 
 the Gold Coast Constabulary.) 
 
 (s) 1897-98. 
 
 (t) 1898. 
 
 (u) Sierre Leone, 1898-99. (Operations in this 
 colony.) 
 
 (t) 1899. (Bula Expedition.) 
 
 (w) 1900. (Munshi and other Expeditions.) 
 
 For M'wele a bar was not issued, but the name of the 
 honour was impressed on the rim of the piece. 
 
 Where men possessed the 1873-4 medal, a new 
 award was not provided, but the requisite bars were 
 given instead. 
 
 In assessing the value of the East and \Vest Africa 
 medal we must bear three factors in mind. First, a 
 larger number of native than British soldiers were 
 recipients ; second, the Navy participated in the 
 awards more than the Army ; and, third, on certain 
 occasions, the grants were exceedingly few in number, 
 and, consequently, the piece varies considerably in 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 137 
 
 value according to the bar or bars going with it. The 
 Liwondi bar, for instance, was only given to three 
 officers and thirty-four men, and the Juba River bar 
 to one officer and forty men ; but the bars bearing 
 dates usually went to some thousands of recipients. 
 Fifteen shillings is a minimum price for the medal, 
 but specially rare specimens may fetch as many 
 pounds. 
 
 The Central Africa Medal. As though to confuse 
 the student and collector, the East and West Africa 
 medal was given in a slightly different rendering for 
 operations in Central Africa during the four years 
 1894-8. The obverse and reverse were stamped from 
 the same dies as before, but instead of a clasp there is a 
 silver ring through which the ribbon folds. The ribbon 
 is dove, white and black in bars of equal width. The 
 dove, so it is claimed, repiesents the Sikhs, who formed 
 part of the forces, the white stand for the British, and 
 the black, the soldiers of Zanzibar. 
 
 To still further complicate matters, it was decided 
 to add a bar to the Central Africa medal bearing the 
 inscription, Central Africa 1894-98. When this was 
 worn the ring disappeared, and the usual pattern of 
 straight clasp was substituted. 
 
 Thus there are four main varieties of the medal 
 with Poynter's picture of a bush fight on the reverse : 
 
 (a) With a yellow ribbon and black stripes. 
 With no bar, or a bar for Coomassie. 
 
 This is the Ashantee medal for 1873-4. 
 
 (b) With a yellow ribbon and black stripes. 
 
 With a bar bearing a date, and perhaps a name 
 as well, or, if with no bar, the honour M'wele 
 inscribed on the rim. 
 
138 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 This is the East and West Africa medal for 1887- 
 1900. 
 
 (c) With a dove, white and black ribbon. 
 
 With a ring through which the ribbon passes. 
 This is the early type of the Central Africa medal. 
 
 (d) With a dove, white and black ribbon. 
 With a bar for Central Africa, 1894-98. 
 
 This is the latter type of the Central Africa medal. 
 
 It may perhaps be of interest to say that though a 
 soldier could not receive both (a) and (b), nor both (c) 
 and (d), he could qualify for either (a) and (6) as well 
 as either (c) and (d). 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 CAMPAIGN MEDALS 
 
 III. FROM MATABELELAND TO THE GREAT WAR 
 
 THE British South Africa Company's Medals. 
 Whilst exercising its trading rights, this com- 
 pany, founded by Cecil Rhodes, experienced 
 hostile treatment at the hands of Lobengula's Matabele 
 followers as well as the Mashona Kaffirs. The com- 
 pany possessed an establishment of military police, and 
 this force, with the aid of an expeditionary army, 
 engaged the natives between 1893 and 1897. 
 
 In 1897 the home authorities permitted the Com- 
 pany to issue a medal for Matabeleland and Rhodesia. 
 
 The obverse gives a profile of Queen Victoria with 
 the inscription Victoria Regina. This effigy closely 
 resembles that which had been adopted in the same 
 year for the Diamond Jubilee coinage of Great Britain, 
 though it was of slightly inferior conception. 
 
 The reverse bears a British lion wounded by an 
 assegai but still showing fight. Below it are the words, 
 British South Africa Company, and above either 
 Matabeleland 1893 or Rhodesia 1896. Later, in 1888, 
 a third medal with the inscription Mashonaland 1897 
 was distributed. 
 
 The ribbon is an orange-yellow, watered, with 
 three blue-black bands, none of which touch the edges. 
 
 139 
 
140 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The clasp is a curved scroll, composed of an array 
 of roses, thistles and shamrocks. 
 
 The bars available for wearing with the 
 
 (a) Matabeleland 1893 piece are Rhodesia 1896 and 
 Mashonaland 1897, 
 
 (b) Rhodesia 1896 piece is Mashonaland 1897. 
 
 (c) Mashonaland 1897 piece, none. 
 
 The medal always secures a good price when put 
 up for auction, probably because its distribution was 
 limited. Mr. W. A. Steward gives the following list of 
 the forces which received it : 
 
 Matabeleland 1893. One company of the 2nd West 
 Riding Regiment ; one officer and eighteen men of the 
 ist Batt. of the " Black Watch " ; three men of the 
 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment ; a detachment oi 
 the 3rd Dragoon Guards ; Cape Mounted Rifles and 
 British Bechuanaland Police. 
 
 Rhodesia 1896. The 7th Hussars ; details of the 
 2nd, 3rd and 4th Royal Rifles ; 2nd and 4th Rifle 
 Brigade ; ist Royal Irish ; ist Royal Dublin Fusiliers ; 
 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers ; ist Derbys ; ist Leicesters ; 
 2nd Norfolks ; 2nd Hampshires ; 2nd Royal West 
 Rents ; 2nd West Riding Regiment ; 2nd York and 
 Lancasters ; 24th, 25th and 26th Western Division 
 Royal Artillery ; Army Ordnance and Royal Army 
 Service Corps. 
 
 Mashonaland 1897. Detachments of the 7th 
 Hussars and 2nd Hampshires, besides the local 
 forces. 
 
 The Matabeleland medal with bar for Rhodesia is 
 worth about $ \ the Rhodesia medal with bar for 
 Mashonaland about 4 ; and the Mashonaland medal, 
 about . 
 
TRANSPORT MEDAL. 
 
 ASHANTI. 1901. 
 
 I 
 
 INDIA GENERAL SERVICE 
 1908-12. 
 
 1914-1915 STAR.* 
 
 " - ^B : ! : 
 
 BRITISH WAR MEDAL' 
 
 1914-8. 
 
 VICTORY MEDAL, 
 1914-8. 
 
 CHINA, 1900. 
 
 AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE. 
 
 NATAL, 1906. 
 
 KHEDIVE S SUDAN, 
 1910-7. 
 
 NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE, 
 1915. 
 
 MERCANTILE MARINE 
 MEDAL. 
 
 UNION OF S. AFRICA 
 COMMEMORATION MEDAL. 
 
 BOARD OF TRADE MEDAL. 
 
 EDWARD MEDAL. 
 
 RIBBONS OF RECENT CAMPAIGN MEDALS, ETC. 
 'The 1915 Star, as shown. The 1914 Star, with a silver rosette in centre. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 141 
 
 The Second India General Service Medal or the India 
 Medal, 1895. The first India General Service medal 
 had been in existence since 1854 and, as it had been 
 granted for a number of detached campaigns was 
 beginning to lose its identity. Some of the bars fixed 
 to it denoted fighting which had occasioned the greatest 
 hardships whilst others stood for engagements such as 
 a soldier considers " all in a day's work." This unequal 
 appreciation of the award did not tend to increase its 
 value in the estimation of the wearers, and rather than 
 allow it to reach a commonplace level the authorities 
 decided to change the design. 
 
 The second I.G.S.M. has an obverse showing a 
 profile of Queen Victoria, crowned and veiled as on the 
 Diamond Jubilee coinage, the work of T. Brock. 
 This is not, however, the same effigy as appeared on 
 the B.S.A. Company's award. 
 
 The reverse gives a picture by G. de Saulles of two 
 soldiers, one an Englishman, the other a Hindoo, both 
 grasping a standard, thus typifying their common 
 cause. To the left of the Englishman is the word 
 India ; to the right of the Hindoo, the date, 1895. 
 
 The clasp is of the usual scroll pattern. 
 
 The ribbon has three bars of purple red and two of 
 green, all equal in width. 
 
 The medal, when first struck, was provided with 
 two bars for the Defence of Chitral, 1895, and Relief of 
 Chitral, 1895. In 1898 further bars were added for 
 Malakand, 1897 ; Samana, 1897 ; Punjab Frontier, 
 1897-8 ; and Tirah, 1897-8. 
 
 A curious situation arose in 1901-2, after the 
 blockade of Waziristan had come to an end. A medal 
 was needed for the soldiers who had taken part in this 
 
142 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 engagement, but the only available piece was the 
 second I.G.S. medal which bore the date 1895, and 
 gave the profile of the Queen who had recently died. 
 To meet the position, a die with King Edward's profile 
 in field-marshal's dress was prepared, whilst the old 
 reverse was used after the date had been erased. 
 
 Thus a second edition of the 1895 India General 
 Service medal appeared, and though collectors will see 
 in it a piece distinct from the earlier striking, soldiers 
 who already possessed the first were not given the 
 second award but, instead, received a bar inscribed 
 Waziristan, 1901-2. 
 
 The original medal may be freely purchased for 
 seven shillings with one bar, or for half a guinea with 
 two ; but the later striking went mostly to a limited 
 number of native Indian soldiers, and is somewhat rare 
 in England. 
 
 The Ashanti Star of 1896. In 1895 an ultimatum 
 was sent to King Prempeh demanding the immediate 
 cessation of human sacrifices which provided spectacular 
 diversion for him and his court. With so inveterate a 
 monster, it is not surprising to hear that his reply was 
 tantamount to a refusal. Consequently, an ex- 
 peditionary force comprising a regular battalion of the 
 West Yorkshires and a composite draft from various 
 line regiments was sent out to enforce our demands. 
 The fighting which lay ahead of this little army was of 
 the harassing bush kind, but the hardships occasioned 
 by the climate proved far more fatal. Prince Henry of 
 Battenberg, a member of the force, it will be remem- 
 bered, died of fever, as did hundreds of more humble 
 heroes. 
 
 When the remnant of the expedition returned to 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 
 
 143 
 
 England, the authorities decided to strike a decoration 
 to mark the occasion. The usual circular silver piece 
 was departed from in this instance and its place taken 
 by a bronze four-pointed star to which was added a 
 St. Andrew's cross. The arrangement was such that 
 the limbs of the cross and the points of the star 
 radiated alternately from a circle containing an Imperial 
 
 Ashanti Star, 1 896. 
 
 Kimberley Star, 1899-1900. 
 
 crown and the inscription Ashanti, 1896. At the back 
 of the decoration appeared the words From the Queen. 
 
 The piece bore a circular suspension ring and through 
 it passed a yellow ribbon with two wide black stripes. 
 
 The Sudan Medal, 1896-8. The reconquest of the 
 Sudan with its victories of Abu Hamed and Omdurman, 
 as well as Ferkeh and Dongola, occasioned the striking 
 of a very beautiful medal in 1899. 
 
 The obverse gives a half-length profile of the Queen, 
 who is surrounded by the legend Victoria Regina el 
 Imperatrix. She wears a tiny crown, a sash and star 
 of some order, and holds a sceptre. It is probably the 
 
144 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 14 
 
 Fig. i. The Second India General Service Medal (or the India 
 Medal of 1895). Obverse. 
 
 Fig. 2. The Second India General Service Medal (or the India 
 Medal of 1895). Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 3. The Khedive's Sudan Medal, 1896-1905. Obverse. 
 
 Fig. 4. The Khedive's Sudan Medal, 1896-1905. Reverse. 
 
PLATE XIV 
 
 ^-'I : ;T:- v H^ w/ -i!% : * J '~' )~ ""'11: O" ll^W-iiTs^-v 
 
 f T i. _iX^ ~, JJwv. , -i o- .^, v - -< i-V'C.- . ""wC't, 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 145 
 
 finest rendering of the royal features since Wyon's 
 famous effigy was discarded. 
 
 The reverse is equally pleasing. A winged figure of 
 Victory, with arms outstretched, sits upon a tablet, 
 inscribed Sudan. She is about to decorate a British 
 flag with a spray of palm, and is honouring, at the same 
 time, an Egyptian flag with a wreath of laurel. 
 
 The clasp is of the straight pattern. 
 
 The ribbon is yellow and black with a narrow streak 
 of red running between. This arrangement of colouring 
 is supposed to represent the " thin red line " expelling 
 the black or evil Dervishes from the yellow, sandy 
 desert. 
 
 There are no bars. 
 
 The medal was struck in silver and bronze. 
 
 Ten shillings is a fair price for this award. 
 
 The Khedive's Sudan Medal, 189&-1905. Whilst 
 preparing medals for his own troops, the Khedive of 
 Egypt was permitted by Queen Victoria to grant 
 specimens to all who formed part of Lord Kitchener's 
 Sudan army of the years 1896-8. Silver pieces were 
 presented to those who took up arms, whilst bronze 
 pieces without bars were given to recognised camp 
 attendants. It seems more than probable that no 
 English received the latter. 
 
 The obverse of the reward reveals the Khedive's 
 monogram and other inscriptions, all in Arabic 
 characters. 
 
 The reverse gives a shield, from the rear of which 
 emerges a stand of military colours. The shield is 
 charged with a star and crescent, in triplicate. 
 
 The clasp is of the usual straight pattern. 
 
 The ribbon, which is slightly wider than usual, is 
 
 K 
 
146 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 yellow, blue and yellow, colours which stand for the 
 Blue Nile running through the desert. 
 
 The British Sudan medal lacked a certain amount 
 of interest by the absence of bars, but the Khedive's 
 companion piece did not suffer in this way, for many 
 such added honours are to be found. Indeed, certain 
 of these were added after Kitchener had returned to 
 England, and stand for dates as late as 1905. 
 
 The following bars were issued with this award. 
 In each case, the inscription is given in both English 
 and Arabic : 
 
 Firket. For those who fought beyond Akasha on 
 June 7, 1896. 
 
 Hafir. For those who fought in this district on 
 September 20, 1896. 
 
 Sudan, 1897. For those who fought around Kerma 
 during the year 1897. 
 
 Abu Hamed. For those who fought at Assouan and 
 Abu Hamed on August 7, 1897. 
 
 The Atbara. For those who fought at the battle 
 of this name on April 8 (Good Friday), 1898. 
 
 Khartoum. For those who fought at the battle of 
 this name on September 2, 1898. 
 
 Gedaref. For those who assisted in the taking of 
 Gedaref and the subsequent fighting in the district. 
 
 Sudan, 1899. For those who fought in the second 
 Dongola expedition. 
 
 Gedid. For those who took part in the defeat of 
 the Khalifa at Gedid on November 22 and 24, 1899. 
 
 Bahr-el-Ghazel, 1900-2. For those who took part 
 in the restoration of this area. 
 
 Jerok. For those who fought in the Blue Nile 
 province in 1904. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 147 
 
 Nyam-Nyam. For those who fought against the 
 tribe of this name during 1905. 
 
 Usually, this medal is not of great value, copies 
 with one bar being frequently sold for five shillings. 
 Nevertheless, 7 has been given at auction for the rare 
 combination of bars, Firket, Hafir and Gedaref. 
 English recipients seldom had more than two bars 
 awarded to them, though members of the Egyptian 
 forces frequently had as many as seven. 
 
 The Canada Medal of 1866-70 was struck thirty 
 years after it had been won, and when the majority 
 of those who had fought for it were either dead or lost 
 to the authorities. Consequently, comparatively few 
 pieces reached the men who had a right to them. It 
 is quite certain that this medal would have never been 
 issued had not a piece been struck for Kiel's Rebellion 
 of 1885. Between the appearance of the latter and 
 the year 1899, when the 1866-70 award came into 
 existence, there were constant references in the Colonial 
 press to the need for making the award, and it was due 
 to agitation, alone, that the men who thrashed Colonel 
 O'Neil and his band of Fenians were ever properly 
 acknowledged. 
 
 The obverse of the Canada medal of 1866-70 was 
 made from the dies used for the Egyptian award of 
 1882. 
 
 The reverse gives a flag of the colony surrounded 
 by a wreath of maple leaves. Above the flag is the 
 word Canada. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is scarlet, white and scarlet in stripes of 
 equal width. 
 
 The bars are a trifle large, squared at the corners* 
 
148 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 and without ornamentation. They are three in 
 number, being inscribed Fenian Raid 1866, Fenian 
 Raid 1870, and Red River 1870. 
 
 The medal is uncommon. With one of the Fenian 
 Raid bars, it may be secured for thirty shillings. The 
 Red River bar alone was only given to between three 
 and four hundred soldiers, and about half this number 
 received the Fenian Raid, 1866, and Red River, 1870, 
 honours. Less than fifty were given the two bars for 
 1870, and twenty, we think, was the total number 
 of three bar awards. The latter are, of course, 
 extremely valuable. 
 
 The East and Central Africa Medal of 1897-9. In 
 the previous chapter we described a number of medals 
 bearing a picture of bush fighting on the reverse. 
 In 1899 the authorities came to the conclusion that 
 this reverse was neither appropriate nor sufficiently 
 distinctive for the Central Africa medal, and, accord- 
 ingly, they set about preparing a new pattern which 
 should serve for engagements not only in Central but 
 East Africa as well. When completed, the new award 
 was given, almost entirely, to those who fought in 
 Uganda or against the Ogaden Somalis. 
 
 The obverse shows the same half-length profile of 
 the Queen as appeared on her Sudan medal ; in fact, 
 the one die, we believe, was used for the two purposes. 
 
 The reverse bears a very graceful rendering of 
 Britannia pointing, with a spray of palm, to the rising 
 sun. By her side is the lion of Britain. She stands 
 on the exergue, which is inscribed, East and Central 
 Africa. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The bars, which are large, square cornered, and 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 149 
 
 plain, bear the inscriptions Lubwa's, Uganda 1897-8, 
 1898 (for those who fought against the Ogaden 
 Somalis), and Uganda 1899. 
 
 The ribbon is half yellow and half red, vertically. 
 
 This piece is somewhat uncommon and, with one 
 bar, sells for at least twenty shillings. 
 
 The Royal Niger Company's Medal. The Niger 
 Company, probably fired by the example of the British 
 South Africa Company, sought permission in 1899 
 from Her Majesty to issue medals to those who fought 
 the Fulahs in the Hausa States. At the same time, 
 it was desired to reward all soldiers who had served 
 in minor engagements between 1886 and 1897. On 
 receiving the necessary consent, the company arranged 
 with Messrs. Spink and Son to strike an appropriate 
 decoration. 
 
 The obverse of this piece bears a crowned and 
 wreathed head of Queen Victoria, unlike any other 
 found on the series of campaign medals. The inscrip- 
 tion, Victoria Regina et Imperatrix, encircles the head. 
 
 The reverse gives a shield charged with a Y-shaped 
 device. The words Ars, Jus, Pax appear, one on 
 each of the arms of the Y- Emerging from behind and 
 above the shield are two flags of the company, and from 
 its sides jut out a number of rifles and swords. All 
 this is enclosed by a neat wreath. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is yellow, black and white, all of equal 
 width. 
 
 The piece was struck in silver for white men and 
 in bronze for natives. The former carries a bar 
 inscribed Nigeria 1886-1897, whilst the latter has a 
 bar inscribed Nigeria. 
 
150 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The silver medals are very rare ; indeed, we cannot 
 recall having seen any soldier wearing the ribbon. 
 Pieces seldom reach the auction rooms, and it is, there- 
 fore, impossible to suggest even an approximate value. 
 
 The Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal. 
 A rebellion which took place at Pokwani, a tiny 
 village in British Bechuanaland, in 1896, was promptly 
 quelled by a small force of Cape troops, officered in 
 part by members of the commissioned ranks of the 
 British Army. After leaving the matter in abeyance 
 for four years, the Cape Government sought permission 
 from Her Majesty to reward those who fought on this 
 occasion. At the same time, it was desired to honour 
 in a similar way the men who had taken part in various 
 operations in Basutoland and Transkei during the 
 years 1880-1. 
 
 The Queen granted the necessary permission in 
 1900, and the medal was struck forthwith. 
 
 The obverse shows a crowned and veiled head of 
 Her Majesty almost similar to the effigy given on the 
 South Africa medal, but, being executed on a slightly 
 larger scale, less of the shoulders appear. The usual 
 inscription, Victoria Regina et Impemtrix, encircles 
 this face of the piece. 
 
 The reverse reveals the arms of the colony, which 
 the official heraldic language describes thus 
 
 " For Arms Gules a lion rampant between three 
 Annulets Or, on a Chief Argent as many hurts each 
 charged with a Fleur-de-lis of the second, for the Crest- 
 On a Wreath of the Colours the Figure of Hope proper 
 vested Azure resting the dexter arm on a Rock and 
 supporting with the sinister hand an Anchor Sable 
 entwined with a Cable also proper, and for Supporters. 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 151 
 
 On the dexter side a Gnu and on the sinister side an 
 Oryx (gems buck) both proper, together with this 
 motto Spes Bona." 
 
 Around the arms is the inscription, Cape of Good 
 Hope. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is a purple-blue with a wide stripe of 
 orange running down the centre. 
 
 Three bars were issued, and every medal bears one 
 or more ; they are inscribed, Basutoland, Transkei, and 
 Bechuanaland. 
 
 Not many copies of the Cape medal are sold at 
 auction, but the following prices have been obtained : 
 
 With bar for Basutoland, 28$. 
 
 With bar for Bechuanaland, 335. 
 
 With two bars for Transkei and Basutoland, 525. 
 
 The British North Borneo Medals ol 1897-1916. 
 These pieces are seldom seen, but, none the less, are 
 worn by a few members of the British Army. The 
 first was awarded by the North Borneo Company to 
 those who took part in the Punitive Expedition of 
 1897-8, including actions at Inanam, Ranau, Ambong, 
 Labuk and Sugut. 
 
 The obverse gives the Company's arms. 
 
 The reverse shows a thick-set bush with a British 
 lion and the Union Jack. In the exergue is the 
 inscription Spink ( Son, London, who were the makers 
 of the piece. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern. 
 
 The bar, issued with each piece, is inscribed Punitive 
 Expedition. 
 
 The ribbon was, at first, watered orange-yellow, but 
 is now crimson, yellow, blue, yellow and crimson. 
 
152 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 15 
 A 
 
 Fig. i. The Queen's South Africa Medal, 1899-1902. Obverse. 
 Fig. 2. The King's South Africa Medal, 1901-1902. Obverse. 
 Fig. 3. The Reverse of both these medals. (The Bars are those 
 given with the King's award.) 
 
 B 
 
 Fig. i. The Ashanti Medal of 1901. Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 2. The China Medal of 1900. Obverse. 
 
 Fig. 3. The Africa General Service Medal. Reverse. 
 
PLATE XV 
 
CAMPAIGN MEDALS 153 
 
 The Metal. Pieces were struck in silver and bronze, 
 but the latter were replaced by silver awards in 1906. 
 
 A second medal, identical to the foregoing but with 
 a bar, Punitive Expeditions, was given to those present 
 at two or more of the engagements, mentioned above. 
 Curiously enough, the first and second piece could 
 be worn, suspended from a similar ribbon, by one 
 recipient. 
 
 A third medal, styled the Tembunan Medal, was 
 awarded to those who fought against Mat Saleh in 
 1899-1900. Silver and bronze pieces were issued with 
 the design as above, but with the date, 1900, on the 
 obverse. The ribbon is orange, light yellow, and green 
 in equal widths. There were no bars. 
 
 A fourth piece, the Rundum Medal, was issued in 
 1915-16 of the same design but with a bar inscribed, 
 Rundum. It was struck in silver only. The ribbon 
 is crimson, yellow, blue, yellow, and crimson. 
 
 The Queen's South Africa Medal, 1899-1902. This 
 medal, the ribbon of which is so frequently seen, may 
 be described as follows : 
 
 Obverse. A profile of Queen Victoria, heavily 
 veiled and wearing a small crown, also the star of the 
 Order of the Garter. The words Victoria Regina et 
 Imperatrix, in circular formation around the head. 
 
 Reverse. Britannia grasping a flag and presenting 
 a wreath to an army of soldiers and a fleet of battle- 
 ships. Above her are the words South Africa. The 
 artist was G. de Saulles. 
 Clasp. Straight. 
 
 Ribbon. A wide central stripe of orange-yellow 
 with narrow stripes of deep blue and red on either 
 side. 
 
154 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Bars. These are narrow and devoid of ornamenta- 
 tion. There are twenty-six varieties 
 
 (i) Cape Colony, (2) Natal, (3) Rhodesia, (4) Relief 
 of Mafeking, (5) Defence of Kimberley, (6) Talana, 
 (7) Elandslaagte, (8) Defence of Ladysmith, (9) Belmont, 
 (10) Modder River, (n) Tugela Heights, (12) Relief of 
 Kimberley, (13) Paardeberg, (14) Orange Free State, 
 (15) Relief of Ladysmith, (16) Driefontein, (17) Wepener, 
 (18) Defence of Mafeking, (19) Transvaal, (20) Johannes- 
 burg, (21) Laing's Nek, (22) Diamond Hill, (23) 
 bergen, (24) Belfast, (25) SowtfA Africa 1901, (26) 
 Africa 1902. 
 
 This medal was given to every member of the Navy 
 or Army, including doctors and women nurses, who 
 served in South Africa during the period October n, 
 1899, and May 31, 1902 ; also to members of the forces 
 who garrisoned the Mediterranean forts during the 
 period of hostilities. (In their case the word Mediter- 
 ranean appears on the reverse of the award instead of 
 the words South Africa.) It was given, in addition, 
 to the detachments which guarded the prisoners con- 
 fined at St. Helena, but such recipients received no bars. 
 
 Much care and thought was expended on the dis- 
 tribution of the bars in order that as few injustices 
 as possible might be committed. It was found, for 
 instance, that many men who had seen their full share 
 of the fighting had not taken part in any of the classic 
 engagements, and therefore, unless special bars were 
 struck for them they would receive no additional 
 laurels. Hence the reason for the bars with general 
 names, such as Cape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State, 
 and Transvaal. It should be noted that added 
 honours for both Cape Colony and Natal could not be 
 
155 
 
 held by the same person, and that these two South 
 Africa honours were only given to men not qualified 
 for the King's S.A. medal. Everybody, it should 
 perhaps be said, was given a bar if he fought, but, in 
 the case of the naval detachments which patrolled the 
 shore and the soldiers who remained at the base, no 
 bars were awarded. 
 
 This medal is seldom reproduced by the counter- 
 feiter, as it is not particularly rare. The bars, however, 
 are frequently imitated, and fairly valuable combina- 
 tions are simulated by an assembly of false bars with 
 real medals. It is some check on the wiles of the faker 
 to know what particular honours were given to each 
 regiment, and, at the risk of going into detail that may 
 appear tedious, we append a list of the bars awarded 
 to each British regiment : 
 
 Complete List of Bars Awarded for the South Africa 
 Campaign * 
 
 IST LIFE GUARDS. Seven bars: Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Orange 
 Cape Colony, Defence of Kimberley, Free State, Driefontein, Transvaal, 
 Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Bel- 
 Diamond Hill, and Wittebergen. fast. 
 
 2ND LIFE GUARDS. Seven bars: 7TH (P.R.) DRAGOON GUARDS. 
 
 Cape Colony, Defence of Kimberley, Six bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 
 Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, State, Transvaal, Johannesburg, Dia- 
 
 Diamond Hill, and Wittebergen. mond Hill, and Belfast. 
 
 ROYAL HORSE GUARDS. Six IST ROYAL DRAGOONS. Six bars : 
 bars : Cape Colony, Defence of Kimber- Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange 
 ley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannes- Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Trans- 
 burg, and Wittebergen. vaal, and Laing's Nek. 
 
 IST (KING'S) DRAGOON GUARDS. 2ND DRAGOONS (Royal Scots Greys). 
 
 Three bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free Nine bars : Cape Colony, Relief of 
 
 State, and Transvaal. Kimberley, Paardeberg, Orange Free 
 
 2x0 DRAGOON GUARDS. Three State, Driefontein, Transvaal, Johannes- 
 bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free State, burg, Diamond Hill, and Belfast, 
 and Transvaal. 3RD (K.O.) HUSSARS. Two bars : 
 
 3RD (P.of W.) DRAGOON GUARDS. Orange Free State and Transvaal. 
 
 Three bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free STH (ROYAL IRISH) LANCERS. 
 
 State, and Transvaal. Seven bars: Cape Colony, Natal, Elands- 
 
 STH (P.C.W.) DRAGOON GUARDS. laagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange 
 
 Five bars : Natal, Elandslaagte, Free State, Transvaal, and Belfast. 
 
 Defence ol Ladysmith, Orange Free 6TH (INNISK.) DRAGOONS. Six 
 
 State, and Transvaal. bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free State, 
 
 6TH DRAGOON GUARDS (Cara- Transvaal, Johaunesburg, Diamond Hill, 
 
 biniers). Nine bars: Cape Colony, and Belfast. 
 
 * Reprinted from The Regiment, March 3, 1917. 
 
156 
 
 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 7TH (Q.O.) HUSSARS. Three bars : 
 
 Colony, Ora 
 Transvaal. 
 
 Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and 
 
 STH (K.R1.L) HUSSARS. Six bars : 
 Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Trans- 
 vaal, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and 
 Beliast. 
 
 9TH (Q.R.) LANCERS. Ten bars: 
 Cape Colony, Natal, Belmont, Modder 
 River, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, 
 Orange Free State, Johannesburg, 
 Diamond Hill, and VVittebergen. 
 
 IOTH (P. of W.O. Rl.) HUSSARS. 
 Eight bars : Cape Colony, Relief of 
 Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, 
 Transvaal, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, 
 and Wittebergen. 
 
 I2TH (P. of W. Rl.) LANCERS. Nine 
 bars : Cape Colony, Relief of Kimberley, 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Driefon- 
 tein, Transvaal, Johannesburg, Diamond 
 Hill, and Wittebergen. 
 
 ISTH HUSSARS. Five bars : Tugela 
 Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of 
 Ladysmith, Transvaal, and Laing's Nek. 
 
 I4TH (K.) HUSSARS. Eight bars : 
 Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange 
 Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Trans- 
 vaal, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and 
 Belfast. 
 
 i6TH (THE QUEEN'S) LANCERS. 
 Seven bars : Cape Colony, Relief of 
 Kimberley, Paardeberg, Orange Free 
 State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and 
 Wittebergen. 
 
 Ca 
 
 nesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, and 
 
 Belfast. 
 
 i STH HUSSARS. Six bars: Talana, 
 Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, 
 Transvaal, Laing's Nek, and Belfast. 
 
 IQTH (A., P. of W.O.) HUSSARS. 
 Three bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, and Transvaal. 
 
 aoTH HUSSARS. Two bars : Orange 
 Free State, and Transvaal. 
 
 GRENADIER GUARDS. Ten bars : 
 Cape Colony, Belmont, Modder River, 
 Orange Free State, Driefontein, Trans- 
 vaal, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, 
 Wittebergen, and Belfast. 
 
 COLDSTREAM GUARDS. Nine 
 bars : Cape Colony, Belmont, Modder 
 River, Orange Free State, Driefontein, 
 Transvaal, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, 
 and Belfast. 
 
 SCOTS GUARDS Eleven bars : Cape 
 Colony, Belmont, Modder River, Paarde- 
 berg, Orange Free State, Driefontein, 
 Transvaal, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, 
 Wittebergen, and Belfast. 
 
 THE ROYAL SCOTS. Four bars: 
 Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Trans- 
 vaal, and Belfast. 
 
 THE QUEEN'S (Rl. W. Surrey Regt.). 
 Six bars : Cape Colony, Tugela 
 Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of 
 Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE BUFFS (E. Kent Regt.). Six 
 bars : Cape Colony, Relief of Kimberley, 
 
 I7TH (D.C.O.) LANCERS. Six bars : 
 pe Colony , Orange Free State, Johan- 
 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Drie- 
 fontein, and Transvaal. 
 
 THE KING'S OWN (Rl. Lane. Regt.). 
 Six bars : Cape Colony, Tugela 
 Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of 
 Ladysmith.Transvaal, Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE NORTHUMBERLAND FUSI- 
 LIERS. Five bars : Cape Colony, Bel- 
 mont, Modder River, Orange Free State, 
 and Transvaal. 
 
 THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE 
 REGT. Six bars : Cape Colony, Orange 
 Free State, Transvaal, Johannesburg, 
 Diamond Hill, and Belfast. 
 
 THE ROYAL FUSILIERS. Five 
 bars : Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, 
 Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, 
 and Transvaal. 
 
 THE KING'S (LIVERPOOL) REGT. 
 Six bars : Cape Colony, Defence of 
 Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Trans- 
 vaal, Laing's Nek, and Belfast. 
 
 THE NORFOLK REGT. Six bars : 
 Cape Colony, Relief of Kimberley, Paar- 
 deberg, Orange Free State, Transvaal, 
 and Johannesburg. 
 
 THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGT. 
 Five bars : Cape Colony, Paardeberg, 
 Orange Free State, Transvaal, and 
 Johannesburg. 
 
 THE DEVONSHIRE REGT. Nine 
 bars : Natal, Elandslaagte, Defence of 
 Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Orange Free 
 State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, 
 Laing's Nek, and Belfast. 
 
 THE SUFFOLK REGT. Three bars : 
 Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and 
 Transvaal. 
 
 SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY. 
 Five bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, 
 and Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF WALES' OWN 
 (W. Yorks. Regt.). Six bars : Cape 
 Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free 
 State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, 
 and Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGT. 
 Four bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE BEDFORDSHIRE REGT. 
 Four bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. 
 Six bars : Cape Colony, Talana, Defence 
 of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek, 
 and Belfast. 
 
 THE ROYAL IRISH REGT. Six 
 bars : Cape Colony, Relief of Kimberley, 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Witte- 
 bergen, and Belfast 
 
 ALEX. (P. of W.) OWN (Yorkshire 
 Regt.). Nine bars : Cape Colony, Relief 
 of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Orange Free 
 State, Driefontein, Transvaal, Johannes- 
 burg, Diamond Hill, and Belfast . 
 
 THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS. 
 Six bars : Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, 
 Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, 
 Transvaal, and Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS. 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 
 
 157 
 
 Five bars : Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, 
 Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysnu'th, 
 and Transvaal. 
 
 THE CHESHIRE REGT. Four bars : 
 Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Trans- 
 vaal, and Johannesburg. 
 
 THE ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS. 
 Five bars : Cape Colony, Tugela 
 Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of 
 Ladysmith, and Transvaal. 
 
 THE S. WALES BORDERERS. 
 Four bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, and Johannesburg. 
 
 THE K.O. SCOTTISH BOR- 
 DERERS. Five bars : Cape Colony, 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Trans- 
 vaal, and Johannesburg. 
 
 THE CAMERONIANS (Scottish 
 Rifles). Seven bars : Cape Colony, 
 Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, 
 Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's 
 Nek, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE ROYAL INNISKILLING 
 FUSILIERS. -Seven bars : Cape Colony, 
 Natal, Tugela Heights, Orange Free 
 State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, 
 and Belfast. 
 
 THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGT. 
 Eight bars : Cape Colony, Natal, 
 Defence of Ladysmith, Relief of Kim- 
 berley, Paardeberg, Orange Free State, 
 Driefontein, and Transvaal. 
 
 THE WORCESTERSHIRE REGT. 
 Four bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE EAST LANCASHIRE REGT. 
 Four bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, and Johannesburg. 
 
 THE EAST SURREY REGT. Six 
 bars : Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, 
 Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, 
 Transvaal, and Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE D. of C. LIGHT INFANTRY. 
 Six bars : Cape Colony, Paardeberg, 
 Orange Free State, Driefontein, Trans- 
 vaal, and Johannesburg. 
 
 W. RIDING REGT. Six bars : Cape 
 Colony, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, 
 Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, 
 and Transvaal. 
 
 THE BORDER REGT. Five bars: 
 Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange 
 Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, and 
 Transvaal. 
 
 THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGT. 
 Five bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and 
 Wittebergen. 
 
