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THE MEMOIRS OF THE DUKE DE ST. SIMON

  Newly translated and edited by FRANCIS ARKWRIGHT.

  _In six volumes, demy 8vo, handsomely bound in cloth gilt, with
  illustrations in photogravure, 10/6 net each volume._

NAPOLEON IN EXILE AT ELBA (1814-1815)

  By NORWOOD YOUNG, Author of "The Growth of Napoleon," etc.; with a
  chapter on the Iconography by A. M. Broadley.

  _Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, with coloured frontispiece and 50
  illustrations_ (from the collection of A. M. Broadley), _21/- net_.

NAPOLEON IN EXILE AT ST. HELENA (1815-1821)

  By NORWOOD YOUNG, Author of "Napoleon in Exile at Elba," "The Story
  of Rome," etc.

  _In two volumes, demy 8vo, cloth gilt, with two coloured
  frontispieces and one hundred illustrations_ (from the collection
  of A. M. Broadley), _32/- net_.

JULIETTE DROUET'S LOVE-LETTERS TO VICTOR HUGO

  Edited with a Biography of Juliette Drouet by LOUIS GUIMBAUD;
  translated by Lady THEODORA DAVIDSON.

  _Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, with many illustrations, 10/6 net._

THE NEW FRANCE

  =Being a History from the Accession of Louis Philippe in 1830 to
  the Revolution of 1848, with Appendices.=

  By ALEXANDRE DUMAS. Translated into English, with an introduction
  and notes, by R. S. GARNETT.

  _In two volumes, demy 8vo, cloth gilt, profusely illustrated with
  a rare portrait of Dumas and other pictures after famous artists,
  24/- net._

[Illustration: MEDALS AWARDED TO SERGEANT-MAJOR, LATER QUARTERMASTER,
CHARLES WOODEN, 17TH LANCERS, ONE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.

_Frontispiece_]

                              WAR MEDALS
                           AND THEIR HISTORY

                                  BY
                          W. AUGUSTUS STEWARD

                          OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE
            AUTHOR OF "FROM THE BREASTS OF THE BRAVE," ETC.

                        _With 258 Illustrations
                        in Half-tone and Line_

                                LONDON
                           STANLEY PAUL & CO
                      31 ESSEX STREET STRAND W.C.

                       _First published in 1915_

FOREWORDS

If any excuse were needed for penning this, it is to be found in the
exceeding interest which was taken in my monograph "Badges of the
Brave." Indeed, many readers have requested me to deal, at greater
length, with a subject which not only opens up a great historical
vista and awakens national sentiment, but, incidentally, serves an
educational mission to those who collect and those who sell the
metallic records of many a hard-fought field, which, when collated,
form an imperishable record of our island story.

The War Medal is a comparatively modern institution, otherwise we might
have learned the names of the common folk who fought so tenaciously in
the old wars, as, for instance, the Welsh infantry and Irish soldiers
who, with the English bowmen, comprised the army of 30,000 which at
Crécy routed an army of 120,000; the followers of the Black Prince
who captured the impetuous King John at Poitiers, or the English
archers whose deadly volleys made such havoc at Agincourt, on that
fateful day in October nearly five hundred years ago; the brave seamen
who, under Lord Howard, Drake, Hawkins, and Frobisher, fought the
"Invincible Armada"; and those who, under Raleigh, vigorously pursued
the Spaniards on the high seas. We might have learned something of
the men who composed the Royal Scots and the 18th Royal Irish, and
helped to vindicate the reputation of the British soldier at Namur,
and covered themselves with glory at Blenheim; the gallant Coldstream
Guards who did such excellent service under Marlborough at Oudenarde
and Malplaquet, as well as the Gloucesters and Worcesters who fought
so well at Ramillies, or the Royal Welsh Fusiliers who served under
George II at Dettingen.

When, however, war medals were designed for distribution among
successful combatants, a means of decorating surviving soldiers and
sailors was established, and at the same time a sentimental and
substantial record of a man's labours for his country upon the field
of battle. So that, if the veterans of Drake's historic fleet, or
Marlborough's dauntless soldiers, were not possessed of badges to
distinguish them from the soldiers of industry, we, at any rate, may
hold in our hands the medals which were awarded to those who served
the immortal Nelson, and be proud to possess the medals which shone
upon the breasts of our great grandparents who defied the Conqueror
of Europe on that memorable Sunday, and made his sun to set upon the
battlefield of Waterloo.

Have you listened to the smart British veteran as he explains the
disposition of the troops on that historic occasion--how the French
cavalry "foamed itself away" in the face of those steady British
squares? How he makes the Welsh blood tingle as he records the glorious
deeds and death of Sir Thomas Picton, and the Scotsman's dance through
his veins as he explains how, with the cold steel of their terrible
bayonets, the Black Watch at Quatre Bras, and its second battalion, the
Perthshires, at Waterloo, waited for the charge of the cuirassiers; and
how Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys captured the Eagle of the 45th,
and then, with the rest of the Union Brigade (the English Royals and
the Irish Inniskillings), crashed through the ranks of the faltering
French, and scattered the veterans of Napoleon's army! Have you
seen how the mention of the Guards holding the Château of Hougomont
brightens the eye of the Englishman? Yes! Then just think what it is
to touch and possess the solid proofs of the deeds that those men did,
and to feel that you have in your possession the only recompense those
brave and daring men received from a grateful country.

=Historical Value.=--My collection of medals enables me to cover over a
hundred years of history; takes me back to the stirring times when men
yet met face to face in the Peninsula and at Waterloo; to the men who
founded our Indian Empire. It enables me to keep in touch with sailors
who fought in the battle of the Nile, at Trafalgar, and at Navarino,
that last of all naval battles in which we British took part--our
allies were then the French and Russians--until our battleships met
those of the Germans in the great war now waging. It reminds me of the
horsemen who made the world wonder ere, with deathless glory, they
passed their little day, and of that "thin red line" of Scots, whose
cool daring at Balaklava has only been bedimmed by the gallantry of the
Light Brigade. It enables me to think more intimately of the men I know
who faced the Russians in that terrible winter, and then, like heroes,
plodded through the inferno of the Mutiny. It brings back vividly to
my mind the days of the Zulu War and the heroism of Rorke's Drift. It
reminds me of the daring march to Kandahar and the frontier wars so
necessary to hold back the turbulent human surf which beats on the
shores of our great Eastern Empire. It enables me to keep closely in
touch with those who so quickly dealt with Arabi Pasha and later faced
the fanatical hordes of the Mahdi; the young men of this generation
who fought so stubbornly at the Modder River, and who stormed the
Tugela Heights. It enables me to keep in touch with those "handymen"
and scouts on the fringe of Empire who in Somaliland, Gambia, Benin,
Matabeleland, and Bechuanaland uphold the dignity of Britain.

We sometimes read of a man or woman who has shaken hands, sixty,
seventy, or eighty years ago, with some great person, or some one whose
deeds have made him or her a name in history. The possession of war
medals and decorations, or of medals of honour gained by brave deeds
in time of peace, brings us in close touch with those who honourably
gained them. That is an aspect of medal-collecting which appeals to
me, and should to every one who admires pluck, grit, daring, and the
willingness to personal sacrifice which these badges of the brave
denote.

Finally there is an exceptional feature in the collection of war
medals which will also appeal, for, as Sir James Yoxall has pointed
out in "The A B C About Collecting," the collector of war medals "has
concentrated upon a line which can be made complete." If, however,
his inclinations or his means will not permit of the acquisition of a
complete set he may specialise in either Military or Naval Medals, or
those awarded to special regiments or ships, or to men of his own name,
or those earned by boys or nurses.

In order to facilitate the search for bars issued with the various
medals, the names inscribed thereon are printed in the text in small
capitals: these, of course, must not be taken as representing the type
used on the official bars; reference must be made to the illustrations,
which, being the same size as the original medals, will materially
assist the reader in recognising official lettering.

In conclusion I have to express my sincere thanks for the help afforded
and the deep interest taken in my book by Dr. A. A. Payne, whose
kindness in providing photographs of examples in his unique collection
has enabled me to illustrate many interesting and rare medals; to G. K.
J. and F. W. G. for clerical assistance; G. T. F. for sketches; and to
Messrs. Heywood & Co., Ltd., for the loan of several of the blocks of
medals which had been used in monographs I had written for publication
by them.

                                                    W. AUGUSTUS STEWARD.

  LONDON.

CONTENTS

MILITARY SECTION

                                                                      PAGE

  FIRST CAMPAIGN MEDALS                                                  1

  EARLY MEDALS GRANTED BY THE HONOURABLE EAST
  INDIA COMPANY                                                          9

  FIRST MEDAL FOR EGYPT, 1801                                           16

  THE MAHRATTA WAR                                                      20

  FIRST OFFICIAL MILITARY OFFICERS' MEDAL                               25

  THE PENINSULAR WAR                                                    26

  CONTINENTAL PENINSULAR WAR MEDALS                                     66

  WATERLOO AND QUATRE BRAS                                              70

  BRITISH AND CONTINENTAL WATERLOO MEDALS                               81

  NEPAUL, 1814-15                                                       86

  FIRST BURMESE WAR                                                     90

  FIRST AFGHAN WAR                                                      94

  FIRST CHINESE WAR                                                     98

  SECOND AFGHAN WAR                                                    100

  THE GWALIOR CAMPAIGN                                                 109

  THE SIKH WARS                                                        111

  SECOND PUNJAB CAMPAIGN                                               119

  FIRST NEW ZEALAND WAR                                                124

  MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL GRANTED                               128

  INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL GRANTED                                  133

  FIRST KAFFIR WARS                                                    134

  SECOND BURMESE WAR                                                   137

  THE CRIMEAN WAR                                                      139

  PERSIAN WAR                                                          155

  INDIAN MUTINY                                                        156

  SECOND CHINESE WAR                                                   178

  SECOND NEW ZEALAND WAR                                               182

  ABYSSINIAN WAR                                                       189

  ASHANTEE WAR                                                         192

  ZULU WAR                                                             197

  THIRD AFGHAN WAR                                                     202

  EGYPTIAN CAMPAIGNS                                                   210

  RIEL'S REBELLION                                                     217

  ANNEXATION OF BURMA                                                  218

  BLACK MOUNTAIN AND BORDER EXPEDITIONS                                220

  EAST AND WEST AFRICA                                                 227

  SECOND ASHANTEE WAR                                                  229

  CHITRAL                                                              230

  MATABELELAND AND RHODESIA                                            235

  THE SUDAN                                                            239

  THIRD ASHANTEE WAR                                                   244

  THIRD CHINESE WAR                                                    245

  THE BOER WAR                                                         248

  NIGERIA                                                              256

  AFRICAN EXPEDITIONS                                                  257

  NATAL REBELLION                                                      259

  TIBET EXPEDITION                                                     259

  ABOR                                                                 261

  SUDAN, 1910                                                          262

NAVAL SECTION

  ARMADA MEDALS                                                        266

  CHARLES I MEDALS                                                     267

  COMMONWEALTH MEDALS                                                  268

  THE DUTCH WARS                                                       269

  CHARLES II MEDALS                                                    271

  LA HOGUE                                                             273

  QUEEN ANNE MEDALS                                                    274

  GEORGE I AND GEORGE II MEDALS                                        276

  "THE GLORIOUS" 1ST OF JUNE                                           279

  NAVAL GOLD MEDAL INSTITUTED                                          280

  ST. VINCENT                                                          281

  CAMPERDOWN                                                           283

  THE NILE                                                             284

  COPENHAGEN                                                           287

  TRAFALGAR                                                            288

  TRAFALGAR MEDALS                                                     290

  BARS ISSUED WITH NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL                         293

  BARS ISSUED FOR BOAT ACTIONS                                         305

  ALGIERS                                                              306

  AVA                                                                  307

  NAVARINO                                                             308

  SYRIA                                                                309

  CHINA, 1840-2                                                        310

  SCINDE, 1843                                                         310

  PUNJAB, 1848-9                                                       311

  CHINA, 1856-60                                                       311

  PEGU                                                                 311

  CRIMEA                                                               312

  NAVAL BRIGADE IN CRIMEAN WAR                                         315

  INDIAN MUTINY                                                        316

  NEW ZEALAND, 1845-6-7                                                317

  CREWS ENGAGED IN ABYSSINIA, ASHANTEE, PERAK,
  AND SOUTH AFRICA                                                     318

  EGYPTIAN WARS                                                        319

  AFRICAN EXPEDITIONS                                                  329

  BOER WAR                                                             333

  MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALS                                           336

  LONG SERVICE MEDALS                                                  348

  HOW MEDALS ARE NAMED                                                 352

  SOME CONTINENTAL AND FOREIGN WAR MEDALS                              357

  PISTRUCCI'S WATERLOO MEDAL                                           374

  REGIMENTAL DESIGNATIONS                                              377

  SALE PRICES                                                          382

  INDEX                                                                401

ILLUSTRATIONS

  V.C. AND MEDALS AWARDED TO QUARTERMASTER WOODEN           _Frontispiece_

                                                               FACING PAGE

  ROYALIST BADGES                                                        1

  DUNBAR MEDAL                                                           4

  MEDAL FOR OUDENARDE                                                    4

  H.E.I. CO.'S MEDAL FOR SERINGAPATAM, 1799                             12

  H.E.I. CO.'S MEDAL FOR EGYPT, 1801                                    12

  PENINSULAR GOLD MEDAL                                                 16

  GOLD MEDAL FOR MAIDA, 1806                                            20

  H.E.I. CO.'S MEDAL FOR AVA, 1824-6                                    20

  PORTUGUESE GOLD CROSS (COMMANDER'S) FOR THE PENINSULAR                28

  PORTUGUESE OFFICER'S CROSS FOR THE PENINSULAR                         32

  SPANISH CROSS FOR ALBUHERA                                            36

  SPANISH CROSS FOR CIUDAD RODRIGO                                      36

  SPANISH GOLD CROSS FOR VITTORIA                                       36

  ALCANTARA MEDAL, 1809                                                 40

  MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL                                        40