 THE HAMPSHIRE REGT. Five 
 bars : Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Orange 
 Free State, Transvaal, and Johannesburg. 
 THE SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE 
 REGT. Four bars : Cape Colony, 
 Orange Five State, Transvaal, and 
 Wittt-bergen. 
 
 THE DORSETSHIRE REGT. Six 
 bars : Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, 
 Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, 
 Transvaal, and Laing's Nek. 
 
 SOUTH LANCS. REGT. Six bars: 
 Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange 
 
 Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Trans- 
 vaal, and Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE WELSH REGT. Nine bars: 
 Cape Colony, Relief of Kimberley, 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Driefou- 
 tein, Transvaal, Johannesburg, Diamond 
 Hill, and Belfast. 
 
 THE BLACK WATCH (Royal High- 
 landers). Six bars : Cape Colony, 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Driefon- 
 tein, Transvaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE OXFORDSHIRE LIGHT IN- 
 FANTRY. Six bars: Cape Colony, 
 Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Orange 
 Free State, Driefontein, and Transvaal. 
 
 THE ESSEX REGT. Nine bars: 
 Cape Colony, Relief of Kimberley, 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Driefon- 
 tein, Transvaal, Johannesburg, Diamond 
 Hill, and Belfast. 
 
 THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS. 
 Five bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, Johannesburg, and 
 Diamond Hill. 
 
 THE LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRE 
 REGT. Six bars : Cape Colony, Defence 
 of Kimberley, Belmont, Modder River, 
 Oranga Free State, and Transvaal. 
 
 THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 
 
 REGT. Five bars : Cape Colony, Bel- 
 mont, Modder River, Orange Free State, 
 and Transvaal. 
 
 ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGT. 
 Three bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free 
 State, and Transvaal. 
 
 ROYAL W. KENT REGT. Four 
 bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free State, 
 Transvaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE KING'S OWN (Yorks Light 
 Infantry). Six bars : Cape Colony, 
 Belmont, Modder River, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE KING'S (Shropshire Light 
 Infantry). Six bars : Cape Colony, 
 Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Driefon- 
 tein, Transvaal, and Johannesburg. 
 
 MIDDLESEX REGT. Six bars : 
 Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange 
 Free State, Relief of Ladysmitb, Trans- 
 vaal, and Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE KING'S ROYAL RIFLE 
 CORPS. Nine bars : Cape Colony, 
 Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Tugela 
 Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of 
 Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek, and 
 Belfast. 
 
 WILTSHIRE REGT. Four bars : 
 Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Trans- 
 vaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 THE MANCHESTER REGT. Eight 
 bars : Cape Colony, Natal, Elandslaagte, 
 Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free 
 State, Transvaal, Wittebergen, and Bel- 
 fast. 
 
 NORTH STAFFS. REGT. Four 
 bars : Cape Colory, Orange Free State, 
 Transvaal, and Johannesburg. 
 
 THE YORK AND LANCASTER 
 REGT. Six bars : Cape Colony, Tugela 
 Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of 
 Ladysmith, Trausvaal, and Laiug's Nek. 
 
158 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY. Ladysmith, Tugela Heights, Orange 
 
 Six bars : Cape Colony, Tugela Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, and 
 
 Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Transvaal. 
 
 Ladysmith, Transvaal, and Laing's Nek. THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS. 
 
 THE HIGHLAND LIGHT IN- Six bars : Cape Colony, Natal, Tugela 
 
 FANTRY. Six bars : Cape Colony, Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of 
 
 Modder River, Paardeberg, Orange Free Ladysmith, and Transvaal. 
 
 State, Transvaal, and Wittebergen. ARC. AND SUTH. HIGHLANDERS. 
 
 SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (Ross- Six bars : Cape Colony, Modder River, 
 
 shire Buffs, The D. of A.). Six bars : Paardeberg, Orange Free State, Drieioii- 
 
 Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Orange Free lein, and Transvaal. 
 
 State, Driefontein, Trausvaal, and THE LEINSTER REGT. Four bars : 
 
 Wittebergen. Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Trans- 
 
 THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS. vaal, and Wittebergen. 
 
 Ten bars: Cape Colony, Elandslaagte, THE ROYAL MUNSTER FUSI- 
 
 Defence of Ladysmith, Paardeberg, LIERS. Five bars : Cape Colony, 
 
 Orange Free State, Driefontein, Trans- Belmont, Orange Free State, Transvaa'l, 
 
 vaal, Johannesburg, Laing's Nek, and and Wittebergen. 
 
 Belfast. THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS. 
 
 THE Q.O. CAMERON HIGH- Seven bars: Cape Colony, Talana, 
 
 LANDERS. Six bars : Cape Colony, Tueela Heights, Orange Free State, 
 
 Orange Free State, Transvaal, Johannes- Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, and 
 
 burg, Diamond Hill, and Wittebergen. Laing's Nek. 
 
 THE ROYAL IRISH RIFLES. THE RIFLE BRIGADE. Eight 
 Three bars : Cape Colony, Orange Free bars : Cape Colony, Defence of Lady- 
 State, and Transvaal. smith, Tugela Heights, Orange Free 
 
 ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS. Seven State, Relief of Ladysmith, Trausvaal, 
 
 bars : Cape Colony, Talana, Defence of Laing's Nek, and Belfast. 
 
 The Queen's South Africa medal may be bought for 
 five shillings, upwards. To-day, the prices are about 
 a third of those ruling ten years ago. 
 
 The King's South Africa Medal, 1901-2. As the 
 Boer War was in progress during the early months of 
 King Edward's reign it was only fitting that a medal 
 bearing His Majesty's profile should be struck for 
 presentation to the troops who fought until the close 
 of hostilities. 
 
 This medal, which appeared in the early part of 
 1903, reveals a very fine profile of the King in field- 
 marshal's dress, and the inscription Edwardus VII. 
 Rex Imperator. Much speculation existed prior to the 
 issue of this and the Ashanti, 1901, piece as to whether 
 the profile would face left or right. By analogy with 
 the custom of the coinage, many observers argued that 
 the head should turn to the right, that is, in the 
 contrary direction to that adopted by Queen Victoria. 
 Others pointed out that the Prince Regent looked to 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 159 
 
 the left on the Waterloo award, and as Victoria did the 
 same it was probable that Edward would be similarly 
 portrayed. But, as a matter of fact, no rule exists, 
 and though Queen Victoria preferred to adhere to a 
 left-hand profile in, we think, all her war medallic 
 portraits, King Edward has faced variously left and 
 right. In the case of the Boer War medal he faces left. 
 
 This award possesses a reverse similar in every 
 particular to that of the Queen's piece ; the clasp is 
 also the same, but the ribbon is green, white, and 
 orange-yellow, in equal widths. The green stands for 
 the Transvaal, the white for Britain, and the orange 
 for the Orange Free State. 
 
 The King's medal was only given to recipients of 
 the Queen's award who were serving on January i, 
 1902, and who completed eighteen months' fighting 
 before June i of the same year. 
 
 There were two bars, South Africa, 1901, and South 
 Africa, 1902. To fulfil the conditions set out in the 
 previous paragraph it would appear that every piece 
 should have been issued with both bars, yet we have 
 come across an occasional specimen, properly verified, 
 with the latter bar alone. 
 
 The King's medal is generally worth a trifle more 
 than the Queen's. Whenever possible, a pair belonging 
 to one recipient should be placed in the collection 
 rather than two odd specimens. 
 
 The Kimberley Star. This award was given by 
 the Mayor of Kimberley in 1900 to all who took part 
 in the defence of the town during the three months' 
 siege, terminating on February 15, of the above year. 
 Members of the British forces are not allowed to wear 
 the decoration in uniform. 
 
160 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The star is silver, six pointed, and bears, in the 
 centre, the arms of the town, and the inscription 
 Kimberley, 1899-1900. On the reverse, we read, 
 Mayor's Siege Medal, 1900. The ribbon is not so 
 broad as is customary ; there are three narrow stripes 
 of red, white and blue with a wide edging of black, on 
 the left, and of khaki, on the right. 
 
 The piece, formerly worth two or three pounds, may 
 now be bought for half a guinea. There are, however, 
 many forgeries in existence, and Mr. W. A. Steward 
 points out that " it should be particularly noticed that 
 only those bearing the hall-mark, including the date- 
 mark, are genuine." 
 
 The Ashanti Medal of 1901. For those who took 
 part in the repression of the rebellious tribes in Ashanti, 
 and who brought the siege of Kumassi to a successful 
 issue, a medal was granted in 1901. 
 
 The obverse gives a profile of King Edward wearing 
 the dress of a field-marshal. It should be mentioned 
 that this was the first award to bear the King's features ; 
 it is, however, described in this work after the King's 
 South Africa medal because the latter was planned 
 before the Ashanti medal and because it is desirable to 
 place together the Boer War awards of the Queen and 
 King. 
 
 The reverse presents a lion looking towards the rising 
 sun. It stands beside a shield and two assegais, one of 
 which is damaged. A scroll is inscribed, Ashanti. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is deep green with three bars of black. 
 
 The only bar is inscribed, Kumassi. 
 
 As the expedition was undertaken by natives, 
 directed in part by British officers, we find very few 
 
PLATE XVI. 
 
 MERITORIOUS SERVICE. 
 NAVY-ARMY-MARINES. 
 
 R.A.F. LONG SERVICE. 
 
 TERRITORIAL DECORATION. 
 
 IMPERIAL YEOMANRY 
 LONG SERVICE. 
 
 SPECIAL RESERVE 
 LONG SERVICE. 
 
 EDWARDIAN CORONATION 
 MEDAL. 
 
 STANHOPE GOLD MEDAL. 
 
 MERITORIOUS SERVICE 
 ROYAL AIR FORCE. 
 
 ARMY LONG SERVICE. 
 
 VOLUNTEER AND R.N.R. 
 OFFICERS' DECORATION. 
 
 TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY 
 MEDAL. 
 
 MILITIA LONG SERVICE. 
 
 JUBILEE AND DIAMOND 
 JUBILEE MEDALS. 
 
 GEORGIAN CORONATION 
 AND DURBAR MEDALS. 
 
 II 
 
 LLOYDS MEDAL FOR 
 SAVING LIFE AT SEA. 
 
 RIBBONS OF MERITORIOUS, LONG SERVICE AND OTHER MEDALS. 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 161 
 
 people in the home country wearing this ribbon. The 
 medal when awarded to Englishmen is, accordingly, 
 rather rare, but may be bought for a guinea if possessed 
 of no bars and inscribed with the name of a native 
 soldier. With the bar for Kumassi, the piece is worth 
 2. Some few years back a specimen awarded to an 
 English doctor was sold for 3 175. 6d. 
 
 The China Medal of 1900. Late in the year 1899, 
 a British missionary was murdered by Chinese fanatics 
 who belonged to a society known as the Boxers. These 
 people desired to rid their country of foreigners, 
 especially those whose work it was to teach Christianity, 
 and thus it happened that the British subject met his 
 death. The home Government protested to the 
 Chinese authorities, but it soon became clear that the 
 latter had not sufficient hold over the rebels, nor, 
 perhaps, the inclination to prevent further excesses. 
 As other powers had suffered at the hands of the Boxers, 
 it was decided to form a composite expeditionary force, 
 made of units from India, France, the United States, 
 Japan, Germany and Russia, to deal with the mur- 
 derers. When this became known within the celestial 
 empire, a wholesale massacre of the foreign element in 
 Pekin was attempted, but those who were attacked 
 sought refuge in the legations. The fighting then 
 resolved itself, largely, in and around these homes of 
 the foreign powers. 
 
 In 1902 a British medal was struck for presentation 
 to all who took part in the various engagements. It 
 must be mentioned that a few weeks before her last 
 illness Queen Victoria planned the details of the piece, 
 and these were adhered to by King Edward after his 
 mother's death. Thus the first and last medals to 
 
 L 
 
l62 
 
 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 bear Victoria's profile were both commemorative of 
 successes in China. 
 
 The obverse depicts the Queen as she appears on 
 the South Africa medal for 1899-1902. 
 
 The reverse gives the same group of arms and shield 
 as were used for the earlier China pieces, but the 
 exergue bears the date 1900. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is crimson with yellow edges. 
 
 The bars are narrow and squared at the corners. 
 They bear the inscriptions, Taku Forts, Defence of the 
 Legations, and Relief of Pekin. Many specimens were 
 given without bars. 
 
 As the three China medals are apt to prove con- 
 fusing, it may be well to give the following tabulation 
 of their differences : 
 
 1842. 
 
 Wyon's profile of 
 Victoria. 
 
 The date, 1842, in 
 
 the exergue. 
 The clasp is a slot 
 
 attachment. 
 There were no bars. 
 
 The edges of the 
 ribbon are of a 
 dull gold. 
 
 1857-60. 
 
 Wyon's profile of 
 Victoria. 
 
 No date in the exer 
 
 gue. 
 The clasp is curved. 
 
 The bars are " fish- 
 tailed." 
 
 The crimson is 
 slightly purplish. 
 (There is also an 
 alternative ribbon.) 
 
 1900. 
 
 The same profile as 
 on the S. Africa 
 piece of 1899-1902. 
 
 The date, 1900, in 
 the exergue. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The bars are square- 
 cornered. 
 
 The crimson is of a 
 brick shade. 
 
 A fair price for the third China medal is ten shillings 
 if awarded to one of the Welsh Fusiliers, and from five 
 shillings to seven-and-six when impressed with the 
 name of an Indian soldier. One bar will add a few 
 shillings to the above amounts. Naval medals with 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 163 
 
 no additional honours are numerous and common, but 
 when displaying bars are much sought after. One 
 medal given to a lance-corporal in the Royal Marines, 
 with a bar for the Legations, has sold for 9 los. 
 
 The Africa General Service Medals. The reader 
 will have noticed that in the middle of the nineteenth 
 century there were so many encounters in India that 
 the authorities were compelled to institute an India 
 General Service medal. Towards the end of the 
 nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century, 
 the same position was being enacted in Africa. Award 
 after award followed in rapid sequence, and the 
 authorities rightly determined, in 1902, to issue an 
 Africa General Service medal. 
 
 The obverse of the new G.S. piece gives the profile 
 of King Edward, which we have already described. 
 It is not altogether appropriate, as His Majesty is 
 dressed as a soldier, and most of the awards have gone 
 to the Navy. 
 
 The reverse is the same as that mentioned for the 
 East and Central Africa decoration of 1897-9, Britannia 
 appearing with a lion, but the exergue is filled with the 
 single word, Africa. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is yellow, with wide black edges and two 
 pin stripes of green running through the yellow. 
 
 It was struck in silver for general distribution and 
 bronze for camp attendants. 
 
 Many bars have been issued; in fact, the piece is 
 never awarded without one or more additional honours. 
 The following complete the list : 
 
 N. Nigeria (with no date but for operations in 
 1900-1), N. Nigeria 1903, N. Nigeria 1903-4, N. 
 
164 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Nigeria 1904, N. Nigeria 1906. All these bars were 
 duplicated for 5. Nigeria. East Africa 1902, East 
 Africa 1904, East Africa 1905, East Africa 1906, West 
 Africa 1906, West Africa 1908, Somaliland 1901, 
 Somaliland 1902-4, Somaliland 1908-10, Jubaland, 
 Uganda 1900, 5.C.A 1899-1900, Gambia, Aro 1901- 
 1902, Lango 1901, Jidballi, Kissi 1905, Nandi 1905-6. 
 
 The A.G.S. award was re-issued in 1916 with the 
 profile of King George, and has, so far, been granted 
 with bars for Shimber Berris 1914-15, Nyasaland 1915, 
 East Africa 1913-14, East Africa 1913, East Africa 1914, 
 East Africa 1915, and Jubaland 1917-18. 
 
 The 1902 award is worth at least a guinea. 
 
 The Tibet Medal. A mission sent by the Indian 
 Government to the seat of authority in Tibet in 1903 
 was suddenly surrounded and fired on. The officers 
 and men acted with splendid courage and, though 
 taken by surprise, beat off the aggressors. Further 
 disturbances occurred as a result of this incident, and 
 many members of the Royal Fusiliers, the Norfolk 
 Regiment, and certain Indian contingents were called 
 upon to restore order. 
 
 Later, a medal was prepared for distribution to all 
 who fought between December 13, 1903, and September 
 23, 1904. 
 
 The obverse portrays King Edward as before. 
 
 The reverse depicts the mountain at Potala a Lhassa 
 with a fortress at the summit. Around the lower part 
 of this face of the medal we read, Tibet, 1903-4. 
 
 The clasp shows a revival of the old curved scroll 
 pattern. 
 
 The ribbon is purplish-plum with edges of white 
 and green. 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 165 
 
 One bar was awarded for Gyantse, where much 
 sporadic fighting took place between May 3 and June 6, 
 1904. 
 
 This item is somewhat uncommon, and, as few 
 specimens have come upon the market, it is a little 
 difficult to suggest even an approximate value. We 
 remember, however, seeing a copy with the bar offered 
 by Messrs. Spink and Son at i 75. 6d. 
 
 The Natal Medal. The Zulu troubles of 1906 led 
 the Natal Government to issue a medal in 1908. The 
 piece was prepared by the Goldsmiths' and Silver- 
 smiths' Company. 
 
 The obverse shows a truncated bust of King Edward, 
 facing right. His Majesty has a care-worn expression 
 which is not pleasing. The inscription is Edwardus VII. 
 Rex Imperator. 
 
 The reverse presents a particularly fine group of 
 figures. Britannia comforts a woman, who stands for 
 Natal. The latter holds a sword. Behind them are 
 flags, implements of war, and a group of native people. 
 The exergue is inscribed, Natal. A rather wide rim 
 all round this side of the medal proves an effective 
 finish to the workmanship. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is a pinkish-red with wide black edges. 
 
 One bar is presented with the piece ; it bears the 
 date, 1906, in bold figures. 
 
 We have seen a fair number of Natal medals offered 
 for sale. The price averages about i. 
 
 The Third India General Service Medal. The 
 second I.G.S. medal had a somewhat checkered career, 
 for within a few years of its issue Queen Victoria died, 
 and the effigy of King Edward was required to replace 
 
166 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 that of the Queen. Moreover, when first awarded, a 
 date appeared on the reverse which limited the use of 
 the piece for future occasions. These particulars were 
 easily rectified had the authorities been so minded, 
 but it was rightly considered more suitable to issue 
 an altogether fresh award, which was styled the I.G.S. 
 medal of 1908. 
 
 The obverse gives an effigy of King Edward, 
 surrounded by the legend Edwardus VII. Kaisar-i- 
 Hind. 
 
 The reverse shows a scene depicting mountains in 
 which a fort nestles. A tablet forming the exergue is 
 inscribed, India. 
 
 The clasp is of the old curved scroll pattern. 
 
 The ribbon is a deep blue with wide edges of 
 green. 
 
 The one bar stands for North West Frontier, 1908, 
 written in two lines. 
 
 This medal has been re-issued with bars for Abor, 
 1911-12, and Afghan Campaign, 1919. The obverse 
 appeared with the profile of King George V., whilst the 
 reverse bore the same mountain view, but was redrawn 
 in a somewhat diffused manner. The 1911-19 piece 
 was not given to possessors of the 1908 striking. 
 
 With a bar for North- West Frontier, the piece sells 
 for half a guinea, but, with Abor, the few specimens 
 that are to be found fetch three to four guineas. 
 
 The Khedive's Sudan Medal of 1910. In 1911 a 
 British Army Order approved of the grant of a medal 
 by the Khedive to the forces, many of which were 
 natives, who suppressed various local risings in the 
 Sudan in 1911-12. Those who fought in the Atwot 
 district between February and April, 1910, as well as 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 167 
 
 those serving in South Kordofan in November and 
 December, 1910, received the award. 
 
 The obverse of the medal gives the Khedive's 
 cypher and other particulars in Arabic characters. 
 
 The reverse reveals a lion ready to spring. Behind 
 it is the desert dotted with palm trees, and away on the 
 horizon the sun rises. The animal stands on a pedestal 
 bearing the word Sudan, and below this are native 
 weapons. Richard Garbe is responsible for this 
 spirited tableau. 
 
 The clasp is straight. 
 
 The ribbon is black with red and green edges. 
 
 The bars are narrower than those given with 
 earlier pieces presented by the Khedive. The inscrip- 
 tions, as before, are printed in both English and 
 Arabic characters. They are now eight in number : 
 Atwot, S. Kordofan 1901, Sudan 1912, Darfur 1916, 
 Fasher, Zeraf 1913-14, Mongolia 1915-16, and Lau-Nuer. 
 
 This piece is not uncommon. 
 
 The Naval General Service Medal of 1915. In 1915 
 a note in the London Gazette announced that " The 
 King has been pleased to sanction the establishment 
 of a naval medal to be known as the Naval General 
 Service Medal, to be awarded for service in minor 
 warlike operations, whether in the nature of belligerency 
 or police, which may be considered of sufficient import- 
 ance to justify the award of a medal in cases where no 
 other medal would be appropriate. 
 
 " The medal will have a distinctive riband, white 
 with crimson borders and two crimson stripes, and a 
 clasp * with appropriate wording. 
 
 * The word clasp, throughout this work, is used to denote the 
 metal suspender which joins the piece, proper, to the ribbon. The 
 
168 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 17 
 A 
 
 Figs, i and 2. Obverse and Reverse of the Natal Medal of 
 1908. 
 
 Fig. 3. The Khedive's Sudan Medal of 1910. Reverse. 
 Fig. 4. The 1914 Star. 
 
 In the present illustration, both faces of a typical British 
 Campaign Medal serve to illustrate details of Nomenclature. 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 169 
 
 " His Majesty has further been pleased to approve 
 the award of the N.G.S. medal with clasp * inscribed 
 Persian Gulf 1909-1914, to the officers and men of 
 His Majesty's ships who were employed in the opera- 
 tions for the suppression of the arms traffic in the 
 Arabian Sea or Persian Gulf N. of latitude 22 degrees N. 
 and W. of longitude 64 degrees E. between October 19, 
 1909, and August i, 1914." 
 
 We may add that the obverse bears a profile of 
 King George in admiral's uniform, whilst the reverse 
 shows Britannia, driving through the waves, in com- 
 pany with a pair of spirited sea-horses. 
 
 The 1914 Star. An Army Order of 1917 announced 
 that the King had been pleased to signify his pleasure 
 to recognise by the grant of a distinctive decoration, 
 the services rendered by the military forces under the 
 command of Field-Marshal Lord French, in France and 
 Belgium during the earlier phase of the war in 1914, 
 up to midnight November 22-23, 1914. 
 
 Those eligible for the star are set out as " all officers, 
 warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, all men of 
 the British and Indian Forces, including civilian medical 
 practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others em- 
 ployed with military hospitals, who actually served in 
 France or Belgium on the establishment of a unit of 
 the British Expeditionary Forces, between August 5, 
 1914, and midnight of November 22-23, 1914." 
 
 Later it was decided to extend the grant of the Star 
 to the naval forces, viz : " all officers and men of the 
 Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve and 
 
 word is often used, incorrectly, we think, for a bar ; it is employed 
 in this sense in the above quotation. 
 * See above"note. 
 
170 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who actually served 
 in France or Belgium on the establishment of a unit 
 landed for service on shore " between the afore-men- 
 tioned dates. 
 
 The decoration is made of lacquered bronze, and 
 consists of a four-pointed star, the apex of which is 
 hidden by an imperial crown. A pair of crossed swords 
 lie on the star so that the extremities jut out between 
 the angles caused by the limbs. A wreath bearing the 
 monogram, G.V., encircles the centre of the piece, and 
 encloses a scroll inscribed, Aug.-Nov. 1914. The 
 ribbon is red, white and blue, shaded and watered. 
 
 The piece is not of a high-class production ; the 
 metal is soft, the lacquer easily wears away, the edges 
 are often filed so as to leave an unpleasant roughness, 
 and the recipient's name is stamped on the back in an 
 inferior fashion. 
 
 The 1914-15 Star. After the regulations affecting 
 the above decoration had been framed, it was deter- 
 mined to award a similar star, suitably dated, to all 
 who performed service after November, 1914, and before 
 January i, 1916. 
 
 To distinguish the first star from the second, the 
 earlier one is provided with a dated bar, cast in bronze, 
 or, when the ribbon alone is worn, a small silver rosette 
 is fixed to the centre of the ribbon. The bar is a thin 
 plate with a hole pierced at each corner : thus it is 
 intended to be sewn to the ribbon. 
 
 The stars have been issued in batches at short 
 intervals, notice being given in the newspapers as each 
 regiment's supply was ready. Here is a specimen 
 notice 
 
 1914 STAR. 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 171 
 
 The " 1914 Star " for Officers and other ranks of 
 the under-mentioned Regiments is now ready for issue. 
 Applications in the case of Officers should be addressed 
 to the Secretary, War Office (A.G. 10), 27, Pilgrim-st., 
 E.G. 4. Other ranks should apply as follows : 
 
 For : Northumberland Fusiliers. 
 
 East Yorkshire Regiment. 
 
 Yorkshire Regiment. 
 
 Durham Light Infantry. 
 To : The Officer in Charge of No. i, Infantry 
 
 Record Office, York. 
 For : West Yorkshire Regiment. 
 
 West Riding Regiment. 
 
 Yorkshire Light Infantry. 
 
 York and Lancaster Regiment. 
 To : The Officer in Charge of No. 2, Infantry Record 
 Office, York. 
 
 It should perhaps be stated that in the case of 
 deceased officers who are eligible, their legatees or 
 next-of-kin may obtain the decoration by applying 
 to the Secretary, War Office (A.G. 10), at 27, Pilgrim-st., 
 E.C-4, or to the Admiralty. Relatives of other 
 ranks in the Army should apply to the officer in charge 
 of the records of the particular unit. 
 
 The British War Medal, 1914 18. This award hangs 
 from the now familiar ribbon of watered orange 
 with edges of royal blue, black and white. The piece 
 is the work of Mr. William McMillan, who is a native 
 of Aberdeen. Mr. McMillan studied in London and in 
 Italy. When the war broke out he joined the Oxford 
 and Bucks Light Infantry, and served in the Ypres 
 salient in 1915. Later, he was discharged with shell 
 
172 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 shock. He has gained a considerable reputation in 
 Canada and elsewhere. 
 
 Mr. McMillan's design was chosen from amongst 
 fifty-one drawings submitted by prominent artists. 
 The selection was made by a committee consisting of 
 eminent representatives of the Royal Academy, the 
 Royal Society of British Sculptors, the British Museum, 
 the National Gallery, and the Royal Mint. To 
 Mr. McMillan this committee awarded the first prize 
 of 500, whilst prizes of 150 and 75 went to Mr. 
 Charles Wheeler and Mr. C. L. G. Dorman. 
 
 The medal is struck in silver, and has a straight 
 clasp but no swivel. 
 
 The obverse gives an effigy of His Majesty, as 
 appears on the coinage, i.e. a truncated bust, facing left. 
 Surrounding the head is the inscription Georgius V. 
 Britt : Omn : Rex et Ind : Imp i 
 
 The reverse, which is the work of Mr. McMillan, 
 shows St. George of England trampling underfoot the 
 eagle shield of the Central Powers and the emblems of 
 death. Above St. George is the risen sun of Victory 
 and the date 1914-1918. Among the illustrations, we 
 show the actual design submitted for competition 
 and the design as it was amended for technical pur- 
 poses. 
 
 Briefly, it may be stated that the British War Medal 
 is to be given to all members of the Navy who com- 
 pleted at least twenty-eight days of mobilised service, 
 and, in the case of the Army and the Air Force to those 
 who entered a theatre of war on duty or who left their 
 place of residence and rendered approved service 
 overseas. The nursing services and the various women's 
 organisations participate on equal terms with those of 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 173 
 
 the men's services. (Further details of the medal are 
 given below on pages 173-180.) 
 
 The Mercantile Marine War Medal. This medal is 
 available for members of the British, Dominion, 
 Colonial and Indian Mercantile Marine who served at 
 sea on at least one voyage through a danger zone. 
 
 The obverse of the piece gives a truncated bust ot 
 His Majesty, and the inscription as set out for the British 
 War Medal. 
 
 The reverse gives a rendering of a merchant vessel, 
 tossed by a stormy sea, 
 with a sailing ship in the 
 offing. A partly sub- 
 merged submarine is seen 
 to the right. In the ex- 
 ergue is the inscription, 
 For War Service, Mercan- 
 tile Marine 1914, 1918. 
 A circular laurel frame 
 serves as edge to this face. 
 
 The ribbon is highly 
 appropriate, being red and 
 green with a narrow cen- 
 tral stripe of white. These colours are symbolic of 
 the port, starboard, and head lights of all vessels. 
 
 The medal is bronze. 
 
 The Victory Medal. This bronze award is the work 
 of Mr. McMillan, the designer of the British War Medal. 
 Further particulars are given below 
 
 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE WHICH SAT WITH SIR 
 FREDERICK PONSONBY, AS CHAIRMAN, TO CONSIDER 
 THE QUESTION OF WAR MEDALS, IN 1919 : 
 The question of War Medals was first discussed in 1916 in con 
 
 nection with the interchange of bravery medals with the Allies- 
 
 \R SERVICE 
 MERCANTILE MARINE 
 
 Mercantile Marine Medal. 
 1914-1918. 
 
174 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 At that time it was assumed that at the conclusion of hostilities the 
 European custom of an interchange of War Medals would be carried 
 out. In wars in which European countries had been allied together 
 it had been the practice for the Allies to exchange a certain number 
 of War Medals, e.g. the Crimean War and the Boxer rebellion. 
 This was a comparatively easy matter when the forces engaged 
 were not numerous, but in the present war, where armies are com- 
 posed of millions, it would be practically impossible to distribute 
 with any fairness a certain number of War Medals from each Ally. 
 It would, moreover, be extremely unfair on the troops who had 
 fought in theatres of war outside Europe, since they would probably 
 be excluded from this distribution. 
 
 In order to devise an emblem of the victorious alliance which 
 could be worn by the soldiers and sailors of the Allied countries, it 
 was proposed to institute an Allies' Medal. The conditions of service 
 vary, however, in each country, and it was therefore suggested that 
 each Allied Government should have a perfectly free hand to decide 
 the lines on which it should be distributed, but a hope was expressed 
 that it should, as far as possible, be associated with actual fighting. 
 
 At a meeting of representatives of all the Associated Powers 
 held in Paris in March, 1919, it was decided to put forward the 
 following recommendations : 
 
 1. A medal of the Great War will be instituted and called the 
 Victory Medal. 
 
 2. This medal will be distributed on principles to be decided 
 by each Government, but in such a manner that it cannot be con- 
 fused with a purely commemorative medal, which might be given 
 to all mobilised men. 
 
 3. The ribbon shall be identical for all the countries, and will 
 consist of two rainbows joined by the red in the centre. It shall be 
 distributed as soon as possible. 
 
 4. The medal will be round (36 millimetres in width) and made 
 of bronze. 
 
 5. As it was thought impossible to have an international com- 
 petition in the time available, and by this means to select a single 
 artist, it is proposed that, instead of an identical medal, the Allied 
 and Associated Powers shall agree to have medals as nearly identical 
 in appearance as possible. 
 
 The Great War for Civilisation 
 
 With this object in view, they will have the medal designed by 
 their own artist upon the following lines : 
 
 (a) On the obverse there will be a winged figure of Victory, full 
 length in the middle of the medal, and full face ; the borders and 
 the background plain, without either inscription or date. 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 175 
 
 (fc) On the reverse there will be an inscription, " The Great War 
 for Civilisation," translated into the different languages, and either 
 the names of the different Allied and Associated Powers or their 
 coats-of-arms. 
 
 (c) The rim will be plain. 
 
 After the Allied Governments had agreed to the proposal, the 
 question was discussed how this medal should be distributed to 
 the troops throughout the British Empire, and the obvious scheme 
 of restricting it to troops who had been engaged in actual fighting 
 at once presented itself. But on referring the matter to experts at 
 the War Office who had been engaged in former distributions of 
 War Medals, it was found that, owing to the great depth of fire 
 zone under modern conditions, the expressions " under fire " and 
 " in the presence of the enemy " were very difficult to define with 
 any degree of accuracy, and therefore that even if any precise 
 definitions could be made, it would take many years to examine 
 and adjudicate the claims of so many million men. Even then this 
 distribution would be unsatisfactory. It was therefore decided 
 that all that was possible was to give a distinctive reward to those 
 who had entered a theatre of war. As regards the Army, it was 
 therefore proposed to restrict the Allies' medal to those officers and 
 men who had entered a theatre of war on the strength of any 
 military unit. 
 
 The Navy Medal 
 
 The problem as regards the Navy was somewhat different. 
 Although there would not be the same difficulty as would be experi- 
 enced when dealing with the Army in distinguishing between those 
 who had been engaged in fighting and those who had not, yet it 
 was considered that the definition " all officers and men who had 
 been afloat on duty " would be analogous to the definition applied 
 to military personnel, viz. " all officers and men who had entered 
 a theatre of war on duty and on the strength of any unit " it was 
 therefore decided to adopt the former condition of award for naval 
 personnel. 
 
 Air Force Qualifications 
 
 If this analogy was carried on to the Air Force, it would neces- 
 sarily follow that all those who had been up in the air would be 
 eligible for the Allies' medal, but after consideration in was found 
 that the qualifications in the Army and Navy could in no way be 
 applied to the Air Force, and that distinct conditions of service 
 would have to be drawn up. The Air Council therefore proposed 
 the following : 
 
 i. All the officers and men who had been posted to a unit in 
 any theatre of the war outside Great Britain. 
 
176 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 18 
 
 Fig. i. The British War Medal, 1914-1918. Obverse. 
 Fig. 2. The British War Medal, 1914-1918. Reverse. 
 Fig. 3. The Artist's Original Design from which the Reverse 
 was adapted. 
 
 Fig. 4. The Victory Medal. 
 
PLATE XVIII 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 177 
 
 2. All officers and men of operational units in Great Britain 
 who have been actively engaged in the air against the enemy. 
 
 3. All officers and men employed on flying new aircraft to France. 
 
 4. All officers and men who have formed part of the complement 
 of aircraft carrying ships. 
 
 The Operational Units include those employed on the following 
 duties : 
 
 (a) Airships employed on Fleet reconnaissance, convoy work, 
 and anti-submarine patrols. 
 
 (b) Aeroplanes and seaplanes employed on coast reconnaissance 
 and anti-submarine patrols. 
 
 (c) Aeroplanes and seaplanes employed to protect Great Britain 
 from hostile air raids. 
 
 The Victory Medal obviates the interchange of medals between 
 the Associated Powers, and therefore no one will be permitted to 
 accept a foreign war medal of any description. 
 
 THE BRITISH WAR MEDAL 
 
 The British war medal will be given to all officers and men who 
 have left their native shores in any part of the British Empire, 
 whether they eventually entered a theatre of war or not. Men 
 who left the United Kingdom to garrison any part of the British 
 Empire, and equally men from the Dominions who came to this 
 country but did not later go to France, will therefore be entitled 
 to this medal. 
 
 DIFFERENT THEATRES OF WAR 
 
 A general desire was expressed to have a separate medal for 
 each theatre of war, but on inquiry it was found that there were 
 several hundred thousand men who had served in more than one 
 theatre of war. As many as 150,000 had even served in four. As 
 it would obviously be unjust to give these men four medals, while 
 the greater portion of the Army serving in France would only 
 receive one, it was decided to abandon the idea of separate medals 
 for each theatre of war. 
 
 BATTLE CLASPS 
 
 It was first considered that owing to the kaleidoscopic nature 
 of the war, and the protracted periods and extensive areas covered 
 by the battles, it would be impossible to award " battle " clasps. 
 It was thought that the examination of different claims would be 
 such a vast undertaking that the issue of clasps would not be possible 
 for many years. It was therefore decided to award " date " clasps 
 only. 
 
 A very strong desire was, however, expressed that " battle " 
 
 M 
 
178 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 clasps should be awarded. It was represented that there was not 
 the same urgency with regard to the issue of clasps as there was 
 with regard to the issue of medals, and that the British soldier 
 would prefer " battle " clasps, even though their issue would be 
 protracted, than none at all. The matter was therefore re-con- 
 sidered, and a special committee, composed of representatives of all 
 three services the Navy, the Army, and Air Force, and of each of 
 the Dominions has been appointed to report on whether battle 
 clasps are possible, and if so to decide what " battle " clasps should 
 be awarded. 
 
 No WAR WORKERS' MEDAL 
 
 In the spring of 1915 Lord Kitchener made the following an- 
 nouncement in the House of Lords : " I am glad to be able to state 
 that His Majesty has approved that where service in this great work 
 of supplying munitions of war has been thoroughly, loyally and 
 continuously rendered, the award of the medal will be granted on 
 the successful termination of the war." 
 
 The question has now arisen how Lord Kitchener's pledge can 
 be put into practice. The matter has been carefully considered 
 irom this point of view by various committees appointed for the 
 purpose. 
 
 The three main practical points which had to be considered were 
 
 (a) To what classes of war workers, in practice, the medal could 
 be awarded. 
 
 (b) Whether existing machinery is available for the distribution 
 of the medal. 
 
 (c) Whether there is a desire on the part of the workers generally 
 that this medal should be given. 
 
 Taking the second point first, there is no administrative machinery 
 in existence which could give effect to the distribution of the medal, 
 and the records of the late Ministry of National Service would not 
 be of much use in this connection. Machinery would have to be 
 set up for the purpose. 
 
 As regards the first point, there is the preliminary difficulty 
 of defining " munitions of war." No justification can be sustained 
 for distinguishing between the various kinds of munitions such as 
 guns, small arms, ammunition, and explosives, which, no doubt, 
 were in Lord Kitchener's mind when he made his pledge, and those 
 which have been developed since then, such as tanks, aeroplanes, 
 poison gas ; as well as equally essential articles, such as mechanical 
 transport, railway materials, optical stores, machine tools, gauges, 
 etc. Further, the claims of those engaged in the shipbuilding 
 industry and the production of raw materials cannot well be ignored ; 
 while workers in many firms have often been concurrently engaged 
 
THE CAMPAIGN MEDALS 179 
 
 on munitions of war and essential civil work in such a way as to 
 make it impossible to distinguish between the workers engaged in 
 each of these classes of work. There has also been a considerable 
 flow of workers into and out of all factories. 
 
 6,000,000 People Affected 
 
 If Lord Kitchener's pledge were to be read as applying to " war 
 work " generally, it is probable that some 6,000,000 people would be 
 affected. Even then it would not be easy to refuse a demand for 
 the inclusion of workers engaged on " other Government work," 
 much of which may be deemed to have been just as essential to the 
 progress of the war as munitions, as well as of those engaged indirectly 
 on war work and of those who have had to perform essential civil 
 work under more difficult conditions. 
 
 It was, however, felt that, notwithstanding these difficulties, 
 every effort must be made to find a way of honouring Lord Kitchener's 
 pledge. It was thought that this might be done by narrowing it 
 down to a class of war workers which had specially distinguished 
 itself by 3oing unaccustomed war work under circumstances of 
 special danger to life and health. These conditions, emphatically 
 existed in the case of women employed on dangerous occupations in 
 tilling, explosives, and chemical factories. 
 
 Before, however, making any recommendation to this effect 
 it was thought to be very desirable that representatives of the 
 employers and trade unions should be consulted. The Trade 
 Unions Advisory Committee were consulted, with the result that 
 the representatives expressed themselves as being strongly against 
 any award of a medal either to all workers or to any particular 
 class of workers. In these circumstances the project of giving a 
 general War Workers' Medal has been reluctantly dropped. 
 
 It was originally intended that the Medal of the Order of the 
 British Empire should be utilised for recognising good work generally 
 in the case of war workeis. Owing, however, to the very strongly 
 expressed opinions of the workers themselves, this idea was aban- 
 doned and the grant of the medal has been confined to war workers 
 who have, in the course of their service, shown special bravery or 
 self-sacrifice, or who have performed some specially distinguished 
 service. Including the January, 1919, Gazette nearly 1000 British 
 Empire Medals have, so far, been awarded under these conditions. 
 The medal is greatly prized by its recipients and its reputation stands 
 very high with the public and the workers. 
 
 MEDALS FOR WOMEN 
 
 Women borne on the strength of an organised force will, if they 
 have entered a theatre of war on duty, be entitled to both the 
 
180 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 British and Allies' Medal, but women belonging to any independent 
 organisation recognised by the Admiralty, War Office, or Air Ministry 
 in any theatre of war will receive the British Medal only. 
 
 Precedence of Medals 
 
 It has been decided that these Medals and Stars shall rank in 
 the following order : The 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star, the British 
 War Medal, the Mercantile Marine War Medal, the Victory Medal. 
 
 The King has approved of an oak leaf, in bronze, 
 being worn on the ribbon of the Victory Medal by all 
 who have been mentioned in despatches during the late 
 war. No more than one leaf, however, may be fixed 
 to the ribbon even though the wearer may have been 
 the subject of several mentions. 
 
 War Medal lor Territorials. A medal, the par- 
 ticulars of which are not yet decided, is to be issued 
 to all members of the Territorial Force who were 
 serving on August 4, 1914, and to all ex-members of 
 the force who had served for a period of not less than 
 four years before the war and who rejoined the force 
 on the outbreak of hostilities, provided they undertook 
 to serve overseas on or before September 30, 1914, and 
 were passed as physically fit and accepted for service 
 overseas, and that they are not entitled to the award 
 of the 1914 or 1914-15 Star. 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 
 
 THE medals described throughout the pages of 
 this book and the emblems of chivalric and 
 other orders, mentioned in the present 
 chapter, reveal many points in common : accordingly, 
 a collector who possesses an array of the former will 
 naturally be anxious to extend a welcome to the latter. 
 
 There is one drawback to collecting the insignia of 
 knightly orders : certain of them must be returned to 
 the Lord Chamberlain's Department on the death of a 
 member, and thus a complete set is unobtainable, 
 however much the would-be possessor may be willing 
 to expend in treasure on his hobby. But if the actual 
 pieces may not be retained on all occasions, it does not 
 mean that the connoisseur is necessarily debarred from 
 securing minor tokens of these exalted honours. One 
 such treasure which was sold at Christie's recently may 
 be mentioned as an instance. It consisted of a portion 
 of the ribbon of the Garter worn by King Charles at his 
 execution, and sold for forty-eight guineas. 
 
 Although we are mainly concerned here with 
 collectable articles, it has been deemed advisable to 
 include the returnable emblems in the descriptions 
 which follow as well as those that may be bequeathed 
 
 181 
 
182 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 on the demise of a recipient. In this way, a more 
 complete treatise on the subject is made possible. 
 
 The Most Noble Order o! the Garter takes pride 
 of place the world over, and its twenty-five Knights 
 Companions are people of the highest estate. The 
 Garter originated in the fourteenth century, and owed 
 its inception, so it is alleged, to a humiliating experience 
 of Edward III.'s queen. A less picturesque, but 
 probably more accurate, account of the birth of this 
 Order is given by Haydn. Edward III., being at war 
 with France, was eager to draw the best soldiers of 
 Europe to his banner ; consequently, he projected a 
 revival of King Arthur's round table 
 and proclaimed a solemn tilting. On 
 New Year's day, 1343-4, he published 
 letters of protection for the safe 
 coming and returning of such foreign 
 knights as would venture their repu- 
 Garter star. tation at the jousts and tournaments 
 about to be held. A table was erected 
 at Windsor Castle of two hundred feet diameter, and 
 the knights who came forth were entertained at the 
 King's expense. Later, when many of these warriors 
 were fighting for him in France, the King used his 
 garter for a signal during a battle which resulted in 
 an English victory. It is supposed that the battle 
 was Crecy, but the point is debatable. To commemo- 
 rate this success, and to recognise the assistance of 
 the titled soldiers who had rendered him such valuable 
 aid, Edward instituted the Order of the Garter. 
 
 The decorations which should be noted under this 
 
 head are the garter, the star, the collar and the George. 
 
 The Garter, worn by knights below the left knee, 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 183 
 
 and by ladies on the left arm, consists of a dark blue 
 band of velvet, edged with gold, upon which is in- 
 scribed, also in gold, the motto, Honi soil qui mat y 
 pense. The buckle and pendant are worked in threads 
 of the same metal. Garters presented to sovereigns 
 abroad, it may be mentioned, are often studded with 
 valuable gems. 
 
 The Star, which is embroidered upon the left breast 
 of the mantle, as well as on the surcoat, has eight silver 
 points. These radiate from a central ornament con- 
 taining the red cross of St. George within a circular 
 blue garter. This device has become familiar to us 
 from its use as the regimental badge of the Coldstream 
 Guards. 
 
 The Collar is a chain of gold to which are fastened 
 twenty-six circular pieces.* Each of these is enamelled 
 with a blue garter, inscribed with the motto of the 
 Order. Within the Garter is a rose, alternately white 
 and red. Between the circles are chains of gold, 
 enamelled white, resembling rope twisted into true- 
 lovers' knots. From the front of the collar hangs the 
 George a spirited rendering of our patron saint in the 
 act of despatching a venomous dragon. The Lesser 
 George is similar to the George, but is enclosed in an 
 oval band of metal bearing the motto. This badge 
 is worn pendant from the dark blue ribbon which 
 passes over the left shoulder and under the right arm. 
 
 The insignia of the Order of the Garter are return- 
 able at death, but the collector may see a fine set of 
 Georges and Lesser Georges of various patterns should 
 he be able to gain access to the collection of gems and 
 
 * In reference to the twenty-five Knight Companions and the 
 Sovereign. 
 
184 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 jewels possessed by His Majesty, and kept at Windsor 
 Castle. 
 
 The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle 
 
 takes second place, though some historians are dis- 
 posed to claim that it originated as 
 far back as the year A.D. 787, and is 
 thus more antiquated than the Order 
 of the Garter. Whitaker * mentions 
 the story ascribed to Achaius and 
 Hungus, who saw a bright cross in 
 ar ' the sky whilst engaged in prayer prior 
 to meeting Athelstan in battle. The vision so im- 
 pressed them that they afterwards instituted the 
 present Order to commemorate it. Of this incident 
 there can naturally be no tangible records, but docu- 
 ments are available to prove that James V. of Scot- 
 land either originated or reconstructed the Order of the 
 Thistle in 1540. As then constituted, it consisted of 
 the sovereign and twelve knights, 
 in imitation of Christ and his twelve 
 apostles ; now, however, there are 
 sixteen knights, besides various 
 members of the Royal Family. 
 
 The Badge is an eight-pointed 
 star of gold. The front face re- 
 veals the figure of St. Andrew 
 
 Supporting the Cross to Which his Thistle Co llar Badge. 
 
 name has been given. 
 
 The Star is formed by combining a gold diamond and 
 a silver cross of St. Andrew. In the centre is a purple 
 thistle with green leaves, and around this is the motto 
 
 * Whitaker's " Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Com- 
 panionage." 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 185 
 
 of the Order, Nemo me impune lacesstt. It is worn on 
 the left breast with the cloak. The Scots Guards use 
 the decoration as a cap badge. 
 
 The Collar is gold, enamelled in proper colours. 
 The devices are sprigs of rue and thistles, placed 
 alternately. The badge of the Order is worn as a 
 pendant. 
 
 The insignia of the Thistle are returnable at death. 
 
 The Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick ranks 
 third, but unlike the two previous Orders, has no 
 mysterious birth to afford grounds for conjecture on 
 the part of historians. It was instituted in 1783 by 
 George III., and records of its whole 
 career are still extant. The Lord- 
 Lieutenant of Ireland is Grand Master, 
 and the number of Knights is limited. 
 
 The Badge is an oval of gold 
 having in the centre a green shamrock 
 leaf, upon which are three crowns. st Patrick star - 
 Behind the leaf is a red cross of St. Patrick. All this 
 is given within an oval sky-blue band inscribed with 
 the motto Quis separabit. Outside the blue band is an 
 oval of shamrock leaves. 
 
 The Star is an eight-pointed plate of silver, having 
 in the centre the device just described for the badge. 
 The outer ring of shamrock leaves is, however, missing, 
 and the setting is circular and not oval. 
 
 The Collar is made of gold, and consists of a crown 
 placed centrally, having on either side of it true lovers' 
 knots, harps and Tudor roses. From the centre piece 
 hangs a large harp, and to this is fixed the badge. 
 
 The insignia are returnable, but an exception is 
 made in the case of those entrusted to Lord- Lieutenants. 
 
186 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath was 
 
 probably founded by Henry IV. at the time of his 
 coronation, but the history of this Order is vague until 
 George I. revived it in 1725. However, there are many 
 allusions to its birth and progress in the works of 
 illustrious writers which leave no doubt as to its early 
 inception. The following quotation,* referring mainly 
 to the origin of the title, is typical of many that may be 
 found : " Those to be invested (when Prince Henry, 
 son of James I., was created Prince of Wales) were 
 bidden to repair to Durham House in the Strand, and 
 were conducted in the evening to the bathing-chamber 
 where for each of them was provided a several bathing- 
 tub, which was lined both within and without with 
 white linen and covered with red say. Early the next 
 morning they were awakened with music, and at their 
 uprising invested in their hermits' habit. So attired 
 and without shoes they were brought into the chapel, 
 where a solemn oath was administered to them to 
 honour God and maintain true religion, love their 
 Sovereign, serve their country, help maidens, widows 
 and orphans, and to the utmost of their power, cause 
 equity and justice to be observed." 
 
 At the present time, the Order of the Bath consists 
 of more than two thousand members who are ranged 
 in three classes, viz. Knights Grand Cross, Knights 
 Commanders, and Companions. Each of these classes 
 is sub-divided into Military and Civil divisions. 
 
 No member is admitted to a military division 
 
 unless he be at least of the rank of commander in the 
 
 Navy, or major in the Army, and then his admission 
 
 is only granted when some mention in despatches 
 
 * Whitaker, Op. cit., p. 69. 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 187 
 
 points to valuable service against the enemy. It 
 should be noted that it is possible for a person to become 
 a member of both the Military and Civil divisions. 
 
 The Military Badge is an ornate Maltese cross, 
 enamelled on gold. Between the limbs of the cross are 
 lions, whilst white balls cap the eight points of the 
 cross. In the centre is a rose, thistle, and shamrock, 
 springing from a sceptre, and around this floral decora- 
 tion are three crowns. A circular band encloses the 
 central device, and on it is inscribed the motto, Tria 
 junda in uno. This, in turn, is surrounded by a laurel 
 wreath and a scroll bearing the words, Ich dien. This 
 badge is worn by a G.C.B. hanging from the collar ; 
 by a K.C.B. fixed to the neck-ribbon ; and by a C.B. 
 from the button-hole. 
 
 The Civil Badge is an oval of gold bearing the 
 central device as described for the military badge, but 
 shaped in an oval and without the German motto and 
 laurel wreath. 
 
 The Star is found in four patterns, all in silver. 
 
 The Military Star given to a G.C.B. resembles the 
 military badge, but the rose, thistle and shamrock are 
 replaced by three crowns, whilst the cross is surrounded 
 by a glory of flames. The Civil Star, worn by a G.C.B., 
 has a similar central device, but the Maltese cross and 
 the tongues of flames are omitted in favour of an eight- 
 pointed star. 
 
 The Military Star associated with the rank of G.C.B. 
 has a centre, as before, but the outside edge partakes of 
 the shape of a cross-pattee. The Civil Star of this 
 degree is identical, except for the omission of the laurel 
 wreath and German motto. Companions, it may be 
 mentioned, do not wear stars. 
 
i88 
 
 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Bath. C.B. Military Badge. 
 
 The Collar, an emblem given to Grand Crosses only, 
 is the same for both the military and civil divisions. 
 It is formed by an array of nine-arched crowns alter- 
 nating with eight sprigs 
 (roses, thistles and sham- 
 rocks), the whole linked 
 together by a number of 
 gold knots, enamelled 
 white. 
 
 On the death of a 
 member of the Order, 
 the badge and star are 
 retained, but the collar 
 is returned to the Lord 
 Chamberlain ; thus the 
 two former insignia are 
 available for collectors. 
 The market prices of these pieces depend almost 
 entirely on the position held by the original possessor, 
 and this being so it is very difficult to state any 
 figure which will serve as a guide to purchasers. 
 However, we may mention that a 
 badge and star presented by the Prince 
 Regent to Louis XVIII. at Carlton 
 House in 1814, was sold by Messrs. 
 Glendining, some while back, for as 
 little as 11, which may be considered 
 a bargain. 
 
 The Order of Merit is of comparatively recent 
 origin, being instituted by King Edward VII. in the 
 year 1902. It is awarded for merit of a high degree, 
 not only of a military character, but in any way which 
 confers some great boon on the state. There are only 
 
 Bath. K.C.B. 
 Star. 
 
Order of Merit. 
 Military Badge. 
 
 BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 189 
 
 twenty-four British members, and thus the Order may 
 
 be considered extremely select. 
 
 The one emblem is a badge worn around the neck, 
 
 consisting of a gold cross-pattee, 
 
 enamelled in blue, red, green, and 
 
 white. The centre is appropriately 
 
 inscribed, For Merit, on the obverse, 
 
 whilst the reverse shows the Royal 
 
 Cypher. A crown joins the sus- 
 pender to the badge. When granted 
 
 for military service crossed swords 
 
 emerge from between the limbs of 
 
 the cross, but these are absent in 
 
 the case of civil awards. 
 
 The emblem of the Order is not returned on the 
 
 death of a recipient but, as the members are so few in 
 
 number, it is rare that collectors have an opportunity 
 
 of securing the badge for their cabinets. 
 
 The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India 
 originated by letters patent 
 on February 23, 1862, in ac- 
 cordance with a wish of Queen 
 Victoria. The Order serves 
 to mark the sovereign's appre- 
 ciation of the services of the 
 loyal native rulers, and is the 
 highest gift that can be be- 
 stowed on these patriotic 
 princes. It is also given to 
 home officials who assist in 
 
 the government of the Indian Empire. 
 
 The Badge is an onyx cameo, displaying a profile of 
 
 Queen Victoria, facing left, and wearing an Indian 
 
 The Star of Order of the 
 Star of India. 
 
190 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 crown. Her profile is framed by an oval band, 
 inscribed with the motto, Heaven's light our guide. 
 Above the oval is a five-pointed star, filled in with 
 diamonds. The piece forms a particularly attractive 
 jewel. 
 
 The Collar, worn by Knights Grand Commanders, 
 and from which the badge in their case hangs, is com- 
 posed of a crown, five red and white roses, six lotus 
 flowers, and ten sprays of palm, all enamelled in proper 
 colours. 
 
 The Star consists of a circle, out of which issues a 
 glory of flames. In the centre is a smaller star, 
 jewelled with diamonds, resting on a light blue circular 
 band, inscribed with the motto mentioned above. 
 
 The insignia are extremely costly, and must be 
 
 returned when death over- 
 takes a member. 
 
 The Most Distinguished 
 Order of St. Michael and 
 St. George came into being 
 in the year 1818, and 
 served to mark the ac- 
 quisition of the Ionian 
 Islands by Great Britain. 
 At first, it was given to 
 officials, British or native, 
 who performed valuable 
 service in the Ionian Is- 
 lands, Malta, or the Medi- 
 terranean region, but, in 
 recent times, has been extended to those whose work 
 in some way materially benefits any British colony. 
 The Badge is a curious seven-limbed star with 
 
 St. Michael and St. George. 
 Badge. 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 191 
 
 V-shaped ends. It is made of gold, but is enamelled 
 in colours. The obverse gives a picture, in the centre, 
 of St. Michael encountering Satan, whilst the reverse 
 reveals St. George and the dragon. Both these are 
 framed by a circular band, inscribed with the motto 
 Auspicium melioris <zvi. A crown surmounts the badge. 
 
 The Star of the Knights Grand Cross is seven 
 limbed, consisting of alternate rays of gold and silver. 
 In the centre is the motto and figure of St. Michael, 
 as found on the obverse of the badge, but projecting 
 from this circular device is a red cross of St. George. 
 The Star of the Knights Commanders is smaller, and 
 follows the above in the matter of the central design. 
 
 The gold Collar is formed by an array of gold lions, 
 representing Great Britain, and white Maltese crosses. 
 Separating these devices are the initials SG and SM, 
 fancifully rendered. A curious central ornament, from 
 which the badge hangs, represents a crown and two 
 books with seven arrows issuing from each. 
 
 The insignia of the Order are not returnable, and 
 pieces are occasionally offered for sale. Their value 
 varies considerably, and any sum between ten and 
 twenty pounds may be asked for a star or badge. 
 
 The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire 
 came into existence to commemorate Queen Victoria's 
 acceptance of the title of Empress of India in 1878. Its 
 scope was extended at both her Jubilee and Diamond 
 Jubilee. 
 
 The Badge is a gold piece shaped in the form of an 
 open rose. The centre gives a profile of the Queen 
 with the motto, Imperatricis auspicils, on a circular 
 band. Early patterns bore different wording. The 
 rose is surmounted by a crown which serves as pendant. 
 
192 
 
 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Order of the Indian 
 Empire. Badge. 
 
 ; The Star of the first class has ten rays divided into 
 narrow flutes (scaled and unsealed), which are alternately 
 gold and silver. The central device 
 shows the Queen and the circular 
 band, as on the badge, but a crown 
 rests on the band. The Star of the 
 second class is smaller and has silver, 
 but no gold rays. 
 
 The Collar, which is gold, has a 
 central crown with elephants, lotus 
 flowers, and peacocks " in their pride," 
 on either side. The badge is worn as 
 a pendant to the collar. 
 All insignia, except that worn by a companion, must 
 be returned at death. 
 
 The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is reserved 
 for ladies who have either rendered valuable service to 
 India, or are the wives of men who 
 can claim to have done so. Queens 
 and royal princesses are also eligible. 
 The only device is a Badge, which 
 is an oval, containing the Royal Cy- 
 pher set in pearls. There are three 
 varieties available for collectors, i.e. 
 with the cyphers of Victoria, Edward 
 VII. and George V. 
 
 The Royal Victorian Order was in- 
 stituted by Queen Victoria on April 
 21, 1896, and was to be awarded to 
 persons, being subjects of the British Crown, who 
 rendered extraordinary, or personal, or important 
 services to Her Majesty, her heirs or successors. Since 
 its inception, the Order has, however, been greatly 
 
 Badge of the Order 
 of the Crown of 
 India. 
 
PLATK XIX 
 
 KING'S POLICE MEDAL. 
 
 EDWARDIAN DURBAR 
 MEDAL. 
 
 IBI 
 
 SPECIAL CONSTABULARY, 
 1914-9. 
 
 U.S.A. DISTINGUISHED 
 SERVICE MEDAL. 
 
 U.S.A. MANILA BAY 
 MEDAL. 
 
 IgjfjjM 
 
 H BB 
 
 U.S.A. SPANISH-AMERICAN 
 WAR BADGE. 
 
 U.S.A. CUBA 
 PACIFICATION BADGE. 
 
 I 
 
 U.S.A. MEXICAN 
 CAMPAIGN BADGE. 
 
 EDWARDIAN POLICE 
 CORONATION. 
 
 GEORGIAN POLICE 
 CORONATION. 
 
 U.S.A. DISTINGUISHED 
 SERVICE MEDAL. 
 
 . 
 
 U.S.A. CERTIFICATE OF 
 MERIT BADGE. 
 
 U.S.A. PHILIPPINE 
 CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL. 
 
 U.S.A. CHINA CAMPAIGN 
 BADG'E. 
 
 U.S.A. CUBA OCCUPATION 
 BADGE. 
 
 U.S.A. HAITIAN 
 CAMPAIGN BADGE. 
 
 RIBBONS OF MEDALS FOR THE BRITISH POLICE FORCES 5 
 ALSO U.S.A. MEDALS. 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 193 
 
 widened in scope. To-day, there are five classes of the 
 following ranks : (i) Knights Grand Cross, G.C.V.O. ; 
 (2) Knights Commanders, K.C.V.O. ; (3) Commanders, 
 C.V.O. ; (4 & 5) Members of the 4th or 5th Class, M.V.O. 
 
 The first-class badge is a Maltese Cross of white 
 enamel with a crown on the upper limb. In the 
 centre is a crimson oval bearing the Queen's cypher, 
 and around this is a blue band inscribed, Victoria. 
 The second and third-class badges are identical 
 though not so large, whilst the fourth class is yet 
 smaller. The badge of the 
 fifth class is of the same size 
 as the fourth, but the white 
 enamel limbs are replaced by 
 frosted silver limbs. 
 
 The first-class star is an 
 eight-rayed piece in " chipped 
 silver," a small replica of the 
 first-class badge being given as 
 a central device. The second- 
 class Star is Shaped like a Badge of the Royal Victorian 
 
 Order. 
 
 Maltese cross with the angles 
 
 partly filled in. It is made of silver, as is the central 
 device. No stars are provided for members of the 
 three remaining classes. 
 
 When promoted from a low class to a higher, a 
 member must return his insignia to the office of the 
 Privy Purse, but at death the badge and star may be 
 retained by the relatives. 
 
 The Distinguished Service Order being an award for 
 military prowess, is dealt with in Chapter XL 
 
 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire 
 was instituted by King George V. in June, 1917, as a 
 
 N 
 
194 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 means of ^rewarding British and Allied subjects who 
 rendered valued services of a character unrecognised 
 by other decorations. 
 
 The badge, worn by members of the first three 
 classes, takes the shape of a fanciful cross in silver-gilt, 
 enamelled pearl grey. The centre reveals Britannia, 
 seated, the whole within a circle of crimson inscribed 
 with the motto, For God and the Empire. A crown 
 unites the cross, and its suspender. The badge of the 
 
 fourth class is similar 
 but smaller, and with- 
 out coloured enamel. 
 The fifth-class badge is 
 silver instead of silver- 
 gilt. 
 
 The stars of the 
 first and second class 
 are of fluted silver, 
 and bear the device 
 of Britannia, as men- 
 tioned for the badges. 
 That of the first class, 
 however, has eight divisions, the points of which are 
 less acute than those of the second class. 
 
 A medal, hi silver, is available for presentation to 
 non-members whose services to the Empire warrant 
 such recognition. The obverse of this award gives 
 Britannia and the above motto, whilst the reverse is 
 filled with the royal cypher and a crown. (As for the 
 Coronation Medal, illustrated elsewhere, but without 
 the date.) 
 
 Recently the King has added a Military Division 
 to the Order, and the following are eligible : 
 
 Badge of the O.B.E. 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 195 
 
 All commissioned, warrant and subordinate 
 officers subject to the Naval Discipline Act or 
 employed under the orders of the Admiralty, and 
 all commissioned and warrant officers recom- 
 mended by any Commander-in-Chief in the field 
 or elsewhere, or by the General Officer Command- 
 ing, Independent Force, Royal Air Force, or 
 employed under the War Office or Air Ministry, 
 or under the Administrative Headquarters of 
 Dominions or Overseas Forces, or employed under 
 the Ministry of Munitions or the Ministry of 
 National Service on work which, but for the 
 creation of those Departments, would have been 
 performed by the War Office ; and all members of 
 the Navy, Army, Dominions, or Overseas Nursing 
 Services, or officials of the Women's Royal Naval 
 Service, Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps, or 
 the Women's Royal Air Force, and such Com- 
 mandants of the Women's Legion or similar organi- 
 sations as are under contract with or employed by 
 the Admiralty, War Office, or Air Ministry. 
 The Insignia of the Military division is similar to 
 that granted for the Civil branch, but, in the former 
 case, the purple ribbon is distinguished by a narrow 
 central stripe of red. 
 
 The Order of the Companions of Honour originated 
 in June, 1917, and thus dates from the same time as the 
 Order of the British Empire. Unlike the latter, its 
 members are limited, the full complement being fifty. 
 Men and women are both eligible for membership, 
 which " will be conferred on persons for whom this 
 distinction seems to be the most appropriate form 
 of recognition, constituting, as it will, an honour 
 
ig6 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 disassociated either from the acceptance of title or 
 the classification of merit." 
 
 The badge is a crowned oval, and reveals an oak 
 tree with a shield, bearing the Royal Arms, hanging 
 from one of the branches. To the left of the tree, and 
 facing it, is a knight on horseback. A blue frame runs 
 round the badge, and on it is given the motto of the 
 Order a line from Pope, In action faithful and in 
 honour clear. This badge is suspended by a carmine 
 ribbon having two gold stripes. With men, it is hung 
 around the neck, whilst ladies wear it on a bow pinned 
 to the left shoulder. 
 
 The Imperial Service Order came into being at the 
 time of the coronation of King Edward, and serves to 
 decorate members of the Civil Service who merit 
 distinction. A period of twenty-five years' faithful 
 service is required for those employed at home, twenty 
 years when service has been rendered by British 
 subjects in Inda, and sixteen years or, in special cases, 
 a lesser period when such service has been completed 
 in a colony with a trying climate. Men and ladies are 
 both admitted to the Order. 
 
 The badge for men is an eight-pointed silver star, 
 the upper point of which is obscured by a crown. The 
 centre is gold and bears, in blue enamel, the Royal 
 Cypher and the words, For Faithful Service. The 
 ladies' badge has a laurel wreath instead of the star, 
 and the piece is suspended by a bow of ribbon. 
 
 A medal is also available for members who are 
 worthy of recompense, but who have not fulfilled all 
 the conditions requisite for the badge. This decoration 
 is similar to the above, but the centre is silver and the 
 outer star of bronze. 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 197 
 
 The Order of British India was created by Queen 
 Victoria at the time of her coronation in 1837. It is a 
 purely military order, confined to native officers in the 
 Indian army. An allowance accompanies membership. 
 
 The badge of the first class is a star of eight blunt 
 points, the whole consisting of gold rays. At the apex 
 is a gold crown. In the centre is a gold lion of full 
 length, facing left, on a light blue ground. Surrounding 
 it is a blue band inscribed, Order of British India. The 
 badge of the second class is slightly smaller, the crown 
 is missing, and the enamel is dark blue. The ribbon 
 used for suspending both insignia around the neck is 
 reddish-claret. 
 
 The Indian Order of Merit must not be confused 
 with the Order of Merit which is a home distinction 
 of much higher precedence. There are three military 
 classes. Admission to the third class is granted to 
 native officers or men, without distinction of rank, who 
 perform valuable service in the field. Admission to 
 the second class is permitted to members of the third 
 class, only, who have performed a second service of 
 merit, whilst admission to the first class is open to 
 those who are in the second class and have again 
 distinguished themselves. Increase of pay is awarded 
 to all members of the Order. 
 
 The badge of the first class is an eight-pointed star 
 of gold, having a dark blue centre charged with a pair 
 of crossed swords and the inscription, Reward of Valour. 
 A gold laurel wreath encircles the inscription. The 
 badge of the second class is of similar design, but the 
 star is silver and the centre piece and laurel wreath are 
 gold. The badge of the third class is again similar, 
 but fashioned wholly in silver. 
 
198 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 At various times we have seen a number of these 
 decorations for sale. The third-class badge, when 
 engraved with the recipient's name, is usually priced 
 somewhere in the neighbourhood of two guineas, whilst 
 the second and third-class badges sell for about five 
 and eight guineas respectively. 
 
 The Order of St. John of Jerusalem." The Order 
 had its origin in Jerusalem and Acre, as an international 
 lay confraternity for the relief of crusaders, and was 
 later sovereign in Rhodes and in 
 Malta, where its Knights kept gal- 
 leys and galleons to attack the 
 Barbary Corsairs and to prevent 
 the spread of Turkish rule in 
 the Mediterranean, from 1530 till 
 1798. Like other ancient Orders 
 of Chivalry, the Order of St. John 
 had also Priores and Commanderies 
 Badge of the Order in the different countries of Europe, 
 of St. John of Jeru- those in England and Scotland being 
 dissolved at the same time as the 
 monasteries. The Order was expelled from Malta by 
 Napoleon in 1798. . . . After the loss of Malta, the 
 Ordinary Council of the Order assisted in the recon- 
 struction of what is now the Grand Priory of the Order 
 of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England, 
 whose Chancery is at the Gatehouse in Clerkenwell. . . . 
 The work of the British Order is the control of the 
 St. John's Ambulance Association and Brigade, and of 
 the British Ophthalmic Hospital at Jerusalem." * 
 
 The badge of the Order is a Maltese cross with a 
 lion or unicorn placed in each of the angles between the 
 
 * Whitaker, pp. 75-76. 
 
BRITISH ORDERS AND THEIR INSIGNIA 199 
 
 limbs of the cross. According to the grade of the 
 recipient, the badge has, or has not, a crown surmount- 
 ing it, and it may be found embellished in gold or 
 silver. 
 
 The medal, awarded to honorary serving brothers 
 or sisters, is circular, and bears on its front face, a white 
 enamelled cross, silver edged, on a black ground. 
 
 The medal given for conspicuous gallantry, involving 
 risk of life on land, has a Maltese cross and the inscrip- 
 tion, For Service in the Cause of Humanity, on the 
 obverse, whilst the reverse is filled by a spray of St. 
 John's wort and the legend, Jerusalem England. 
 Awarded by the Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital 
 of St. John of Jerusalem in England. 
 
 The Order of the League of Mercy has a somewhat 
 different bearing to the orders already mentioned, but 
 may, nevertheless, be given a place here. It is an 
 institution founded in 1899 by royal charter, to raise 
 monies for King Edward's Hospital Fund and, generally, 
 to alleviate sickness, suffering and poverty. Members 
 who give ungrudging assistance for a period of five 
 years at least, are awarded a badge. 
 
 The badge consists of a red cross having a plume 
 of feathers emerging from the upper limb. In the 
 centre is a circular medallion giving Sir Joshua 
 Reynolds's picture of " Charity." Recently the King 
 approved of the institution of a bar to be awarded to 
 those who give their services for a long period of years. 
 At the eighteenth annual meeting, the Chairman 
 announced that " His Majesty has been graciously 
 pleased to award the first bar to Dura, Countess ot 
 Chesterfield, Lady President for South Kensington, 
 whose district has stood at the head of the list with the 
 
200 
 
 largest aggregate collection to its credit from 1899 
 to the present time." 
 
 The Order of Victoria and Albert was instituted in 
 1862 for ladies only, but new members are no longer 
 accepted. 
 
 The badge of the first three classes consists of a 
 fanciful oval, the centre of which is filled by the profiles 
 of Queen Victoria and Prince Consort, the former 
 partly overlapping the latter. The size of the badge 
 and the arrangement of the jewels in the border varies 
 with the three classes. The fourth class bears the 
 royal cypher of Victoria in place of the double profiles. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 THE VICTORIA CROSS 
 
 EARLY History. One afternoon in May, 1855, 
 a number of Crimean heroes paraded before 
 Queen Victoria to receive the medal bearing 
 bars for Alma, Inkermann and Balaklava. The 
 ceremony deeply impressed Her Majesty for, in a letter 
 written shortly afterwards to her uncle, the King of the 
 Belgians, she said, " Noble fellows ! I own I feel as if 
 they were my own children : my heart beats for them 
 as for my nearest and dearest. One must revere and 
 love such soldiers as these." Her meeting with these 
 splendid men many of them sadly maimed, all of 
 them broken in the war revealed to her, as nothing 
 else cbuld have done, the need not only for campaign 
 medals which all soldiers and sailors receive, but for 
 special awards to distinguish those who perform deeds 
 of exceptional bravery. 
 
 From that day, we learn the Queen began to make 
 plans for the decoration which we now know as the 
 Victoria Cross. The idea of the award was hers, the 
 method of granting it was hers, and the design, which is 
 bold and fitting, we owe to her husband, the Prince 
 Consort. It is no easy task to evolve u. token, worth an 
 insignificant sum, which men prize so highly that they 
 value it more than their own lives. This, however, is 
 
 201 
 
202 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 what she was able to do, and with practically no official 
 assistance. The smallest details surrounding the 
 coveted award were watched over by her. Lord 
 Panmure, for instance, suggested that the motto should 
 be For the Brave. " No," replied the Queen, " this 
 would lead to the inference that only those are deemed 
 brave who have the Victoria Cross." She preferred 
 For Valour, and a more fitting inscription for the 
 decoration could not be found. 
 