  PENINSULAR GOLD CROSS                                                 44

  PENINSULAR GOLD MEDAL WITH BARS                                       44

  LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BRACKENBURY'S DECORATIONS                          48

  PRUSSIAN MEDALS FOR NAPOLEONIC WARS                                   52

  BRONZE MEDAL TO BRITISH GERMAN LEGION                                 52

  SILVER MEDAL TO HANSEATIC LEGION                                      52

  WATERLOO MEDAL                                                        56

  ARMY OF INDIA MEDAL, 1799-1826                                        56

  NASSAU MEDAL FOR WATERLOO                                             60

  HANOVERIAN MEDAL FOR WATERLOO                                         60

  PRUSSIAN JUBILEE MEDALS FOR WATERLOO                                  64

  "ST. HELENA" MEDAL                                                    64

  BRUNSWICK MEDAL FOR WATERLOO                                          72

  SAXE-GOTHA-ALTENBURG WATERLOO MEDAL                                   72

  PISTRUCCI'S WATERLOO MEDAL                                            80

  GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S MEDAL FOR GHUZNEE, 1839                            88

  MEDAL FOR GHUZNEE, 1839                                               88

  MEDAL FOR KELAT-I-GHILZIE, 1842                                       96

  FIRST JELLALABAD MEDAL, 1842                                          96

  SECOND JELLALABAD MEDAL ("FLYING VICTORY"), 1842                     100

  CHINA MEDAL, 1842                                                    100

  MEDAL FOR CABUL, 1842                                                100

  MEDAL FOR CANDAHAR, ETC.                                             108

  BRONZE STAR FOR MAHARAJPOOR                                          108

  BRONZE STAR FOR PUNNIAR, 1843                                        112

  MEDAL FOR SUTLEJ, 1845                                               112

  MEDAL FOR PUNJAB, 1849                                               112

  FIRST INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 1854                              120

  FIRST SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL, 1853                                       120

  CRIMEA MEDALS                                                        128

  FIRST MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE                                             132

  SARDINIAN CRIMEA MEDAL                                               132

  SECOND CHINESE WAR MEDAL                                             132

  VICTORIA CROSS                                                       136

  INDIAN ORDER OF MERIT                                                136

  MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL                                            136

  DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL                                          140

  CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY MEDAL                                          140

  INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL                                                  144

  NEW ZEALAND MEDAL                                                    144

  ABYSSINIAN MEDAL                                                     148

  CANADA MEDAL                                                         148

  ASHANTEE MEDAL                                                       148

  ZULU WAR MEDAL                                                       148

  AFGHAN MEDAL, 1878-9-80                                              156

  ROBERTS STAR FOR KANDAHAR                                            156

  HONG-KONG PLAGUE MEDAL                                               160

  EGYPTIAN WAR MEDAL                                                   160

  KHEDIVE'S STAR                                                       160

  INDIA MEDAL FOR FOUR CAMPAIGNS                                       164

  EGYPTIAN MEDAL FOR THREE CAMPAIGNS                                   164

  AFRICA MEDAL FOR FIVE EXPEDITIONS                                    164

  JUMMOO AND KASHMIR MEDAL                                             168

  HUNZA NAGAR BADGE                                                    168

  MEDAL FOR MATABELELAND                                               172

  CAPE OF GOOD HOPE MEDAL                                              172

  QUEEN'S SUDAN MEDAL (REVERSE)                                        172

  KHEDIVE'S SUDAN MEDAL (OBVERSE)                                      172

  QUEEN'S SUDAN MEDAL (OBVERSE)                                        176

  KHEDIVE'S SUDAN MEDAL (REVERSE)                                      176

  QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL (OBVERSE)                                 176

  KING'S SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL (REVERSE)                                  176

  BOER WAR MEDALS FOR COMPARISON                                       180

  MAJOR CROOPER'S DECORATIONS                                          184

  MEDALS ILLUSTRATING PHASES IN THE LIFE OF QUEEN VICTORIA             188

  BRONZE STAR FOR ASHANTI, 1896                                        192

  INDIA 1895 MEDAL                                                     192

  MAYOR'S STAR FOR DEFENCE OF KIMBERLEY                                192

  MEDAL FOR ASHANTI, 1900                                              198

  MEDAL FOR TIBET, 1903-4                                              198

  MEDAL FOR NATAL REBELLION                                            198

  INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 1908                                    204

  INDIA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL FOR ABOR, 1911-12                        204

  MEDAL FOR SUDAN, 1910                                                204

  DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS                                          208

  DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER                                          208

  CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS                                            208

  ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE MEDAL                                            224

  H.E.I. CO.'S MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL                               224

  KING EDWARD'S ARMY LONG SERVICE MEDAL                                224

  VICTORIAN VOLUNTEER OFFICER'S DECORATION                             240

  EDWARDIAN COLONIAL AND AUXILIARY FORCES DECORATION                   240

  KING EDWARD'S MILITIA LONG SERVICE MEDAL                             244

  KING GEORGE'S TERRITORIAL EFFICIENCY MEDAL                           244

  VICTORIAN MILITARY LONG SERVICE MEDAL                                252

  KING GEORGE'S NAVAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL                      252

  EGYPTIAN MEDAL FOR BRAVERY                                           256

  THE MILITARY CROSS                                                   256

  ELIZABETHAN NAVAL MEDAL                                              266

  COMMONWEALTH MEDAL FOR DUTCH WARS                                    266

  LORD UPPINGHAM'S ARMADA MEDAL                                        270

  THE WYARD MEDAL                                                      270

  CHARLES II SILVER NAVAL MEDAL                                        272

  QUEEN ANNE SILVER NAVAL MEDAL                                        276

  WILLIAM III SILVER MEDAL FOR LA HOGUE                                280

  NAVAL GOLD MEDAL FOR THE "GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE"                    280

  REAR-ADMIRAL USSHER'S DECORATIONS                                    284

  DAVISON'S MEDAL FOR THE NILE                                         288

  BOULTON'S MEDAL FOR TRAFALGAR                                        290

  NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL                                          292

  SULTAN'S MEDAL FOR ACRE                                              292

  BALTIC MEDAL                                                         296

  NAVAL MEDAL FOR BEST SHOT                                            296

  AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL                                         296

  EARL OF ST. VINCENT'S MEDAL, 1800                                    304

  WILLIAM IV NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDAL                                  308

  VICTORIAN NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDAL                                   308

  EDWARD VII NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDAL                                  308

  CROSS OF THE LÉGION D'HONNEUR                                        320

  PRUSSIAN ORDER OF MERIT (2ND CLASS)                                  324

  AUSTRIAN CROSS FOR 1813-14                                           324

  HESSIAN MEDAL FOR 1814-15                                            324

  THE IRON CROSS                                                       332

  AUSTRIAN ORDER OF THE IRON CROWN                                     332

  PRUSSIAN MEDAL FOR DISTINCTION IN SERVICE                            332

  AUSTRIAN OFFICER'S GILT CROSS                                        332

  SILVER CROSS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1846                                 336

  IRON CROSS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1836                                   336

  SILVER MEDAL FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1836                                 340

  BADEN MEDAL FOR 1849                                                 340

  BADEN MEDAL "FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE"                                   340

  FRENCH MEDAL FOR MEXICO, 1862-3                                      348

  FRENCH MEDAL FOR TONKIN, 1883-5                                      348

  PAPAL MEDAL FOR 1860                                                 352

  CROSS FOR KÖNIG GRÄTZ (SADOWA)                                       352

  GENEVA CROSS FOR 1870-1                                              352

  FRENCH MEDAL FOR 1870-1                                              356

  GERMAN MEDAL FOR 1870-1                                              356

  CHILIAN WAR MEDALS                                                   356

  RUSSIAN WAR DECORATIONS                                              364

  GOLD MEDAL FOR MANILA BAY                                            368

  MEDAL FOR SERBO-TURKISH WAR                                          372

  MEDAL FOR SERBO-BULGARIAN WAR                                        372

  SERBIAN MEDAL "FOR COURAGE"                                          376

  SERBIAN MEDAL FOR SERVICE TO WOUNDED                                 376

  GERMAN MEDAL FOR SOUTH-WEST AFRICA                                   380

  GREEK MEDAL FOR GRECO-TURKISH WAR                                    380

  SECOND MÉDAILLE MILITAIRE                                            384

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT

  H.E.I. Co.        Honourable East India Company.

  M.G.S.           Military General Service.

  N.G.S.           Naval General Service.

  I.G.S.           India General Service.

  V.C.             Victoria Cross.

  D.S.O.           Distinguished Service Order.

  D.C.M.           Distinguished Conduct Medal.

  D.S.C.           Distinguished Service Cross.

  D.S.M.           Distinguished Service Medal.

  C.G.M.           Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

  G.S.M.           General Service Medal.

[Illustration: MEDALLION OF EARL OF ESSEX.]

[Illustration: SIR THOMAS FAIRFAX MILITARY AWARD, 1645.]

[Illustration: BADGE OF CHARLES I AND HENRIETTA.

ROYALIST BADGES.]

WAR MEDALS AND THEIR HISTORY

Since the days when woad-clad Britons faced Cæsar's legions we have had
a military system, but it was not, so far as we have any substantial
evidence, until the days of Elizabeth that personal decorations were
awarded for military service, or distinction on the seas or in the
field.

In the Middle Ages, a warrior, knighted on the field of battle, was
permitted to use a square instead of a swallow-tailed pennon, as a
knight's banneret, and to use a war cry, from whence we may trace the
origin of the mottoes used with Coats of Arms.

Later, after Sedgemoor (July 6th, 1685), recognition of the lower ranks
is recorded in the bestowal of a gratuity of £40 to Sergeant Weems of
the 1st Royals (now the Royal Scots) for serving the great guns in an
emergency; but these types of award hardly provided that personal note
or record which the war medal, as we know it, gives to the recipient.

It is fitting that the Navy, which had existed for centuries prior
to the establishment of a standing Army, should take precedence in
the bestowal of awards for active service; the rout of the Spanish
Armada--in 1588--probably gave the incentive to Good Queen Bess to
commemorate the auspicious occasion by the issue of medals in gold and
silver, and we may reasonably assume that they were given for personal
decoration to the leading officers engaged in the defeat of the
Armada, or that the recipients thought that by wearing them they would
show respect to the Queen, and thus established the custom of wearing
medals, presented by the Sovereign for War Service. A specimen of these
medals, with rings and chain for suspension, probably from the neck, is
to be seen in the British Museum.

Just over fifty years later, Charles I established the principle for
the Army, and thus strengthened the precedent, which was gradually
extended, until now every boy and man who has acquitted himself
creditably in a campaign, and the nurses also, may rightly claim the
medallic recognition and record of their principal services by land or
by sea.

=Elizabethan Naval Medals.=--A silver medal, with an attached half-ring
loop for suspension, was apparently given by Queen Elizabeth for naval
achievements; it is oval, and bears on the obverse a bust of the
Queen, and on the reverse a bay tree on an island, with the legend
impressed thereon NON · IPSA · PERICVLA · TANGVNT. This is a splendidly
decorative medal. The "Ark-in-Flood medal," though hardly so well
designed or so delicately cut, is characteristic. It is generally
stated that it was given to the principal officers who fought against
the Armada, or to commanders who had distinguished themselves at sea.
The medal was struck in gold and silver and measured 2 in. by 1¾ in.,
and was suspended by a fancy loop. On the obverse of the medal is a
bust of the Queen facing to the left, with the inscription ELIZABETH ◆
D ◆ G ◆ ANGLIE ◆ F ◆ ET ◆ H ◆ REG.

These, like another medal given by Elizabeth, we may reasonably suppose
to have been struck to commemorate the defeat of the "Invincible
Armada." James I issued a similar medal in gold and silver, with a ring
for suspension. On the reverse is the Ark upon the waters, having above
it, like Elizabeth's medal, the symbol indicative of Divine protection,
surrounded by the motto STET · SALVUS · IN · VNDIS. There are two
kinds of obverse to this medal, one with a portrait bust of the King
in armour with a ruff, and the legend FIDEI DEFENSOR encircling the
head. This apparently was for military officers, and the one bearing an
obverse with the King's head surmounted by a broad-brimmed hat, for his
courtiers. Nothing, however, can be stated with any certainty on this
point. The motto on the obverse is JACOBUS · D · G · MAG · BRITA · FR ·
ET · HI · REX; and on the reverse an ark within an oval band containing
the motto PER VNDUS SEVAS TRANQVILLA.

=Charles I establishes Military Medals.=--Having indicated the creation
of the campaign or active-service medal for the Navy, we will leave the
consideration of naval medals for the section which will be reserved
for that purpose and deal with the listing of the military badges of
the brave, commencing with those which were struck in the days of
Charles I, who established medals for military prowess.

They were, according to the order of the Court, held at Oxford on the
18th day of May, 1643, "to be delivered to wear on the breast of every
man who shall be certified under the hands of their commander-in-chief
to have done us faithful service in the forlorn hope." These medals
were only, it will be seen, given for very distinguished conduct in
the field. One bore the Royal image on the obverse, and Prince Charles
on the reverse; and the other the bust of Charles on the obverse, with
the inscription CAROLUS · D · G · MAG · BRI · FR · ET · HIB · REX, and
on the reverse the Royal Arms with the Garter bearing the motto HONI
· SOIT · QUI · MAL · Y · PENSE. Both medals were silver and oval in
shape, the sizes being respectively 1·7 in. by 1·3 in. and 1·5 in. by
1·2 in.