 The first official intimation dealing with the decora- 
 tion bears the date of February 5, 1856, and was issued 
 by the War Department. It ran as follows : 
 
 " The Queen has been pleased, by an instrument 
 under her Royal Sign Manual, of which the following 
 is a copy, to institute and create a new Naval and 
 Military Decoration, to be styled and designated ' The 
 Victoria Cross,' and to make the rules and regulations 
 therein set forth under which the said Decoration shall 
 be conferred. 
 
 " Victoria, by the grace of God of the United 
 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender 
 of the Faith, etc., to all whom these presents shall come, 
 Greeting. 
 
 " Whereas We, taking into Our Royal Consideration 
 that there exists no means of adequately rewarding the 
 individual gallant services either of officers of the lower 
 grades in Our Naval and Military Service, or of warrant 
 and petty officers, seamen and marines in Our Navy, 
 and non-commissioned officers and soldiers in Our 
 Army : and whereas the third class of Our Most 
 Honourable Order of the Bath is limited, except in 
 very rare cases, to the higher ranks of both Services, 
 and the granting of Medals, both in Our Navy and 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 203 
 
 Army, is only rewarded for long service or meritoiious 
 conduct, rather than for bravery in action or distinction 
 before an enemy. Such cases alone excepted where a 
 general medal is granted for a particular action or 
 campaign, or a clasp added to the medal for some 
 special engagement, in both of which cases all share 
 equally in the boon, and those who by their valour 
 have particularly signalised themselves, remain un- 
 distinguished from their comrades. Now, for the 
 purpose of attaining an end so desirable as that of 
 rewarding individual instances of merit and valour, 
 We have instituted and created a new Naval and 
 Military Decoration, which We are desirous should be 
 highly prized and eagerly sought after by the officers 
 and men of Our Naval and Military Services, and are 
 graciously pleased to make, ordain and establish the 
 following rules for the government of the same, which 
 shall from henceforth be inviolably observed and 
 kept : 
 
 " Firstly. It is ordained, that the distinction shall 
 be styled and designated The Victoria Cross, and shall 
 consist of a Maltese cross of bronze, with Our Royal 
 Crest in the centre, and underneath an escroll bearing 
 the inscription For Valour. 
 
 " Secondly. It is ordained that the Cross shall be 
 suspended from the left breast, by a blue riband for 
 the Navy and by a red riband for the Army. 
 
 " Thirdly. It is ordained that the names of those 
 upon whom We may be pleased to confer the Decoration 
 shall be published in the London Gazette, and a registry 
 thereof kept in the Office of Our Secretary of State for 
 War. 
 
 " Fourthly. It is ordained, that any one who, after 
 
204 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 having received the Cross, shall again perform an act 
 of bravery, which if he had not received such Cross, 
 would have entitled him to it, such further act shall be 
 recorded by a Bar attached to the riband by which 
 the Cross is suspended, and for every additional act of 
 bravery an additional Bar may be added. 
 
 " Fifthly. It is ordained, that the Cross shall only 
 be awarded to those officers or men who have served Us 
 in the presence of the enemy, and shall have then per- 
 formed some signal act of valour, or devotion to their 
 country. 
 
 " Sixthly. It is ordained with a view to place all 
 persons on a perfectly equal footing in relation to 
 eligibility for the Decoration, neither rank, nor long 
 service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or 
 condition whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous 
 bravery shall be held to establish a sufficient claim to 
 the honour. 
 
 " Seventhly. It is ordained that the Decoration 
 may be conferred on the spot where the act to be 
 rewarded by the grant of such Decoration has been 
 performed under the following circumstances : 
 (I.) When the Fleet or Army, in which such act has 
 been performed, is under the eye and command of an 
 Admiral or General Officer commanding the Forces. 
 (II.) Where the Naval or Military Force is under the 
 eye and command of an Admiral or Commodore com- 
 manding a squadron or detached naval force, or of a 
 General commanding a corps, or division, or brigade 
 on a district and detached service, when such Admiral, 
 Commodore, or General Officer shall have the power 
 of conferring the Decoration on the spot, subject to 
 confirmation by Us. 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 205 
 
 " Eighthly. It is ordained, where such act shall 
 not have been performed in sight of a Commanding 
 Officer as aforesaid, then the claimant for the honour 
 shall prove the act to the satisfaction of a Captain or 
 Officer commanding his ship, or to the Officer command- 
 ing the regiment to which the claimant belongs, and 
 such Captain, or such Commanding Officer shall report 
 the same through the usual channel to the Admiral or 
 Commodore commanding the force employed in the 
 service, or to the Officer commanding the forces in the 
 field, who shall call for such description and attestation 
 of the act as he may think requisite, and on approval 
 shall recommend the grant of the Decoration. 
 
 " Ninthly. It is ordained that every person 
 selected for the Cross, under Rule Seven, shall be 
 publicly decorated before the naval or military force 
 or body to which he belongs, and with which the act 
 of bravery for which he is to be rewarded shall have been 
 performed, and his name shall be recorded in a General 
 Order, together with the cause of his especial distinction. 
 
 " Tenthly. It is ordained that every person 
 selected under Rule Eight shall receive his Decoration 
 as soon as possible and his name shall likewise appear 
 in a General Order as above required, such General 
 Order to be issued by the naval or military Commander 
 of the Forces employed on the service. 
 
 " Eleventhly. It is ordained that the General 
 Orders above referred to shall from time to tune be 
 transmitted to Our Secretary of State for War, to be 
 laid before Us, and shall be by him registered. 
 
 " Twelfthly. It is ordained that as cases may 
 arise not falling within the rules above specified, or in 
 which a claim, though well founded, may not have been 
 
206 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 established on the spot, We will, on the joint submis- 
 sion of Our Secretary of State for War and of our Com- 
 mander-in-Chief of Our Army, or on that of Our Lord 
 High Admiral or Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 
 in the case of the Navy, confer the Decoration, but 
 never without conclusive proof of the performance of 
 the act of bravery for which the claim is made. 
 
 " Thirteenthly. It is ordained that, in the event 
 of a gallant and daring act having been performed by a 
 squadron, ship's company, a detached body of seamen 
 or marines, not under fifty in number, or by a brigade, 
 regiment, troop or company, in which the Admiral, 
 General, or other Officer commanding such forces, may 
 deem that all are equally brave and distinguished, and 
 that no special selection can be made by them : then 
 in such case, the Admiral, General, or other Officer 
 commanding, may direct, that for any such body of 
 seamen or marines, or for every troop or company of 
 soldiers, one Officer shall be selected by the Officers 
 engaged for the Decoration ; and in like manner one 
 Petty Officer or Non-Commissioned shall be selected by 
 the Petty Officers and Non - Commissioned Officers 
 engaged and two Seamen or Private Soldiers or Marines 
 shall be selected by the Seamen, or Private Soldiers, or 
 Marines, engaged, respectively, for the Decoration ; and 
 the names of those selected shall be transmitted by the 
 Senior Officer in command of the naval force, brigade, 
 regiment, troop or company, to the Admiral or General 
 Officer commanding, who shall in due manner confer the 
 Decoration as if the acts were done under his own eye. 
 
 " Fourteenthly. It is ordained that every Warrant 
 Officer, Petty Officer, Seaman or Marine, or Non- 
 commissioned Officer, or Soldier who shall have received 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 207 
 
 the Cross shall, from the date of the act by which the 
 Decoration has been gained, be entitled to a Special 
 Pension of Ten Pounds a year, and each additional 
 Bar conferred under Rule Four on such Warrant or 
 Petty Officers, or Non-Commissioned Officers or Men, 
 shall carry with it an additional pension of Five Pounds 
 per annum. 
 
 " Fifteenthly. In order to make such additional 
 provision as shall effectually preserve pure this most 
 honourable distinction, it is ordained, that if any person 
 on whom such distinction shall be conferred be con- 
 victed of treason, cowardice, felony, or of any infamous 
 crime, or if he be accused of any such offence and doth 
 not after a reasonable time surrender himself to be 
 tried for the same, his name shall forthwith be erased 
 from the registry of individuals upon whom the said 
 Decoration shall have been conferred by an especial 
 Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual, and the pension 
 conferred under Rule Fourteen shall cease and deter- 
 mine from the date of such Warrant. It is hereby 
 further declared that We, Our Heirs and Successors, 
 shall be the sole judges of the circumstance demanding 
 such expulsion : moreover, W r e shall at all times have 
 power to restore such persons as may at any time have 
 been expelled, both to the enjoyment of the Decoration 
 and Pension. 
 
 " Given at our Court at Buckingham Palace, this 
 Twenty-ninth day of January, in the nineteenth year 
 of Our reign, and in the year of Our Lord one thousand 
 eight hundred and fifty-six. 
 
 " By Her Majesty's command, 
 " (Signed) PANMURE. 
 
 " To Our Principal Secretary of State for War." 
 
208 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 20 
 A 
 
 Fig. i. The Victoria Cross. Obverse. 
 
 Fig. 2. The Victoria Cross. Reverse, showing arrangement of 
 inscription. Note the presence of a Bar, which is that awarded to 
 Lieut. A. Martin-Leake, R.A.M.C. This is the first V.C. Bar to be 
 awarded. 
 
 Fig. 3. The Distinguished Service Order. 
 
 B 
 
 Fig. i. The Military Cross. Obverse. 
 Fig. 2. The Military Cross. Reverse. 
 Fig. 3. The Distinguished Conduct Medal. Reverse. 
 
PLATE XX 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 209 
 
 Technical Particulars ol the Cross. A description 
 
 of the Victoria Cross is given in clauses i and 2, above, 
 
 but we may add the following particulars : 
 
 The decoration hangs from a laureated clasp by 
 means of a link which passes through a loop, shaped 
 like a V, the latter forming part of the clasp. The 
 reverse, or underface, has a raised edge and circle. 
 Within the latter, the date of performance of the 
 valorous deed is engraved. 
 The underside of the clasp 
 bears the name of the pos- 
 sessor. Should 
 obtained 
 with 
 
 S 
 
 at 
 
 a bar be 
 
 this is impressed 
 the rank, name, regi- 
 ment, and date. 
 
 The Cross is cast in bronze, 
 and on leaving the mould has 
 the appearance of a golden 
 piece. It is then placed in 
 the hands of a highly skilled 
 workman who spends many 
 hours in chasing the surface. 
 When the detail has been 
 properly set in relief, the piece is coated with a dark 
 lacquer. The ribbon is then threaded through the slot 
 clasp and a brooch pin fixed to the upper edge of the 
 silk. Specimens are always kept in stock by the makers, 
 who suitably engrave them when awards are to be made. 
 
 The earliest Crosses were cast in metal obtained 
 from bronze guns taken from the Russians in the 
 Crimea,* but Chinese guns have supplied the material 
 
 * Farrier-Major James Atkinson, R.A., captured the particular 
 gun at Sebastopol which has been used for this purpose. 
 
 O 
 
 The Ribbon and Attachments 
 of the V.C. 
 
210 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 for the 1914-18 decorations. The delicate work of 
 fashioning these coveted pieces is entrusted to Messrs. 
 Hancocks & Co., of Sackville Street, London, W., and 
 we might add that to them belongs the honour of 
 having made every V.C. since the first one was prepared 
 for Mr. Lucas, mate on H.M.S. Hecla, in 1856. We 
 understand that Messrs. Hancocks attempted, in the 
 first instance, to strike the Crosses by means of dies, 
 but these broke or cracked on coming in contact with 
 the tough metal of the piece. The casting process, 
 therefore, was only adopted when the more expedient 
 method of striking failed. 
 
 The Number of Crosses so Jar Awarded. The 
 collector as well as the student of historical data will 
 find an interest in glancing through the following list, 
 for it tells the number of Crosses that have been 
 awarded in the various campaigns. It will be well to 
 bear in mind the length of each war and the size of the 
 army that was engaged when noting the figures. 
 
 The War of 1914-18. Awards made between August, 
 
 1914, and February 4, 1920 .... 579 
 Indian Mutiny, 1857-9 . . . . .182 
 
 Crimea and Baltic, 1854-5 . . . . in 
 
 Boer War, 1899-1902 ...... 78 
 
 Zululand, 1879 23 
 
 Afghanistan, 1878-80 . . . . . .16 
 
 New Zealand, 1860-1 ; 1863-6 . . . .15 
 
 India (N.W. Frontier), 1897-8 . . . .11 
 
 China, 1860-2 ....... 8 
 
 Basutoland, 1879 and 1881 ..... 6 
 
 Boer War, 1880-1 6 
 
 Somaliland, 1902-3 ...... 6 
 
 Little Andaman Island, 1867 .... 5 
 
 Ashantee, 1873-4 ....... 4 
 
 Sudan, 1884 ....... 4 
 
 Omdurman, 1898 ....... 4 
 
 Persia, 1856-7 ....... 3 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 211 
 
 Japan (H.M.S. Euryahts), 1864 .... 3 
 
 Egypt, 1882 ...... 
 
 N.W. India (Hunza-Nagar), 1891 .... 
 
 N.E. India (Bhootan), 1864-5 .... 2 
 
 Matabeleland, 1896 ...... 3 
 
 N.W. India (Umbeyla), 1863 2 
 
 Abyssinia, 1867-8 ..... 2 
 
 Burma, 1889 ....... 2 
 
 Ashanti, 1900 ....... 2 
 
 China, 1900 ........ 2 
 
 Canada, 1866 ....... 
 
 West Africa (Gambia), 1866 
 
 N.E. India (Looshai), 1871-2 .... 
 
 Perak, 1875-6 ....... 
 
 Beloochistan, 1877 ...... 
 
 S. Africa (Kaffir War), 1877-8 .... 
 
 India (Naga Hills), 1879-80 ..... 
 
 Nile Expedition, 1884-5 ..... 
 
 N.E. India (Manipur) ...... 
 
 West Africa (Gambia), 1892 ..... 
 
 Burma, 1893 . . . . . . . 
 
 Chitral, 1895 
 
 Khartoum (Gedarif Kassala), 1898 
 
 Crete, 1898 
 
 Nigeria, 1903 ....... 
 
 Tibet, 1903-4 . 
 
 Thus there were 522 awards from the time the 
 Cross was first given to the day war broke out with the 
 Central Powers in August, 1914. 
 
 Queen Victoria Distributes the First Crosses. The 
 first distribution of the coveted Crosses took place on 
 the morning of June 26, 1857, in Hyde Park. The 
 ceremony, though it was probably the most memorable 
 ever witnessed in these public grounds, took less than 
 an hour to perform. At ten o'clock, a royal salute was 
 fired and the Queen, on horseback, rode to the spot 
 selected for the presentations, accompanied by the 
 Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales (afterwards 
 Edward VII.), and others. Lord Panmure, the 
 
212 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Secretary for War, held in his hand a list of the heroes 
 sixty-two in all and, as he read out the names, one 
 by one, the brave men stepped forward and the Queen 
 pinned the medals to their breasts. When all the 
 awards had been distributed a review of troops followed. 
 The First Man to Win the Cross. This fortunate 
 and brave man was Mr. Charles David Lucas, mate on 
 H.M.S. Hecla. During the Crimean War, Rear- 
 Admiral Plumridge's squadron was cruising in the 
 Baltic Sea, and on June 21, 1854, the Hecla, Odin and 
 Valorous shelled the main fort of Bomarsund, but did 
 little damage as their ammunition was limited and the 
 buildings were proof against the explosives used in 
 those days. During the engagement the Russians 
 dropped a live shell on Lucas's vessel. It was on the 
 point of exploding and, had it done so, the conse- 
 quences would have been disastrous. Without a 
 moment's hesitation, the Hecla' s mate rushed to where 
 it lay, picked it up in his arms and flung it overboard. 
 His courageous act saved many of his comrades' lives, 
 and he was promptly promoted to the rank of lieu- 
 tenant, and later was awarded the V.C. The Royal 
 Humane Society also bestowed on him their silver 
 medal. 
 
 Lucas reached the rank of Rear-Admiral and served 
 his country in later wars. He died not many years ago. 
 The reader may have noticed that this act of 
 bravery took place on June 21, 1854, and the Cross was 
 not instituted until February, 1856. The explanation 
 is that Queen Victoria graciously decided that the 
 awards should be distributed as though the Victoria 
 Cross had come into being with the commencement of 
 the Russian hostilities. 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 213 
 
 The First Army V.C.s. Lucas, as we have indicated, 
 was a naval man, and his Cross was, there- 
 fore, threaded with a blue silk ribbon. Who gained 
 the first piece suspended by a crimson ribbon is a 
 question that cannot be answered, for six gallant men 
 did heroic deeds on the day of the storming of the 
 Alma, and no Army Crosses had been distributed prior 
 to then. For their splendid heroism they were given 
 the Cross, their names being 
 
 Robert James Lindsay (afterwards Lord Wantage). 
 
 James McKechnie. 
 
 John Simpson Knox. 
 
 William Reynolds. 
 
 Luke O'Connor. 
 
 Edward W. D. Bell. 
 
 The First Air V.C. The first V.C. hero of the air 
 was Second Lieutenant W. B. Rhodes-Moorhouse, of 
 the Special Reserve, R.F.C. On April 26, 1915, he 
 flew to the important junction of Courtrai and dropped 
 bombs on the railway line near that station. Having 
 accomplished his work, he started on the return journey, 
 but was mortally wounded. Although he must have 
 been suffering considerably, he succeeded in flying 
 thirty-five miles to his destination, and there made a 
 report of his operations. The plucky way in which he 
 stuck to his machine and brought it back safely to the 
 British lines evoked the highest admiration, but, 
 unfortunately, he did not live to receive the Cross in 
 person. 
 
 Posthumous Awards. It may surprise many readers 
 to learn that until 1902 there was a rule which said 
 that no Cross was to be forwarded to the relatives 
 of a V.C. hero if the person died during the performance 
 
214 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 of the gallant act, or before the bestowal of the decora- 
 tion. In these cases, the name of the person was 
 placed among the official records and a description of 
 the performance printed in the London Gazette. 
 
 Such a rule seemed unnecessarily harsh, and King 
 Edward VII. caused it to be deleted from the warrant. 
 Not only did he rule that in all future cases the relatives 
 of a dead hero were to be given the decoration, but he 
 decided that in every case where the Cross had been 
 withheld, for this reason, since its inception in 1856, the 
 relatives could come forward and claim it. 
 
 In 1916 King George gave further consideration to 
 the granting of posthumous awards, with the result that 
 an Army Order was issued, as follows : 
 
 " The Insignia of an Order or Decoration conferred 
 by the King for distinguished or meritorious service, 
 since August 4, 1914, upon an officer or soldier who has 
 not survived to receive it may be publicly presented 
 to the next-of-kin, if they so desire, and are resident 
 in the United Kingdom. 
 
 " The Victoria Cross, the G.C.B., G.C.M.G., K.C.B., 
 and K.C.M.G. will be presented by his Majesty in 
 person, while the C.B., C.M.G., the D.S.O., Military 
 Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal 
 and Meritorious Service Medal will be presented on 
 his Majesty's behalf by general officers commanding at 
 parades of troops, to be held from time to time, at 
 convenient centres throughout the country. 
 
 " Expenses of conveyance only will be allowed, 
 when desired, in the case of one relative, or in excep- 
 tional cases, such as those of age or infirmity, of a second 
 relative. 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 215 
 
 ' The next-of-kin of deceased officers and soldiers 
 to whom orders and decorations have already been 
 forwarded may also attend a presentation under the 
 above conditions." 
 
 Crosses not Gained in the Presence of the Enemy. 
 
 In the original warrant issued in 1856, clause 5 stated 
 that " the Cross shall only be awarded to those who 
 have served Us in the presence of the enemy," but in 
 the London Gazette of August 10, 1858, the following 
 passage appeared : 
 
 " By a warrant under Her Royal Sign Manual, 
 August 10, 1858, Her Majesty was pleased to direct 
 that the Victoria Cross should be conferred subject to 
 the rules and ordinances already made on Officers and 
 Men of Her Majesty's Naval and Military Services who 
 may perform acts of conspicuous courage and bravery 
 under circumstances of extreme danger, such as the 
 occurrence of a fire on board ship or of the foundering 
 of a vessel at sea, or under any other circumstances in 
 which through the courage and devotion displayed 
 life or public property might be saved." Thus the 
 need for performing the brave deed in the presence of 
 the enemy no longer held. 
 
 No awards were made under this modified regulation 
 until 1866, when Canada was disturbed by the raids 
 of Fenians bands of men who did dishonour to the 
 cause of Ireland under the pretence of striking a blow 
 at England through Canada.* During the military 
 activities which were set on foot to check the rebel 
 onslaughts, a railway waggon laden with a considerable 
 quantity of ammunition caught fire whilst standing 
 
 * Bourinot, " The Story of Canada." 
 
216 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 in Danville Station. Most of the people in the vicinity 
 seemed at a loss to know what to do, although they saw 
 clearly that a disastrous explosion could only be 
 suppressed by prompt measures. A man of pluck and 
 action was Private O'Hea ; he rushed up to the waggon, 
 clambered among the boxes full of deadly material, 
 located the fire, and stifled it with water handed to him 
 by friends. The authorities recognised that it was 
 O'Hea's presence of mind and bravery which prevented 
 a most terrible explosion, and he was, accordingly, 
 given the V.C. Poor O'Hea's end was a sad one ; 
 some years ago he was lost in the Australian bush, and 
 no trace of him has ever been found.* 
 
 In 1881 the amendment of 1858, given above, was 
 annulled by the Royal Warrant which follows : 
 
 " Qualification required for the decoration of the V.C. 
 
 " VICTORIA R. 
 
 " Whereas doubts have arisen as to the qualifica- 
 tion required for the decoration of the Victoria Cross, 
 and whereas the description of such qualification on our 
 Warrant of 2gth day of January, 1856 (it was trans- 
 mitted to the Secretary of State for War on Feb. 5, 
 1856), is not uniform, Our Will and Pleasure is that the 
 qualification shall be ' conspicuous bravery or devotion 
 to the country in the presence of the enemy,' and that 
 Our Royal Warrant of the 2Qth day of January, 1856, 
 shall be read and interpreted accordingly. 
 
 " Given at Our Court at Osborne, this 23rd day of 
 April, 1881, in the 44th year of Our reign. 
 
 " By Her Majesty's Command, 
 
 " HUGH C. E. CHILDERS." 
 
 * Wilkins, " History of the Victoria Cross." 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 217 
 
 Thus, once more, the V.C. could only be won in the 
 presence of the enemy, and this rule holds to-day. For 
 such deeds as that of O'Hea, the Albert Medal or the 
 Board of Trade medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at 
 Sea would now, probably, be awarded. 
 
 Civilian V.C.s. A certain number of civilians have 
 been accorded the honour of wearing the Cross but 
 most, if not all of them, gained the decoration during 
 the Indian Mutiny, when every available Englishman 
 on the spot became a fighter, whether he had accepted 
 the Queen's shilling or not. In order to acknowledge 
 valour performed by civilians in the presence of the 
 enemy, the following supplementary warrant was 
 drawn up : 
 
 " Whereas during the progress of operations which 
 We have undertaken against the insurgent Mutineers 
 in India, it has not infrequently happened that non- 
 military persons who have borne arms as volunteers 
 both at Lucknow and elsewhere, have performed deeds 
 of gallantry in consideration of which they are not 
 eligible for this high distinction. 
 
 " Now know that We have thought fit hereby to 
 signify Our Royal Will and Pleasure that the said 
 decoration shall be conferred on such non-military 
 persons as aforesaid who may be qualified to receive the 
 same in accordance with the rules and ordinances 
 made." 
 
 V.C.s of the Indian Army. Since the time of the 
 Mutiny, the Victoria Cross has been available for British 
 officers in command of native Indian troops, but it was 
 not until the year 1911 that native officers and men of 
 the Indian Army could acquire this coveted distinction ; 
 
218 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 accordingly, the first opportunity which arose for our 
 Asiatic brethren to gain the award was during the Great 
 War. 
 
 Sepoy Khudadad, of the I2gth Duke of Connaught's 
 Own Baluchis, was the first to receive the honour. On 
 October 31, 1914, at Hollebeke in Belgium, when the 
 officer in charge was wounded and one machine-gun 
 had been put out of action by shell-fire, this gallant 
 soldier, although himself badly hit, worked a gun until 
 all his comrades were killed. 
 
 The First V.C. Bar. The original warrant affecting 
 the Victoria Cross stated " that any one who, after 
 having received the Cross shall again perform an act of 
 bravery which, if he had not received such Cross, would 
 have entitled him to it, such further act shall be 
 recorded by a bar attached to the riband by which the 
 Cross is suspended." 
 
 For some curious reason a good deal of controversy 
 has arisen over the question of who received the first 
 bar. The matter has often found its way into the press 
 and a number of people have been variously cited not 
 by themselves, of course as the fortunate recipients. 
 Most of the claims fail immediately they are examined, 
 but those of Lieutenant W. N. Hewett, R.N., Troop- 
 sergeant-major Berryman, i7th Lancers, and Lieu- 
 tenant A. Martin-Leake, R.A.M.C., are worth con- 
 sideration. 
 
 A well-known authority on war medals for whom we 
 have the highest appreciation urges that the two former 
 gallant gentlemen gained clasps at Inkermann. We 
 fear he is wrong, for we have searched through the 
 official records and have found no trace of a bar being 
 awarded to the two persons he mentions. It is not 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 219 
 
 always possible, we know, to obtain all the necessary 
 official evidence in matters respecting dates so far 
 distant as that of Inkermann, and we began to wonder 
 whether we had failed to alight upon just the document 
 necessary to decide the point. Accordingly, we turned to 
 Mr. Wilkins' " History of the Victoria Cross," published 
 by Constable, wherein are photographs of nearly every 
 hero who won the Cross prior to 1914. Hewett and 
 Berryman appear wearing their awards, but no bars 
 are attached, and no mention of added honours is made 
 in the accompanying letterpress.* As a last resort we 
 asked Messrs. Hancocks, who make the bars as well as 
 the decorations, and we understand from them that 
 their ledgers award the palm to Lieutenant A. Martin- 
 Leake. 
 
 Captain Arthur Martin-Leake gained his first V.C. 
 award in the South African War, where he acted as 
 surgeon-captain to the South African Constabulary. 
 On February 8, 1902, in an engagement at Vlakfontein, 
 he attended to many of the wounded under most trying 
 circumstances. At one time he tended a man who had 
 been badly hit, although some forty Boers were firing 
 at him at a range of no more than a hundred yards. 
 Then he went to an officer, and whilst bandaging him 
 was shot three times. His devotion only ceased when 
 he dropped from sheer exhaustion. Water was offered 
 him to relieve his sufferings, but he only accepted it 
 when all the other wounded had been attended to. 
 
 * " No such clasp has as yet been granted, in spite of the state- 
 ment to that effect which appears in most books hitherto published 
 on the subject. I have the highest authority for this assertion, 
 including the personal denial of a gallant officer, Major Berryman, 
 who was credited by many writers with the possession of a V.C. 
 bar." Written by D. H. Parry, in 1895, in " Britain's Roll of Glory." 
 
220 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The official record of Captain Martin-Leake's bar 
 says : " Granted a clasp for most conspicuous bravery 
 and devotion to duty throughout the present campaign, 
 especially during the period Oct. 29-Nov. 8, 1914, near 
 Zonnebeke, when he rescued, whilst exposed to constant 
 fire, a large number of wounded lying close to the 
 enemy's trenches." 
 
 Miscellaneous. The blue ribbon for the naval V.C. is 
 now discontinued, and all recipients, whether in the 
 Navy, Army or Air Force, wear the Cross suspended by 
 a crimson ribbon. 
 
 When the ribbon, alone, is worn a miniature bronze 
 cross is pinned to it, with an 
 additional bronze cross for each 
 bar. Thus a V.C. with one bar 
 
 The Ribbon for the v.c. is denoted by two miniature 
 
 with one bar, when crosses on t h e ribbon. 
 
 worn without the de- _. r . , 
 
 coration. The annuity of 10, above 
 
 mentioned, may be increased to 
 50 at the discretion of the Secretary of State when 
 old age or infirmity have impoverished the recipient. 
 
 Auction Prices. The sale of a V.C. is forbidden 
 except after the death of the person who gained it. 
 When pieces do appear on the market, the prices 
 obtained for them vary considerably. 45 is probably 
 a minimum, whilst 175 seems to be the highest figure. 
 The rank and fame of the recipient, and perhaps in a 
 lesser degree his regiment, affect the value. No pieces 
 with bars have ever been sold. 
 
 As the decoration is sometimes imitated, it may be 
 well to state that its exact measurement is if inches 
 wide, and the weight 434 grains. Chasing and finishing 
 may cause a slight variation in these figures, but the 
 
THE VICTORIA CROSS 221 
 
 margin is insignificant. In the case of forgeries, the 
 width is usually a trifle less than that given above, 
 whilst the weight is seldom even approximate. Brass 
 and iron are the metals used by most forgers ; either 
 of these when lacquered may present a fair appearance. 
 Messrs. Hancocks can, of course, tell in a moment 
 whether a piece is genuine or not. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 
 
 ONE almost feels inclined to place a sort of genea- 
 logical table at the head of this chapter to 
 illustrate the different degrees of merit which 
 are attached to the various medals available for special 
 services rendered in war. Such a table, however, 
 might prove useful in imparting a fairly reasonable 
 idea to the uninitiated, but it would lack a measure of 
 accuracy which is necessary in such a work as this. 
 
 However, we may give, in general terms, the 
 following particulars which will be qualified by sub- 
 sequent details : 
 
 For a naval officer, the Victoria Cross is the highest 
 award ; for lesser services he may obtain the Dis- 
 tinguished Service Order, and, for services of still 
 lesser value, the Distinguished Service Cross. 
 
 For an army officer, the Victoria Cross is again the 
 award of pre-eminence, followed by the Distinguished 
 Service Order and the Military Cross. 
 
 For petty officers and men in the Navy, the Victoria 
 Cross comes first, and then the Conspicuous Gallantry 
 Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal. 
 
 For non-commissioned officers and men in the 
 Army, the three awards are the Victoria Cross, the 
 Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal. 
 
 222 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 223 
 
 Flying officers have two special awards, the Dis- 
 tinguished Flying Cross and the Air Force Cross ; 
 whilst, for the lower ranks 
 in the same service, there 
 is the Distinguished Flying 
 Medal and also the Air Force 
 Medal. 
 
 As the Victoria Cross is 
 dealt with in a separate 
 chapter, we may commence 
 our detailed account of the !:=? 
 
 awards with 
 
 The Distinguished Service 
 Order. This much-coveted 
 honour was instituted on 
 September 6, 1886, when the 
 following regulations were drawn up, under the authority 
 of Queen Victoria : 
 
 " Whereas we have taken into Our Royal con- 
 sideration that the means of adequately rewarding the 
 distinguished services of Officers in our Naval and 
 Military Services who have been honourably mentioned 
 in despatches are limited ; now 
 for the purpose of attaining an 
 end so desirable as that of re- 
 
 The Ribbon and Attachments 
 of the D.S.O. 
 
 The Rosette worn on warding individual instance of 
 
 the Ribbon to denote ., ,. , . . , j 
 
 the possession of a meritorious or distinguished ser- 
 Bar when the actual vice in war, We have instituted 
 and created and by these presents, 
 for Us, Our Heirs and Successors 
 do institute and create a new 
 Naval and Military Order of Distinction to be desig- 
 nated as hereinafter described which We are desirous 
 
 decoration is not worn. 
 [The V.C. and 1914 
 Star excepted.] 
 
224 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 should be highly prized by the Officers of Our Naval 
 and Military Services, and we are graciously pleased 
 to make, ordain, and establish the following rules and 
 ordinances for the government of the same, which 
 shall henceforth be inviolably observed and kept. 
 
 "It is ordained that the Order shall consist of the 
 Sovereign, and of such Members of Companions as We, 
 Our Heirs or Successors, shall appoint. 
 
 " It is ordained that no person shall be eligible for 
 this distinction who doth not actually hold, at the time 
 of his nomination, a Commission in Our Navy, in Our 
 Land Forces, or Marines, or in Our Indian or Colonial 
 Naval or Military Forces (the Air Service was added 
 during the War of 1914-18) or a Commission in one of 
 the Departments of Our Navy or Army, the holder of 
 which is entitled to Honorary or relative Navy or Army 
 rank, nor shall any person be nominated unless his 
 services shall have been marked by the especial 
 mention of his name, by the Admiral or Senior Naval 
 Officer Commanding a Squadron or Detached Naval 
 Force, or by the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in 
 the Field, in despatches for meritorious or distinguished 
 service in the Field, or before the enemy. 
 
 " It is ordained that Foreign Officers who have been 
 associated in Naval and Military operations with our 
 Forces shall be eligible to be Honorary Members of 
 this Order. 
 
 " It is ordained that this Order shall rank next to 
 and immediately after Our Order of the Indian Empire, 
 and that the Companions thereof shall in all places and 
 assemblies whatsoever have place and precedency next 
 to and immediately after the Companions of Our said 
 Order of the Indian Empire and shall rank among 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 225 
 
 themselves according to the dates of their respective 
 nominations. (Owing to the recent creation of certain 
 new orders, it is now ordained that the D.S.O. ranks 
 immediately after the Companions of Honour.) 
 
 " It is ordained that the Badge of the Order, which 
 shall consist of a gold cross, enamelled white, edged 
 gold, having on one side thereof in the centre, within 
 a wreath of laurel enamelled green, the Imperial 
 Crown, in gold upon a red enamelled ground, and on 
 the reverse, within a similar wreath and on a similar 
 ground, Our Imperial and Royal Cypher, V.R.I., 
 shall be suspended from the left breast by a red riband, 
 edged blue, of one inch in width." (On July 24, 1902, 
 it was ordained that the cypher should be changed to 
 E. R. VII., which in turn gave place to G. R. V. on 
 September 17, 1910.) 
 
 On August 23, 1916, it was provided that a bar 
 should be awarded for subsequent acts of high merit. 
 The warrant said : " It is Our will and pleasure and 
 We do hereby ordain that anyone who, after having 
 performed services for which the Distinguished Service 
 Order is awarded, subsequently performs an approved 
 act of gallantry which, if he had not received the Order, 
 would have entitled him to it, shall be awarded a Bar 
 to be attached to the riband by which the Order is 
 suspended, and for every additional such act an 
 additional Bar may be added." 
 
 We may add that when a bar has been awarded 
 and the ribbon alone is worn, the possession of the bar 
 is indicated by fixing a small silver rosette to the centre 
 of the ribbon. Additional rosettes are added for each 
 additional bar. 
 
 Formerly, the D.S.O. could be won for an act of 
 
 p 
 
226 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 great military merit not necessarily performed in the 
 presence of the enemy it might even be obtained 
 in times of peace. Now, however, the Army Council 
 has decided that it can only be awarded for service in 
 action, this term being held to mean 
 
 1. Services under fire. 
 
 2. Distinguished individual services in connection 
 with air raids, bombardments, or other enemy action 
 which at the time produces conditions equivalent to 
 services in actual combat, and demands the same per- 
 sonal elements of command, initiative, or control on 
 the part of individuals, and, in a lesser degree only, 
 possibly entails the same risks. 
 
 In practice, it is seldom that the highest officers 
 receive this award though there seems to be no actual 
 rule debarring them from the honour. In their case, 
 merit is acknowledged by the bestowal of one of the 
 seven orders which take precedence over all others. 
 
 Auction Prices. No comparative figures can be 
 given of the values of the V.R.I., E. R.VIL, and G. R. V. 
 varieties of the D.S.O., for very few specimens were 
 awarded by King Edward and, happily, it is yet too 
 early for those of King George to have found their way 
 on the market. Of those bearing the Victorian cypher, 
 the lowest price known by us to have been obtained 
 at auction is 7 ios., but many have sold for as much as 
 three or four times this sum. 
 
 The Distinguished Service Cross. From the moment 
 the D.S.O. was instituted, it became abundantly 
 clear that a decoration more appropriate to the junior 
 commands was needed. In June, 1901, King Edward, 
 therefore, sanctioned the institution of an award for the 
 Navy known as the Conspicuous Service Cross. 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC, 227 
 
 This new Cross, undoubtedly, supplied a measure 
 of need, but it did not go far enough. Junior com- 
 missioned officers of the lower grades found very little 
 opportunity of gaming the D.S.O., and were precluded 
 from winning the Conspicuous Service Cross. Accord- 
 ingly, a revision of the warrant was thought necessary, 
 and on October 14, 1914, the Lords Commissioners of 
 the Admiralty announced that King George had deter- 
 mined to supersede the C.S.C. 
 by a new decoration to be 
 known as the Distinguished 
 Service Cross. 
 
 This latter is available for 
 all who were mentioned in 
 the warrant of 1901, but, in 
 addition, it can be won by 
 those holding commissions 
 up to, though not including, 
 the rank of Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander. 
 
 In both cases, the decora- 
 tion consists of a cross-pattee. The outside edges of 
 the limbs are curved, and the spaces between them 
 are almost complete circles. The cross is made of 
 silver, with a dull surface. In the centre is a raised 
 circle containing the royal monogram and the imperial 
 crown. The underface is plain. A silver ring acts as 
 suspender, and through it passes a silk ribbon, blue, 
 white, and blue, in equal widths. 
 
 The Conspicuous Service Cross bears the monogram 
 of King Edward (thus, E. R. I.), and the Distinguished 
 Service Cross that of King George (G. R. I.)- 
 
 Bars are available for subsequent acts of sufficient 
 
 The Ribbon and Attach- 
 ments of the D.S.C. 
 
228 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 merit. These are made of silver ; are plain with con- 
 cave horizontal and convex vertical sides. The posses- 
 sion of a bar is indicated on the ribbon by the fixing of 
 a silver rosette, as mentioned in the case of the D.S.O. 
 
 Five pounds is a fair price for the decoration, with- 
 out bar, but pieces are seldom offered for sale. 
 
 The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. When the Crimea 
 brought about the issue of the Distinguished Conduct 
 medal for the Army, it was felt that a parallel 
 award was required for the Navy, and, as a result, the 
 Conspicuous Gallantry medal came into being during 
 the same period of hostility. 
 
 The C.G. medal was offered to petty officers and 
 men of lesser rank in the Navy and non-commissioned 
 officers and men in the Royal Marines. A money grant 
 went with the award when won by the highest of these 
 ranks. 
 
 The original warrant affecting this honoured decora- 
 tion merely instituted the piece for the duration of the 
 Crimean War, but it was re-issued for the Ashantee 
 rising of 1873-4, since when it has been given a per- 
 manent place among the medals of the Navy and 
 Marines. 
 
 The earliest awards were struck with the dies of 
 the old Meritorious Service medal, the lettering being 
 altered by hand. This gave an untidy appearance to 
 the piece, as the word For appeared in raised capitals 
 whilst the rest of the inscription, Conspicuous Gallantry, 
 was sunk, being engraved. These early pieces, also, 
 were given the clasp of the Meritorious Service medal, 
 which was of the curved scroll pattern ; later ones, 
 however, have the straight clasp. 
 
 The permanent pattern of this medal is as follows : 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 229 
 
 Obverse. The effigy of the reigning sovereign. 
 King Edward and King George have appeared in 
 naval attire. 
 
 Reverse. A circle formed by a wreath and an 
 imperial crown. Within these is the inscription hi 
 raised characters, For Conspicuous Gallantry. 
 
 Ribbon. As for the Distinguished Service Cross, 
 i.e. blue, white and blue. 
 
 Metal. Silver. 
 
 Bars are available for subsequent acts of conspicuous 
 gallantry, and rosettes are fixed to the ribbon to indicate 
 such bars, as described for previous decorations. 
 
 The collector will find, at least, four different 
 patterns of the C.G. medal, the first of which is, of 
 course, very rare. Pieces of the temporary pattern 
 have sold for about 50, but the general price for the 
 later issues is somewhere in 
 the neighbourhood of four 
 guineas. 
 
 The Distinguished Service 
 Medal. This medal was first 
 issued in October, 1914, at 
 the time of the institution 
 of the Distinguished Service 
 Cross. It is awarded to " petty 
 officers and men of His 
 Majesty's Navy and to non- 
 commissioned officers and men 
 of the Royal Marines who 
 may at any time show them- 
 selves to the fore in action or who set an example of 
 bravery and resource under fire, but without per- 
 forming acts of such pre-eminent bravery as would 
 
 . 
 
 1W 
 
 ( 
 
 \ 
 
 Method of fixing Bars to 
 other Bravery and allied 
 decorations. 
 
230 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 render them eligible for the Conspicuous Gallantry 
 medal." 
 
 The particulars of the piece are as follows : 
 Obverse. The effigy of the reigning sovereign in 
 naval attire. 
 
 Reverse. A circle formed by a wreath and an 
 imperial crown. Within these is the inscription in 
 raised characters, For Distinguished Service. 
 Clasp. Straight. 
 
 Ribbon. As for the Conspicuous Gallantry medal 
 but with a narrow stripe of blue running down the centre 
 of the white. 
 Metal Silver. 
 
 Bars. As for the Conspicuous Gallantry medal. 
 Sale Price. This medal is of too recent introduction 
 to have acquired a definite average value. 
 
 The Military Cross. When the awards for the Navy 
 had been added to and partly recast in the autumn 
 
 of 1914, it became evident 
 that the sea - service was 
 better provided with decora- 
 tions than the Army. To 
 equalise this position, the 
 Military Cross and Military 
 Medal were instituted for the 
 land forces. 
 
 The Military Cross is an 
 officer's decoration, being 
 available for captains, first 
 The Ribbon and Attach- and second lieutenants, and 
 ments of the M.c. warrant officers of the home, 
 
 Indian or Colonial armies, who are recommended by 
 the Secretary of State for War. A novel award of 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 231 
 
 this piece is provided by the towns of Verdun and 
 Ypres, which were.'given the Military Cross for their noble 
 stand against the repeated onslaughts of the Germans. 
 
 The Cross is a slender-limbed, straight-sided, silver 
 decoration. The centre bears the imperial cypher, 
 G. R. I., and an imperial crown figures at the extremity 
 of each limb. It is hung by a chain link to a straight 
 silver clasp, through which the white, purple and white 
 watered ribbon passes. The reverse of the decoration 
 is engraved with the name and other particulars of 
 the recipient. 
 
 Bars are available for distribution when the per- 
 formance of a subsequent act merits such an honour. 
 These are silver, and may be recognised by the presence 
 of an imperial crown on the centre of their front face. 
 A rosette is worn on the ribbon to indicate the possession 
 of a bar, as described for previous decorations. 
 
 The Military Cross has been awarded to several 
 women who have shown bravery and resource when 
 in the zone of fire. 
 
 The Distinguished Conduct Medal. This medal came 
 into being during the Crimean War and, at that 
 tune, replaced the Meritorious Service medal which, 
 however, has since been restored with a changed 
 purpose. As is indicated by the inscription on the 
 reverse, the award is given for distinguished conduct in 
 the field, and it may only be won on the recommendation 
 of the Commander-in-Chief, by warrant officers, and 
 those of lower rank. 
 
 The Victorian awards give, on the obverse, a trophy 
 of arms consisting of cannon, muskets, cannon balls, 
 also helmets, a drum and standards, all arranged 
 around a shield bearing the arms as displayed on the 
 
232 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Royal Standard. This face is the work of Pistrucci, 
 at one time chief engraver at the Mint. 
 
 The Edwardian and Georgian awards display an 
 effigy of the King in field-marshal's uniform. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern. 
 
 The metal of the piece is silver. 
 
 The ribbon is crimson, deep blue, and crimson in 
 equal widths. 
 
 The bars are silver, and bear a horizontal spray of 
 leaves. When the ribbon is worn without the medal, 
 the former bears a small rosette if the owner possesses 
 a bar. 
 
 A small pension or gratuity is given to all who are 
 awarded the D.C.M. 
 
 Four or five guineas is a fair price for a D.C.M. 
 when possessing no special interest. Georgian pieces 
 are, as yet, seldom seen for sale. 
 
 The Military Medal was first announced in the London 
 Gazette, during April, 1916, in the following terms : 
 
 " The Military Medal which will be of silver is to 
 be awarded to non-commissioned officers and men for 
 individual or associated acts of bravery on the recom- 
 mendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the Field. It 
 will bear, on the obverse, the Royal Effigy and, on the 
 reverse, the words For Bravery in the Field, encircled 
 by a wreath surmounted by the Royal Cypher and a 
 Crown. It is to be worn immediately before all war 
 medals on the left breast, the ribbon being dark blue 
 with three white and two crimson stripes, alternating 
 in the centre. 
 
 " A bar will be awarded for further acts of bravery 
 to non-commissioned officers and men, who have 
 already won the medal." 
 
SERVI "* MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 233 
 
 A supf ! ementaiy announcement was issued at the 
 Court o ; : \ James's in June of the same year, stating 
 that 
 
 " Whereas We did by Royal Warrant institute and 
 create a silver medal entitled ' The Military Medal ' 
 to be awarded to non-commissioned officers and men 
 for bravery in the field ; 
 
 " And Whereas we are desirous that, under special 
 circumstances, women shall be eligible for the award 
 of the said medal ; 
 
 "It is Our Will and Pleasure and We do hereby 
 ordain that ' The Military Medal ' may, under excep- 
 tional circumstances, on the special recommendation 
 of a Commander-in-Chief in the Field, be awarded to 
 women, whether subjects or foreign persons, who have 
 shown bravery and devotion under fire." 
 
 The bars are fashioned in silver, and bear a hori- 
 zontal spray of leaves. Rosettes, when fixed to the 
 ribbon, indicate the possession of bars, as mentioned 
 previously. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll type. 
 
 We have seen an occasional specimen of the Military 
 medal offered for sale at prices averaging twenty-five 
 shillings. 
 
 The Meritorious Service Medal was the first of our 
 existing awards to be given for a display of merit, 
 being instituted by Queen Victoria in 1845 for the 
 Army and in 1849 f r the Royal Marines. 
 
 " We deem it expedient," said the original warrant, 
 " to afford a greater encouragement to the non-com- 
 missioned officers and soldiers of Our Army who may 
 have distinguished themselves, or who may have given 
 good, faithful and efficient service. 
 
234 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 " It is our further will and pleasure that a sum not 
 exceeding 2000 (altered to 4000 after 1853 for the 
 Army and 400 for the Admiralty) a year be distributed 
 for the purpose of granting annuities as rewards for 
 distinguished or meritorious service to sergeants who 
 are now, or who may be hereafter in the Service, either 
 while serving or after discharge with or without pension, 
 in sums not exceeding 20 which may be held during 
 service, and together with pension." 
 
 The medal fell into abeyance during or after the 
 Crimean War, but was reinstated in 1884 and revived 
 during the recent hostilities. It is available for 
 warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men 
 who render valuable and meritorious service, not 
 necessarily within range of the enemy's guns. A 
 recent warrant states that " individuals who are 
 awarded the M.S.M. are not thereby to be entitled to 
 receive a gratuity or annuity. If, however, they are 
 above the rank of corporal, their names may be regis- 
 tered for consideration for an annuity." 
 
 Recently, the Meritorious Service medal has been 
 thrown open to the lower ranks of the Navy and the 
 Royal Air Force. The medal may be described as 
 follows : 
 
 Obverse. The Victorian pattern bears Wyon's 
 effigy of Queen Victoria, whilst more recent strikings 
 have the King's profile. The Army pattern shows 
 His Majesty in field-marshal's dress, the Navy in 
 naval attire, whilst the Air Force bears a truncated 
 bust, as on the coinage. 
 
 Reverse. A circular wreath with an imperial crown 
 at the apex. Within these is the inscription, For 
 Meritorious Service. 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 235 
 
 Clasp. The curved scroll pattern. 
 
 Ribbon. Formerly crimson tor the Army, then 
 crimson with white edges, but now a narrow edging of 
 white and a narrow central stripe of the same colour 
 upon a crimson ribbon. 
 
 For the Royal Marines, a whole coloured deep blue 
 was first used but, recently, this has been changed to 
 the latest Army pattern. 
 
 The Navy, since its admission to the award, has 
 used the crimson ribbon with three white stripes. 
 
 The Royal Air Force has a ribbon with narrow white 
 edges, a white central stripe, a band of deep blue 
 between the left edge and the centre, and a band of 
 crimson between the centre and the right edge. 
 
 Metal. Silver. 
 
 Bars. These are available but only five had been 
 awarded to the end of 1919. 
 
 Sale Prices. Victorian specimens sell for thirty 
 shillings to four guineas. 
 
 The Distinguished Flying Cross, with the three 
 silver awards which follow, owes its origin to the 
 admirable work performed by the Royal Flying Corps 
 during the Great War. As the deeds of the airmen 
 proved to be of so exceptional a character, the decora- 
 tions given to the other services were considered to be 
 insufficiently appropriate, and special flying awards 
 followed as a natural course. They were all instituted 
 on the King's birthday in 1918. The D.F.C. is available 
 for officers and warrant officers who perform acts of 
 gallantry when flying in active operations against the 
 enemy. 
 
 The Cross is an ornate and beautiful piece of work- 
 manship. There are four slender limbs with rounded 
 
236 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 21 
 
 A 
 Figs, i and 2. Obverse and Reverse of the Military Medal. 
 
 Fig. i. The Distinguished Flying Cross. 
 Fig. 2. The Air Force Cross. 
 
IM.ATK XXI 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 237 
 
 ends ; the two horizontal ones are formed of two 
 outspread wings which emerge from a central circle 
 bearing a Tudor rose and the initials, R.A.F. Above 
 these is an imperial crown. A chain attachment fixes 
 the cross to a straight clasp, which is supported by two 
 sprays of palm leaves. The decoration is indeed a 
 work of art, but is more reminiscent of a jewel-pendant 
 than a trophy for the brave, a matter which might 
 have been obviated had some suitable and unique 
 inscription been incorporated in the design, in some 
 such way as is the case with the Victoria Cross. 
 
 The ribbon consists of wide diagonal stripes of 
 white and violet, an unusual arrangement for British 
 awards.* 
 
 The Distinguished Flying Medal is awarded to non- 
 commissioned officers and men who perform acts of 
 gallantry when flying in active operations against the 
 enemy. 
 
 The award consists of an oval medallion showing 
 the winged figure of Athene Nike, seated upon an 
 aeroplane. She holds a hawk which is about to be 
 released. The words, For Courage, appear and the 
 
 * The Air Ministry has issued the following particulars regarding 
 the ribbons of the air awards : D.F.C. i J inches in width, violet 
 and white in alternate diagonal stripes, each | of an inch in width, 
 running at an angle of 45 degrees. A.F.C. As above, but red 
 replacing the violet. D.F.M. As for the D.F.C., but the width of 
 the stripes is ^ of an inch. A.F.M. As for the A.F.C., but the 
 width of the stripes is ^ of an inch. The D.F.C. and A.F.C. ribbon 
 will show at the top corner nearest to the left arm, and at the bottom 
 corner nearest to the centre of the tunic, triangles of equal dimen- 
 sions of violet or red, as the case may be. The D.F.M. and A.F.M. 
 ribbon will show at the top corner nearest to the left arm a triangle 
 of white, and at the bottom corner, nearest to the centre of the 
 tunic, a triangle of equal dimensions of violet or red, as the case 
 may be. 
 
238 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 edge of the piece is beaded. The suspension clasp is 
 fashioned in the shape of two outspread wings. The 
 
 ribbon is white and violet in 
 narrow diagonal stripes. 
 
 The Air Force Cross was also 
 inaugurated on the King's 
 birthday, in 1918. It is 
 awarded to officers, warrant 
 officers and civilians for acts 
 of courage and devotion to 
 duty when flying, although 
 not in active operations against 
 the enemy. 
 
 The Cross, as in the case of 
 the D.F.C., is a highly artistic 
 creation. Three of the limbs 
 terminate in points, the fourth 
 and upper one being provided 
 with an imperial crown. The 
 initials, G. R. L V. appear 
 one on each limb of the cross. 
 A central medallion shows an undraped figure of 
 Hermes riding on the body of a hawk. The figure 
 holds, with outstretched hand, a circular wreath. The 
 clasp is similar to that of the D.F.C., whilst the ribbon 
 is white and purple-red in wide diagonal stripes. 
 
 It is of interest to mention that Mr. Hawker and 
 Commander Grieve were given this cross for their 
 daring attempt to fly the Atlantic. Although a number 
 of awards had been gazetted prior to theirs, they were 
 the first actual recipients. 
 
 The Air Force Medal follows the particulars men- 
 tioned for the Air Force Cross, but is awarded to 
 
 The 
 
 Distinguished 
 
 Medal. 
 
 Flying 
 
The Air Force Medal. 
 
 SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 239 
 
 non-commissioned officers and men who perform acts 
 of courage and devotion to duty when flying, although 
 not in active operations against 
 the enemy. 
 
 The piece consists of an oval, 
 struck in silver. The design is 
 that of Hermes and the hawk, 
 as mentioned for the previous 
 medal. The edge is beaded, 
 and the clasp consists of a pair 
 of outspread wings. The ribbon 
 is white and purple-red, in nar- 
 row diagonal stripes. 
 
 Bars are available for the 
 above quartette of flying awards. 
 
 The Royal Red Cross is a 
 decoration for women which, in its first class, ranks 
 approximately with the Distinguished Service Order 
 for men. It was instituted in April, 1883, by the 
 following royal warrant : 
 
 " VICTORIA R. 
 
 " Whereas We have been pleased to take into Our 
 consideration the services rendered by certain persons 
 in nursing the sick and wounded of Our Army and 
 Navy and have resolved specially to recognise individual 
 instances of special devotion in such services : now for 
 the purpose of attaining this end, We have instituted, 
 constituted and created, and by these presents for Us, 
 Our heirs and successors do institute, constitute and 
 create a decoration to be designated and hereafter 
 prescribed : and We are pleased to make, ordain and 
 establish the following rules and ordinances for the 
 
240 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 government of the same, which shall from henceforth 
 be inviolably observed and kept : 
 
 " First. The decoration shall be styled and 
 designated The Royal Red Cross and shall consist of 
 a cross, enamelled crimson edged with gold, having 
 on the arms thereof the words Faith, Hope, Charity, 
 with the date of the institution of the decoration ; the 
 centre having thereon Our Effigy. 
 
 " On the reverse side Our Royal and Imperial 
 Cipher and Crown shall be shown in relief on the centre. 
 
 " Secondly. The cross shall be attached to a dark 
 blue riband edged with red, of one inch in width, tied 
 in a bow and worn on the left shoulder. 
 
 " Thirdly. The decoration may be worn by the 
 Queen Regnant, the Queen Consort or the Queen 
 Dowager of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland : and it shall be competent for Us, Our heirs 
 and successors to confer the decoration upon any of 
 the Princesses of the Royal Family. 
 
 " Fourthly. It shall be competent for Us, Our 
 heirs and successors, to confer the decoration upon any 
 ladies, whether subjects or foreign persons, who may 
 be recommended to Our notice by Our Secretary of 
 State for War for special exertions in providing for the 
 nursing of sick and wounded soldiers and sailors of our 
 army and navy. 
 
 " Fifthly. It shall be competent for Us, Our heirs 
 and successors, to confer this decoration upon any 
 nursing sisters, or other persons engaged in nursing 
 duties whether subjects or foreign persons who may be 
 recommended to Our notice by Our Secretary of State 
 for War, or, as the case may be, by the First Lord of 
 the Admiralty through Our said Secretary of State, 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 241 
 
 for special devotion and competency which they may 
 have displayed in their nursing duties with Our army 
 in the field, or in Our naval and military hospitals. 
 
 " Lastly. In order to make such additional pro- 
 vision as shall effectually preserve pure this honorable 
 distinction, it is ordained that if any person on whom 
 such distinction shall be conferred shall by her conduct 
 become unworthy of it her name shall be erased by 
 an order under Our sign manual, from the register of 
 those upon whom the said decoration shall have been 
 conferred. 
 
 " And it is hereby declared that We, Our heirs and 
 successors, shall be the sole judge of the conduct which 
 may require the erasure from the register of the name 
 of the offending person, and that it shall at all tunes 
 be competent for Us, Our heirs and successors to 
 restore the name if such restoration should be justified 
 by the circumstances of the case." 
 
 During the reign of King George a supplementary 
 warrant was issued stating that a second class of the 
 Royal Red Cross had been sanctioned. The badge in 
 this case is dull silver instead of gold ; the obverse 
 bears in the centre the royal bust whilst this space, 
 on the reverse, is filled by the royal cypher and crown. 
 
 The Albert Medal. This decoration is held in high 
 esteem as, in a measure, it is an alternative award to 
 the Victoria Cross. Where deeds of exceptional gal- 
 lantry are performed but not in the presence of the 
 enemy, the Victoria Cross cannot be given, and it is the 
 Albert medal which is bestowed in its place. 
 
 The medal was instituted on March 3, 1866, and is 
 named after Prince Consort. Its object is to acknow- 
 ledge the bravery of those who endanger their own lives 
 
 Q 
 
242 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 in attempting or effecting the rescue of others ; it is 
 offered to civilians as well as to service men, though the 
 latter have been the greatest participants in late years. 
 
 Originally, it was confined to heroic deeds performed 
 in connection with shipwrecks, and there were then 
 two classes, first and second. In 1877, two further 
 classes were added for bravery displayed on land, the 
 amended warrant specifically mentioning accidents in 
 mines, on railways or at fires, but other perilous feats 
 were not debarred. 
 
 To-day there are other and more appropriate 
 decorations for gallantry at fires or in mines, and the 
 Albert medal is seldom given now for such cases of 
 merit. 
 
 As at present constituted, the medal is awarded in 
 four classes, known as (i) the Albert medal in Gold, 
 and (2) the Albert medal ; but each of these is sub- 
 divided for gallantry at sea and on land. 
 
 The Albert medal in gold for sea service is an oval 
 badge fashioned, as its name implies, in gold, but parts 
 are enamelled in blue. An oval garter is inscribed, 
 For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea. Within the garter 
 are the initials V. and A., intertwined with an anchor. 
 The uppermost part of the decoration bears an imperial 
 crown, fixed to a metal loop through which the sus- 
 pension ring passes. The ribbon is blue and white in 
 nine equal stripes ; five stripes are blue and four are 
 white. 
 
 The Albert medal in Gold for land service is similar 
 to the above, but crimson enamel is used in place of the 
 blue, the anchor is omitted, the inscription is For 
 Gallantry in Saving Life on Land, and the blue is 
 replaced by brownish crimson stripes in the ribbon. 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 243 
 
 The Albert medal for sea service is fashioned entirely 
 of lacquered bronze, but the badge is otherwise the same 
 as that of the gold piece for sea service. The ribbon 
 is white with three wide bars of blue. 
 
 The Albert medal for land service is of lacquered 
 bronze, but otherwise follows the pattern of the gold 
 piece for land service. The ribbon is white with three 
 wide bars of brownish crimson. 
 
 Bars are available for all four pieces. 
 
 Specimens of the Albert medal of whichever class 
 are rare, and the gold decorations are, of course, 
 valuable. A gold medal has sold for over 70. 
 
 Overseas Distinguished Conduct Medals. Certain of 
 the colonies have obtained sanction from the reign- 
 ing sovereign to award medals of their own striking 
 for distinguished conduct displayed by men in their 
 local navy or army. The need for such awards appears 
 to be of a limited character as, when members of the 
 colonial forces have performed distinguished service 
 in international wars, they have been rewarded by 
 pieces struck in London. 
 
 Such medals generally follow the pattern of the 
 corresponding home award, but the name of the 
 particular colony is given on the reverse. The ribbons 
 vary with each colony. 
 
 The New Zealand Cross. This decoration is occa- 
 sionally met, but it is rare, and sells for about 
 twenty guineas. Its history is somewhat curious. 
 On March i, 1869, the Governor of New Zealand 
 decided to issue this decoration as a reward for dis- 
 tinguished conduct displayed by members of the local 
 militia, volunteer force, and constabulary. He com- 
 municated his intention to the Secretary of State in 
 
244 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 London, observing, at the same time, that he was 
 acting on his own initiative as it was impossible to refer 
 the matter home without incurring a great waste of 
 time. He added that the Secretary must not think 
 any insult was intended to Queen Victoria. 
 
 Earl Granville, the Secretary of State, wrote from 
 Downing Street that the Governor had " overstepped 
 the limits of his authority, but the Queen was ready 
 to sanction this medal and the regulations governing 
 it, but such an incident must not arise in the 
 future." 
 
 The cross is shaped similarly to that of the Victoria 
 Cross, but is made of silver. A star appears on each 
 limb, whilst in the centre are the words New Zealand, 
 surrounded by a gilt laurel wreath. A crown is placed 
 above the uppermost limb, and the suspender bears a 
 V-shaped link. The ribbon is of the same colour as 
 that from which the V.C. depends. The name of the 
 recipient appears on the reverse face. 
 
 The Hong-Kong Plague Medal. In 1894 a severe 
 epidemic of the plague broke out in Hong-Kong, and 
 many officers, men and nursing sisters, stationed in 
 the island, assisted in putting down the scourge. Later, 
 the community decided to present a medal to all who 
 had risked their lives whilst performing this unpleasant 
 task. 
 
 The observe gives a rather gruesome rendering of a 
 man and woman bending over an invalid. The man 
 is pushing away a flying figure of Death, who is en- 
 deavouring, unsuccessfully, to reach the sick patient. 
 In the exergue is a scroll with the date, 1894. 
 
 The reverse is inscribed For Services Rendered 
 During the Plague of 1894, within a circular band, 
 
SERVICE MEDALS FOR BRAVERY, ETC. 245 
 
 whilst, around the band, we read, Presented by the 
 Hong-Kong Community. 
 
 The metal used is silver for the rank and file, but 
 
 he Distinguished Service 
 Cross. 
 
 The Albert Medal 
 (sea). 
 
 The Royal Red Cross 
 (ist class). 
 
 gold for the commissioned officers. A ring joins the 
 ribbon to the medal. The ribbon is a golden-orange 
 with two narrow and one wide stripe of red. 
 
 This medal may not be worn when in uniform. 
 
COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS 
 
 UNDER this head, we deal with an interesting 
 but small group of pieces which, in the main, 
 commemorate the two jubilees of Queen 
 Victoria and the coronations of King Edward and 
 King George. It is perhaps necessary to point out that, 
 in all cases, the awards have gone largely to members 
 of the Navy and Army who wear the decoration when 
 in uniform, but civilians, too, have received these 
 honours. It is impossible to give even an approximate 
 idea of the value of the various items, as the primary 
 consideration is the status of the original recipient. 
 
 Victorian Jubilee Medal. Obverse. A crowned and 
 draped profile of Her Majesty, as appears on the 
 Jubilee silver coinage; with the inscription, Victoria 
 D. G. Regina ei Imperatrix F.D. 
 
 Reverse. A union wreath of roses, thistles and 
 shamrocks enclosing an imperial crown and the 
 legend, In Commemoration of the $oth Year of the Reign 
 of Queen Victoria, 21 June, 1887. 
 
 Ribbon. White with an edging of medium blue 
 and a wide central stripe of the same colour. 
 
 Suspender. A circular ring. 
 
 Metals. Gold, silver and bronze. 
 
 Size. Slightly smaller than the Campaign pieces. 
 
 Victorian Diamond Jubilee Medal. This medal is 
 246 
 
COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS 247 
 
 the same as the previous, but the inscription runs 
 6oth instead of 5oth. Bars dated 1897 were given to 
 recipients of the Jubilee award in certain cases. 
 
 Edwardian Coronation Medal. Obverse. The jugate 
 busts of King Edward and Queen Alexandra, facing 
 right, within a circular wreath forming the edge of 
 the medal. 
 
 Reverse. An imperial crown above the royal cypher 
 and date, July 26, 1902, all within a beaded circle. 
 
 Ribbon. Blue with white edges and a central stripe 
 of red. 
 
 Suspender. A crown and circular ring. 
 
 Metals. Silver and bronze. 
 
 Edwardian Delhi Durbar Medal. Obverse. A pro- 
 file of King Edward and the words Edward VII., 
 Delhi Durbar, 1903. 
 
 Reverse. An inscription in Hindustani. 
 
 Ribbon. A bluish white ribbon with a narrow stripe 
 of deep blue at either edge and a similar central stripe. 
 
 Suspender. A circular ring. 
 
 Metals. Gold, silver and bronze. 
 
 Edwardian Medal for Visit to Ireland. Obverse. 
 A profile of King Edward and the inscription, 
 Edwardus VII. Rex Imperator. 
 
 Reverse. Hibernia, as a female figure representing 
 Ireland, and the Royal yacht at Kingstown. Also, a 
 rose, harp, and shamrock, and the date 1903. 
 
 Ribbon. A plain pale blue. 
 
 Suspender. A circular ring. 
 
 Metals. Silver and bronze. 
 
 Georgian Coronation Medal. Obverse. The jugate 
 busts of King George and Queen Mary, both crowned 
 and facing left. 
 
248 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Reverse. An imperial crown above the royal cypher 
 and date, 22 June, 1911, all within a beaded circle. 
 
 Ribbon. A shade of garter blue with two narrow 
 central stripes of crimson. 
 
 Suspender. A circular ring. 
 
 Metals. Silver. 
 
 Victorian Jubilee Police Medal. Obverse. The veiled 
 head of Queen Victoria, as appears on the Egypt 
 medal of 1882, with the words Victoria Regina. 
 
 Reverse. An oak wreath and crown encircling the 
 inscription, Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. 
 Outside the wreath, the words, Metropolitan Police 
 (or City of London Police) and 1887. 
 
 Ribbon. A plain deep blue. 
 
 Clasp. A straight bar. 
 
 Metals. Silver and gilt bronze. 
 
 Size. As for the Campaign medals. 
 
 Victorian Diamond Jubilee Police Medal. As for the 
 Queen's Jubilee but with the date 1897 instead of 
 1887. The word Jubilee is not altered to Diamond 
 Jubilee. Recipients of the earlier medal were not 
 given the later piece, but a bar with the date 1897. 
 
 Edwardian Coronation Police Medal. Obverse. A 
 crowned and robed effigy of King Edward, facing 
 left, and the words, Edwardus VII., Rex Imperator. 
 
 Reverse. The inscription, Coronation of His Majesty 
 King Edward VII., 1902, above a crown reposing on 
 sprays of oak and palm. In a circle, the inscription, 
 Metropolitan Police (or City of London Police). 
 
 Ribbon. Red with a narrow central stripe of blue. 
 
 Clasp. A straight bar. 
 
 Metals. Silver and gilt-bronze. 
 
 Size. As for the Campaign medals. 
 
ORDER OF LEOPOLD. 
 BELGIUM. 
 
 ORDER OF LEOPOX.D II. 
 BELGIUM. 
 
 CROIX DE GUERRE. 
 BELGIUM. 
 
 MEDAL OF LA REINE 
 ELISABETH. BELGIUM. 
 
 ORDER OF NILE, EGYPT. 
 
 I 
 
 M.EDAILLE MILITAIRE. 
 FRANCE. 
 
 ORDER OF ST. MAURICE 
 AND ST. LAZARUS. ITALY. 
 
 IRON CROSS. 
 (MILITARY) PRUSSIA. 
 
 ORDER OF ST. GEORGE. 
 RUSSIA. 
 
 ORDER OF ST. SAVA. 
 SERBIA. 
 
 LEGION OF HONOUR. 
 FRANCE. 
 
 ORDER OF RISING SUN. 
 JAPAN. 
 
 ORDER OF ST. STANISLAS. 
 RUSSIA 
 
 ORDER OF WHITE EAGLE. 
 
 SERBIA. 
 
 RIBBONS OF FOREIGN ORDERS, ETC. 
 
COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS 249 
 
 Georgian Coronation Police Medal. Obverse. A 
 crowned and robed effigy of King George, facing left, 
 and the words, Georgius V., Rex et Ind. Imp. 
 
 Reverse. An imperial crown within an ornamental 
 circle, all within a larger circle inscribed, Metropolitan 
 Police (or City of London Police] and Coronation, 1911. 
 
 Ribbon. Red with three stripes of blue, none of 
 which touch the edge. 
 
 Suspender. An oval ring. 
 
 Metals. Silver. 
 
 Edwardian Coronation Metropolitan Fire Brigade Medal. 
 As the Edwardian Coronation Police medal but with 
 a suitable inscription. 
 
 Georgian Coronation Metropolitan Fire Brigade Medal. 
 As the Georgian Coronation Police medal but with a 
 suitable inscription. 
 
 Edwardian Coronation Ambulance Brigade Medal. 
 As the Edwardian Coronation Police medal, but with 
 the inscription, St. John's Ambulance Brigade. 
 
 Georgian Coronation Ambulance Brigade Medal. As 
 the Georgian Coronation Police medal but with the 
 inscription St. John's Ambulance Brigade. 
 
 Union of S. Africa Commemoration Medal. This medal 
 was awarded to those who took part in the ceremonies 
 connected with the Union of South Africa in 1910. 
 
 Obverse. An effigy of the King with the usual 
 inscription. 
 
 Reverse. A workman forging a chain, to represent 
 the various links of the Union. 
 
 Ribbon. This is slightly wider than usual, and is 
 yellow with a wide central stripe of dark blue. 
 
 Suspender. A circular ring. 
 
 Metal. Silver. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE, GOOD CONDUCT, ETC. 
 
 TO the collector of modest means who wishes to 
 specialise, this group of Long Service and 
 Good Conduct medals may be recommended, 
 since it is possible to obtain a representative set of the 
 pieces at no great outlay. The group lacks but little 
 in point of interest ; especially is this the case if the 
 corresponding Volunteer, Territorial, Yeomanry and 
 Militia awards be added to those of the regular Navy 
 and Army. 
 
 The Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal may 
 be mentioned first, as it was the earliest award of this 
 nature to appear. It was instituted in deference to 
 the personal wishes of William IV., who desired that 
 every soldier on completing either twenty-one years 
 in the infantry or twenty years in the cavalry, with 
 irreproachable character, should be given a suitable 
 decoration. 
 
 The original warrant is dated July 30, 1830, but 
 many amendments have been issued since. To-day, 
 eighteen years' service is requisite nine for European 
 soldiers on the West Coast of Africa but the following 
 " are absolutely ineligible for the good conduct medal 
 and must not be recommended." 
 
 250 
 
MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE, ETC. 251 
 
 (i) A soldier who has been convicted for felony, or 
 any other offence of a disgraceful character. 
 
 (ii.) A soldier who during the last sixteen of the 
 eighteen years of his service 
 
 (a) Has incurred more than six entries in the 
 
 regimental conduct sheet ; or 
 (6) Has been guilty of desertion or fraudulent en- 
 listment ; or 
 
 (c) Has been convicted by a G.C.M. or D.C.M. ; or 
 
 (d) Has been drunk on duty, or after being warned 
 
 for duty ; or has been drunk while actually 
 engaged on garrison or regimental employment ; 
 or 
 
 (e) Has, as a N.C.O., been reduced under the Royal 
 
 Prerogative or under Section 183 of the Army 
 Act for an offence, but not for inefficiency. 
 
 With each reign, the medal has varied in pattern, 
 but in all cases the reverse has borne the inscription, 
 For Long Service and Good Conduct, printed in horizontal 
 lines. 
 
 Type I. The pieces issued during William's reign 
 bore on the obverse a trophy of arms surrounding the 
 royal escutcheon, which it is well to note included the 
 device of Hanover. This was the work of Pistrucci, 
 and is the same design as was mentioned on page 232, 
 hi connection with the early copies of the D.C.M. 
 The clasp was a plain steel bar. 
 
 Type //.The Victorian pattern followed that 
 described for William IV., but the Hanoverian arms 
 were removed from the central shield. From 1837 to 
 1850 (circa), a plain steel clasp, as Type I., was used, 
 but from 1850 onwards a silver clasp replaced it. Thus 
 there are early and late patterns of the Victorian award. 
 