=First Distinguished-conduct Medal.=--The first record we have of the
bestowal of a medal for conspicuous conduct in the field is in the
award made to an Irish commander who distinguished himself at the
Battle of Edge Hill--the first battle of the Civil War, fought on
October 23rd, 1642--by the recovery of a Royal standard, and certain
military accessories. The gallant soldier, who became Sir Robert Welch,
was subsequently presented with an oval gold medal specially cut to
the King's orders by the Royal "graver of seals and medals," Thomas
Rawlins. The King's instructions, given on the 1st day of June 1643,
were to the effect that the medal was to have on the obverse his own
figure, and that of his son Prince Charles, and on the reverse a copy
of the banner Welch saved at Edge Hill, together with the legend PER
REGALE MANDATVM CAROLI REGIS HOC ASSIGNATVR ROBERTO WELCH MILITI.
Encircling the busts of the King and his son was the inscription
CAROLUS REX MAGNAE BRITANNIAE, FRANCAIE ET HIBERNIAE CAROLUS PRINCEPS.
The medal, oval in form, was 1·7 in. by 1·5 in.

=The First Campaign Medal.=--The Dunbar medal--by the famous medallist,
Thomas Simon, was struck in two sizes, in gold (1 in. by ·85 in.) and
silver (1·35 in. by 1·15 in.), for presentation to officers and men who
"did this excellent service," and, to use the quaint words of Oliver
Cromwell, in "commemoration of that great mercie at Dunbar" where the
Scots Royalists were defeated on September 3rd, 1650. Although these
medals, which were worn suspended by a chain from the neck, cannot be
regarded as campaign medals in the modern sense, they have the unique
distinction of being the first of which there is a reliable record,
indicating that the common soldiery and officers equally participated
in the receipt of a military decoration for war service. This issue was
exceptional, for throughout the existence of the Commonwealth, although
medals were struck to commemorate naval victories over the Dutch, they
were given to officers only, and during succeeding years this appears
to have been the rule also until the beginning of the nineteenth
century, when the custom was established to bestow upon all soldiers,
from Field Marshal to drummer-boy, the same medal; that was after the
battle of Waterloo, June 18th, 1815.

[Illustration: THE DUNBAR MEDAL, 1650.]

[Illustration: (Obverse.) (Reverse.)

COMMEMORATIVE SILVER MEDAL FOR THE BATTLE OF OUDENARDE, 1708.]

The Dunbar medal, as the illustration facing page 1 shows, bears on
the obverse the bust of Cromwell in armour with the inscription in a
semicircle above ~WORD AT DVNBAR~·THE LORD OF HOSTS ~SEPTEM Y3·1650~.
On the reverse is quaintly depicted the House of Commons, which
referred to the Committee of the Army the consideration of a grant of
medals to officers and men who had served in Scotland, and to "set
the proportions and the values of them, and their number, and present
the estimate to the House." Bronze medals exist, but the reverses of
these are plain, despite Cromwell's request that an Army should form
the subject, which was only acceded to in so far as the legend is
concerned, and a slight suggestion of a fight behind the bust of the
Lord Protector.

The Cromwellians voted the sum of £100 to provide a gold medal, for
distinguished service, and chain for presentation to Colonel Mackworth,
who, as governor of Shrewsbury, had refused to surrender the castle to
the Royalists. Of Blake's medal and the other decorations for maritime
warfare I shall treat in the section devoted to naval medals, but I
might here remark upon the fact that in those Puritan days the seaman
appears to have been as much a "handyman" as in modern times, for, like
the present-day marine and seaman, he fought _Per Mare et per Terram_;
at any rate Generals Blake and Monk did, for they received naval medals
or awards from the Commonwealth for their services against the Dutch.

Various medals were struck during the Civil War by the Royalists, and
engravings are extant illustrating medals variously bearing on the
obverse the portraits of King Charles I, Prince Rupert, or one or
other of his leading supporters and generals, including the Earl of
Essex and Sir Thomas Fairfax. The reverse bore either a representation
of the Parliament or the arms of the person depicted on the obverse.
The victory of Naseby (June 14th, 1645) is commemorated by a silver
medal--gilt--with ring for suspension, upon the obverse of which is a
portrait of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the inscription THO: FAIRFAX MILES
MILIT PARL DUX GEN, and on the reverse with a circle meruisti and POST
HAEC MELIORA 1645.

During the reign of Charles II (when the foundation of a standing army
was established) and James II, there is no record of military medals
being struck, although during the reign of the former, as I shall
presently describe, naval medals were issued to commemorate victories
over the Dutch, and in the reign of the latter a large silver medal,
apparently for presentation to naval men, was issued.

During the reign of William III and Mary, naval medals only were
struck, and, as far as is known, only one such during the reign of
Queen Anne, for there is no record of any being issued for the famous
battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and Oudenarde (where, as "Prince
Elector of Hanover," George III distinguished himself), or the
sanguinary battle of Malplaquet, although commemorative medals were
struck.

The reign of George I is also barren of military campaign medals,
while there were apparently only two issued during the reign of George
II--one for the Battle of Culloden (April 16th, 1746), where the Duke
of Cumberland well earned the sobriquet of "The Butcher," and the other
for the taking of Louisbourg, in Canada (July 27th, 1758), where,
after a seven weeks' siege, the French garrison surrendered to General
Amherst.

=The Culloden Medals.=--The Culloden medal was struck to commemorate
the crushing of the Jacobite rebellion at the battle of Culloden on
April 16th, 1746, when the Scots under Prince Charles Edward and Lord
George Murray were defeated by the Duke of Cumberland. The medal, oval
in shape, and 1·75 in. by 1·45 in. in size, had on the obverse the head
of "The Butcher," with CUMBERLAND above, surrounded by an ornate ribbed
border and suspender; a nude figure of Apollo, with a wounded dragon at
his feet, occupies the ground of the reverse, with the words ACTUM EST
ILICET PERIIT, and in the exergue PRŒL · COLOD · AP · XVI · MDCCXLVI.
The medal, by Richard Yeo, was struck in gold, silver, and bronze,
and was suspended from a red ribbon with green edges. This is a very
rare medal, and few specimens now exist, and it is assumed it was only
given to regimental commanders, although as Mr. Grueber, of the British
Museum, pointed out there is no evidence of an order that it should be
granted.

In the British Museum there is a bronze medal commemorating this same
battle; it is possible that it was intended to be worn as a war medal.
The striking of the medal is with a scroll suspender at the top with
a hole, which leaves no doubt that it was intended for suspension
by means of a small ring. There is a small ornamental scroll at the
bottom. It is plain on the reverse, the obverse being occupied by the
equestrian effigy of the Duke of Cumberland, with the date 1746 in the
exergue, and above the group GUL · AUG · DUX · CUM · TERROR · REB.

=Capture of Louisbourg.=--For the siege of Louisbourg, gold and silver
medals were struck for presentation to those officers who had been
conspicuous by their gallantry. In gold and silver the medal, 1·7 in.
in diameter, bears on the reverse a representation of the bombardment,
with LOVISBOVRG TAKEN MDCCLVII, and on the obverse a globe resting upon
a figure symbolic of France (some say a fury) dropping fleur-de-lis,
and pointing to boats at sea. On the globe, supported by a British
Grenadier and a sailor, are the words CANADA and AMERICA, and above
all the figure of Fame, with laurel wreath and trumpet flying in front
of the Union Jack, and a scroll with the words PARITER IN BELLA; the
ribbon for this is half brownish-yellow and light purple. This rare
medal is, however, generally placed in the category of historic medals.
It is by Thomas Pingo, who was responsible for a series of historical
medals, including those commemorating the capture of Goree, December
29th, 1758, the capture of Guadaloupe, 1759, the battle of Minden, July
31st, 1759, and the capture of Quebec (where Wolfe lost his life),
September 15th, 1759.

=Carib War.=--For the Carib War in 1773 the Legislative Assembly of
the island of St. Vincent ordered that a medal of silver should be
awarded to those who had taken part in suppressing the rebellion which
had broken out among the natives. The medal bore upon the obverse the
bust of George III in high relief, his hair being tied with ribbon,
as was the fashion of the times, but represented as clad in armour.
Above the bust is the legend GEORGIVS III MB REX. On the reverse
Britannia, characteristically helmeted and resting her left hand upon
the Union Shield, offers to a beaten Carib an olive branch in token of
peace, while the vanquished is represented as having surrendered his
arms, which lie at the feet of Britannia. In the exergue is the date
MDCCLXXIII, and above the group PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO ST. VINCENTS.
The medal, 2³⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, was cast and chased, and bears on the
truncation of the King's head the name of the modeller--C. M. Moser.
It was worn suspended from the neck by a red ribbon. Among the regular
regiments taking part in the campaign were the 14th, 31st, and 70th.

=Isle of St. Vincent.=--Another medal was awarded for service in
the island of St. Vincent. It was given to the militia officers
and non-commissioned officers who commanded about five hundred
natives--slaves--who helped in the campaign against the Caribs and
French troops in 1795. On the obverse of this medal, which was cast
and chased in silver and bronze, is a winged figure of Victory, with
her right foot planted upon the body of a defeated Carib, who has
dropped his musket at her feet. While in her left hand she bears a palm
branch, she shows her determination by grasping a sword in the right.
Above is the inscription ST. VINCENTS BLACK CORPS; on the reverse is
a representation of a black soldier standing at attention with his
musket, with fixed bayonet, resting on the ground, encircled by the
legend BOLD LOCAL OBEDIENT. The whole of the lettering is in a square
type of Roman capitals. This medal is 1⅞ in. diameter.

The next in order we have to consider are those issued by the
Honourable East India Company to the officers and men who took part
in the Deccan and Mysore Campaigns, between 1778 and 1792, against
Hyder Ali and his son Tippoo Sahib, but these, despite the significant
character of the wars, were not official or Sovereign awards, and were
given to the Company's troops only. Previous to this, the Company had
awarded a medal (in 1766) to native officers who had quelled a mutiny
among European troops at Morighyr.

=The Deccan Medal.=--The medal for Guzerat--1778-84--and
Carnatic--1780-84--commonly known as the "Deccan" medal, was issued
to native troops only, and, as Dr. Payne states, is the earliest
Anglo-Indian medal to be awarded to all ranks. On the obverse Britannia
is represented resting upon a trophy of arms, and holding a wreath in
the right hand, which she extends toward a fort over which the British
flag is flying. On the reverse is an inscription in Persian, which
explains that the medal is awarded by the Government of Calcutta to
commemorate "the excellent services of the brave; year of the Hegira
1199, A.D. 1784." The medal, issued in two sizes, was intended to be
worn suspended from the neck by a yellow cord run through a metal loop.
It was issued in gold to Subadars,[1] silver gilt to Jemadars[2] and
other native officers, and of an inferior character to those who did
not hold warrant rank and the ordinary sepoy. A specimen of the smaller
medal, in fine condition, has sold for between £7 10_s._ and £8 5_s._

[1] Infantry captain.

[2] Jemadar--of the same standing as a lieutenant in the Cavalry or
Infantry, or the Sappers or Miners.

=Mysore Campaign.=--During 1791 and 1793 the native troops were
engaged against Tippoo Sultaun in Mysore, during which campaign the
city of Bangalore was captured in an exceedingly brilliant manner,
thanks to the pluck and daring of British officers. On the 1st day
of April 1793 it was decided by an Order in Council to give to the
successful troops a medal as a reward for their services. As in the
case of the forementioned medal, two grades and sizes were issued. The
gold ones were all 1¹³⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, but a smaller silver one
was issued 1½ in diameter, and while some of the medals have only two
cannon-balls at the foot of the sepoy, five are found on others. This
is probably due to different men cutting the replicas of the dies,
which may have cracked in the striking. On the obverse of the medal
a sepoy, standing with his left foot on a dismounted cannon, grasps
the British colours in his right hand and the Mysore flag reversed
in his left; the background shows the fort of Seringapatam in the
distance. On the reverse is the wording, FOR SERVICES IN MYSORE A.D.
1791-1792, encircled by laurel branches, round which is arranged a
Persian inscription to the effect that the medal is "a token of the
bravery of the troops of the English Government in the war in Mysore in
the year of the Hegira 1205-1206." Like the "Deccan" medal, this was
intended for suspension from the neck by means of a yellow cord running
through a loop. The Subadars were granted gold medals, the Jemadars
and Serrangs silver medals--afterwards gilt--and the non-commissioned
officers and men silver medals of less value. The order for striking
these medals was given to Mr. Mair, a Calcutta silversmith.

_Many Counterfeits._--This is a poor class of medal, and doubtless the
ease with which it lent itself to the counterfeiter is responsible
for the number of cast fakes which one meets with. These, however,
are easily detected: in casting, "sandholes" cause little grains on
the surface, while dust on the mould causes holes in the cast; the
granulations need removing and the holes closing up by the chasing
tool, but the "faker" was invariably careless, and the counterfeits
may be distinguished from the genuine medals by the presence of grains
on or small holes in the surface, and the fact that the "fakes,"
having been cast from an original, are slightly smaller, owing to the
"shrinkage" which always takes place in casting. This shrinkage is
responsible for practically closing up the space between the head of
the flagstaff and the rim of the medal. The larger medal is 1¾ in. and
the smaller 1½ in. in diameter. A fine specimen of the larger medal has
fetched as much as £18.