252 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Type III. The Edwardian issue appeared with the 
 design of Pistrucci replaced by a profile of King 
 Edward, wearing the dress of a field-marshal. The 
 silver scroll clasp was retained. 
 
 Type IV. The Georgian issue differed only from 
 Type III. in that King George's features replaced those 
 of his father. 
 
 For many years the Army Long Service ribbon was 
 a plain deep crimson, but during the Great War became 
 deep crimson with white edges. The alteration was 
 made in order to put an end to the confusion which 
 existed between this ribboii and that of the Victoria 
 Cross. 
 
 The value of the Army Long Service medals varies 
 a great deal. Type I. may be purchased for about 2. 
 Type II. is not dear at half this sum if it be provided 
 with the steel clasp, but, when given a silver scroll 
 clasp, five shillings is a fair price, though in this case 
 much depends on age and the particulars of the 
 recipient. Type III. costs about five or six shillings, 
 whilst the Georgian type is as yet less common. 
 
 Colonial Army Long Service Medals. In this group 
 there is a fair array of interesting matter, but pieces are 
 not found in the British Isles with any frequency. As 
 a rule, the design of the colonial awards follows that used 
 by the home country, but in every case the designation 
 of the colony is added. It should perhaps be mentioned 
 that these pieces are only given to the local units and 
 not to members of British forces who may happen to 
 complete their term of long and efficient service in an 
 overseas possession. The ribbons of the colonial long 
 service medals are usually deep crimson with a stripe 
 of a distinguishing colour running down the centre. 
 
MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE, ETC. 253 
 That for the Australian Commonwealth is a deep green ; 
 for Canada, it is white ; for the Cape, yellow ; for New 
 Zealand, light green ; and for the West African Frontier 
 Force, a wide stripe of green. The Permanent Overseas 
 Forces, however, use a crimson ribbon having three 
 central stripes, white, blue-black and white. 
 
 The Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 
 was first instituted a year after the corresponding Army 
 medal received sanction. Twenty-one years of ex- 
 emplary service were required by the original warrant, 
 but fifteen years qualify at the present time. 
 
 The earliest Navy award is a rather insignificant 
 piece. The obverse gives an anchor with a crown above 
 and a spray of oak on either side. The reverse has a 
 circular band inscribed, For Long Service and Good 
 Conduct. Within the circle are engraved the par- 
 ticulars of the award. The mounting consists of a 
 small ring instead of a clasp, and the piece was ordered 
 to be worn on the left breast, at the third button of the 
 jacket. The ribbon is narrower than usual, and is a 
 whole colour blue. 
 
 During the reign of Queen Victoria, but not for some 
 years after her coronation, a new pattern was intro- 
 duced. In this case, the Wyon profile of Her Majesty 
 figures on the obverse whilst a majestic wooden battle- 
 ship is seen on the reverse. A knotted cable runs 
 around the vessel, and the circular band so formed is 
 inscribed, For Long Service, and Good Conduct. A 
 straight silver clasp carries the ribbon, which is deep 
 blue with white edges. There are minor varieties of 
 this piece. 
 
 The Edwardian and Georgian Navy Long Service 
 awards are similar to that described for Queen 
 
254 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Victoria, with the necessary change of profile and 
 wording. 
 
 The earliest pattern of William's reign is not often 
 seen, as few copies were issued. It may be bought, how- 
 ever, for two or three pounds. The Victorian type com- 
 mands a few shillings, say 55. to 75. 6d., except when 
 the date, 1848, is given below the profile. It is then 
 rare. The Edwardian and Georgian issues are only 
 worth 6s. 6d. 
 
 Ability and Good Conduct Medal. In 1842, a cir- 
 cular medal bearing this title was issued for distribution 
 to engineers of the Royal Navy, but was speedily with- 
 drawn when engineers were raised to the rank of 
 warrant officers. Only six pieces were struck and 
 four, alone, were awarded. The piece is thus ex- 
 tremely rare, but copies are to be seen in certain public 
 collections. 
 
 The obverse displays a paddle steamship and a 
 trident figures in the exergue. The reverse is filled by 
 a crowned anchor and the words, For Ability and Good 
 Conduct. 
 
 Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 
 This silver award is circular, and gives on the obverse 
 the King's profile and the usual inscription. The 
 reverse presents an imperial crown and an eagle sur- 
 rounded by the words, For Long Service and Good 
 Conduct. The ribbon is a combination of the Navy and 
 Army patterns, being half blue and half crimson with 
 narrow edges of white. 
 
 Volunteer Officers' Decoration. This award was given 
 between the year 1892 and the date of the dis- 
 establishment of the Force to officers who performed 
 twenty years' efficient and capable service. It figured 
 
MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE, ETC. 255 
 
 as an oval medallion consisting of the royal cypher 
 and crown enclosed in an oval wreath of silver oak 
 leaves bound in four places by gold bands. A circular 
 ring gathered in the plain green ribbon. 
 
 The Volunteer Long Service Medal was awarded 
 between the year 1894 and the date of the disestablish- 
 ment of the Force to men who served for twenty years. 
 The medal is circular, and gives the royal profile on 
 the obverse, and, on the reverse, two sprays of laurel 
 and an intertwined ribbon inscribed, For Long Service 
 in the Volunteer Force. The clasp is plain and straight, 
 whilst the ribbon is green, except for the Honourable 
 Artillery Company, when it is deep blue and scarlet 
 with a narrow yellow edging. 
 
 Specimens are worth from five to ten shillings. 
 
 Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. This 
 award is given on completion of twenty years' service, 
 except in places where the climate is unhealthy, 
 when each year counts as two. It consists of an oval 
 medallion charged with the royal cypher. An oval 
 band runs around this, bearing the inscription, Colonial 
 Auxiliary Forces. An imperial crown surmounts the 
 piece, and to its apex is fixed a straight slot clasp, 
 threaded with a plain green ribbon. 
 
 The Militia Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 
 was instituted in 1904 by King Edward, and was 
 awarded to men who had completed eighteen years' 
 service and performed fifteen annual trainings. The 
 award is a silver oval bearing on the front face the 
 royal profile and, on the reverse, the words, Militia, 
 For Long Service and Good Conduct, in plain lettering. 
 A loop takes the place of the clasp, and the ribbon is a 
 light blue. 
 
256 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 23 
 
 Figs, i and 2. Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 
 Obverse and Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 3. The Transport Medal. Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 4. The Volunteer Long Service Medal. Reverse. 
 
 Figs. 5 and 6. The Army Long Service and Good Conduct 
 Medal. Obverse and Reverse. 
 
 Figs. 7 and 8. The Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. Obverse 
 and Reverse. 
 
PLATE XXIII 
 
MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE, ETC. 257 
 
 The Imperial Yeomanry Long Service and Good Conduct 
 Medal. This medal, now superseded by the Territorial 
 medal, was given for ten years' service. It is 
 exactly similar to the Militia award, just described, 
 except that the reverse bears the inscription, Imperial 
 Yeomanry, For Long Service and Good Conduct. The 
 ribbon is yellow. 
 
 The Territorial Decoration is an award for officers, 
 replacing the old Volunteer Decoration. In design, the 
 two are practically the same, except that while the 
 Volunteer Decoration is found with the cyphers of 
 Queen Victoria and King Edward, the Territorial 
 Decoration bears those of King Edward and King 
 George. The ribbon is green with a central stripe of 
 yellow. 
 
 The Territorial Efficiency Medal is given to men after 
 twelve years' service and an equal number of trainings- 
 The piece is oval, and similar to that mentioned for the 
 Militia, except that the wording on the reverse is 
 Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. The ribbon was 
 green with a central stripe of yellow, but was changed, 
 in the early part of 1920, to green with yellow edges and 
 no central stripe. 
 
 The Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct 
 Medal is also oval and identical to the Militia award, but 
 with an appropriate inscription on the reverse. The 
 ribbon is dark blue, almost black, with a central stripe 
 of light blue. 
 
 The Royal Naval Reserve Officers' Decoration. 
 Officers in the R.N.R. who perform fifteen years' 
 efficient service are given the following dicoration : 
 
 An oval medallion consisting of the royal cypher 
 with a crown above, all surrounded by a length of cable 
 
 R 
 
258 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 formed into the shape of an oval. The piece is gilt. 
 A small circular ring holds a ribbon of plain green. 
 
 The Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct 
 Medal is awarded to men who perform fifteen 
 years' satisfactory service. It consists of a circular 
 silver piece having on the obverse a profile of the reign- 
 ing sovereign in naval dress and, on the reverse, a 
 man-o'-war and the words, Diuturne Fidelis. A straight 
 silver bar fixes the plain green ribbon. 
 
 The piece is worth seven shillings and upwards. 
 
 The Hon. East India Co.'s Meritorious Service Medal 
 was instituted in 1848. It had a short life, but during 
 the time of its existence found much favour among 
 the native troops. The front gives Wyon's head of 
 Queen Victoria and the back the arms of the company 
 within a circular band inscribed, For Meritorious 
 Service. The clasp is of the familiar scroll pattern, and 
 the ribbon is crimson. 
 
 The Naval Good Shooting Medal dates from the year 
 1903, and is given to seamen who prove particularly 
 fine marksmen at the annual target practices. The 
 royal profile fills the obverse, whilst an undraped figure 
 of Neptune appears on the reverse. He rides in a sea 
 chariot drawn by three horses and scatters thunder- 
 bolts during his progress. Amat Victoria Cur am is 
 written around the piece. Bars are available for those 
 who earn them, and these are inscribed with the name 
 of the vessel on which the recipient serves. The clasp 
 is straight, and the ribbon is blue, white, red, blue, and 
 white. (It is easily mistaken for the Military Medal 
 ribbon.) 
 
 The Army " Best Shot " Medal was awarded to 
 less than twenty recipients, and is accordingly of 
 
MEDALS FOR LONG SERVICE, ETC. 259 
 
 considerable rarity. It was given annually to the 
 " Best Shot " in the Army from 1867 to 1883. (Two 
 medals were awarded in the years 1875-6 and 1876-7, 
 one for the " Best Shot " using the Martini-Henry, and 
 one for the " Best Shot " using the Snider rifle.) 
 
 The Queen's profile figures on the upperface of the 
 medal, and Fame crowning a kneeling warrior fills the 
 underface. Bronze pieces were issued between 1867 
 and 1872 and silver pieces afterwards. The ribbon is 
 black, white, black, red, black, white, and black. 
 
 New Zealand Territorial Service Medal. This is an 
 award for members of the New Zealand Territorial 
 Force who serve for twelve consecutive years. It is 
 not given, however, to members who possess the New 
 Zealand Long and Efficient Service medal or a similar 
 medal awarded by the Home Authorities. 
 
 The obverse bears a profile of His Majesty, facing 
 left, surrounded by the inscription, New Zealand 
 Territorial 12 Years' Service. 
 
 The reverse is filled by a representation of the 
 national bird, the kiwi, framed by two sprays of foliage. 
 
 The clasp is of the curved scroll pattern, often 
 mentioned for the home campaign awards. 
 
 The ribbon was formerly khaki, but is now khaki 
 with crimson edges. 
 
 New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal. In 
 this case the award is given for sixteen years of con- 
 tinuous service or twenty years where the service has 
 not been continuous, in the New Zealand Territorial 
 
 Force. 
 
 The obverse shows a crown, resting on a sceptre and 
 sword, all within a circle of oak and laurel leaves. A 
 star surmounts the crown. 
 
260 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The reverse is inscribed, For Long and Efficient 
 Service. A star is placed both above and below the 
 lettering. 
 
 Volunteer and Terri- 
 torial Officers' De- 
 coration. 
 
 Royal Naval Reserve Colonial Auxiliary 
 Officers' Decora- Forces, Officers' 
 tion Decoration. 
 
 A ring serves instead of a clasp for attachment. 
 The ribbon is crimson with two narrow stripes of 
 white placed near the centre. 
 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 REGIMENTAL MEDALS 
 
 OFFICIAL medals for military efficiency in times 
 of peace have only been granted with regu- 
 larity during the last ninety years. Prior to 
 this, cases arose where the King bestowed special 
 decorations on his favoured leaders, but such awards 
 were few in number, and for general collecting purposes 
 may be ignored. 
 
 Towards the middle of the eighteenth century a 
 custom sprang up whereby the patrons of various 
 regiments instituted medals, at their own expense, for 
 long service, good conduct, fine shooting, etc. Such 
 medals were not officially awarded as they did not 
 emanate from the War Office, but were of a private 
 nature. Nevertheless, the higher authority recognised 
 them inasmuch as the recipients were permitted to wear 
 their decorations when in uniform. Some regimental 
 leaders bestowed these awards more lavishly than 
 others, but we have never heard any suggestion that 
 grants were made with too great a frequency. Certainly 
 those who won these decorations were proud above all 
 others, and cases are recorded whe^e winners of 
 regimental medals were paraded by themselves on 
 inspection days, and duly complimented. 
 
 When Napoleon threatened to invade England 
 261 
 
262 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 some hundreds of volunteer corps were formed in the 
 three Kingdoms, much as they were during the black 
 days of 1914-18. Most of these corps followed the 
 lead of the regular regiments and instituted proficiency 
 medals for competition amongst their own members. 
 In a number of cases the only tangible knowledge that 
 we have of a corp's existence is supplied by the private 
 decorations which it has left behind a fact which 
 reveals the collector in the light of a trustee of national 
 history. 
 
 The Regimental or Volunteer decorations of this 
 era are much prized to-day, and high prices are in- 
 variably paid for them when put up for auction. The 
 pieces, as a class, may be described as the greatest 
 favourites in the sale-room, and it is seldom that a 
 specimen falls to a purchaser for less than ten pounds. 
 
 The shapes and designs used for these medals were 
 legion, and it is only possible to give general hints 
 respecting them. As a rule, they were circular, and 
 about the size of a five-shilling piece. Ovals appear at 
 times, but fanciful irregular shapes were not uncommon. 
 The circular and oval awards were often flat pieces of 
 metal with all the design and lettering engraved by 
 hand. A good many were cast and then chased by 
 hand. In such cases, the medals were often thick, 
 in high relief, and bordering on the clumsy. Silver 
 seems to have been the metal most favoured, but 
 bronze, copper and brass were by no means unusual. 
 Engraved specimens are often found in silver, whilst 
 the specimens cast in high-relief are, as a rule, in the 
 darker metals. The designs are altogether beyond 
 classification, but a favourite theme of the artists was 
 the regimental or corps badge, elaborated in some 
 
REGIMENTAL MEDALS 263 
 
 fanciful way. When the crest did not figure on the 
 obverse we frequently find that a soldier, or perhaps 
 two soldiers, in regimental dress served to fill the space. 
 Where two appeared, one kneeled and the other stood 
 behind him. These little pictures are particularly 
 interesting, as many of the medals were engraved in 
 sufficient detail to give an accurate rendering of the 
 uniform of the regiment. Awards for good shooting 
 often bore a miniature target, and we have seen 
 examples where the rings around the " bull " were let 
 in hi ivory. The ribbon attached to these pieces was 
 more often than not in the shape of a bow, though the 
 suspender form, common to-day, was used at times. 
 
 In a few cases, the decoration consisted of a vertical 
 strip of ribbon having a silver plate at the top bearing 
 the name of the regiment, whilst at the bottom end 
 figured the regimental badge or a bar. These are 
 perhaps the rarest forms of unofficial awards. 
 
 Sale Prices. The following list of auction prices 
 will give the reader some idea of the average value of 
 these private medals. The regiments named are now, 
 in many cases, extinct, a fact which adds in some little 
 measure to the interest of the pieces : 
 
 Silver medal awarded by the Carlisle Local Regiment 
 for the best shot, 1812. 7 155. 
 
 Medal for merit awarded to a private in the Cardiff 
 Volunteers, 1804. 16 55. 
 
 Silver medal for merit awarded by the Oxford Loyal 
 Volunteers. Finely engraved, 1798. 9 55. 
 
 Silver medal awarded by the 45th Notts Regiment, 
 1803. 6 55. 
 
 Oval silver medal of the Guisborough Company, 
 E.R.Y. Volunteers, 1780. 7. 
 
264 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Medal awarded by the Olney Troop of Cavalry, 
 
 ^797- 7 I5s. 
 
 Oval medal of the 3rd King's Own Dragoons. 8. 
 
 Medal awarded by the Plymouth Independent 
 Rangers, 1799. 10. 
 
 Gold medal of the Oozel Gallery Volunteers (Ireland). 
 10. 
 
 Oval engraved medal awarded by the 2ist Royal 
 North British Fusiliers, 1817. 12. 
 
 Medal for merit awarded by the Cardiff Volunteers, 
 1804. 16 55. 
 
 It may be of service to add that some very fine 
 medals belonging to this class may be seen in the 
 Victoria and Albert Museum. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 CIVIL MEDALS 
 
 THE collector of medals may well ask himself 
 whether or not he ought to limit his energies 
 to pieces awarded to the three fighting services, 
 for as he will quickly learn, there are hosts of other 
 decorations, many of which, from his point of view, 
 fill no serious purpose. Personally, we feel that the 
 majority of civil medals are not suitable material for 
 the collector, though we wish in no way to belittle the 
 mission for which they are struck. However, there 
 are a few select pieces which are of considerable interest 
 and, we might add, of high merit, and these are well 
 worth the attentions of the general collector. 
 
 It is impossible to give a list of all the items that 
 may be classed among the desirable specimens ; but 
 those detailed below are typical of many others worth 
 searching for. The collectable value of all these pieces 
 varies considerably, and no idea of their worth can be 
 given. The condition of the faces of a medal, the 
 reason for its award, the fame of the recipient, and the 
 eagerness of the possessor to sell are, however, the chief 
 factors which influence the cost. 
 
 The Royal Humane Society's Medals. This well- 
 known and much esteemed society issues two regular 
 
 265 
 
266 
 
 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 medals, one in silver, the other in bronze, but both 
 
 of the same pattern. 
 
 The silver piece is given for gallantly rescuing 
 
 people who are in imminent danger of drowning, who 
 
 are brought to safety when 
 exposed on dangerous cliffs, 
 who are snatched from death 
 when overcome by asphyxia, 
 or when entombed by a fall 
 of the roof in mines, etc. 
 Unsuccessful attempts in 
 effecting a rescue are also 
 considered, but in every 
 instance the circumstances 
 must inflict great risks on 
 the would-be salvors. The 
 
 VIT. 
 1C. EXPO 
 JXD. 
 SOC. BEG. 
 HVM. 
 
 The Royal Humane Society's Medals. 
 
 bronze piece is issued where the risks are less, but 
 where the case still shows courage and promptitude. 
 
 It is worth mentioning that both these awards may 
 be worn by members of the Navy, Army and Air Force 
 when in uniform, but they must be pinned to the tunic 
 on the right breast. 
 
CIVIL MEDALS 267 
 
 The Royal Humane Society's medals were at first 
 of a size considerably larger than ordinary war decora- 
 tions ; but in 1869 (circa) they were reduced to 
 the same dimensions. Concerning their pattern, the 
 Society has given us the following information : 
 " Flame having been used both by the Ancients and 
 Moderns as the emblem of life, and its extinction as 
 the symbol of death, the front of the medal represents 
 a boy blowing an extinguished torch, in the hope, as 
 expressed by the motto, Lateat Scintillula Forsan. 
 (Peradventure a little spark may yet lie hid.) This 
 design appears applicable both to the person apparently 
 dead, and to the one who endeavours to resuscitate 
 him. Under the device is the following inscription, 
 abbreviated : Societas Londini in Resuscitationem In- 
 termortuorum Instituta, MDCCLXXIV. (The Society, 
 established in London for the recovery of persons 
 in a state of suspended animation, 1774.) 
 
 " The reverse of the medal exhibits a civic wreath, 
 which was the Roman reward for saving life : the 
 inscription round it expresses the merit which obtains 
 this honour from the Society. Hoc. Pretium Give 
 Servato Tulit. (He has obtained this reward for having 
 saved the life of a citizen.) Within the wreath is the 
 following inscription, also abbreviated, Vitam ob 
 Servatam Dono Dedit Societas Regia Homana. (The 
 Royal Humane Society presented this gift for saving 
 life.) " 
 
 There is a second reverse to the Society's medal ; it 
 bears the civic wreath and the legend, Vita Periculo 
 exposita Dono Dedit Societas Regia Humana. (The 
 
 Royal Humane Society presented this to , his life 
 
 having been exposed to danger.) This pattern is used 
 
268 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 in cases where a gallant attempt at saving life has been 
 made, but where success did not attend the endeavour. 
 
 The above pieces are suspended from a scroll clasp 
 of the same pattern as has been used so frequently for 
 the campaign medals. The ribbon is deep blue, and 
 bars are available for a second or subsequent act of 
 sufficient merit. 
 
 The Stanhope Medal. This medal, struck in gold, 
 is awarded annually by the General Court of the Royal 
 Humane Society to the recipient who, during the 
 previous year, having gained one of the silver awards 
 described above, is considered to have performed the 
 most gallant service. The gold piece thus supersedes 
 the silver medal in the case of the most daring recipient. 
 
 The Stanhope award was instituted in 1873, and took 
 its name from the late Captain Chandos Scudamore 
 Stanhope. At a committee meeting of the Royal 
 Humane Society, held on February 18, 1873, a letter 
 was read from the honorary treasurer of the " Stanhope 
 Memorial Fund " offering, on the part of the Com- 
 mittee of that Fund, to place the sum raised (about 
 400) in the hands of the Society if it would agree to 
 give annually a gold medal for the case of the greatest 
 gallantry during the year, to be called the " Stanhope 
 Medal." This was agreed to, and the medal has been 
 awarded every year since. 
 
 The Stanhope medal is exactly similar to the 
 Society's awards, described above, but is struck in 
 gold, in place of silver or bronze ; a bar clasp, inscribed 
 Stanhope Medal, replaces the curved scroll ; and the 
 ribbon, instead of being a whole blue, is blue with an 
 edging of black and yellow. 
 
 Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society's Medals. 
 
CIVIL MEDALS 269 
 
 This Society does admirable work in acknowledging the 
 gallantry of seafaring men who ply from Liverpool as 
 well as in recompensing civilians who perform deeds 
 of gallantry within the town of Liverpool. 
 
 Its earliest medal is the Marine medal, instituted 
 in 1839, but first awarded in 1840. This decoration 
 gives, on one face, a man kneeling on a piece of wreckage 
 in the act of assisting another man to draw an inert 
 body from the water. In the distance is a boat coming 
 to the rescue. Around the upper portion of the face 
 are the words Lord Save us, we perish. On the other 
 side of the medal is a cormorant holding in its mouth a 
 sprig of palm (i.e. the arms of the City of Liverpool). 
 Around it is an oak wreath and the inscription, Liverpool 
 Shipwreck and Humane Society, 1839. A curved scroll 
 clasp acts as suspender for a dark blue ribbon, and this 
 latter terminates, at the top, in a square buckle. The 
 piece is struck in gold, silver and bronze. 
 
 In 1872, the Society instituted the Camp and 
 Villaverde medal under the following circumstances : 
 
 In the early part of 1847, a subscription was opened 
 at Liverpool for the purpose of presenting a suitable 
 testimonial to Captain Bernardino Camp, of the Spanish 
 brig Emilio, and his mate, Mr. Villaverde, for having 
 rescued the survivors of the passengers and crew from 
 the wreck of the Royal Mail steamship Tweed, which 
 vessel was lost on the Alacran Shoal, Gulf of Mexico, in 
 the month of February of that year. The idea of 
 presenting a testimonial having been abandoned, the 
 amount collected was left in the hands of the late John 
 Bramley-Moore, Esq., for his disposal. With the 
 desire of perpetuating the names of these brave men, 
 Mr. Bramley-Moore made up the amount to 100, and 
 
270 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 in 1873 presented it to the Liverpool Shipwreck and 
 Humane Society to found a medal for saving life at 
 sea which should bear the names of " Camp and 
 Villaverde," in honour of these gallant Spaniards. 
 
 The medal is similar in all respects to the 1839 
 piece, spoken of earlier, but instead of the inscription, 
 Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society, 1839, on the 
 reverse, we read, Camp and Villaverde Medal for Saving 
 Life at Sea, 1847. 
 
 Thirty of these awards have been issued in silver 
 and five in bronze. 
 
 A month after the Camp and Villaverde medal was 
 instituted, John Bramley-Moore, Esq., handed the 
 Liverpool Society railway stock worth 500 in order to 
 found a further medal to be awarded for saving life at 
 sea, including rescues from drowning within the port of 
 Liverpool. This decoration is exactly similar to the 
 Camp piece, but bears the name, Bramley-Moore. 
 About fifty awards have been made, the majority in 
 silver, but a few in bronze. 
 
 Another medal issued by the Society came into 
 being on September 29, 1882. This is known as the 
 Liverpool Society's Fire Medal. It is struck in gold, 
 silver and bronze, and is highly prized, locally. The 
 chief recipients, as one might expect, are members of 
 the fire brigade, but the police force figures frequently 
 among the participants. A few silver bars have been 
 awarded. 
 
 The obverse of the decoration bears a picture of a 
 fireman rescuing two children from a burning building. 
 The distressed mother proffers her thanks to the gallant 
 salvor. The exergue is inscribed, For bravery in saving 
 life. The reverse is similar to that given on the marine 
 
CIVIL MEDALS 271 
 
 medal of the Society. The clasp is of the curved scroll 
 pattern, and the ribbon is an orange-red. A metal 
 buckle is worn at the top edge of the ribbon. 
 
 The last medal of the Liverpool Society which we 
 shall describe is known as the General Medal, and was 
 instituted in 1894. It is given for the display of any 
 form of bravery on land for which a more appropriate 
 decoration is not issued. 
 
 The silver and bronze pieces are circular, and bear 
 in the centre of the obverse a Maltese cross and an 
 imperial crown. Around these is written, For bravery 
 in saving life, 1894. The reverse follows that described 
 for the previous pieces. The clasp is straight with a 
 V-shaped link, like that of the Victoria Cross. The 
 ribbon is composed of five equal stripes, three of orange- 
 red and two of white. A metal buckle is attached to 
 the top end of the ribbon. Bars are awarded occasion- 
 ally. 
 
 The R.S.P.C.A. Medal for Saving Animal Life. This 
 is an award much coveted by those who have the 
 welfare of animals at heart. It is given by the Royal 
 Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to 
 persons who expose themselves to dangers in rescuing 
 dumb creatures from perilous positions. A recent 
 award went to a brave soldier who climbed a tall and 
 supple tree in order to dislodge a cat which had remained 
 on its perilous perch for three days. All attempts at 
 persuading the animal to descend of its own accord had 
 failed, and it was only when some one was preparing to 
 shoot the animal that the soldier scaled the tree and 
 brought the cat to safety. He risked his own life, for 
 the upper branches were thin and bent under his 
 weight. 
 
272 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 The obverse of the medal, which is silver, shows a 
 female figure surrounded by a group of animals with 
 the initials, R.S.P.C.A., in the exergue. 
 
 The reverse gives the full name of the Society, a 
 lion and unicorn, and the inscription, For Animal life 
 saving. 
 
 The clasp is of the usual scroll pattern, and the 
 ribbon terminates in a bar inscribed, For Humanity. 
 
 The Royal National Life-Boat Institution's Medal, as 
 its name implies, is awarded to those who man the life- 
 boat and whose " humane and intrepid exertions in 
 saving life from shipwreck on our coasts have been 
 deemed sufficiently conspicuous to merit some honour- 
 able distinction." A total of 1479 awards were made 
 up to the end of 1918, of which 106 were gold, 1351 
 were silver, and 22 were bronze. 
 
 The obverse of the medal reveals a bust of the 
 Sovereign that of King George was designed by 
 Bertram MacKennal, Esq., A.R.A. surrounded by a 
 double circular legend : Royal National Life-Boat 
 Institution, Founded 1824, Incorporated 1860, and 
 George V. Patron. The reverse shows three seamen in a 
 lifeboat, one of whom is in the act of rescuing an 
 exhausted mariner from the waves. The inscription, 
 Let not the deep swallow me up, and the engraver's mark , 
 W. Wyon, Mint, also appear. The clasp is formed by 
 two dolphins, facing each other. The ribbon is deep 
 blue, and bars inscribed, Second Service (or a subse- 
 quent service), are awarded when necessary. 
 
 Lloyd's Medals. Of these there are three awards, 
 highly prized by people connected with the sea. The 
 first is known as Lloyd's Medal for Saving Life at Sea. 
 It bears on the obverse a classical picture depicting the 
 
CIVIL MEDALS 273 
 
 rescue of Ulysses by Leucothoe. The latter is seen 
 wafting a strip of material to the drowning Ulysses, 
 who reaches safety by clutching at its folds. The 
 incident is described in the Odyssey in the following 
 lines : 
 
 " This heavenly scarf beneath thy bosom bind, 
 And live : give all thy terrors to the wind." 
 
 This face is inscribed, Leucothoe naufrago succurrit. 
 The reverse gives a wreath of oak and the words, 
 Presented by Lloyd's. ' Ob Cives Servatos. It is struck 
 in silver and bronze, and hangs from a circular ring 
 through which passes a ribbon of blue, white, red, 
 white and blue. 
 
 In 1893 Lloyd's Meritorious Service Medal was 
 instituted for bestowal on those in command of vessels 
 who, by their skilful seamanship or presence of mind, are 
 able to avert serious danger either to their craft or 
 cargo. 
 
 The obverse of the award shows the armorial device 
 of the corporation which is the arms of London above 
 an anchor within a circular band inscribed, Presented 
 by Lloyd's. The reverse gives a wreath of oak, en- 
 closing a folded scroll, on which are the words, For 
 Meritorious Services. It is struck in silver and bronze, 
 and hangs from a circular ring through which passes 
 a blue ribbon with two wide silvery stripes. 
 
 For miscellaneous services rendered to Lloyd's, a 
 medal was struck for the first time in 1913. The upper 
 face introduces King Neptune in a chariot drawn by 
 four horses, not sea-horses, however, whilst the under- 
 side gives the oak wreath and folded scroll, as before, 
 but with the wording, For Services to Lloyd's. In other 
 respects, this medal is identical to their Meritorious 
 
 s 
 
274 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 award, except that it is provided in gold as well as 
 silver and bronze. 
 
 The London County Council's Fire Medals. The 
 Long Service medal awarded by the L.C.C. to all 
 firemen who perform fifteen years' service with " zeal 
 and fidelity " is a very fine piece of workmanship. A 
 scantily clad female figure sits on a ledge and holds a 
 wreath over a tablet bearing the words, Awarded by the 
 London County Council for Good Service. By her side 
 is a shield charged with the arms of the City of London. 
 The opposite face shows a horse-drawn fire-engine. 
 The exergue on this side is filled by the words, London 
 Fire Brigade. The clasp consists of a curved scroll, 
 not unlike that mentioned for so many campaign 
 medals. The ribbon is golden-orange, whilst the metal 
 is bronze. 
 
 The Medal for Bravery at Fires is similar to the above, 
 but the legend on the obverse runs, Awarded by the 
 London County Council for Bravery ; the ribbon is red 
 and white in equal stripes, three of the former and two 
 of the latter ; and the metal is silver. 
 
 A third award is reserved for those who render 
 Long Service in the Salvage Corps. Fifteen years of 
 devoted service qualify for this medal which shows, on 
 the obverse, a draped female figure presenting a wreath 
 to a kneeling fireman. In the background is a salvage 
 cart. The reverse gives the name of the recipient 
 followed by the words, For Long and Efficient Service 
 in the Salvage Corp. All this is surrounded by a laurel 
 wreath. The clasp is straight ; the metal is bronze ; 
 and the ribbon is black and blue with white edges. 
 
 The King's Police Medal. Unlike other police 
 decorations mentioned in these pages, this award is 
 
CIVIL MEDALS 275 
 
 available for members of all the various forces through- 
 out the Kingdom and Colonies. It was instituted in 
 1901, at the suggestion of King Edward, for presenta- 
 tion to officers who perform distinguished work of any 
 special nature whatsoever, whether it be long service 
 supplemented by brilliant organisation, exceptional 
 devotion in guarding royal or high political personages, 
 or in showing unusual ability in detecting and suppress- 
 ing crime. No more than one hundred and twenty 
 awards may be made in any one year, but this number 
 is seldom attained. 
 
 The medal, struck in silver, gives the sovereign's 
 profile, together with a suitable inscription on the 
 obverse, whilst the reverse depicts an armed male figure 
 standing on guard. He clasps a sword and shows an 
 attitude of preparedness. A shield which he bears is 
 inscribed with the legend, To guard my people. A ring 
 serves as attachment, and through this passes a white 
 ribbon with two wide bars of deep blue. 
 
 Special Constabulary Medal. This award is not yet 
 issued, but will be struck in bronze, and be provided 
 with a riband, if inches wide, having a broad central 
 stripe of red and three narrow stripes on either side 
 of white, black and white. A bar inscribed, The Great 
 War, 1914-1918, will be issued to those who served for 
 three years without pay during this period, and who 
 performed no less than one hundred and fifty police 
 duties. 
 
 The Board of Trade Medal. This medal is given for 
 saving life, but its object is not to decorate people 
 whose gallantry comes within the province of the 
 Humane Society's awards, or those issued by other 
 organisations. It is bestowed in batches in cases where 
 
276 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 a number of individuals unite their efforts in performing 
 dangerous rescue work. 
 
 The pieces are struck in silver and bronze, and show, 
 on the obverse, the effigy of the reigning sovereign, 
 together with the royal cypher and the words, Awarded 
 by the Board of Trade for Gallantry in Saving Life. The 
 reverse exhibits the figure of a man holding on to a spar 
 as he floats in the water ; he signals to a lifeboat 
 which is forging towards him. Elsewhere, a man is 
 drawing into safety a seaman, whilst a woman, sitting 
 on a rock, comforts a baby. A scroll clasp attaches a 
 bright red ribbon possessing two stripes of white, 
 neither of which quite touch the edging. 
 
 The above medal is reserved for British subjects, 
 but where similar acts are performed by people of 
 foreign nationality a companion award is made through 
 the Foreign Office. In this case, the ribbon is a whole- 
 coloured crimson, as was formerly used for the Army 
 Long Service medal. 
 
 Arctic and Antarctic Medals. In the London Gazette 
 of January 30, 1857, appeared the following notice : 
 " Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to 
 signify Her commands that a medal be granted to all 
 persons, of every rank and class, who have been engaged 
 in the several expeditions to the Arctic regions whether 
 of discovery or search, between the years 1818 and 
 1855, both inclusive, the Lords Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty give notice of the same. 
 
 " The medal will accordingly be awarded as 
 follows : 
 
 " i. To the officers, seamen and Marines of Her 
 Majesty's ships and vessels employed on the several 
 voyages to the Arctic Seas during the specific period, 
 
CIVIL MEDALS 277 
 
 and also to the officers of the French Navy and to such 
 volunteers as accompanied these expeditions. 
 
 "2. To the officers, seamen and others who were 
 engaged in the expeditions to the Arctic Seas, equipped 
 by the Government and citizens of the United States. 
 
 "3. To the commanders and crews of the several 
 expeditions which originated in the zeal and humanity 
 of Her Majesty's subjects. 
 
 "4. To persons who have served in the several 
 land expeditions, whether equipped by Her Majesty's 
 Government, by the Hudson's Bay Company or from 
 private resources." 
 
 The medal, which was sanctioned for Arctic 
 Expeditions undertaken during the years 1818-55, is 
 silver and octagonal. The obverse gives a profile of 
 the Queen, facing left, and displays a tiara. The 
 legend Victoris Regina, also appears. The reverse 
 has a picture of a ship blocked in the ice. Icebergs 
 are to the seen to the left of it, whilst in the foreground 
 is a sledging party. Above are the words, For Arctic 
 Discoveries. An exergue gives the date, 1818-1855. 
 The artist was L. C. Wyon. 
 
 Not only is this medal curious, insomuch as it is 
 eight-sided, but a five-pointed star and a ring serve as 
 mounting a unique form of suspender. The ribbon 
 is white and watered (i| inches wide). 
 