=Capture of Ceylon.=--For capturing Ceylon from the Dutch in 1795-6
it was decided by an Order in Council, dated Fort William, May 15th,
1807, to confer a medal upon the Gun Lascars only who served with the
European Artillery. Only two gold medals were struck and presented to
native officers, and one hundred and twenty to other ranks. Like those
previously mentioned, the medals were intended for suspension from
the neck by a yellow cord. One and nine-tenths inch in diameter, this
is one of the simplest medals ever issued, and the only one in which
lettering suffices for decoration. On the obverse is the inscription,
FOR SERVICES ON THE ISLAND OF CEYLON A.D. ~1795/6~, and on the reverse,
in Persian, "This medal was given by way of acknowledgment of services
in Ceylon in the year of the Hegira 1209-1210."

=Siege of Seringapatam.=--The feeling of animosity on the part
of Tippoo Sahib, the son of Hyder Ali, fed by the fact that the
Directory in France had designs against British India, led him to make
preparations for another conflict, but the Earl of Mornington, who
afterwards became Marquis of Wellesley, smartly marched an army into
Tippoo Sahib's territories, and on March 27th, 1799, advanced in battle
array against the enemy, who, after losing about 10,000 men, retreated
in disorder, followed by the British Army, which, pressing on to
Seringapatam, reached the city on April 5th, and commenced the famous
siege, which terminated on May 8th. Among the slain was Tippoo Sahib,
and the British in a magnanimous manner interred his remains in the
fine mausoleum which he had caused to be built over the resting-place
of his father. Twenty-two officers were killed and 45 wounded; 181 men
killed, 624 wounded, and 22 missing; 119 native soldiers killed, 420
wounded, and 100 missing.

The European regiments that took part in the storming were the 33rd
Regiment (now the 1st Batt. West Riding Regiment), which, led by the
Hon. Arthur Wellesley (afterwards Duke of Wellington), distinguished
itself on the road to Seringapatam--on March 27th--by standing its
ground in the face of an advancing body of 2,000 men, and then, after
firing a volley, boldly charging upon them, and with the aid of cavalry
driving them off. The other European regiments included the 19th
and 22nd (late 25th) Light Dragoons (both disbanded), the 12th and
73rd Regiments, 74th Highlanders, 75th and 77th Regiments, the Scots
Brigade, afterwards the 94th (disbanded in 1818), and the 103rd. For
these excellent services the Honourable East India Company issued a
medal, of which two kinds exist--one produced in the Soho Mint near
Birmingham, the famous place established by Matthew Boulton, and the
other from dies cut in Calcutta after strikings of the Soho medal.

[Illustration: HONOURABLE EAST INDIA CO.'S MEDAL FOR SERINGAPATAM,
1799.]

[Illustration: HONOURABLE EAST INDIA CO.'S MEDAL FOR EGYPT, 1801.]

_Variety of Medals Struck._--Quite a variety were struck. Gold for His
Majesty, the Governor-General of India--Lord Melville, the Marquis
Cornwallis, certain Nizams, Nabobs, and Rajahs, the Commander-in-Chief
and the General Officers on the Staff, and one for the Oriental Museum.
(£15 to £20 has been paid at auction for one of these medals.) Silver
gilt for the members of the Council of the three Presidencies, the
Residents of Hyderabad and Poona, the Field Officers and the General
Staff on Service. (£8 has been given for a fine specimen of the gilt
medal.) Silver medals were awarded to the captains and subalterns.
(As much as £5 and £6 has been paid for one of these.) Bronze for
non-commissioned officers of the British Army, and tin for privates.
The medals were issued unnamed in 1808, but it was not until August
29th, 1815, that the members of the British Army were permitted to wear
them; issued without suspenders, this permission led to the addition
of loops and suspenders, and the adoption of a ribbon for suspension,
and while some used a dark orange ribbon suggestive of a tiger's skin,
in allusion to the victory of the British arms over Tippoo Sahib--"the
conquering tiger of God"--the claret-coloured ribbon with dark blue
edges, as used with the Peninsular gold medals and crosses and the
Waterloo medal, was the recognised ribbon, although some officers wore
a watered yellow ribbon.

To the native commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers,
sergeants, bandsmen, and trumpeters of European corps, and to others
who might be ranked as non-commissioned officers, the bronze medal
was also granted, while the tin medals were given to corporals,
gunners, and European privates, and to native doctors, guides, and
general-utility men with the Army.

=The Soho Medal.=--This, 1⅑ in. in diameter, bears on the obverse a
representation of the British lion, with a defeated tiger beneath him,
a long pennon flying above, and held erect by the lion's tail, bearing
near the staff the Union Jack, and in Arabic the defeated Tippoo's
title, "Assad Allah El Ghaleb," and in the exergue IV MAY MDCCXCIX.
On the reverse is represented the storming of Seringapatam, with the
meridian sun indicating that when the sun was in its full glory the
successful assault was made and glorious victory was won. Underneath
is the legend in Persian, "Seringapatam God conquered 28th day of the
month Zikadah, 1213 of the Hegira." The Soho mint was responsible for
the striking, in the years 1801 and 1802, of 30 gold, 185 silver gilt,
5,000 bronze, and 45,000 tin medals.

=The Calcutta Medal.=--Like the medal of Mysore, there are two
varieties of the Seringapatam medal owing to mistakes on the part of
the die-cutters. The sun at its meridian, a significant and symbolic
feature in the Soho medal, is omitted in that struck at Calcutta;
moreover the medal is not so large, being only 1⅛ in. in diameter,
is thinner, has a loop for suspension by a cord, and, what is very
important, of inferior craftsmanship--so that in considering the value
or authenticity of a medal for the famous battle of Seringapatam the
collector has to remember several important features, since while he
may hold in his hand two medals differing somewhat in size, design, and
quality of craftsmanship, he may find that both are perfectly genuine.
The Calcutta mint issued 83 gold and 2,786 silver medals, so that the
collector must carefully consider what he is about when a silver-gilt
medal is offered for sale; only 185 _bona-fide_ medals of that quality
were issued, but of the 850 British-struck silver medals many have been
gilded to simulate the rarer medals, while a number of the smaller and
inferior Indian-struck medals have been gilded and offered as original
gilts. Despite the large number of tin medals issued (45,000), I have
seen many fetch £1 each at auction. No bronze or tin medals were struck
from the Calcutta die.

=Egypt, 1801.=--Napoleon, with an eye upon our Indian Empire, invaded
Egypt in order "to conquer the East and take Europe in the rear."
Fortunate in eluding Nelson, who was cruising in the Mediterranean, he
managed to disembark his troops, but he had to suffer the humiliation
of Nelson's brilliant victory in the Bay of Aboukir (on August 1st,
1798), by which he lost practically all his fleet. This famous sea
battle is known as the Battle of the Nile. It left Napoleon stranded
in Egypt with his army, which he marched across the desert. He stormed
Jaffa and besieged Acre for two months, but Sir Sidney Smith and his
garrison of British and Turks not only held the fort, but in so doing
caused the loss of 4,000 of Napoleon's finest troops. Falling back
on Egypt he found disquieting news awaiting him, so he returned to
France and proclaimed himself First Consul. Meanwhile his troops had to
prepare to meet the British expedition which, under Lieutenant-General
Abercromby, had been dispatched to evict them. The total British force
which landed under the brilliant but fated General was 15,330 men,
but of these, it is stated, only about 12,000 could be counted as
fighting units. The French had made formidable preparations to resist
the disembarkation, and the seamen had to row the troops ashore under
a hail of round shot, grape and shell. Many a boat-load of brave men
was sent to the bottom, but those who reached the shore rushed through
the surf, formed line, fixed bayonets, and, led by Major-General Moore
(who found a soldier's grave at Coruña), charged up the slope, drove
out the French battalions, and after withstanding a charge of cavalry,
compelled the French to retreat along the road to Alexandria, whither
they were ultimately pursued by the British army, many daring exploits
taking place _en route_. One is particularly noteworthy. The Perthshire
Regiment, wearing at the time brass helmets, were mistaken by the
French cavalry for dragoons, and the Scots were consequently charged in
an impetuous manner by them. The affair, which took place at Mandora,
was a precursor of the brilliant action of the 93rd Highlanders at
Balaklava, for, standing firm, the Perthshires coolly awaited their
mounted adversaries until they were within fifty yards of them, and
then, firing a volley, caused the main body to wheel off by their left
and retreat in confusion. Sir Ralph Abercromby narrowly escaped death
in this affair, but, as Archibald Forbes states, he "was rescued by the
devoted bravery of the Perthshire Regiment."

=The Highlanders at Alexandria, 1801.=--At the battle of Alexandria,
March 21st, 1801, Generals Moore and Oakes were wounded, but continued
to lead their men, who did prodigies of valour ere the French
retreated to their entrenchments before Alexandria. Abercromby had,
during the day, kept close to the Highlanders, whom he cheered with
the words, "My brave Highlanders, remember your country! Remember
your forefathers!" ere ordering them to pursue the enemy; but having
sent his staff officers on different missions, he was left a solitary
and conspicuous figure. A couple of French cavalrymen, seizing the
opportunity, endeavoured to capture the gallant Commander-in-Chief,
but, refusing to yield, he made a brilliant fight until a corporal of
the 42nd (Black Watch) ran up and shot one of the men, when the other
made off, but was bayoneted by another of the 42nd. Meanwhile it was
noticed that he dismounted with difficulty from his horse, but as he
exhibited no sign of suffering it was not until blood was observed
on his thigh that any idea was entertained that he had been wounded.
It was then found that a musket-ball had lodged in his hip joint.
This caused his death on board the _Foudroyant_ on March 28th, 1801.
General Hutchinson, who took command of the force, ultimately invested
Alexandria, and after a three days' armistice the terms of capitulation
were signed, and arrangements made for the departure of the armies.
The French, who were commanded by General Menou, left Egypt with about
27,500 men, and the British with 22,350.

=H.E.I. Co.'s Medal for Egypt.=--The Military and General Service
medal, with bar for Egypt, was not issued to the survivors of the
series of strenuous fights which concluded with the capitulation
of Alexandria, until February 11th, 1850, almost forty-nine years
after. Meanwhile a large number of the army of about 5,000 men, which
sailed from India under the command of Sir David Baird, had received
a special medal from the Honourable East India Company, which, by a
General Order, was granted on July 31st, 1802. The promptitude of the
Company in rewarding soldiers stands out in pleasant relief against the
thoughtlessness or procrastination of the home Government. This army
of 2,000 Europeans, 2,000 sepoys, and 400 artillerymen, marched across
the Nubian Desert to Keneh, and after descending the Nile encamped at
Rosetta, but saw no fighting. The British regiments which formed part
of the army to cross the desert were the 10th and 61st Regiments of
foot, and detachments of the 80th, 86th, and 88th.

[Illustration: PENINSULAR GOLD MEDAL.

Awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Alex. Gordon, 83rd Foot, who was killed
at Talavera.]

Silver medals, 1⅑ in. in diameter, were struck for about half the
force, and sixteen gold ones. The medal, illustrated facing page 12,
bears on the obverse an energetic figure of a sepoy, carrying the Union
Jack, with a background suggesting a camp. In the exergue is a Persian
inscription to the effect that the medal is presented to commemorate
the defeat of the French armies in Egypt by the bravery and ability
of the victorious army of England. On the reverse, suggestive of the
transportation of troops, is a ship in full sail, and on the land which
forms the background the Pyramids and an obelisk indicative of Egypt.
In the exergue is the date MDCCCI.

=Order of the Crescent.=--Selim III presented a series of gold medals
to the officers who took part in the operations. These varied in
weight and size, some being set with diamonds, while a few of the
larger ones were enamelled crimson in the centre. The medals, being
struck from different dies, have the crescent either on the right or
left of the star. The principal naval and military officers received
medals measuring 2⅒ in. in diameter; those ranking next received a
lighter and smaller medal, 1⁹⁄₁₀ in. in diameter; while a third medal,
given to captains, was still lighter and only 1⅞ in. in diameter.
The non-commissioned officers received a silver medal 1⁴⁄₁₀ in. in
diameter, so that one may gauge by the size the rank of the officer who
received it. The medals were suspended from an orange-coloured ribbon
by means of a hook and chain. I have seen specimens without attachment
for suspension.

The army which landed under Abercromby included the 1st Battalion
of the Coldstreams and the Scots Guards; the 1st Royal Scots; 2nd
Queen's Royal; 8th King's; 13th, 18th Royal Irish; 19th, 28th; 23rd
Welsh Fusiliers; 28th, 30th, 40th (flank companies), 42nd Black
Watch; 44th, 50th, 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 54th, 58th; 79th
Cameron Highlanders; 89th, 90th Perthshire Light Infantry; 92nd Gordon
Highlanders; one squadron of the 11th Light Dragoons; the 12th and 26th
Light Dragoons (unmounted); Artillery and Engineers; also Dillon's
and De Rolle's Regiments; a detachment of Baron Hompesch's mounted
riflemen, and the Corsican Rangers. The army was further strengthened
by a squadron of the 8th Light Dragoons; the 10th and 27th Foot; 1st
and 2nd Battalions of the 89th, and the Queen's German Regiment.

The 22nd Light Dragoons; two battalions of the 20th Regiment; the 24th,
25th, and 26th Regiments; as well as the Ancient Irish Fencibles, the
Chasseurs Britanniques, and De Watteville's Regiment, did not reach
Egypt until July 1801. The medals of men attached to the regiments
which first landed and drove the French off to Alexandria, following up
their retreat, and particularly those who took part in the most furious
fighting, are the most sought after; those of the Black Watch and
Gloucesters being especially and rightly valued, likewise those of the
8th and 13th Foot.

=The Red Heckle.=--There is even now a common notion that the Black
Watch (which lost 54 officers and men killed, and 262 wounded) had
its white heckle changed to red because of its prowess against the
French "Invincible Legion" in the historic ruins outside Alexandria,
where, it is alleged, the heckles in the fallen bonnets became dyed
with the blood of the slain, and in honour of their part in the battle
of Alexandria they were granted this signal favour. Such, however, is
not the correct story, for it is now generally conceded that the red
heckle was granted for their courageous conduct in retaking some guns,
at Gildermaslen on January 4th, 1795, which the 11th Light Dragoons had
abandoned. The Dragoons wore a red feather in their helmets, and this
was passed on, so to speak, to the Black Watch, and the "red heckle"
has distinguished the gallant regiment ever since.