 A second Arctic decoration was authorised in 1876, 
 as the following Admiralty announcement of 
 November 28, 1876, intimates : 
 
 " Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to 
 signify Her commands that a medal be granted to all 
 persons, of every rank and class, who were serving 
 on board Her Majesty's ships Alert and Discovery during 
 
278 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 the Arctic Expedition of 1875-76, and on board the 
 yacht Pandora, in her voyage to the Arctic regions in 
 1876, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty hereby 
 give notice of the same. 
 
 " The medal will accordingly be awarded as 
 follows : 
 
 " i. To the officers, seamen, Marines and other 
 persons serving on board Her Majesty's ships Alert and 
 Discovery between the I7th July, 1875, and the 
 2nd November, 1876. 
 
 "2. To the officers and crew of the yacht Pandora 
 between the 3rd June, 1876, and 2nd November, 1876." 
 
 This medal is silver and circular. The obverse 
 presents a bust of Queen Victoria, crowned, with a veil 
 falling behind her head. The inscription is Victoria 
 Regina, 1876. The reverse depicts a ship packed in the 
 ice, with heavy clouds gathering in the sky. The 
 obverse is the work of G. G. Adams, whilst L. C. Wyon 
 is responsible for the reverse. 
 
 A straight clasp is provided to engage the white 
 ribbon which, however, is not watered (i| inches wide). 
 
 In 1904 a third type of medal was issued, which has 
 since become established as a standard award for use 
 as occasion may arise. The piece originally served for 
 presentation to Captain Scott and the crew of the 
 Discovery. 
 
 The medal is again octagonal. It bears, on the 
 front, the profile of the reigning sovereign in naval 
 dress. (Scott received it with the profile of King 
 Edward.) The sovereign's name and title are inscribed 
 in Latin. The underface shows the Discovery in its 
 winter quarters, whilst a sledging party has taken up a 
 position in front of it. The usual curved scroll clasp 
 
CIVIL MEDALS 279 
 
 is provided, and the ribbon is white (unwatered). The 
 crew of the Discovery received the piece struck in silver 
 with a bar, Antarctic, 1901-1904 ; but those of the 
 Terra Nova and Morning were awarded bronze pieces 
 without bars. The latest Antarctic medals bear the 
 profile of King George, and are provided with the 
 distinguishing bars, Antarctic, 1907-1909 ; Antarctic, 
 1910-1913; Antarctic, 1912; and Antarctic, 1914- 
 1916. 
 
 The Edward Medal. This award is often spoken of 
 as the miners' V.C., for its original purpose was to 
 reward miners who performed gallant acts in the 
 depths of the earth. Two years after its institution by 
 King Edward, in 1907, the scope of the award was 
 extended so as to include cases where persons " endanger 
 their own lives in endeavouring to save the lives of 
 others from perils in connection with industrial 
 employment." 
 
 At first there was the Edward medal of the First 
 Class, and the Edward medal of the Second Class ; 
 now, however, the two pieces are styled the Edward 
 medal in silver and the Edward medal. The latter, 
 we may add, is in bronze. 
 
 The obverse bears the sovereign's profile with his 
 name and title in Latin, whilst the reverse gives either 
 a picture of a miner assisting a fallen comrade or a 
 woman with a wreath, according to whether the award 
 is given for bravery in a mine or in a factory. An oval 
 ring serves as attachment, and through this passes a 
 dark blue ribbon with narrow yellow edges. 
 
 The Kaisar-I-Hind Decoration came into being in 
 May, 1900, and is awarded for distinguished services 
 which add materially to the welfare of India and her 
 
2 8o THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 people. Individuals of any nationality and in any 
 walk of life may receive this honour. 
 
 The decoration consists of an oval badge bearing, on 
 one side, the royal cypher in an ornamental wreath and, 
 on the other, a spray of flowers and the inscriptions, 
 For Public Service in India and Kaisar-I-Hind. At 
 the summit of the oval is a crown which joins on to the 
 slot clasp that takes the plain blue ribbon. The badge 
 is fashioned in gold for the first class and silver for the 
 second. 
 
 The Transport Medal was instituted soon after the 
 Boer War, and was given to officers in the Mercantile 
 Marine who had command of ships transporting troops 
 and supplies to the battle area. It is a standing award, 
 available for distribution on any future occasion that 
 may arise. 
 
 The obverse bears the profile of the reigning 
 sovereign in naval dress with his name and title 
 inscribed in Latin. (So far the profile of King Edward 
 has alone been used on this piece.) The reverse shows 
 a map of almost the whole of the world with an ocean 
 liner below it. Around the edge is given the inscription, 
 Ob patriam militibus per mare transvectis adjutant. The 
 medal is struck in silver, has a straight clasp, and a 
 ribbon of red with two wide bars of deep blue, neither 
 of which touch the edges. At present there are two 
 bars, China, 1900, and South Africa, 1899-1902. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 MEDALS OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
 BEFORE the Americans entered the Great 
 Conflict of 1914-18, few British collections 
 contained specimens of the medals issued by 
 the United States, and few pieces were offered for sale 
 in Europe. To-day, however, the decorations belonging 
 to this interesting group are highly prized, and collectors 
 are anxious to secure the most attractive items. Choice 
 pieces have risen in value as a consequence of the 
 greater demand, and it seems more than probable that 
 they will continue to do so for some little while to 
 come. 
 
 The medallic history of the United States may be 
 said to commence with the Civil War, but it is interest- 
 ing to note that George Washington issued a general 
 order at Newburg, on August 7, 1782, proclaiming that 
 when any singularly meritorious action was reported 
 by a board of officers, the soldier responsible for the 
 act should have his name inscribed in the " book of 
 merit," and should be permitted to wear a heart made 
 of purple cloth, edged with a narrow binding. Any 
 man wearing this device, the order stated, should be 
 permitted to pass all guards and sentinels which officers 
 'were permitted to pass. The purple heart was thus 
 the forerunner of American medals, and a collector 
 
 281 
 
282 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 would consider himself fortunate indeed were he the 
 possessor of one of these emblems of valour. 
 
 Medal o! Honor.* The first medal authorised by 
 the government of the United States to be worn upon 
 the person as a war decoration was the naval Medal 
 of Honor. This award was provided for by an act 
 of Congress of December 21, 1861, and was to be 
 " bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen, 
 and marines as shall most distinguish themselves by 
 their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities 
 during the present (Civil) war." The terms of the act 
 did not permit of the bestowal of the Medal of Honor 
 upon commissioned or warrant officers, but limited the 
 reward to enlisted men of the Navy or Marines. 
 
 The medal was struck in bronze taken from captured 
 cannon. In form it is a five-pointed star with a circular 
 central medallion, the points of the star being of trefoil 
 shape. On the central medallion is a design represent- 
 ing Minerva standing with her left hand resting upon 
 fasces, and with a shield in her right hand, warding off 
 the figure of Discord. Around this is a circle of thirty- 
 four stars, one for each state of the Union as it existed 
 in 1 86 1. The rays of the piece are decorated with oak 
 and laurel leaves. The medal is suspended by means of 
 two bronze clasps separated by the ribbon. The lower 
 clasp bears fasces and, centrally, a single five-pointed 
 star, whilst the upper one bears fasces and no star. 
 The ribbon worn with this original medal has thirteen 
 vertical stripes of alternate red and white with a band 
 of blue across the top. 
 
 On July 12, 1862, a resolution of Congress authorised 
 
 * Colonel Williams in U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, April, 
 1919. 
 
MEDALS OF THE UNITED STATES 283 
 the President to extend the award to the Army, and 
 thus included non-commissioned officers and privates 
 " as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry 
 in action." The medal for this purpose was similar 
 to that mentioned above, but the suspending clasps 
 differed. The lower clasp bore a trophy of arms and 
 an eagle, whilst the upper clasp consisted of the national 
 shield with a cornucopia on either side. The ribbon 
 agreed with that used for the Navy. 
 
 In 1863 Congress enacted a law making com- 
 missioned officers in the Army eligible for the Medal of 
 Honor, but the same privilege, we believe, was only 
 extended to the Navy in 1915. 
 
 In 1876 the Army ribbon was changed, and then 
 consisted of a narrow central stripe of white, flanked 
 by a narrow stripe of blue on either side, then a wide 
 bar of red extending to the edges. This was worn 
 around the neck. 
 
 Fresh changes came in 1904, for in this year the 
 medal was altered to the following : A five-pointed star 
 provided, as previously, with a central circular medallion 
 made of silver, heavily gold-plated and bearing the 
 head of Minerva. A wreath of laurel in green enamel 
 links up the points of the star. The piece is suspended 
 by means of two gold links from a bar which is sur- 
 mounted by an eagle and a ring for attaching the medal 
 to the neck ribbon. The word, Valor, is inscribed on the 
 clasp. 
 
 The remaining fact to mention concerns the approval 
 of the President, on March i, 1913, of the use of a 
 similar ribbon for all services. Now, the silk attach- 
 ment is light blue with thirteen white stars. 
 
 The Distinguished Service Cross was instituted on 
 
284 
 
 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 January 12, 1918, and is awarded for such services as 
 its name implies. The decoration is a fanciful St. 
 George's bronze cross, in the centre of which is the 
 American eagle with outspread wings. Upon the 
 limbs of the first hundred pieces to be struck were oak 
 leaves, but these are omitted in the case of later 
 specimens. Below the horizontal limbs of the cross are 
 two scrolls inscribed, For Valor. A small circular ring 
 
 The U.S. Distinguished Service 
 Cross. 
 
 The U.S. Distinguished Service 
 Medal. 
 
 joins the uppermost limb to a ribbon which is blue 
 with two narrow edges of red and white. The Navy, 
 as well as the Army, is eligible for the D.S.C. 
 
 The Distinguished Service Medal also owes its 
 inception to the conflict in Europe. It is made of 
 bronze, and consists of an eagle with outspread wings, 
 bearing on its chest the shield of the United States. 
 The eagle is surrounded by a circular band inscribed, 
 Distinguished Service, MCMXVIII. A straight orna- 
 mental clasp takes the ribbon, which is white with an 
 edging of red and blue. 
 
MEDALS OF THE UNITED STATES 285 
 
 The Certificate o Merit Badge is bronze, and gives 
 on the upper face a Roman eagle, surrounded by the 
 motto, Virtutis et audacice monumentum et prcemium. 
 The underface shows a wreath of oak encircling the 
 words, For Merit. The inscription, United States 
 Army, and thirteen stars also appear. The ribbon is 
 white in the centre, and then red, white and blue on 
 either side, the blue forming the edges. 
 
 The Manila Bay Medal presents a profile of Admiral 
 Dewey on the obverse. On the field, behind his 
 effigy is the following inscription : The gift of the people 
 of the United States to the Officers and Men of the Asiatic 
 Squadron under the command of Commodore George 
 Dewey. A sailor, partly unclothed, is given on the 
 reverse. He is sitting on a gun and grasps his national 
 flag. Around him is printed, In Memory of the Victory 
 of Manila Bay, May 1, 1898 U.S. S. Olympia. Beneath 
 the figure is a species of exergue, stamped with the 
 name of the recipient's ship. An ornamental clasp 
 fixes the ribbon, which is yellow with wide blue edges. 
 (Gold and blue, it may be added, are the Navy colours.) 
 
 Medal for Naval Engagements, West Indies, 1898. 
 Commonly spoken of as the Sampson medal, this piece 
 bears on the obverse an effigy of Rear- Admiral Sampson, 
 surrounded by the inscription, U.S. Naval Campaign, 
 West Indies, 1898. On the reverse, three men are seen 
 standing on the deck of a battle-ship. Below them is 
 printed the name and date of the engagement. The 
 medal, which is bronze, hangs from a clasp inscribed 
 with the name of the recipient's ship. Usually, the 
 award is found with a number of bars which, it appears, 
 were liberally distributed. The ribbon is red, blue, and 
 red. 
 
286 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 A companion piece was given for specially meri- 
 torious services during these engagements against the 
 Spaniards. In this case, the obverse showed Admiral 
 Sampson in white service dress, wearing the emblems 
 of a captain. 
 
 Special Meritorious Badge. This decoration was 
 given in connection with the naval campaign in the 
 West Indies during the year* 1898. The piece is a 
 bronze cross-pattee with a circular central medallion. 
 An anchor and wreath fill the centre and in a ring 
 around them are the words, Naval Campaign West 
 Indies. The four limbs of the cross are inscribed, 
 Specially Meritorious Service, 1898. The ribbon is a 
 plain red. 
 
 The Philippine Congressional Medal shows a colour 
 party consisting of three infantrymen carrying an 
 unfurled flag. Around them is the wording, Philippine 
 Insurrection, and in the exergue is the date, 1899. The 
 underface is inscribed, For Patriotism, Fortitude and 
 Loyalty, surrounded by pine and palm branches. The 
 ribbon is blue, edged with narrow stripes of blue, white, 
 red and white. 
 
 The Civil War Campaign Badge. The Army award 
 gives, on the exergue, a characteristic portrait of 
 Lincoln, facing right. His famous dictum, quoted from 
 the Gettysburg address, runs around the edge of this 
 face " With malice towards none, with charity for all." 
 Oak and laurel branches, together with the inscription, 
 The Civil War, 1861-1865, fill the reverse. Two 
 ribbons are associated with this award ; the first is red, 
 white, blue, white, blue, white, and red, whilst the 
 second is half blue and half grey, vertically divided. 
 
 The Navy award reveals, on the obverse, a spirited 
 
MEDALS OF THE UNITED STATES 287 
 
 rendering of the fight between the Monitor and the 
 Merrimac in the Hampton Roads, together with the 
 inscription, The Civil War, 1861-1865. The reverse 
 consists of an eagle resting on a foul anchor, and the 
 words, For Service, United States Navy. 
 
 The Marine Corps award follows the description 
 given for the Navy, but the reverse runs, For Service, 
 United States Marine Corps. 
 
 The Indian Wars Campaign Badge shows on the 
 upper face a mounted Indian warrior, holding a spear. 
 At his horse's feet is the skull of a buffalo and a group 
 of arrow heads. Above him, we read, Indian Wars. 
 The underf ace of the medal depicts an eagle seated on a 
 gun. Five standards, thirteen stars, and a trophy of 
 arms surround the national bird, also the inscription, 
 For Service, United States Army. This reverse, it should 
 be mentioned, serves also hi all cases of circular pieces 
 where no other pattern is mentioned. The ribbon is 
 brick-red with narrow edges of black. These colours 
 were selected in imitation of the Indians' war paint. 
 
 The Spanish Campaign Badge. This decoration 
 reveals, on the obverse, a castle with two turrets, one 
 for Havana and one for Santiago de Cuba, also the 
 words, War with Spain, and the year, 1898. To the 
 left of the date is a spray of the tobacco plant, whilst 
 to the right is a strip of sugar cane. The reverse is the 
 same as that mentioned for the Indian Wars badge. 
 The ribbon was red, yellow and red, with a narrow 
 edging of blue, but this was changed in 1913 to yellow 
 with two bars of deep blue. 
 
 The Navy and Marine Corps badge has now the 
 yellow and blue ribbon, whilst the obverse gives a 
 picture of the Mono Castle at the entrance of Havana 
 
288 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Harbour. The inscription, Spanish Campaign, 1898, 
 also appears. 
 
 This badge is also found with the words, West 
 Indies Campaign. 
 
 The Philippine Insurrection Campaign Badge. The 
 obverse of the Army badge gives a palm tree, having at 
 its left a Roman lamp, symbolic of enlightenment, and 
 at its right a pair of scales, to signify justice. The 
 words, Philippine Insurrection, 1899, also appear. 
 The reverse is the same as that mentioned for the Indian 
 Wars badge. The ribbon is blue with two wide bars 
 of red placed almost at the edges. 
 
 The Navy and Marine Corps badge for this campaign 
 was struck with a rendering of the old gate in the city 
 walls of Manila, and the inscription, Philippine Cam- 
 paign, 1899-1903. 
 
 The China Relief Expedition Badge. For this ex- 
 pedition, an Army medal was issued showing, on the 
 upper face, a fanciful Chinese dragon surrounded by the 
 words, China Relief Expedition, 1900-1901. The 
 reverse is the same as that mentioned for the Indian 
 Wars badge. The ribbon is yellow with narrow edges 
 of blue, the old national colours of China. The Navy 
 and Marine Corps badge reveals a drawing of the chief 
 gate of Pekin, above a dragon, surrounded by the 
 inscription, China Relief Expedition, 1900. 
 
 The Cuban Badges. Of these there are three 
 specimens ; the first is known as the Cuban Army 
 Pacification badge ; the second, the Cuban Navy 
 Pacification badge ; and the third, the Cuban Occupa- 
 tion badge. The first may be recognised by the picture 
 of two soldiers, one standing on either side of a shield 
 displaying the arms of the Cuban Republic ; the 
 
MEDALS OF THE UNITED STATES 289 
 second by a representation of Columbia presenting an 
 olive branch to Cuba. (Both these have an olive-drab 
 ribbon with an edging of narrow red, white and blue 
 stripes) ; the third by the coat-of-arms of Cuba, and a 
 ribbon with a central stripe of blue, edged with yellow, 
 and a red stripe edged by blue. 
 
 Nicaraguan Campaign Badge. For this engagement 
 of 1912 a medal was issued bearing a view of one 
 of the volcanic peaks of Mount Momotombo and the 
 inscription, Nicaraguan Campaign, 1912. The ribbon 
 is dark red with blue stripes near either edge. 
 
 Mexican Campaign Badge. In this case, two distinct 
 medals were struck for the Army and Navy. The 
 former piece gives a yucca plant, in full bloom, 
 with a background of hills, and the inscription, Mexican 
 Service, 1911-1917. The latter, which served also for 
 the Marine Corps, depicts the castle of San Juan de 
 Ulloa, and bears the words, Mexican Service, 1914. 
 The ribbon is yellow, blue and yellow with green edges. 
 
 The Haitian Campaign Badge is a bronze medal 
 showing a seascape backed by the mountains of Cape 
 Haitian. The inscription, Haitian Campaign, 1915, 
 surrounds the picture. The ribbon is blue with two 
 narrow stripes of red, the national colours of Haiti. 
 
 Naval Good Conduct Medal. This medal is given to 
 enlisted men on completing four years' satisfactory 
 service. The piece bears, centrally, a picture of the 
 sailing ship Constitution. Framing it is a circular 
 length of cable, and behind this is an anchor, a chain, 
 and the words, United States Navy. The ribbon is red. 
 Bars are given for additional service of an exemplary 
 character. 
 
 Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. On this piece 
 
 T 
 
290 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 we have a marine approaching the breach of a gun. 
 He holds a scroll on which is the motto, Semper Fidelis. 
 Behind this picture is an anchor, a chain, and the words, 
 United States Marine Corps. The ribbon is deep red 
 with a centre stripe of blue. Conditions respecting the 
 grant of this medal and its bars are similar to those 
 governing the naval award. 
 
 In addition to the above decorations there are a 
 number of badges which are worn in the same way that 
 medals are. They are not provided with ribbons, 
 however, and are given for such qualifications as 
 sharp-shooting and expert firing with rifle and pistol. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 FOREIGN AWARDS 
 
 THE Belgian Order of Leopold. This Order of 
 Leopold I. was instituted by a Royal Warrant 
 dated July n, 1832. The badge consists of 
 a Maltese cross, fashioned in gold, but enamelled white. 
 The outer edges of the cross 
 are shaped as a V, and the 
 points are capped with a ball. 
 In the centre is a gold lion 
 on a black ground which is 
 encircled by a purple-crimson 
 band bearing the motto, L'~ 
 Union fait la Force. Between 
 and behind the limbs of the 
 cross is a green wreath of palm 
 and oak. A Belgian crown in 
 gold surmounts the cross and 
 links it up to a purplish 
 watered ribbon. This is a 
 description of the badge when 
 awarded to civilians, but mili- 
 tary recipients are given the same badge with crossed 
 swords placed between the cross and the crown; 
 they also wear the ribbon decorated with a palm 
 
 291 
 
 Order of Leopold. 
 
292 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 sheaf, in the centre of which is the letter A 
 (Albert). There are five classes in this order, i.e. 
 Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and 
 Companion. 
 
 The Belgian Order of Leopold n. This order 
 originated in the year 1900, and consists of the five 
 classes mentioned for the senior honour of Leopold I. 
 The fifth class, only, is given for military purposes, and 
 carries the palm on the ribbon and the letter, A. The 
 
 badge is a silver Maltese cross 
 with V-shaped ends and balls 
 at the points. A rampant lion 
 appears in silver in the centre 
 on a black enamel ground. A 
 circle of blue encloses it, and 
 this bears the motto, V Union 
 fait la Force, in silver lettering. 
 On the underface, this space is 
 filled by the letter A, reversed 
 and interlaced, below a crown. 
 A wreath runs between and 
 behind the limbs of the cross, 
 and a Belgian crown surmounts 
 the badge. The ribbon is a rich royal blue with a wide 
 black central stripe. 
 
 The Belgian Order of the Crown. This order came 
 into being in the nineties, and was intended as a 
 decoration for those who performed valuable services 
 in the Belgian Congo. In the year 1910. however, the 
 Order of the African Star took its place, and the Order 
 of the Crown became a purely Belgian award. The 
 badge is a five-limbed, white-enamelled star with 
 V-shaped ends. In the centre is a gold crown on a 
 
 Order of Leopold II. 
 
cross 
 ball 
 
 Centre Medallion on 
 
 many reverses of 
 
 Belgian Decorations. 
 
 FOREIGN AWARDS 293 
 
 blue field. On the underface, this space is filled by the 
 letter A, reversed and interlaced. Between the limbs 
 are a series of pointed rays re- 
 presenting flames, whilst above the 
 star, is a green wreath of laurel. 
 The ribbon is claret- watered silk. 
 
 The Belgian Military Cross 
 consists of a Maltese 
 with V-shaped ends, i 
 figuring at each point. 
 The piece is made in 
 gold, but the limbs are 
 enamelled black. The 
 centre bears the rampant 
 lion in gold, and the 
 crown, above the cross, is 
 in the same metal. Crossed 
 swords repose between the 
 limbs of the award. The 
 ribbon is green with two 
 wide bars of red, neither of which touch the edges. 
 Officers receive the decoration with a red and green 
 rosette fixed to the ribbon, but this is not given to 
 the non-commissioned ranks. 
 
 The Belgian Military Medal is given to N.C.O.'s and 
 men, variously, for long service and special devotion. 
 The piece is a silver-gilt Maltese cross with straight 
 edges. The centre shows the rampant lion and the 
 motto, as before. On the underside, this space is filled 
 by the letter A, reversed and interlaced, in a ring 
 inscribed, Arm'ee, Mcrite. Rays are placed between 
 the limbs, and a crown figures above the cross. When 
 given for long service, the ribbon is red, yellow and black 
 
 Belgian Order of the Crown. 
 
294 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 in seventeen very narrow stripes ; but when awarded 
 for " devotion and courage " the ribbon is edged with 
 three narrow stripes of red, yellow and black with a 
 wide central stripe of red. 
 
 The Belgian Croix de Guerre is the only decoration 
 awarded by Belgium for " acts of war/' which does not 
 carry the privilege of wearing a palm spray on the 
 ribbon. The cross was instituted in 1915 : it is a 
 bronze Maltese cross with V-shaped ends and balls at 
 the points. The centre gives the rampant lion, on the 
 obverse, and the letter A, reversed and interlaced, on 
 the under face. Between the limbs are crossed swords 
 and a crown surmounts the cross. The ribbon is red 
 with five narrow stripes of green, one near either edge 
 and three placed centrally. 
 
 The Belgian " Reine Elisabeth " Medal was given by 
 the Queen of the Belgians to women who performed acts 
 of courage and devotion during the war. The medal 
 is a fanciful circle with a frosted gilt surface ; it bears 
 a profile of Queen Elizabeth and the legend, Elisabeth, 
 Reine des Beiges, on the obverse and, on the reverse, a 
 humble female figure grasping an ornamental cresset, 
 with the words, Pro Patria Honore et Caritate, and 
 the date. A circular wreath links the piece to the 
 ribbon, which is coloured a French grey with wide, 
 dull rose-purple edges. A red cross figures within the 
 circular wreath when the award is given for nursing 
 service. 
 
 The Egyptian Order of the Nile. On the grounds of 
 geographical classification, it is perhaps not strictly 
 correct to speak of this order under the head of " Foreign 
 Awards," but we include it, and the two items which 
 follow in this chapter, because the three decorations 
 
FOREIGN AWARDS 295 
 
 rank in much the same category as the other pieces 
 here described. 
 
 The Order of the Nile received sanction in 1915, 
 and is given for valuable service of either a military or 
 civil nature. There are five classes, and the collectable 
 emblems consist of a star and a badge. 
 
 The star has ten rays, half of which are gold and 
 the remainder silver. Lying on these is a smaller five- 
 rayed star of white enamel capped by an Egyptian 
 crown. In the centre is an inscription in Arabic. 
 
 The badge is like the star, but of smaller dimensions. 
 The ribbon is a vivid blue with a wide orange stripe 
 almost touching each edge. 
 
 The Egyptian Military Star of the Sultan Fouad. 
 This is a decoration which was instituted late in 1919 
 for officers hi the Egyptian native army and foreign 
 officers attached to the Egyptian 
 forces who display courage and 
 resource in the face of the 
 enemy. 
 
 The star has five rays, ena- 
 melled white, but edged with 
 gold. Each ray has a streak of 
 gold running through its entire 
 length. The centre of the star is 
 red and blue enamel, and consists 
 of a laurel wreath and the Sul- 
 tan's symbols. On the reverse, 
 the name of the decoration is 
 rendered in Arabic characters. Bars are awarded when 
 circumstances warrant an additional recompense. 
 
 The Egyptian Medal for Bravery is a much coveted, 
 but unattractive silver piece, fashioned on the lines 
 
 Egyptian Medal for 
 Bravery. 
 
2 g6 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 of the British campaign medals, but without any 
 attempt at ornamental effect. The obverse gives the 
 cypher and other particulars of the Khedive, in Arabic, 
 whilst the reverse states, boldly, For Bravery, in both 
 English and Arabic. The clasp is of the familiar 
 curved scroll pattern, and the ribbon is a light Cambridge 
 blue. 
 
 The French Legion of Honour. This decoration 
 owes its origin to Napoleon, and came into being in 
 
 1802. The earliest awards bore 
 the head of the Emperor on 
 the obverse, and an imperial 
 eagle with the motto, Honneur 
 ct Patrie, on the reverse ; there 
 was also a crown resting be- 
 tween the cross and the ribbon. 
 These pieces are, naturally, of 
 considerable rarity. 
 
 The current type consists 
 of a five-limbed cross or star 
 with V-shaped ends, and balls 
 at all the corners. The limbs 
 are enamelled white on gold. 
 Between them is a green 
 
 wreath. In the centre of the piece appears a female 
 head typifying France, and around this profile are 
 the words, Republique Francaise and 1870. On the 
 underface, this space is filled by two flags, and the 
 legend, Honneur ei Patrie. Above the cross is a green 
 wreath, which serves as attachment for the scarlet, 
 watered-silk ribbon. 
 
 Members of the order who rank as Grand Croix, 
 Grands Officers or Commandeurs wear the decoration 
 
 Legion of Honour. 
 
FOREIGN AWARDS 297 
 
 as here mentioned. The Officiers have the award with 
 a scarlet rosette fixed to the ribbon, whilst the Chevaliers 
 receive the award enamelled on silver instead of on gold. 
 The French Medaille Militaire consists of a circular 
 silver wreath, within which is a blue enamelled band 
 inscribed, RepuUique Fmncaise, 1870. This band 
 encloses the same effigy as mentioned for the Legion 
 of Honour, but is gilt. On the under surface, the centre 
 space is filled by the words, Valeur 
 et Discipline. Above the wreath 
 is a cuirasse and a trophy of arms. 
 The ribbon is yellow with green 
 edges. 
 
 Many of these pieces were 
 awarded to our soldiers who 
 fought in the Crimea, and such 
 copies are still to be seen occa- 
 sionally. They bore the head of 
 Napoleon and a spread eagle in- 
 stead of the effigy of France and 
 the trophy of arms. 
 
 The French Croix de Guerre often 
 figures among the decorations of the British soldiers 
 who fought in Northern France during the years 
 1914-18. It is a bronze cross of four slender limbs 
 with crossed swords placed between the angles. In 
 the centre is a head typifying France, surrounded by 
 the words, RepuUique Francaise. The ribbon is green 
 with seven very narrow lines of crimson. 
 
 When receiving the Croix de Guerre for being 
 mentioned in a despatch, a soldier wears on his ribbon 
 
 A small " palme en bronze " if mentioned in an 
 Army Despatch. 
 
 F rench Medaille Militaire. 
 
298 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 A silver-gilt star if mentioned in an Army Corps 
 Despatch. 
 
 A silver star if mentioned in a Divisional Despatch. 
 
 A bronze star if mentioned in a Brigade, Regimental, 
 or similar unit Despatch.* 
 
 More than one of these signs may be worn on the 
 same ribbon, but when five bronze palms have been 
 received these are replaced by a single one in silver. 
 
 It is of peculiar interest to note that the Croix de 
 Guerre was bestowed upon the 4th Shropshires, as a 
 regiment, for then: splendid work in France during the 
 late campaign. 
 
 The French Veterans' Medal of 1870-1. This decora- 
 tion was struck a few years ago by the Republic 
 and awarded to the French soldiers who fought in the 
 Franco-German War of 1870-1, and who were alive 
 at the time the medal was ready for presentation. 
 
 The obverse gives the familiar woman's head 
 typifying France, whilst the reverse presents a trophy 
 of arms, including the tricolour, and the legend, Aux 
 Defenseurs de la Patrie. The ribbon consists of four 
 strips of black and five of green, all equal in width. 
 
 The Greek Military Cross is an artistic decoration 
 fashioned in white metal and lacquered. A wide-bladed 
 dagger is placed vertically, tip uppermost, upon a 
 wreath of laurel, and this, in turn, lies on a horizontal 
 tablet bearing a Greek inscription. The ribbon is 
 black watered silk with blue edges. Though this piece 
 is only awarded for meritorious service in action, we 
 have had a dozen opportunities of buying specimens at 
 sums always less than ten shillings. 
 
 The Greek Medal of Military Merit is less attractive 
 
 * " Ribbons and Medals," p. 74. 
 
FOREIGN AWARDS 299 
 
 than the decoration mentioned above. A rather severe 
 cross of St. George reposes on a slight St. Andrew's 
 cross, and woven between them is a laurel wreath. 
 In the centre of the piece is a bird with outspread wings, 
 and around it is a Greek inscription. The metal is 
 bronze, and the ribbon is a dull brown-yellow with two 
 bars of black. There are four classes governing the 
 award, and these are denoted by various insignia placed 
 upon the ribbon. 
 
 The Italian Croce di Guerra is a somewhat plain 
 cross inscribed with the words, Merito di Guerra ; it 
 bears also the royal cypher and a spray of laurel. The 
 ribbon is a Cambridge blue with two stripes of white. 
 
 The Italian Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus. 
 This is an order of much antiquity and dignity : the 
 badge consists of a cross with 
 a trefoil (three circles joined) 
 at each terminal. Between 
 the limbs is a St. Andrew's 
 cross having v- sna P e d ends, 
 the points of which are capped 
 with small balls. The former 
 cross is enamelled white with a 
 framework of gold, whilst the 
 latter is green with a similar 
 edging. In the case of the first 
 four classes, a gold crown rests 
 between the cross and the sus- Order of st - Maurice and 
 
 , . . . , St. Lazarus. 
 
 pension ring, but this is absent 
 
 in the fifth class. The ribbon is a plain and rather 
 
 crude green. 
 
 The Italian Military Order of Savoy dates from the 
 beginning of last century, but its constitution has 
 
The Military Order of 
 Savoy. 
 
 300 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 suffered considerable remodelling as changes have 
 
 overtaken the land of its birth. To-day, the Order of 
 
 Savoy fulfils much the same 
 
 function in Italy as does the 
 
 D.S.O. in Great Britain. The 
 
 badge is a cross with scalloped 
 
 ends, the centre of which bears 
 
 the date 1855, two crossed 
 
 swords and the initials V.E. 
 
 (Victor Emmanuel I.). The 
 
 limbs are of white enamel with 
 
 gold edging, whilst the centre 
 
 medallion is a bright crimson. 
 
 Between the four arms of the 
 
 cross is a green wreath of laurel 
 
 and oak, whilst above the upper arm is a crown in the 
 
 case of the first three classes of the order, an array of 
 
 flags in the fourth class, and no device in the fifth class. 
 
 The ribbon is deep blue with a centre stripe of crimson. 
 The earliest badges bore a centre medallion carrying 
 
 the cross of Savoy, which is white on a crimson field. 
 
 The Italian Order o! the Crown was 
 instituted in February, 1868. The 
 badge is a cross-pattee, enamelled 
 white and edged with gold, em- 
 bellished between the limbs with 
 golden love-knots. In the centre 
 is a deep blue medallion bear- 
 ing a representation of the Iron 
 Crown. This latter is beautifully 
 jewelled, and is represented in its 
 
 true colours. The ribbon is red, white and red in 
 
 equal stripes. Members of the two lowest classes 
 
 Tne Italian Order of 
 the Crown. 
 
The Order of the Rising 
 Sun. 
 
 FOREIGN AWARDS 301 
 
 wear the ribbon attached to a rosette of red and 
 white. 
 
 The star of the order has eight principal rays, bears 
 a reproduction of the Iron Crown, 
 also a displayed eagle, and is in- 
 scribed, Victorius Emmanuel II., 
 Rex Italia, MDCCCLXVI. 
 
 The Japanese Order o! the Rising 
 Sun is known under a variety of 
 names, but all refer to the dawn 
 of day. There are eight classes, 
 and the badges vary slightly with 
 them. The piece consists of a red 
 enamelled centre, representing the 
 sun, from which issue thirty-two 
 
 rays with forked terminals. The rays are white with 
 
 gold or silver edges. Above this arrangement are three 
 
 blossoms and a leaf of the pau- 
 
 lonia, enamelled in green and 
 
 picked out in gold. In the case 
 
 of the eighth class, a leaf of the 
 
 kini takes the place of the pau- 
 
 lonia. The ribbon is white with 
 
 crimson edges. 
 
 The Portuguese Royal Military 
 
 Order of the Tower and Sword has 
 
 been bestowed on many British 
 
 officers in the recent and pre- 
 vious wars. The badge most 
 
 frequently seen consists of a 
 
 five-pointed star having in the centre a blue garter 
 
 inscribed, Valor lealdade e merito. Within this, on a 
 
 white field, is a gold sword resting on a green wreath. 
 
 The Order of the Tower 
 and Sword. 
 
302 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Between the limbs of the cross is a circular spray of 
 oak, loaded with acorns. The apex of the badge is 
 formed by a representation of a tower from which 
 emerges a suspension ring. The ribbon is dark blue. 
 
 The Prussian Iron Cross is well known to most 
 readers, having been bestowed with a liberal hand during 
 the late war. Not only are genuine copies by no means 
 rare, but counterfeits, perfect in every particular, are 
 openly sold in Cologne to the Army of Occupation. 
 
 The cross was instituted by Frederick William in 
 1813, and is made of a thin piece of lacquered cast iron 
 fitted into a silver frame. The 1813 pattern gave a 
 crown on the upper limb, the date, 1813, on the lower, 
 and a spray of oak leaves at the centre junction. When 
 re-instituted in 1870, the cross appeared with the crown, 
 as before, the letter W, in place of the oak leaves, and 
 the amended date, 1870. The most recent pattern is 
 similar to that issued for the Franco-Prussian War, but 
 with the year altered to 1914. We are told that 
 specimens are to be had with various dates between 
 1914 and 1918, but, though we have taken pains to 
 seek for dates later than 1914, we have not been able 
 to find copies so inscribed. Our own specimen, bought 
 for a few shillings after the Armistice, is cast with the 
 year 1914. 
 