=Highland Society's Medal.=--For the "distinguished and brilliant
manner in which the 42nd acted at Alexandria," the Highland Society
of London had a medal struck to commemorate the capture of the
"Invincibles'" standard, and one was presented to each officer and
private, and to the relatives of the dead men. The medal is 2 in. in
diameter, and bears on the obverse the bust of Sir Ralph Abercromby
and the inscription ABERCROMBIUS DUX IN EGYPTO CECIDIT VICTOR 28 MAR
1801, and on the reverse a Highlander capturing a French standard, with
the inscription in Gaelic NA FIR A CHOISIN BUAIDH' SAN EPHAIT 21 MAR
1801, which being interpreted means "These are the heroes who achieved
victory in Egypt." On the edge of the medal is engraved in Gaelic O'N
CHOMUN GHAELEACH D'ON FHREICEADAN DUBH NA XLII RT ("From the London
Highland Society to the Black Watch 42nd Regiment"). In this battle the
28th (the 1st Gloucester Regiment) gained the distinction of wearing
their badge at the back and front of their helmets, they having--while
in line--turned about to meet an attack in the rear by cavalry while
repelling an attack on their front by infantry.

THE MAHRATTA WAR

Dowlat Rao Scindiah, aspiring to the conquest of Hindustan, entered
into negotiations with other Mahratta (Máráthá) leaders to attack the
British and the Peishwah, who having allied himself to the British had
been restored to his ancient position. The treaty of Bassein, in which
the British agreed to restore him, has been described as "the greatest
diplomatic triumph the world has ever witnessed." The war did not last
long.

=Allighur.=--The first serious engagement was the storming of Allighur,
"a bloody struggle, an hour in duration," on September 4th, 1803. The
place was defended by General Perron, who had risen from the rank of a
non-commissioned officer of the French Marine to be Commander in Chief
of the Scindiah's army. General Lake, the British Commander-in-Chief,
was his opponent, and he took the fortress by blowing in the gate,
an operation described in the Wellington dispatch as "one of the
most extraordinary feats I have heard of in this country." The 76th
Regiment, led by Colonel Monson, was mainly instrumental in this daring
feat; 2,000 of the defenders fell, and 17 officers and 261 men of the
British army were killed and wounded. The 27th and 29th Dragoons were
the only other European regiments present.

=Delhi.=--Within a few days the battle of Delhi was fought and won. A
portion of the force was dispatched, and on the 11th day of September,
1803, encamped near the Jehna Nullah within 6 miles of Delhi. Here Lake
was, with 4,500 fighting men, confronted by an army of 13,000 infantry
and 6,000 horsemen, with 79 pieces of artillery, under the command of a
French officer, Louis Bourquien. Lake, despite the fatigued condition
of his men, decided to give battle, and the result was a crowning
victory for the British General, who with a native army--he had only
two of the King's regiments with him, the 76th Foot and 27th Dragoons
(since disbanded), to stiffen it--utterly routed the Mahrattas, who
lost 3,000 men. The British losses were severe, for 585 men, including
17 European officers, fell ere the victorious army bivouacked on the
field of battle, after being seventeen hours under arms. On September
13th the gallant Lake and his men entered Delhi. The result of this
victory was the restoration of the Great Mogul, the blind Shah Alum,
who had been a prisoner of the Scindiah's for years.

[Illustration: GOLD MEDAL FOR MAIDA, 1806.

Awarded to Sir Henry Edward Bunbury, Bart., K.C.B.]

[Illustration: MEDAL FOR AVA, 1824-6.]

=Assaye.=[3]--Meanwhile Major-General the Hon. Arthur Wellesley had
besieged and taken Ahmednuggur, possibly at the time the strongest
stone fort in India. This he made his base of operations, and hastened
to get into touch with Colonel Stevenson in order to make a combined
attack on the enemy on September 24th, but while Wellesley was on the
march he discovered, when at Naulmah on the 23rd, that he was within
6 miles of the Mahratta army; he decided, therefore, to take what
he afterwards termed "a desperate expedient." With a force of 6,400
infantry and 1,600 cavalry (of these only 1,500 were British) and only
17 guns, the man who was to become the hero of Waterloo offered battle
to the armies of the confederate chiefs, which included 30,000 horse
and 128 cannon in position behind the steep banks of the River Kaitna.
The result of the battle was as brilliant as the commander's resolve
was daring, for the Mahratta army was routed by one only a fifth its
size, and left 2,000 dead on the field; but the cost to the British
was a third of the army killed or wounded, including 170 officers.
Wellesley had one horse killed under him by a cannon shot, and another
by a bayonet wound in the breast--sufficient evidence of the part the
General took in the attack. The battle of Assaye, Wellington's first
victory, is excellent evidence that he was as bold in attack as he was
brilliant in defence. The 19th Light Dragoons (since disbanded), the
74th and 78th Foot were the British regiments engaged in the battle,
and while the latter bore the brunt of the conflict, the Dragoons
largely contributed to it by their brilliant charge.

[3] Spelt ASSYE on bar of Army of India Medal.

=Siege of Agra.=--The Mahrattas, who had evacuated Delhi after the
surrender of their European officers, fell back on Agra, where the
garrison, desirous of keeping the great treasure the city held, had
shut the gates to their Mahratta countrymen. General Lake, having
ordered his army in pursuit, had therefore to deal with these before
laying siege to Agra. After a stiff fight, a charge of sepoys was all
that was necessary before proceeding to take the city, which when it
fell, on October 18th, was found to contain treasure worth £280,000.
For this battle no recognition was given, as we shall see when listing
the bars for the medals granted for the wars and battles in India
between September 4th, 1803, and January 1826.

=Asseerghur.=--At the battle of Asseerghur (October 21st, 1803)
there was only one British regiment present, the 94th Foot (the
Scotch Brigade). On October 16th Colonel Stevenson took possession of
Burhampoor, and then proceeded to Asseerghur, where he assaulted the
Pettah, or Citadel, on the 17th, and on the 21st, after cannonading
the fort, received the surrender of the place. The battle practically
cleared the Scindiah out of the Deccan, but did not humiliate him.

=Laswarree.=--The decisive defeat of the Scindiah's army at Laswarree
on November 1st, 1803, might be called the crowning glory of Lake's
life, for the battle was a particularly desperate one, fought
against great odds, and with a tenacity which had not characterised
any previous battles, hard-fought though they had been, the enemy
contesting the ground inch by inch. The Mahratta force comprised 9,000
infantry, 4,000 cavalry, with 72 guns, and of this fine army 7,000 were
left dead on the field of battle, while 2,000 were taken prisoners; the
British force, numbering only 4,000, had 172 killed and 652 wounded.
The British regiments present were the Royal Irish Hussars (8th); the
27th and 29th Light Dragoons; and the 76th Regiment, which lost heavily
in the battle, but covered itself with glory after a night march of
nearly 25 miles; indeed, the whole of the British army had been under
arms for sixteen hours. General Lake, who it was said had "carried
bravery to the very verge of rashness," was created Baron Lake of Delhi
and Laswarree.

=Argaum.=--The battle of Argaum, fought on November 29th, 1803, broke
the Mahratta power, Wellesley routing the enemy, who abandoned 38
pieces of cannon and all their ammunition. In this battle the 74th and
78th Highlanders were particularly praised by Major-General Wellesley
for repulsing and practically destroying a body of Persian or Arab
cavalry. The other infantry regiment present was the 94th, and the only
British cavalry regiment the 19th Light Dragoons.

=Gawilghur.=--Pressing on, Wellesley arranged with Colonel Stevenson
to besiege the fort of Gawilghur, the event taking place on December
15th, 1803. This was only possible after considerable hardships and
endurance on the part of the army, which had to make roads along which
it could drag its guns by hand. Their labours, however, were rewarded
by a comparatively bloodless victory for themselves, in which the
enemy lost a large number of men during the storming, among them being
Killadar and Bery Sing. Two days later the treaty of peace between the
Rajah of Berar and the Honourable East India Company was ratified,
and the Scindiah also ratified a treaty of peace on January 5th,
1804, and thus a campaign of five months' duration was brought to an
end by the astuteness and daring of Lake and Wellesley. The 74th and
78th Highlanders, and the 94th Foot (then the Scotch Brigade, now 2nd
Battalion Connaught Rangers) were the only British regiments present at
Gawilghur.

=Defence of Delhi.=--Holkar yet remained to be dealt with, and a series
of unfortunate circumstances made him somewhat bold, so he set about
besieging Delhi, which was held by Indian troops and four companies
of Europeans under British officers, who, numbering only 2,500, had to
defend a city 10 miles in circumference from the attacks of an army
of 70,000 men with 130 guns. Meanwhile General Lake, learning of the
trouble, marched rapidly up from Agra, and reached the city on October
18th, 1804. Holkar thereupon raised the siege, crossed the Jumna, and
proceeded to lay waste the land.

=Battle of Deig.=--Lake, however, with his usual daring, made after
him with his European cavalry and artillery, accompanied by the Delhi
garrison. General Frazer was detached to march on Deig, where in the
battle outside he was mortally wounded. In this battle the 76th (the
only British regiment present) again distinguished itself, and drove
the left flank of the enemy into the morass, where many were drowned.
Besides the 76th the H.E.I. Co.'s 101st (Bengal Fusiliers) and the
Bengal Native Infantry took part. During this action, in which the
Mahrattas lost about 2,000 men, Holkar was closely pursued by General
Lake, and was ultimately compelled to fly with a few adherents before
the surprising onslaught of Lake, who, finding that the Bajah of
Bhurtpoor had assisted with his cavalry in the battle of Deig, and
not only sheltered Holkar's retreating troops but had fired on their
pursuers, determined to act promptly and firmly.

=Capture of Deig.=--On December 13th he invested the fortress, but not
until the night of the 23rd was the assault made--ten days having been
occupied in making a breach--and then within one hour the place was
taken after a short but desperate resistance; the citadel, however,
still remained in the hands of the enemy, who evacuated the town and
citadel on Christmas Eve 1804, and fled to Bhurtpoor, whither Lake
resolved to pursue their army. The British regiments present at the
capture were the 8th and 29th Light Dragoons, and portions of the
22nd (the Cheshire Regiment) and the 76th Foot. The H.E.I. Co.'s 1st
European Regiment, 6th Light Cavalry, and 8th Native Infantry were also
present.

Lord Lake made the one mistake in his Indian warfare when he sat down
before Bhurtpoor, because _matériel_ necessary to a successful issue
was lacking. After several unsuccessful assaults, Lake deemed it
advisable to withdraw, and on the 24th took up a position 6 miles off,
there to await fresh supplies of stores and ammunition. On April 9th
he renewed operations, and by the 21st had settled accounts with the
Rajah. The Scindiah, having joined Holkar, was pursued by Lake, and on
November 23rd, 1805, a treaty was ratified with him; later Holkar was
also glad to sign a treaty, whereby the peace of Hindustan was secured
for twelve years, and here we must leave for a period the tale of
Indian wars, which went unrewarded until April 1851--forty-eight years
after the battle of Allighur--and take up the thread with the war in
Nepaul.

=Maida, 1806.=--The first official war medal for military service
was awarded to the seventeen superior officers who were engaged
in the decisive and brilliant victory of Sir John Stuart--then
Major-General--at Maida in Calabria, on July 4th, 1806, when the French
were defeated, leaving about 700 dead on the field. The order for
striking the medals was issued in 1808. On the obverse is a laureated
head of King George with the legend GEORGIVS TERTIVS REX, and on the
reverse the figure of Britannia hurling a spear with the right hand,
while guarding herself with a circular shield whereon the Union Jack
is delineated, and just underneath this the inscription ~MAI DA IVL.
IV MDCCCVI.~ Above is a small flying figure of Victory, crowning her
with a wreath of laurel, and behind, the ancient symbol of Sicily--the
triguetra, or triple leg--like the Manx arms; in the exergue are two
crossed darts tied with a knot. This medal, 1½ in. in diameter, framed
and glazed, was worn from the button-hole of the uniform, suspended
by a claret-coloured blue-edged ribbon from a gold swivel and loop.
The names and rank of recipients are inscribed on the edge; it was
cut by Pidgeon. The medal illustrated facing page 20 was awarded
to Lieut.-Gen. Henry Edward Bunbury, Bart., K.C.B., who was Under
Secretary of State for War, 1809-16. It was kindly photographed for use
in this book by his grandson, Sir Henry Bunbury, Bart.

THE PENINSULAR WAR

Napoleon, having by a series of brilliant battles gained supremacy over
Central Europe, issued a decree against all commercial intercourse with
Great Britain, but having lost any semblance of maritime power by the
crushing defeat of Trafalgar (October 21st, 1805), this was a somewhat
idle procedure. Portugal declining to carry out his Imperial decrees,
Napoleon alleged that the house of Braganza no longer held power, and
by cajoling the Spaniards into a false security led them to believe
that they would participate in the spoils of Portugal; consequently
they permitted an army under Marshal Junot to over-run Portugal, but
Napoleon's ulterior object was to place his brother Joseph, King of
Naples, on the throne of Spain, and in order to effect this purpose
the weak-minded Charles IV and his son Ferdinand were induced to go
to Bayonne, where Napoleon extracted from them the renunciation of
the throne of Spain; meanwhile the Royal family of Portugal had fled
to Brazil. On July 20th, 1808, Joseph Bonaparte entered Madrid, but
the high-spirited Spaniards refused to accept him, and established a
"junta" at Seville, declared Ferdinand VII king, and drove Joseph out
of Madrid within a fortnight. The Spaniards, however, felt unequal to
dealing with the usurper, and appealed to England, and not in vain--for
an army of 10,000 men was speedily dispatched, under Sir Arthur
Wellesley, who fought his first successful battle against the French in
Spain on August 17th, 1808.