 Members of the Grand Cross are given a very large 
 decoration with sufficient ribbon to hang the piece 
 around the neck, but others wear the ordinary size 
 medal fixed to the button-hole. Military members use 
 a black ribbon with two wide bars of white, neither of 
 which touch the edge ; civil members have a ribbon of 
 white with wide black bars. 
 
 The Roumanian Order of the Crown has a badge 
 
FOREIGN AWARDS. 303 
 
 consisting of a Maltese cross with v-shaped extremi- 
 ties. Each limb is enamelled crimson with a wide 
 
 edging of white. The cross 
 itself is outlined with a 
 narrow framework of gold. 
 A centre medallion con- 
 tains a gold crown on a 
 crimson field, and the 
 same colour is used for 
 the circular band which 
 runs around the crown. 
 On the band is the legend, 
 Prin Not Insine, 14 Martie, 
 1 88 1. Between each limb 
 of the cross is the letter 
 C, reversed and inter- 
 The ribbon is blue with two stripes 
 
 The Roumanian Order of the 
 Crown. 
 
 laced, in gold, 
 of white. 
 
 The Russian Order of St. George. This is a military 
 order which has enjoyed considerable popularity. The 
 badge is a white enamelled 
 Maltese cross, edged with gold. 
 In the centre is a medallion 
 giving St. George and the 
 dragon, in colours. The ribbon 
 is orange with three wide bars 
 of black. There are six classes 
 in the order, the first four of 
 which were intended for officers, 
 and the latter two for N.C.O.'s 
 and men. On the death of the 
 
 Czar, the distinction between officers and men was 
 removed. 
 
 The Order of St. George. 
 
304 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 PLATE 24 
 A 
 
 Figs, i and 2. Diamond Jubilee Police Medal. Obverse and 
 Reverse. 
 
 Figs. 3 and 4. Coronation Police Medal (Edwardian pattern). 
 Obverse and Reverse. 
 
 Figs. 5 and 6. Coronation Police Medal (Georgian pattern). 
 Obverse and Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 7. Arctic Medal, 1818-1855. Reverse. 
 
 Fig. 8. Georgian Coronation Medal. Reverse. 
 
 B 
 
 Figs, i and 2. The Croix de Guerre (France). 
 
 Fig. 3. The Iron Cross (Prussia). 
 
 Fig. 4. The Turkish Star for Gallipoli, etc. 
 
PLATK XXIV 
 
FOREIGN AWARDS 305 
 
 The Russian Order of St. Andrew possesses a most 
 ornate badge. St. Andrew is seen tifed to the cross 
 associated with this name, and this 
 device is placed on a two-headed 
 eagle. The heads of the eagle are 
 crowned, and upon the crowns rest 
 a pair of swords which, in turn, 
 support a large golden crown, picked 
 out in colours. St. Andrew appears 
 in a flesh-coloured hue; his cross 
 is blue, and the birds are bluish- 
 black. 
 
 The Russian Order o! St. Stanislas. 
 The badge of this order is a red 
 Maltese cross with V-shaped ends, 
 the points being capped with small 
 gold balls. The centre medallion is 
 white, but bears a green wreath and 
 the letters, SS (St. Stanislas), in red. 
 Between each pair of limbs of the cross is a two- 
 headed, outspread eagle, in gold. The ribbon is white 
 
 with a wide centre stripe and 
 two narrow ones of red. 
 
 The Russian Order of St. Anne. 
 In this case, the badge is 
 more than usually attractive. 
 A Maltese cross in gold is 
 enamelled in a deep crimson. 
 In the centre is a coloured 
 medallion showing St. Anne. 
 The Order of St. Anne. (The order was named after 
 Anne, wife of Peter the Great.) Between the limbs of 
 the cross are gold crossed swords, when the award is of 
 
 u 
 
 The Order of St. 
 Andrew. 
 
306 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 a military character, but a fanciful ornamentation re- 
 places these when the order partakes of a civil nature. 
 The ribbon is red with a narrow stripe of yellow. 
 
 The Russian Order of St. Vladimir. " Whoever at 
 the peril of his own life saves ten lives from fire or 
 water " is eligible for membership of this order. The 
 
 badge is a Maltese cross, the 
 limbs of which are enamelled 
 crimson and red. The centre 
 medallion reveals an imperial 
 mantle of ermine, crowned and 
 bearing the royal cypher. The 
 spaces between the limbs of 
 the cross are plain when the 
 badge is worn by civilians, but 
 crossed swords figure in these 
 
 The Order of St. Vladimir. , . , . 
 
 angles when the award has a 
 
 military significance. The ribbon is a vivid shade of 
 red with black edges. 
 
 The Sardinian Medal for the Crimea. Other Crimean 
 awards of which we have spoken elsewhere come 
 under the head of campaign medals, but the 
 Sardinian award was only conferred on some four 
 hundred members of the British forces, and was given 
 for special services. 
 
 The obverse shows the crowned arms of Savoy and 
 the inscription, Al valor e militaire, whilst the reverse 
 bears the particulars of the recipient, within a wreath 
 and, outside the latter, the words Spedizione d'Oriente, 
 1855-56. The ribbon is blue watered silk. 
 
 The Serbian Order of St. Sava. There are five 
 classes of this order which is awarded chiefly for 
 services rendered in connection with comforting the 
 
FOREIGN AWARDS 307 
 
 wounded. The first-class badge is a Maltese cross with 
 V-shaped ends, the points of which are capped by small 
 gold knobs. The cross itself is enamelled white with 
 a wide blue edging. An oval centre medallion gives 
 a rendering of St. Sava, in proper colours, within a band 
 of blue, upon which is written, hi Serbian characters, 
 By his labours he acquired all. This space is filled on 
 the underface by the initials MI (Milan I.), and a 
 crown. Between the limbs of the cross figure double- 
 headed crowned eagles in gold. A large crown sur- 
 mounts the piece, which hangs from a white ribbon 
 displaying two stripes of pale blue, 
 or a plain red ribbon, if admission 
 to the order has been gained for 
 services in the late war.* In the 
 case of the lowest class, the badge 
 is prepared hi silver instead of gold. 
 The Serbian Order of the White 
 Eagle. xhis is an order of the 
 highest distinction consisting of 
 five classes. The badge represents 
 a double - headed eagle in white 
 enamel, picked out hi gold. Upon 
 the breast of the bird is an oval 
 medallion charged with a white 
 cross on a crimson field. Above 
 the two heads is, sometimes, a 
 ribbon of blue enamel, but we have 
 seen pieces where this is absent. 
 
 The Order of the 
 White Eagle. 
 
 OV^^IJ. LyiWV-r^/W *JLW* *. 
 
 A gold Serbian crown surmounts the decoration, an 
 
 * A Serbian warrant, dated November, 1914. states that all 
 orders and medals which can be awarded in peace tame must, i. 
 received for war service, be worn with a plain red nbb 
 
3o8 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 the ribbon is red with two steel-blue stripes, or a plain 
 red ribbon * if the decoration were won during the 
 recent war. The badge may be found in three sizes, 
 and, for the fifth class, is fashioned in silver. 
 
 The Serbian Obilitch Medal. Obilitch was the idol 
 of the Serbs when they fought the Turks in 1389, and, 
 ever since, he has been honoured as a national hero. 
 It is somewhat fitting, then, that his name and profile 
 should be used for the bravery medal issued by this 
 little kingdom. This award is circular, and bears, on 
 the obverse, a helmetted head of Obilitch with the 
 words, Miloch Obilitch. On the reverse is a cross- 
 pattee with crossed swords placed between the limbs. 
 In the centre is a wreath of laurel, and the words, For 
 Courage, in Serbian characters. The medal has been 
 struck in gold, silver, silvered-bronze and bronze-gilt. 
 The ribbon is red.* 
 
 The Turkish Order of the Osmanieh has been con- 
 ferred on many British subjects, and is consequently 
 seen with fair frequency. The badge is a seven-pointed 
 star of gold, enamelled green. Each point is capped 
 with a small knob of gold. The centre medallion, 
 which is crimson, contains a Turkish inscription above 
 a gold crescent. Between the rays of the star is a 
 species of silver trefoil. The suspension clip is orna- 
 mented with a star and crescent, whilst the ribbon is a 
 rather crude green with two stripes of crimson. 
 
 The Turkish Order of the Medjidie was lavished on 
 the commissioned ranks of the British Army during 
 the Crimea, and has been awarded with no sparing hand 
 until recent times. The badge is a star of seven points 
 with chased rays. Between each pair of rays is a small 
 
 * Vide, supra. 
 
FOREIGN AWARDS 309 
 
 crescent and star. In the centre of the piece is a 
 
 The 
 
 crimson circle enclosing the cypher of the Sultan, 
 suspension ring is ornamented 
 with a star and crescent, and 
 the ribbon is a pinkish crimson 
 with green edges. 
 
 The Turkish Star of 1915. 
 This decoration was awarded 
 to the enemy forces taking part 
 in the operations at Gallipoli, 
 the Dardanelles, and the East. 
 It consists of a five-pointed 
 star of red enamel, edged with 
 a silvered metal. In the centre The Order of the Medjidie. 
 is a large crescent which encloses the cypher of the 
 Sultan, and beside it is given, in Turkish characters, 
 the inscription, The Victorious, and the year, 333. 
 These latter are chased on thin silver plates fixed to 
 the enamelled surface. The ribbon is a watered red 
 with a white stripe near either edge. 
 
 The general appearance of the decoration is lacking 
 in dignity, and most of the specimens we have seen have 
 worn badly, although many of them could have only 
 been a year old when they passed through our hands. 
 
 Pieces in fair condition can be bought for five 
 shillings, but first-rate specimens fetch half as much 
 again. 
 
 A host of other orders and decorations might be 
 mentioned in this chapter, since the number of foreign 
 awards available for the collector is legion. Here we 
 have only enumerated the pieces which one is most 
 likely to meet. Should, however, a fuller account be 
 
3io' THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 required, the reader is invited to study J. H. Lawrence 
 Archer's " Orders of Chivalry," or C. N. Elvin's " A 
 Handbook of Orders of Chivalry." Both these works 
 are admirable contributions to the subject, but, having 
 been published many years ago, are lacking in recent 
 detail. 
 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 
 
 CARTER, T. War Medals of the British Army, 1893. (Much of 
 this work is devoted to a description of the occasions when 
 medals have been won.) 
 
 Catalogue of the Coins, Tokens, Medals, Dies, and .Seals in the 
 Museum of the Mint. Two vols. 1906. (A volume of much 
 assistance to those who wish to study technical matters.) 
 
 DORLING, COMMANDER H. TAFRELL. Ribbons and Medals. Part I. 
 1916. Ribbons and Medals. Part II. 1918. (George Philip 
 & Son. Ltd.) 
 
 ELVIN, C. N. Handbook of the Orders of Chivalry, War Medals f 
 and Other Decorations. 1892. (A most useful handbook] 
 unfortunately out of print, dealing with British and Foreign 
 awards. Fully illustrated, partly in colour.) 
 
 GRUEBER, H. A. A Guide to the Department of Coins and Medals 
 in the British Museum. 1891. (A sixpenny handbook describ- 
 ing the exhibits in the Department with ample descriptive 
 matter concerning the history and craft of medals.) 
 
 GRUEBER, H. A. A Guide to the Exhibition of English Medals in 
 the British Museum. 1891. (A useful catalogue of British 
 and Indian Medals with a number of Autotype plates.) 
 
 IRWIN, D. HASTINGS. War Medals and Decorations issued to the 
 British Forces since 1588. (A very thorough work of all-round 
 excellence.) (L. Upcott Gill.) 
 
 JOHNSON, STANLEY C. Chats on Military Curios. 1915. (Three 
 of the chapters deal with Decorations and Medals.) (T. Fisher 
 Unwin, Ltd.) 
 
 JOHNSON, STANLEY C. Medals of Our Fighting Men. 1916. 
 (A. & C. Black, Ltd.) 
 
 MAYO, J. H. Medals and Decorations of the British Army and 
 Navy. Two vols. 1897. (A work reproducing most of the 
 actual warrants and other documents affecting the issue of 
 medals. Illustrated in colour.) (Constable.) 
 
 Medals and Ribbons of the British Army. A coloured plate, 
 27 J by 1 8$ inches, giving the medals and ribbons of the British 
 Army. (Gale & Polden, Ltd.) 
 3" 
 
312 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 MILFORD HAVEN, ADMIRAL, THE MARQUIS OF. British Naval 
 
 Medals. (John Murray. 1919.) 
 PARRY, D. H. The V.C. Its Heroes and Their Valour. (Cassell 
 
 & Co., Ltd.) 
 SIMON, T. Medals, Coins, Great Seals. Impressions from the 
 
 Works of T. Simon, 1648-65. (Published in 1753. Contains 
 
 much of an antiquarian interest.) 
 STEWARD, W. AUGUSTUS. War Medals and Their Histories. 1915. 
 
 (Stanley Paul & Co.) 
 TANCRED, G. Historical Record of Medals Conferred on the British 
 
 Navy, Army, and Auxiliary Forces. 1891. (Spink & Son.) 
 WHALLEY, J. L. Gold War Medals. 1888. 
 WHITAKER'S Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. 
 
 (Contains a useful guide to British Orders. Published at 
 
 intervals.) (Whi taker.) 
 WILKINS, PHILIP A. A History of the Victoria Cross. (Complete 
 
 until the year 1914.) (Constable.) 
 200 Ribbons of Naval, Military, R.A.F., and Civil Decorations. 
 
 (The Daily Telegraph series. A large coloured chart.) (" Geo- 
 
 graphia," Ltd.) 
 (Price Lists are issued occasionally by Messrs. Spink & Son, Piccadilly, 
 
 London, and Messrs. A. H. Baldwin, Duncannon St., Charing 
 
 Cross, London, which, whilst serving as advertisements, are of 
 
 much use and interest to collectors.) 
 
APPENDIX I 
 
 ORDER IN WHICH DECORATIONS ARE WORN 
 
 The following list gives the order in which British Service Officers 
 and Men are required to wear their medals and ribbons : 
 Victoria Cross. 
 Order of the Garter. 
 Order of the Thistle. 
 Order of St. Patrick. 
 Order of the Bath. 
 Order of Merit (immediately after Knights Grand Cross of the 
 
 Order of the Bath). 
 Order of the Star of India. 
 Order of St. Michael and St. George. 
 Order of the Indian Empire. 
 Order of the Crown of India. 
 Royal Victorian Order (Classes I., II., and III.). 
 Order of the British Empire (Classes I., II., and III.). 
 Order of the Companions of Honour (immediately after Knights 
 
 and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire). 
 Distinguished Service Order. 
 Royal Victorian Order (Class IV.). 
 Order of the British Empire (Class IV.). 
 Imperial Service Order. 
 Royal Victorian Order (Class V.). 
 Order of the British Empire (Class V.). 
 Royal Red Cross (Class I.). 
 Distinguished Service Cross (Naval). 
 Military Cross. 
 Distinguished Flying Cross. 
 Air Force Cross. 
 Royal Red Cross (Class II.). 
 Order of British India. 
 Indian Order of Merit (Military). 
 Kaisir-I-Hind Medal. 
 
 Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England. 
 313 
 
314 THE MEDAL COLLECTOR 
 
 Albert Medal. 
 
 Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field (Military) 
 
 Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Naval). 
 
 Distinguished Service Medal (Naval). 
 
 Military Medal. 
 
 Distinguished Flying Medal. 
 
 Air Force Medal. 
 
 War Medals (in Order of Date). 
 
 Arctic Medal, 1815-1855. 
 
 Arctic Medal, 1876. 
 
 Antarctic Medal, 1901-1903. 
 
 Constabulary Medal (Ireland). 
 
 Board of Trade Medal for Saving Life at Sea. 
 
 Indian Order of Merit (Civil). 
 
 Edward Medal. 
 
 Indian Distinguished Service Medal. 
 
 King's Police Medal. 
 
 Queen Victoria's Jubilee Medal, 1887 (Gold, Silver, and Bronze). 
 
 Queen Victoria's Police Jubilee Medal, 1887. 
 
 Queen Victoria's Jubilee Medal, 1897 (Gold, Silver, and Bronze). 
 
 Queen Victoria's Police Jubilee Medal, 1897. 
 
 Queen Victoria's Commemoration Medal, 1900 (Ireland). 
 
 King Edward's Coronation Medal. 
 
 King Edward's Police Coronation Medal. 
 
 King Edward's Durbar Medal (Gold, Silver, and Bronze). 
 
 King Edward's Police Medal (Scotland). 
 
 King's Medal, 1903 (Ireland). 
 
 King George's Coronation Medal. 
 
 King George's Police Coronation Medal. 
 
 King's Visit Police Commemoration Medal, 1911 (Ireland). 
 
 King George's Durbar Medal (Gold, Silver, and Bronze). 
 
 Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 
 
 Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 
 
 Medal for Meritorious Service. 
 
 Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for Europeans 
 
 of Indian Army). 
 
 Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army). 
 Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for Native Army). 
 Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Native Army). 
 Volunteer Officers' Decoration. 
 Volunteer Long Service Medal. 
 
 Volunteer Officers' Decoration (for India and the Colonies). 
 Volunteer Long Service Medal (for India and the Colonies). 
 Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. 
 Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal. 
 
APPENDIX 315 
 
 Medal for Good Shooting (Naval). 
 
 Militia Long Service Medal. 
 
 Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal. 
 
 Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. 
 
 Territorial Decoration. 
 
 Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 
 
 Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve. 
 
 Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 
 
 Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. 
 
 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service Medal. 
 
 Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal. 
 
 Royal Victorian Medal (Gold and Silver). 
 
 Imperial Service Medal. 
 
 Medal of the Order of the British Empire. 
 
 Medal of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England. 
 
 Badge of the Order of the League of Mercy. 
 
 Royal Victorian Medal (Bronze). 
 
 Foreign Orders (in order of date of award). 
 
 Foreign Decorations (in order of date of award). 
 
 Foreign Medals (in order of date of award). 
 
APPENDIX II 
 
 OFFICIAL ANALYSIS OF AWARDS BETWEEN 1914 AND IQ20 
 
 Between August, 1914, and February 4, 1920, 239,126 honours, 
 exclusive of those conferred by the Royal Air Force, were awarded 
 for services in the field, and 15,032 for other services in connection 
 with the war, making in all a total of 254,158. This total is made up 
 as follows : 
 
 A. BRITISH FORCES 
 
 Honours for services in the field . . . 228,864 
 
 Promotions for services in the field . . . 3810 
 
 Honours for services in connection with the war 13,299 
 Promotions for services in connection with the 
 
 war . 1597 
 
 B. INDIAN FORCES 
 
 Honours for services in the field . . . 6452 
 
 Honours for services in connection with the war 136 
 
 Total 254,158 
 
 The following is a summary of the honours conferred on British 
 Forces : 
 
 
 
 For Services in the 
 Field. 
 
 For Services in 
 connection with 
 the war. 
 
 v.c. . 
 
 578 
 
 I* 
 
 V.C. Bars 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 G.C.B 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 G.C.M.G 
 
 17 
 
 5 
 
 G.B.E., Military Division 
 
 
 5 
 
 K.C.B 
 
 124 
 
 34 
 
 K.C.M.G 
 
 143 
 
 54 
 
 K.B.E. (including D.B.E.) . 
 
 21 
 
 53 
 
 C.B 
 
 843 
 
 209 
 
 C.M.G 
 
 2136 
 
 523 
 
 C.B.E., Military Division 
 
 346 
 
 749 
 
 D.S.O 
 
 8970 
 
 21* 
 
 D.S.O. Bars- 
 
 
 
 First 
 
 75 
 
 
 
 Second .... 
 
 71 
 
 I* 
 
 Third .... 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 * Air raids, coastal bombardments, etc. 
 316 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 317 
 
 For Services in the 
 Field. 
 
 For services in 
 connection with 
 the war. 
 
 O.B.E., Military Division 
 M.B.E., Military Division 
 B.E.O., Civil Division 
 G.B.E. 
 
 3305 
 "53 
 
 2128 
 15" 
 
 T o 
 
 K.B.E. 
 
 
 
 C.B.E. 
 O.B.E. 
 
 
 
 29 
 Il6 
 
 M.B.E 
 
 
 H 
 
 R.R.C., First Class 
 R.R.C. Bars 
 M.C. 
 
 454 
 
 37 
 
 460 
 37 
 
 M.C. Bars- 
 First 
 
 
 T* 
 
 Second 
 Third .... 
 R.R.C., Second Class . 
 D.C.M 
 
 167 
 
 4 
 1492 
 
 I* 
 
 35^6 
 
 D.C.M. Bars- 
 First 
 Second .... 
 M.M 
 M.M. Bars 
 First 
 Second .... 
 Third .... 
 M.S.M 
 M.S.M. Bar .... 
 Medal B.E.O., Military Division . 
 Medal B.E.O., Civil Division 
 
 469 
 9 
 "5.417 
 
 5784 
 1 80 
 I 
 21,762 
 4 
 H5 
 
 12* 
 
 2741 
 I 
 260 
 24 
 
 The total number of officers and men who passed through the 
 British Army during the war was approximately 6,000,000. 
 
 In the South African War, when the total number of troops in 
 the field was 448,435, the number of honours conferred was as 
 follows : 
 
 V.C. . 
 
 G.C.B. 
 
 K.C.B. 
 
 C.B. . 
 
 G.C.M.G. 
 
 K.C.M.G. 
 
 C.M.G. 
 
 D.S.O. 
 
 D.C.M. 
 
 * Vide, supra. 
 
 79 
 3 
 25 
 
 . . . 292 
 
 4 
 8 
 no 
 
 "43 
 2050 
 
 (approximate) 
 
 (approximate) 
 (approximate) 
 
INDEX TO MEDALS 
 
 M medal. 
 
 D a decoration. 
 
 B = badge. 
 
 ABILITY and Good Conduc 
 
 m. 254 
 
 Abyssinian m. 122 
 Afghan m. 93 
 Afghanistan m. 127 
 Africa G. Service m. 163 
 Air Force c. 237, 238 
 Air Force Long Service m 
 
 254 
 
 Air Force m. 237, 238 
 Albert m. 241 
 Aliwal m. 102 
 Ambulance m. 249 
 Antarctic m. 276 
 Arctic m. 276 
 Armada m. 6, 19, 20 
 Army Long Service m. 250, 
 
 252 
 
 Ashante m. 123, 137 
 Ashanti m. 160 
 Ashanti s. 142 
 
 BALTIC m. 116 
 
 Belgium 
 Croix de Guerre, 294 
 Military c. 293 
 Military m. 293 
 Order of Crown, 292 
 Order of Leopold I. 291 
 Order of Leopold II. 292 
 Reine Elisabeth m. 294 
 
 Best Shot m. 258 
 
 Blake's m. 28 
 
 Board of Trade m. 275 
 
 Boulton's m. 34 
 
 Bourbon m. 45 
 
 British S. Africa Co.'s m. 139 
 
 British War m. 171, 173- 
 180 
 
 Burmese m. 49 
 
 CABUII m. 94 
 Canada m. 147 
 Candahar m. 93 
 Cape of G. H. m. 150 
 Central Africa m. 137, 138 
 Ceylon m. 42 
 Charles II., medals of, 29 
 China m. 100, 119, 161 
 Colonial Officers' d. 255 
 Conspicuous Gallantry in. 
 
 228 
 Coorg m. 50 
 
 Coronation m. 247, 248 
 
 JAMES I., m. of, 21 
 
 249 
 
 Java m. 47 
 
 Crimea m. 113, 115, 306 
 
 Jellalabad m. 91 
 
 Ciflloden m. 30 
 
 Jubilee m. 246, 247 
 
 DAVISON'S m. 33, 35 
 
 KABUL to Kandahar s. 128 
 
 Deccan m. 39 
 
 Kaffir War m. no, 126 
 
 Delhi Durbar m. 247 
 
 Kaisar-I-Hind d. 279 
 
 Diamond Jubilee m. 246-7 
 
 Kelat-I-Ghilzie m. 93 
 
 Disting. Conduct m. 231 
 
 Khedive's s. 131 
 
 Disting. Flying c. 235, 237 
 
 Kimberley s. 159 
 
 Disting. Flying m. 237 
 
 King's S. Africa m. 158 
 
 Disting. Service c. 226 
 
 
 Disting. Service m. 229 
 
 LA HOGUE m. 29 
 
 Dunbar m. 25 
 
 Life-Boat m. 272 
 
 Dutch m., Victories over, zi 
 
 Liverpool Shipwreck m. 268 
 
 
 Lloyd's m. 272 
 
 EAST and Central Africa m 
 
 
 148 
 
 MAHARAJPOOR s. 99 
 
 East and West Africa m. 
 
 Maida m. 35 
 
 135, 138 
 
 Mashonaland m. 139 
 
 East India Co.s m. 37-50 
 
 Matabeleland m. 139 
 
 Edward m. 279 
 
 Mauritius m. 45 
 
 Egyptian Bravery m. 295 
 
 Medici m. 5 
 
 Egypt m. 44, 129 
 
 Meeanee m. 95 
 
 Elizabethan m. 19 
 
 Mercantile Marine m. 173- 
 
 
 180 
 
 FEROZESHUHUR m. 102 
 
 Meritorious Service m. 233, 
 
 Fire Brigade m. 249, 274 
 
 258 
 
 Forlorn- Hope m. 22 
 
 Meruisti m. 27 
 
 France 
 
 Military c. 230 
 
 Croix de Guerre, 297 
 
 Military Gen. Service m. 57 
 
 Legion of Honour, 296 
 
 Military m. 232 
 
 Medaille Militaire, 297 
 
 Militia Long Service m. 255 
 
 Veterans' m. 298 
 
 Moodkee m. 102 
 
 
 Monck's m. 28 
 
 aHUZNEE m. 90, 93 
 
 jlorious ist June m. 31 
 
 Mysore m. 40 
 M'wele m. 136, 137 
 
 jreek Military c. 298 
 
 
 Sreek Military m. 298 
 Gwalior s. 98 
 
 ^ATAL m. 165 
 Naval General Service m. 
 
 
 73-88, 167 
 
 ioNG KONG Plague m. 244 
 
 Naval Good Shooting m. 
 
 iowes 1 victory m. 31 
 
 258 
 
 iumane Society's (Royal) 
 
 >Javal Long Service m. 253 
 
 m. 265 
 
 'laval Reserve awards, 257 
 
 Hyderabad m. 95 
 
 *Jepaul m. 47 
 
 
 >Jew Zealand c. 243 
 
 NDIA m. 106, 109, 141, 165 
 
 >Iew Zealand m. 121 
 
 ndian Mutiny m. 117 
 
 vfiger Co.'s (Royal) m. 149 
 
 reland, Visit to, m. 247 
 
 We m. 33, 45 
 
 ron Cross, 302 
 
 s T orth Borneo m. 151 
 
 Italian Croce di Guerra, 299 
 
 North West Canada m. 133 
 
 318 
 
INDEX 
 
 319 
 
 OBILIICH m. 308 
 Overseas Disting. Conduct 
 m. 243 
 
 PENINSULAR awards, 51-62 
 Peninsular circular m. 52 
 Peninsular gold c. 54 
 Police m. 248, 274 
 Portuguese gold c. 61 
 Portuguese Officers' c. 62 
 Punjab m. 38, 103 
 Punniar s. 99 
 
 QUEEN'S S. Africa m. 153 
 
 REGIMENTAL m. 261-264 
 Rhodesia m. 139 
 Robert's s. 128 
 Rodriguez m. 45 
 Royal Red c. 239 
 R.S.P.C.A. m. 271 
 Rundum m. 153 
 
 SCINDE m. 95 
 Seringapatam m. 39, 42 
 Sobraon m. 102 
 South Africa m. no, 125, 
 
 137 
 
 Special Constabulary m. 275 
 Special Reserve L.S. m. 257 
 Stanhope m. 268 
 
 Sudan m. 143, 145, 166 
 Sultan Fouad s. 295 
 
 United States awards eontd. 
 Nicaraguan b. 289 
 
 Sutlej m. 101 
 TEMBUNAN m. 153 
 
 Philippine m. and b. 288 
 Spanish Campaign b. 287 
 Special Merit, b. 286 
 
 Territorial awards, 180, 257, 
 
 West Indies m. 285 
 
 259 
 Territorial War m. 180 
 
 VICTORIA Cross, 201-221 
 
 Tibet m. 164 
 
 Victory m. 173-180 
 
 Trafalgar m. 34 
 
 Vittoria d. 62 
 
 Transport m. 280 
 
 Volunteer Long Service m. 
 
 Turkish s. 309 
 
 255 
 
 
 Volunteer m. 262-4 
 
 UNION of S. Africa Comm, 
 
 Volunteer Officers' d. 254 
 
 m. 249 
 
 
 United States awards 
 
 WATERLOO awards, 63-72 
 
 China badge, 288 
 
 Brunswick m. 71 
 
 Civil War b. 286 
 
 Campaign m. 63 
 
 Cuba b. 288 
 
 French m. 71 
 
 D.S.C. 283 
 
 Hanoverian m. 70 
 
 D.S.M. 284 
 
 Pistrucci's m. 68 
 
 Haitian b. 289 
 
 Welch m. 22 
 
 Honor m. 282 
 
 William and Mary, m. of, 29 
 
 Indian Wars b. 287 
 
 Wyard m. 27 
 
 Manila Bay m. 285 
 
 
 Marine Good Conduct m. 
 
 YEOMANRY Long Service m. 
 
 289 
 
 257 
 
 Meritorious b. 285 
 
 
 Mexican b. 289 
 
 ZULU War m. 125 
 
 Naval Good Conduct m. 
 
 1914 Star, 269 
 
 289 
 
 1914-15 Star, 170 
 
 INDEX TO BARS 
 
 ABU HAMED, 146 
 Abu Klea, 131 
 Afghan Campaign, 166 
 Africa G.S. bars, 163 
 Ahmed Khel, 128 
 Albuera, 60 
 Alexandria, 131 
 Ali Musjid, 128 
 Allighur, 107 
 Alma, 114 
 Argaum, 107 
 Assaye, 107, 109 
 Asseerghur, 107 
 Atbara, 146 
 Atwot, 167 
 Ava, 107, 108, 109 
 Azoff, 114 
 
 BADAJOZ, 60 
 Bahr-el-Ghazel, 146 
 Barrosa, 60 
 Basutoland, 151 
 Bechuanaland, 151 
 Benevente, 60 
 Benin River, 136 
 Bhootan, no 
 Bhurtpoer, 107, 109 
 Brass River, 136 
 Burma, no 
 Busaco, 60 
 
 CANTON, 120 
 
 Central Africa, 137, 138 
 
 Central India, 118, 119 
 Charasia, 128 
 Chateauguay, 60 
 Chilian wala, 105 
 China, 120 
 Chin Hills, no 
 Chin Lushai, no 
 Chitral, 141 
 Chrystler's Farm, 60 
 Ciudad Rodrigo, 60, 61 
 Coomassie, 125, 137 
 Corunna, 60 
 Corygaum, 107, 109 
 
 DARFUR, 167 
 
 Dawkita, 136 
 
 Defence of Legations, 162 
 
 Deig, 107 
 
 Delhi, 107, 109, 118, 119 
 
 EGYPT, 59 
 El Teb, 131 
 
 FASHER, 167 
 Fatshan, 120 
 Fenian Raid, 148 
 Firket, 146 
 Fort Detroit, 60 
 Fuentes d'Onor, 60 
 
 GAMBIA, 136 
 Gawilghur, 107, 109 
 
 Gedaref, 146 
 Gedid, 146 
 Gemaizah, 131 
 Goojerat, 105 
 Guadaloupe, 60 
 Gyantse, 165 
 
 HAFIR, 146 
 Hazara, no 
 
 INKERMAN, 114 
 
 JAVA, 60 
 Jerok, 146 
 Jowaki, no 
 Juba River, 135 
 
 KABUL, 128 
 Kachin Hills, no 
 Kandahar, 128 
 Khartoum, 146 
 Kirbekan, 13 
 Kirkee, 107, 108 
 Kordofan, 167 
 Kumassi, 160 
 
 LAKE Nyassa, 135 
 Laswarree, 107, 109 
 Lau Nuer, 167 
 Liwondi, 135 
 Looshai, no 
 Lubwa's, 149 
 
320 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Lucknow, 118, 119 PEGU, no 
 
 Suakiu, 131 
 
 Lushai, no Peiwar Kotal, 128 
 
 Sudan, 146, 167 
 
 Pekin, 120, 162 
 
 
 MAHEIDPOOR, 107, 108, 109 Perak, no 
 
 TAKU Forts, 120, 162 
 
 Maida, 59 Persian Gulf, 169 
 
 Talavera, 60 
 
 Malakand, 141 
 
 enUa N.W. Frontier, no 
 
 Tamaai, 131 
 
 Martinique, 60 
 
 Poona, 107, 108 
 
 Tel-el- Kebir, 131 
 
 Mongalla, 167 
 
 Punitive Expedition, 151 
 
 Tirah, 141 
 
 Mooltan, 105 
 
 Punjab Frontier, 141 
 
 Tofrek, 131 
 
 
 Pyrenees, 60, 61 
 
 Toski, 131 
 
 NAGA, no 
 
 
 Toulouse, 60, 61 
 
 Nagpoor, 107, 108 
 Naval Gen. Service bars, 
 
 RED River, 148 
 Roleia, 60 
 
 Transkei, 151 
 
 XT 74 ~ 8 , 8 
 
 
 UGANDA, 149 
 
 Nepaul, 107, 108 
 Niger, 136 
 
 SAHAGUN, 60, 61 
 
 Umbeyla, no 
 
 Nigeria, 149 
 Nile, 131 
 Nive, 60, 61 
 Njvelle, 60 
 
 St. Sebastian, 60 
 Salamanca, 60 
 Samana, no, 141 
 Saskatchewan, 134 
 
 V.C. bar, 218 
 Vimiera, 60 
 Vittoria, 60 
 
 North East Frontier, no 
 
 Sebastopol, 114 
 
 
 North West Frontier, 166 
 
 Seetabuldee, 107, 108 
 
 WAZIRISTAN, no, 142 
 
 Nyam-Nyam, 147 1 Sierre Leone, 136 
 
 Witu, 135 
 
 
 bikkim, no 
 
 
 ORTHES, 60 
 
 S. Africa medal bars, 154-9 
 
 ZERAP, 167 
 
 INDEX TO ORDERS OF CHIVALRY 
 
 BATH, 186 
 
 Legion of Honour, 296 , St. Maurice and St. Lazarus,, 
 
 British Empire, 193 
 British India, 197 
 
 Leopold, 291 299 
 Leopold II. 292 St. Michael and St. George, 
 
 
 190 
 
 COMPANIONS of Honour, 195 
 
 MEDJIDIE, 308 St. Patrick, 185 
 
 Crown, 292, 300, 302 
 
 Merit (British), 188 
 
 St. Sava, 306 
 
 Crown of India, 192 
 
 (Indian, 197 
 
 St. Stanislas, 305 
 
 
 St. Vladimir, 306 
 
 DOORANEE, 90' 
 
 NILE, 294 Savoy, 299 
 
 D.S.O. 193, 223 
 
 Star of India, 189 
 
 
 OSMANIEH, 308 
 
 GARTER, 182 
 
 THISTLE, 184 
 
 
 RISING Sun, 301 Tower and Sword, 301 
 
 IMPERIAL Service, 196 
 Indian Empire, 191 
 
 ST. ANDREW, 305 VICTORIA and Albert, 200 
 
 Indian O. of Merit, 197 
 
 St. Anne, 305 Victorian, 192 
 
 
 St. George, 303 
 
 LEAGUE of Mercy, 199 
 
 St. John of Jerusalem, 198 , WHITE Eagle, 307 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS INDEX 
 
 BARS, defined, 9 
 
 PISANO, ANTONIO, 5 
 
 SIMON, THOMAS, 28 
 
 
 Pistrucci, 68 
 
 
 FLAXMAN, 69 
 
 
 
 Forged medals, 7 
 
 
 WEARING of Decorations 
 
 
 REGIMENTS engaged in S. 
 
 3U 
 
 McMittAN, WM., 171 
 
 African War, 155 
 
 Wyon, T., 66 
 
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