=Roleria.=--This was the battle of Roliça, erroneously called Roleria
through a mistake in dispatches, and maintained on the colours ever
since, when General Laborde was driven from the position he held. The
following regiments took part in the battle--5th, 6th, 9th, 29th,
32nd, 36th, 38th, 40th, 45th, 60th, 71st (known with the 43rd as the
"Glasgow Light Infantry," owing to the number of Lowland Scots in the
regiments), 82nd, 91st, and the Rifle Brigade, which, as Wellesley
stated in his dispatch, had just been formed, but the brunt of the
fighting fell on the 5th, 9th, 29th, Riflemen of the 60th and the 95th,
and also the flank companies of Major-General Rowland (afterwards
Viscount) Hill's Brigade. Meanwhile Marshal Junot, the French
Commander-in-Chief, decided to brook no delay, and advanced to attack
Wellesley, who was at this time at the Vimiera heights near the Maceria
River.

=Vimiera.=--In this battle (August 21st, 1808) Wellesley gave some
indication of that power in organising defence which was to prove so
valuable at Waterloo. The French attacked with considerable spirit, but
the British retaliated with equal vigour and drove them off. In this
battle the 50th, known as the "Blind Half Hundred" owing to ophthalmia
having attacked the men, and as the "Dirty Half Hundred" owing to the
black coming off their cuffs when rubbing their faces, made brilliant
and determined charges, which, with those made by the 43rd and the
71st, compelled the French to retreat. In this battle a piper of the
71st, being wounded in the leg, sat upon his knapsack, and declared as
he placed his pipes to his lips, "Diel hae me, lads, if ye shall want
for music." There were no Victoria Crosses in those days, or George
Clark would have had one. Wellesley, who had been superseded in the
command by Lieutenant-General Sir Hew Dalrymple and Sir Harry Buzzard,
now returned to England, disgusted, it is said, with the Convention of
Cintra, by which the French army was permitted to evacuate Portugal and
leave Lisbon in September for Brittany, from whence it soon proceeded
to re-enter the Peninsula by way of the Pyrenees. Lieutenant-General
Sir John Moore, who arrived in Spain after the battle of Vimiera, was
placed in command of the troops, consequent upon the recall of Sir Hew
Dalrymple and the resignation of Sir Harry Buzzard. His glorious death
at Coruña, after a brilliant retreat, is an imperishable memory.

=Sahagun.=--The story of the advance against Marshal Soult is marked
by many brilliant episodes, among them the daring charge of the 15th
Hussars on December 20th, 1808, at Sahagun, where, unexpectedly finding
a broad ditch to pass, they leapt it in "a true fox-hunting spirit,"
and put the enemy to flight, with the loss of ten colonels and 160 men
prisoners. As a result of this action, Sir John Moore established his
headquarters at Sahagun. Though the 10th Hussars also took part in the
affair, the 15th is the only cavalry regiment which won the right to
carry the name on its battle-roll; the 7th, 18th Hussars, and the 3rd
Hussars of the King's German Legion, were also present, and were later
deemed worthy of the bar, likewise two batteries of Horse Artillery. It
is noteworthy that only fifteen bars for Sahagun were issued, those who
took part in the battle of Benevente as well, receiving a single bar
inscribed with the two names.

=Benevente.=--On December 24th Sir John Moore thought it advisable
to retire from Sahagun, and on the 28th reached Benevente in very
inclement, snowy weather, where another brilliant cavalry affair took
place on the 29th, when the 10th Hussars, under General Lord Paget,
made a most dashing charge against the cavalry of the Imperial Guard,
led by General Lefebvre-Desnouettes, who, together with 70 cavalrymen,
were made prisoners. The English cavalry lost 50 killed and wounded,
and the French 150 killed. Dr. Payne points out that the single bars
for this and the previous battle, as well as the bar SAHAGUN-BENEVENTE,
were issued so indiscriminately that it is difficult to distinguish to
which bar the recipient was entitled. There is a medal with the single
bar BENEVENTE in the Chelsea Hospital.

[Illustration: PORTUGUESE PENINSULAR GOLD CROSS FOR COMMANDERS.

Awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Brunton.]

=Retreat to Coruña.=--Then began the awful yet masterly retreat to
Coruña. Through rain and snow, and over almost impassable roads, the
British army of about 19,000 retreated with the French army of about
60,000, with 91 guns, hanging on without daring to do more than press
the retreat, which became so demoralising to Moore's army, that not
only had baggage to be abandoned, but guns and treasure to the amount
of £25,000 were thrown over a precipice near Nogales to prevent any
possibility of their falling into the hands of the enemy. And so, with
his army of comparatively raw troops, Sir John Moore resolutely and
defiantly made his way to Coruña, pursued by the veterans, under Ney
and Soult, only to find on arriving at the port that the transports
which were to bear them to England had not arrived! There was nothing
to be done but to accept battle, and this he did in such a splendid
manner that it makes his death in the hour of victory an imperishable
memory, while the recollection of the valour of his much-tried
and distressed soldiers will last as long as men respect courage,
especially that which triumphs in the face of adversity. Sir John Moore
was buried on the ramparts of Coruña by his staff officers and a few
men of the Black Watch and other regiments he loved, but--

    "No useless coffin enclosed his breast,
      Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him;
    But he lay like a warrior taking his rest,
      With his martial cloak around him."

Over his soldier's grave the French Marshals placed a plain tomb, while
Marshal Soult, who commanded the French, had placed upon a rock near
which Sir John Moore fell a Latin inscription recording the fact. He
was not allowed, however, to sleep in his soldier's grave, for the
Spaniards removed his body to a more conspicuous position, and covered
it with a magnificent monument eloquent of his deeds, but hardly in
keeping with his simple spirit.

In the battle of Coruña, fought on January 16th, 1809, the 50th
Regiment particularly distinguished itself by its use of the bayonet,
as did also the 42nd, who made a daring and victorious dash into "the
key of the fight," Elvina village--indeed, the battle is said to
have been won by Lord William Bentinck's brigade; Sir David Baird's
division, consisting of the 4th, 42nd, and 50th, which, as mentioned in
general orders issued by Lieutenant-General Hope, "sustained the weight
of the attack." The 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers were the last to embark.

The regiments engaged at Coruña also included the Grenadier Guards;
1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 14th, 20th, 26th, 28th, 32nd, 36th, 38th,
43rd, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 59th, 71st, 76th, 79th, 81st, 82nd, 91st, 92nd,
95th, and the Rifle Brigade; 7th, 10th, 15th, 18th Light Dragoons; 1st
and 2nd Light Battalions King's German Legion, and the 3rd Dragoons of
the same corps. Three batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery were also
present.

=Martinique.=--This island was taken by the British in February, 1762,
and on several other occasions, but a bar was only given for the
campaign in 1809, which had been concluded, despite very bad weather,
by its surrender to Lieutenant-General Beckwith on February 24th, 1809.
The French were under Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse. It was restored to
France in 1814. For this campaign a bar was granted when the decision
was made to issue the Military General Service medal, commonly but
erroneously known as the Peninsular medal, since not only were bars for
Guadaloupe and Java included, but also for Fort Detroit, Chateauguay,
and Chrystler's Farm in America.

For the capture of Martinique the superior officers were awarded a
gold medal, similar to that I shall shortly describe as having been
conferred upon the officers who served in the Peninsula.

The following regiments took part in this expedition--60th, 63rd,
and 90th; 1st West India Regiment and the flank companies of the 7th
Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 8th, 13th Light Infantry, 15th, 23rd, and 25th
Regiments.

=Talavera.=--In the spring of 1809, Sir Arthur Wellesley left England
to take command of the Anglo-Portuguese army, and, landing at Lisbon
on April 22nd, placed himself at the head of 25,000 British and
Portuguese, crossed the Douro, drove Marshal Soult out of Oporto,
advanced into Spain, and giving battle to the French at Talavera,
defeated them after a long-drawn conflict lasting over the 27th and
28th July. The French were commanded by the intrusive King Joseph
Bonaparte, assisted by Marshal Victor. The French losses in the first
day's fighting were about 1,000 officers and men, the British losing
about 800. For the two days the French had a total of 7,394 placed
_hors de combat_, including Generals Lapisse and Morlot killed, and
Generals Sebastiani and Boulet wounded; the killed numbered 944, and
the wounded 6,274, while 150 were taken prisoners. The British losses
amounted to 6,268; Generals Mackenzie and Langewith, 857 officers and
men being killed; 3 generals, 192 officers, and 3,718 men wounded, 9
officers and 643 men missing. The Spaniards gave their losses as 1,200
killed and wounded. This battle, the victory in which was claimed for
both sides, gained for the victorious General the titles of Baron Douro
of Wellesley and Viscount Wellington of Talavera, with a pension of
£2,000 per annum.

The following regiments were engaged in the battle of Talavera, those
marked with an asterisk being specially mentioned in dispatches. 1st
Batt. Coldstream Guards; 1st and 3rd Batts. Scots Guards; 2nd, 3rd,
4th, 5th, 6th, 2nd Batt. 7th Regiment,* 2nd Batt. 24th, 1st Batt.
29th,* 2nd Batt. 31st,* 1st Batt. 40th, 1st Batt. 45th,* 1st and 2nd
Batts. 48th, 2nd Batt. 53rd,* 5th Batt. 60th,* 1st Batt. 61st, 2nd
Batt. 66th, 71st, 79th, 82nd, 2nd Batt. 83rd, 2nd Batt. 87th, 1st Batt.
88th, 91st, 92nd, 1st Batt. 97th,* and the Rifle Brigade. 3rd Dragoon
Guards, 4th Dragoons, 14th (now Hussars), 16th (now Lancers), and 23rd
Light Dragoons; Royal Artillery, Engineers, and Staff Corps; 1st and
2nd Light Battalions, 1st Light Dragoons, and 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th Line
Battalions of the King's German Legion.

=Peninsular Gold Medals.=--Following this brilliant victory it was
notified in the _London Gazette_, September 9th, 1810, that a gold
medal would be granted to commemorate the battles of Roleria, Vimiera,
Coruña, and Talavera. It was, however, only given to officers who
had taken part in these engagements, or who had participated in any
brilliant cavalry affair. It was also decided that the medal to which
an officer would have been entitled, had he survived, should be given
to his next of kin. The medals vary in size, but are all of the same
design. The larger size was conferred upon General Officers, and the
smaller ones upon colonels and senior officers. The medal was only
given to those who were actually in command during an engagement, or
succeeded thereto owing to the commander being killed or placed _hors
de combat_.

The gold medal bears on the obverse the figure of Britannia, wearing a
rather squat Roman-looking helmet, seated upon a globe, and bearing in
her extended right hand a laurel wreath and in her left a palm branch,
which rests upon an oval shield bearing the Union Jack; to Britannia's
right is the British lion. On the reverse is a simple wreath of laurel,
with the name of the battle and the date engraved in Roman capitals.
The medal is attached to the ribbon by a simple suspender, and a gold
buckle was frequently worn in the middle of the ribbon. General and
Commanding Officers were ordered to wear the medal suspended from the
neck by means of a red ribbon with blue edges--familiarly known as
the Peninsular ribbon--and below the rank of lieutenant-general by
the same ribbon from a button-hole of their coat. The senior officers
complained that it was very inconvenient to wear a medal dangling from
the neck while on horseback, and they were supported in their plea
by Wellington. This medal is generally found glazed, to prevent its
surface being damaged, the name and rank of the officer being engraved
upon the edge of the medal itself.

[Illustration: PORTUGUESE OFFICER'S CROSS FOR THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.

Awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Brunton.]

=Guadaloupe.=--General Beckwith, who had captured Martinique, attacked
the West Indian Island of Guadaloupe, and captured it on February 6th,
1810. The French, who lost nearly 600 men, were commanded by General
Ernouf (see =Martinique= for regiments engaged).

=Busaco.=--Wellesley's Spanish allies had failed him, as Sir John Moore
with his sorry experience had predicted, and so after the battle of
Talavera de la Regna he retired into Portugal, whither Napoleon sent
Marshal Masséna to "drive the English Leopards into the sea," but
the "Sepoy General," as Napoleon had dubbed Wellesley, was alive to
the possibilities of the situation, and in face of the overwhelming
numbers of the French, decided to prepare the impregnable lines of
Torres Vedras, stretching from the Tagus to the sea; but before he
could entrench himself he was compelled to check the pursuit of
Masséna on the Busaco Sierra on September 27th, 1810, where his army
of British and Portuguese resisted all attempts to dislodge them. In
this battle both the British and Portuguese troops fought with daring
determination, so that it would appear invidious to single out special
regiments for notice, but the 38th, 45th, and the 8th Portuguese
Regiments were mentioned in dispatches. The 88th Connaught Rangers
repulsed a division of French infantry, while the 74th Highlanders did
a like service. General Simon, who had bravely led his brigade up the
mountain side, was captured by two men of the 52nd Regiment, and the
French losses amounted to 2,000 killed and as many wounded. The British
losses were 197 killed and 1,072 wounded. Marshals Ney, Masséna, and
Regnier commanded the French, the English and Portuguese being under
Wellington.

At the battle of Busaco the following regiments took part: the
Coldstreams and Scots Guards; 4th, 14th, and 16th Light Dragoons, and
three batteries of artillery; 1st Royal Scots 3rd Batt. 3rd, 5th,
7th, 9th, 11th, 24th, 27th, 29th, 31st, 34th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 42nd,
43rd, 45th, 48th, 50th, 52nd, 53rd, 57th, 60th, 61st, 66th, 74th,
79th, 83rd, 88th, 97th, and the Rifle Brigade; there were also present
the following units of the King's German Legion; 1st and 2nd Light
Battalions, and the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th Line Battalions.

=Rodrigues and Isle of France.=--To keep our order chronologically
we must leave for a moment the army in Spain to call attention to
the fact that it had become necessary, in order to protect British
shipping from the French ships harbouring in the Isle of France, or
the Mauritius, that the place should be taken from them. Previous to
this, as part of the same plan, it had been decided to also take the
Island of Rodrigues, as a preliminary to the capture of the Isle of
Bourbon. For the action which was fought at Rodrigues it was decided
to award a medal to those who had taken part in the expedition in the
then French islands, and on September 10th, 1811, a General Order was
issued stating that a medal would be awarded to those who had taken
part in the action at Rodrigues, the defeat of the French on the Isle
of Bourbon, and the capture of the Isle of France. The medal was
awarded to native troops only, although the 86th and 96th Regiments
bear BOURBON on their colours. 2,201 were struck, 45 gold and 2,156
silver. The obverse bears a figure of a sepoy standing beside a field
gun, holding the Union Jack unfurled in his right hand, and in his
left his musket with bayonet fixed; with his left foot he tramples on
a French colour and Eagle, whilst the British fleet at anchor forms
the background. On the reverse is a Persian inscription surrounding a
laurel wreath, stating that "this medal was conferred in commemoration
of the bravery and accustomed fidelity exhibited by the sepoys of the
English company in the capture of the Mauritius Islands in the year of
the Hegira 1226." Outside the wreath is the record RODRIGUES VI JULY
MDCCCIX. BOURBON VIII JULY & ISLE OF FRANCE IN DEC. MDCCCX. The medal,
1⁹⁄₁₀ in. in diameter, was intended to be worn suspended from a silken
cord.

It is noteworthy that a corporal of the 86th planted the regimental
colours on the redoubt, and in the fight for the Isle of Bourbon
Lieutenant Munro of the 86th was killed, also 17 men killed and 59
wounded. At the taking of the Isle of France only 29 of both services
were killed, and less than 150 wounded and missing; besides the fleet
of 70 sail, an army of 10,000 men under Major-General Abercromby took
part in the expedition.

=Barrosa.=--On September 29th Wellington retired with the allied
armies of 25,000 British and 30,000 Portuguese behind the famous lines
of Torres Vedras, where his force was augmented by the arrival of
English troops. Masséna made a series of ineffectual attacks, which
had the effect of keeping Wellington's army from getting stale, and
then retired to Santarem. Meanwhile a force of 4,500 British, under
Lieutenant-General Graham, and 7,000 Portuguese under General Dom
Manuel le Lapeña, reached Tarifa to operate against the rear of the
French army under Marshal Victor at Chaclana. Graham had unfortunately
contented himself with the command of his own troops, leaving Lapeña to
assume the position of Commander-in-Chief. On April 5th, 1811, Lapeña
halted his army on the Cerro de Puerco, now known as the heights of
Barrosa. The Spaniards, lacking in discipline and devoid of _esprit
de corps_, straggled into a situation which gave the keen-eyed French
Marshal an opportunity he was not slow to take advantage of, for the
blundering Lapeña had left a position which could have been held on
the heights of Barrosa, with the result that his Spanish army was
routed and driven towards the sea. Lapeña's stupidity had placed
Graham in a very awkward situation. He had obeyed the command to
move to Te Bermeja, but, apprised of the danger that threatened the
Spanish General, he countermarched, only to find that Lapeña had bolted
with his rabble of soldiery, and that the French held the key of the
position. Graham determined to take the heights, and it is said there
was never a shorter, more violent, or bloodier conflict; it lasted one
hour and a quarter, and resulted in a loss to the French of about 3,000
killed and wounded, including General Ruffin and Brigadier Rousseau,
who were mortally wounded, and six guns. The British out of their
small army lost in killed and wounded about 1,243 men, including 50
officers and 60 sergeants. The 87th Regiment, Royal Irish Fusiliers,
distinguished themselves by charging the French line, and capturing the
Eagle of the 8th Infantry, the first to be taken during the war; two
companies of the Coldstream Guards accompanied the 87th in its charge.

The following British regiments took part in the battle: 2nd Batts. of
the Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scots Guards; flank companies of the 1st
Batt. 9th Regiment; 1st Batt. 28th; flank companies 2nd Batt. 47th; 2nd
Batt. 67th; flank companies 2nd Batt. 87th; 2nd Batt. 87th; 2nd and 3rd
Batts. Rifle Brigade; Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers, also the 2nd
Hussars of the King's German Legion.

The British had been under arms for twenty-four hours, and fought
the battle with Lapeña and his men acting the part of spectators,
except for the Spanish Walloon Guard and the regiment of Ciudad Real,
who joined in the fray "impelled by the instinct natural to brave
men." Napier, in comparing the two leaders at Barrosa, states: "The
contemptible weakness of Lapeña furnished a surprising contrast to
the heroic vigour of Graham, whose attack was an inspiration rather
than a resolution--so wise, so sudden was the decision, so swift, so
conclusive was the execution."

[Illustration: SPANISH CROSS FOR ALBUHERA.]

[Illustration: SPANISH CROSS FOR CIUDAD RODRIGO.]

[Illustration: SPANISH GOLD CROSS FOR VITTORIA.]

=Fuentes d'Onor.=--On Sunday, May 5th, 1811, the battle of Fuentes
d'Onor (Fountain of Honour) was fought. The British and Portuguese
armies under Marshal Beresford had invested Almeida, upon which Marshal
Masséna marched his army, and the British light division and cavalry
retired as the French advanced upon the village, which gave its name
to the battle, and together with the heights behind was occupied by
the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd division. The French attack upon the village on
May 3rd necessitated the aid of reinforcements, and the 71st (Highland
Light Infantry), the 79th (Cameron Highlanders), and the 24th (South
Wales Borderers) were dispatched, the first-named regiment charging the
enemy and driving them out of that portion of the village which they
had occupied. The contest raged until nightfall, and over 250 officers
and men fell on each side in what was practically a hand-to-hand
conflict. The 4th was spent quietly, but on the 5th Masséna decided to
try the fortune of the day, which at the commencement seemed to smile
in his favour, for Junot carried the village of Posa Velha, while the
French cavalry not only drove in the cavalry of the allies, but the
whole movement caused Wellington to make a daring change of position,
during which an episode unique in the annals of warfare took place. In
the retirement, two guns, under Captain Norman Ramsey, had been left
behind, and the French and British also were astounded to see Ramsey
charge through the French masses at the head of his battery, "his
horses breathing fire and stretching like greyhounds along the plain,
his guns bounding like things of no weight, and the mounted gunners in
close and compact order protecting the rear." Shortly after the 2nd
Battalion of the Black Watch again distinguished itself by repulsing a
charge of French dragoons.

While the fighting was proceeding on the vast plain, a furious attack
was made on Fuentes d'Onor, which was desperately held by the 24th,
71st, and 79th Regiments, but the unequal contest was determined by
the bayonet charge of the 88th Connaught Rangers. Nightfall compelled
the cessation of hostilities, and both armies lay down to rest, looking
to the morrow to decide the battle, but the French gave no sign of
battle, and on the 8th retreated on the road to Ciudad Rodrigo. Masséna
claimed Fuentes d'Onor as a victory, despite the fact that his object,
to relieve Almeida, was unattained. In this sanguinary battle the
British lost 200 killed, 1,028 wounded, and 294 missing. It is said
that Masséna's total loss was about 3,000; of the French dead 200 were
found in the lower village of Fuentes d'Onor. This was Masséna's last
battle, Napoleon recalling the _enfant chéri de la victoire_, who
returned to France broken-hearted, and when opportunity offered gave
his allegiance to Louis XVIII.

The regiments engaged in the battle were the 2nd Foot Guards
(Coldstreams), 3rd Foot Guards (Scots Guards), 1st Dragoons; 14th and
16th Light Dragoons; 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, 24th, 30th, 38th, 42nd, 43rd,
44th, 45th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 60th, 71st, 74th, 79th, 83rd, 85th,
88th, 92nd, 94th, and the Rifle Brigade; Horse Artillery; 1st Hussars;
1st and 2nd Light Battalions, and the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th Line
Battalions of the King's German Legion.

=Albuera.=--"Modern history," wrote General Picton, "presents no
example of an action so obstinately disputed as that of Albuera." It
was there that the "Die-hards" gained their coveted name, and when
the roll-call of the "Buffs" was called, after the battle, only three
privates and a drummer answered to their names. It was the fight for
the regimental colours which accounted in a degree for the grave loss
of life, so Lieutenant-General Cust states. Ensign Thomas refused to
yield the colours and was killed. Lieutenant Latham, when severely
wounded, tore the precious flag he had received from Ensign Walsh from
the broken staff, and concealed it under his body, where it was found
after the battle by a sergeant of the 7th Fusiliers.

=Latham Gold Medal.=--Latham, who had a wonderful recovery,
was presented by the officers of the "Buffs" with a gold medal
commemorating the event, and a royal authority was given him to wear
it. The "Buffs," as I have indicated, were almost annihilated--4
officers, 4 sergeants, and 208 rank and file were killed; 13 officers,
11 sergeants, 1 drummer, and 222 rank and file wounded; 1 officer
wounded and taken prisoner; 2 officers, 15 sergeants, 1 drummer, and
161 rank and file missing--a loss of 644 officers and men in one
battle. The "Buffs" had already lost 27 killed and 208 wounded, and 7
missing, at Talavera. The 57th, Middlesex Regiment, who were called
upon by their dying Colonel Inglis to "die hard," went into action 570
strong, but when the battle was over, 23 officers and 400 rank and
file "were lying as they had fought, in ranks, with every wound in the
front."

The battle was fought on May 16th, 1811, the Spanish leaders agreeing
that Marshal Beresford should have supreme command, and to receive
battle in the village of Albuera. The allied army consisted of 32,000
infantrymen and 2,000 cavalry, with 38 guns; half the force was
Spanish, and the other half equally composed of British and Portuguese.
The Spaniards, as usual, were slack, and did not get into position
properly. The battle opened by the French attacking the heights on the
right of the Spaniards, and though they fought stubbornly at first they
gradually gave way before the onslaught of the French. Matters had
become very serious when General Stewart sent the leading brigade of
his division up the hill under General Colborne; the advance was made
in a drizzling rain. The French made several brilliant charges, and in
the _mêlée_ the commanding officer, Marshal Beresford, was attacked
by a Polish lancer, whom he seized bodily and threw from his saddle.
Those were heroic days indeed! The bad weather, which had so far
favoured the French, actually helped to save the day for the English,
for the drizzling rain prevented Marshal Soult from appreciating the
sad condition of the British. On the heights the 31st had resolutely
held its ground; other regiments had been cut to pieces, and Beresford
thought of retreat, when the cool daring of Colonel (afterwards Lord)
Hardinge, who took upon himself to order General Cole to advance, and,
taking General Abercromby's brigade to the ground, saved the day--to
which, by the way, the Portuguese regiments of the fourth division
contributed--General Cole leading the 7th and 23rd Fusiliers in person.
Cole drove off the Lancers and recovered the lost guns, but ere the
enemy were driven from the ridge, they had fired a terrific volley from
all the guns, which killed Sir William Myers, wounded the intrepid Cole
and three officers, while the Fusiliers "reeled and staggered under
the iron tempest like sinking ships, but nothing could stop them."
Soult, rushing into the thickest of the fight, tried to encourage
his brave soldiers to stand; it was useless. "Suddenly and sternly
recovering, they closed on their terrible enemies, and then was seen
with what a strength and majesty the British soldier fights." To again
quote Napier, "Nothing could stop that astonishing infantry ... their
measured tread shook the ground, their dreadful volleys swept away
the head of every formation ... the French reserve, mixing with the
struggling multitude, endeavoured to sustain the fight, but the effort
only increased the irremediable confusion; the mighty mass gave way,
and like a loosened cliff went headlong down the steep. The rain flowed
after it in streams, discoloured with blood, and 1,500 unwounded men,
the remnant of 6,000 unconquerable British soldiers, stood triumphant
on the fatal hill." The dead and wounded lay in two distinct lines on
the ground, and in such compact masses that 7,000 bodies occupied so
small an area that the artillery advancing into action had to pass over
the living and the dead, friend and enemy.

[Illustration: ALCANTARA MEDAL, 1809. (Obverse.)]

[Illustration: MILITARY GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL.]

[Illustration: ALCANTARA MEDAL, 1809. (Reverse.)]

=The Immortals.=--The "Die-hards," the "Buffs," the 7th Fusiliers, and
the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers immortalised themselves in that bloodiest of
all battles, where in four hours no less than 15,000 men were placed
_hors de combat_. Well might M. Thiers say that "a sort of fatality
rendered the heroic bravery of our troops powerless against the cold
courage of the English." The 23rd lost 347 men, 80 killed, and 257
wounded and missing, and it is noteworthy that one company was brought
out of action by a corporal. The 29th mustered only 2 captains and
about 100 junior officers and men; the 57th was little better off,
likewise the 48th when the French were driven across the Albuera River.
Of the 7,000 British soldiers engaged, 4,300 were killed or wounded;
the dead included Major-General Houghton, who was killed while leading
his division, 33 officers, 33 sergeants, and 917 men. The Spanish and
Portuguese allies lost about 2,000 men killed or wounded, and as the
allied army consisted of about 34,000 men, the brunt of the fighting
was borne by the British troops. The French, who numbered about
33,000, lost about 1,000 more men than the British, including 5 of
their General Officers killed or wounded; 2,000 dead and 800 of their
worst wounded were left on the field when the French drew off, leaving
the British uncertain as to what the morrow might bring forth, but
reinforcements coming for the British, Soult moved off in the direction
of Badajoz, followed by Beresford.

The following regiments took part in the battle: 3rd Dragoon Guards;
4th Dragoons; 13th Light Dragoons; 1st, 3rd Foot (the "Buffs");
1st and 2nd 7th (Royal Fusiliers); 1st 23rd (Welsh Fusiliers); 1st
27th Inniskillings; 2nd 28th; 29th; 2nd 31st; 2nd 34th; 2nd 39th
(Dorsetshire); 1st 40th; 1st and 2nd 48th (Northamptonshire); 1st
57th (West Middlesex); 1st and 2nd 60th and four companies of the 5th
Battalion; 2nd 66th (Berkshire); 97th Queen's Own; 1st and 2nd Light
Battalions of the King's German Legion, and one company of Brunswick
Oels.

=Java.=--The capture of the East Indian island of Java, which the
Dutch called the most precious jewel in their diadem, was effected
after operations lasting from July 27th, 1811, when Lieutenant Edmund
Lyons--after Admiral Lyons--made a daring landing with a few seamen,
until August 26th, ten days after the battle fought at Serondel near
Samarang. During this expedition the storming of Fort Cornelis took
place, when the enemy lost 1,000 killed; and three Brigadiers, 30
Field Officers, 70 Captains, 140 Subalterns, and 5,000 rank and file
prisoners; 400 cannons were captured. A million sterling was received
by the British force as prize money. The British loss (naval and
military) was 150 killed, 788 wounded, and 16 missing. By the Treaty of
Vienna Java was restored to the Dutch in 1814.

=H.E.I. Co.'s Java Medal.=--A medal, 1·9 in. in diameter, was awarded
by the Honourable East India Company to the sepoys who took part in the
expedition. On the reverse is depicted the attack upon Fort Cornelis,
with a British flag flying above the Dutch, and above all CORNELIS. The
following is inscribed in Persian upon the reverse: "This medal was
conferred in commemoration of the bravery and courage displayed by the
sepoys of the English company, in the capture of the Kingdom of Java in
the year of the Hegira 1228." "Java conquered XXVI August MDCCCXI." 133
gold and 6,519 silver medals of this type were struck.

King George III conferred gold medals upon the officers engaged, and
when the Naval and the Military General Service Medals were awarded,
the surviving participants in the capture received a medal with bar
inscribed JAVA. Four distinct medals were issued for this expedition.

The military present at the capture of Java were the 14th (now West
Yorkshire Regiment), 59th (now 2nd East Lancashire Regiment), 69th (now
2nd Welsh Regiment), 78th Highland Regiment (now 2nd Seaforths), 89th
(now Royal Irish Fusiliers), Bengal Volunteers and sepoys of "John
Company."

=Ciudad Rodrigo.=--The siege of Ciudad Rodrigo followed the "soldiers'
battle" of Albuera. The army, after considerable manœuvring, marching,
and countermarching, besieged Ciudad Rodrigo, which, together with the
siege of Badajos, had to be undertaken before Wellington's plan of
campaign could be carried out. On January 1st, 1812, the order for the
siege of the fortress was suddenly issued, but some days elapsed before
the order could be put into execution, owing to the inclement weather,
snowstorms preventing any possibility of operations. On the 8th the
investment of the fortress was commenced, and the earth redoubt of
Teson Grande stormed and taken by Colonel Colborne with three companies
of the 52nd Regiment. On the 13th the Convent of Santa Cruz, one of
the two convents which had been fortified by the French, was stormed
and carried by the light companies of the brigade of Guards, and on
the night between the 14th and 15th the 40th Regiment escaladed and
carried the fortified San Francisco Convent. Meanwhile preparations
had been progressing for the general assault, which took place on the
night of January 19th. Wellington had written in his orders "Ciudad
must be stormed this evening," and the order was carried out in a
brilliant manner, but alas! two British Generals were killed, General
Crauford being mortally wounded whilst leading the light division,
and General Mackinnon killed on reaching the ramparts of the greater
breach. In this assault General Picton adjured the Connaught Rangers,
who passed with the forlorn hope to storm the breach, to "spare powder
and trust to cold iron," and it was by the use of the bayonet that the
43rd and 95th drove the French from the "fausse braye." The city was
taken after a siege lasting twelve days, but the troops "committed
frightful excesses," which some have condoned as a prescriptive
right which successful besiegers may enjoy. The British losses were
9 officers and 217 rank and file killed, 84 officers--including
Major-General Vandeleur and Major (afterwards Sir George) Napier, who
lost an arm--and 1,000 men wounded. For the successful issue to his
generalship, Wellington received the patent of an earl, and was made a
Spanish duke, the British Government increasing his annuity to £4,000
per annum.

The regiments engaged in the siege were the 2nd Foot Guards (the
Coldstreams); 3rd Foot Guards (Scots Guards); 5th, 7th, 24th, 30th,
40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 48th, 52nd, 60th, 74th, 77th, 83rd, 88th, 94th,
97th, and the Rifle Brigade.

=Siege of Badajoz.=--Before bringing to a successful issue the siege
of Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellington had been busily engaged in preparing
for the third siege of Badajoz. On March 16th, 1812, it was invested,
but the weather for some time was particularly unfavourable to the
besiegers, rain falling in torrents so that the men in the trenches
were knee-deep in mud and water. By March 23rd, however, the weather
had improved, and the ground was in better condition for placing the
guns, which by the 25th were in position at Picurina, the place being
taken by storm on that day. On the 26th breaching batteries opened
fire on the city, and by April 6th it was deemed possible to storm
the castle by escalade, Picton's division being ordered to do so. The
bastion of La Trinidad was to be stormed by Colville's division, and
the Santa Maria by the light division under Colonel Barnard, while
the lunette of San Rocque was to be carried by the 48th under Major
Wilson. At 10 o'clock at night the attack was made: General Kempts,
leading his brigade to the foot of the castle, was there wounded, but,
his men dashing on, the castle was won in an hour and a half. "At the
breaches the tumult was such as if the earth had been rent asunder ...
the carnage was frightful. It is doubtful whether, since the invention
of gunpowder, any mass of men had ever been more fearfully exposed to
all its murderous power. The dying were piled upon the dead in mounds,
which the living could not pass; and the French soldiers, undisturbed
in their avocation, raised the deriding cry _'Vive l'Empéreur!'_"
By midnight 2,000 men had fallen outside the city, and Wellington
ordered the troops to withdraw; but this was as impossible as to go
forward. Meanwhile some of the 5th division had entered the town (the
4th Regiment being in first), which by 6 o'clock the next morning was
surrendered by the Governor. The besiegers lost 131 officers and 1,707
rank and file killed, and 564 officers and 6,083 men wounded. Napier
states that "when the havoc of the night was told to Wellington, the
pride of conquest sunk into a passionate burst of grief for the loss of
his gallant soldiers," for in the assault alone the British casualties
were 59 officers and 744 men killed, and 258 officers and 2,600 rank
and file wounded. No wonder one of the Connaught Rangers exclaimed with
an oath, "Och! Boys, Soudradrodrago was but a flay-bite to this." The
43rd Monmouth Light Infantry lost more men than any other regiment;
20 officers, including its chief, Colonel M'Leod (who was only
twenty-seven), 335 sergeants and privates killed and wounded. Alas! the
Saturnalia of Ciudad Rodrigo was repeated, and the disciplined men who
had fought with such valour gave way to demoniacal passions which we
of to-day can scarce believe. The indignity of the threatened gallows
was the only way in which Wellington could curb his men, but not before
several of the worst plunderers had been executed.

[Illustration: PENINSULAR GOLD CROSS.]

[Illustration: PENINSULAR GOLD MEDAL WITH BARS.]

The following regiments were engaged at the siege and storming of
Badajoz: 2nd Foot Guards; 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, 23rd, 24th, 30th, 38th,
40th, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 48th, 52nd, 60th, 74th, 77th, 83rd, 85th, 88th,
94th, and 95th Regiments, the Rifle Brigade, and the 13th and 14th
Light Dragoons.

=Salamanca.=--The battle of Salamanca, fought on Sunday, July 22nd,
1812, is noteworthy as the first general action in the Peninsular
War in which Wellington attacked; his decision was due to Marmont
making a sudden movement which threatened to cut the British lines of
communication with Portugal, but although the position appeared to
be a critical one for the British General, he turned to the Spanish
General Alva and said, "Mon cher Alva, Marmont est perdu!" In this
battle the 3rd division, under Major-General Pakenham, were the first
in action, and brilliantly carried everything before them. In this
division were the Connaught Rangers, who, incensed by the death of
a favourite officer, Major Murphy, could hardly be kept in hand.
General Pakenham, noticing their impatience, ordered them to "be let
loose," when they charged with an impetuosity which nothing could
withstand, and together with the 45th and 74th broke through the
masses of infantry, bayoneting all they could overtake. Composed of
such material, no wonder the 3rd was called "the fighting division."
It took just forty minutes to defeat Marmont's left wing, which in his
endeavour to close the Ciudad road had got separated from the right,
and into the gap made thereby Wellington poured his men. The right,
however, reinforced by those who had escaped the conflict on the left,
made a very determined resistance, and the shades of evening were
falling ere the enemy made a last brave effort to retrieve the day,
and, indeed, appeared to be on the way to doing so when Wellington
ordered Clinton's division, numbering 6,000 bayonets, to advance,
which, after a furious struggle, compelled the French to give way in
confusion. Night had set in, and the remnants of Bonnet's division,
which Clinton had put to rout, had the good fortune to find a means of
escape through the abandonment of the ford of Alba de Tormes by the
Spaniards. For six hours the battle of Salamanca raged with unabated
fury, and with varying fortune on the right, so that the divisions
which had been actively engaged, on an exceedingly hot day, were
glad to bivouac on the ground where they had fought a battle, which
again demonstrated the brilliant commandership and the keen, quick
eye with which Wellington detected an opportunity when it offered.
Salamanca was, in the opinion of experts, the most skilful of any of
his victories, though the mistakes which Marmont made would have been
obvious to men of lesser capacity. A decisive battle, it would have
proved much more fatal to the French had darkness not precluded the
possibility of any considerable effort at pursuit on the part of the
victors. As it was, however, Wellington pressed the retreating French
to the ford of Huerta, and ordered the cavalry to follow the fugitives;
continually pressing on the rear, Wellington forced his way on to the
romantic city of Valladolid, which he entered in triumph on July 31st.
On August 12th he entered Madrid, to the plaudits of the people, who
hailed him as the deliverer of their country.

In this battle the allies' losses exceeded 5,000. The British lost
General Le Marchant, who was killed while leading a brilliant and
successful charge of the heavy brigade, 24 officers, and 686 rank and
file killed. Field-Marshal Beresford, Lieutenant-Generals Cotton, Cole,
Leith, and Major-General Allen were wounded, besides 182 officers of
inferior rank; 4,270 of the rank and file were wounded. The Portuguese
lost about 304 killed and 1,552 wounded; the Spaniards lost--4! The
French, who had at the battle about 42,000 men and 74 guns, lost about
7,000 men, besides Generals Desgraviers, Ferrey, and Thormières killed.
Marmont, the Commander-in-Chief, was badly wounded early in the action
by a shell; Bonnet was severely wounded, and Clausel, who commanded
after the disablement of Marmont and Bonnet, slightly; 130 officers
and 7,000 men were taken prisoners, and 2 Eagles, 6 standards, and 11
pieces of artillery were captured by the victors.

Essentially a General's victory, with exceedingly far-reaching
consequences, Wellington was rewarded with a marquisate, an
augmentation of his coat-of-arms to commemorate his services, and
a grant of £100,000 to maintain the dignity of his rank; while the
Spanish Regency presented him with the Order of the Golden Fleece. The
vanquished Marmont, Duke of Ragusa, on the other hand, was told by
Napoleon that he had "sacrificed to vanity the glory of the country,
and the good of my service."

The following regiments were present at Salamanca, although some were
in reserve: 2nd and 3rd Foot Guards; 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th,
11th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 30th, 32nd, 36th, 38th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 44th,
45th, 48th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 58th, 60th, 61st, 68th, 74th, 79th,
83rd, 88th, 94th, and 95th Regiments; artillery and Rifle Brigade;
5th Dragoon Guards; 3rd, 4th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Light
Dragoons. The King's German Legion was represented by the 1st Hussars;
1st and 2nd Light Battalions; 1st, 2nd, and 5th Line Battalions.

=Fort Detroit.=--From that unfortunate day in 1773, when the youth
of Boston boarded the ships and cast the cargoes of tea into the
sea, until the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, the relations
between the English-speaking peoples were continuously strained; the
centenary of that auspicious day, and the happy continuance of peace,
we celebrate this year. With the events which led up to the outbreak
of hostilities I am not here concerned, my province being merely to
record such facts as will help in the appraisement of the intrinsic,
historical, or sentimental value of medals awarded to those who have
carried the burden of war. The capture of Fort Detroit was an episode
which followed the declaration of war by the American Senate on June
18th, 1812. Early in July 2,500 Americans, under General Hull, crossed
the Detroit and invaded Upper Canada, but, opposed by about 1,330
Canadian militia and regulars under Major-General Brock, they were
forced back to Fort Detroit, on the American side of the St. Laurence,
which Brock proceeded to invest, but having constructed his batteries
and opened fire, before making the assault he sent his aide-de-camp to
summon the United States General to obviate bloodshed by surrendering.
This he did on August 16th.

[Illustration: Knight's Badge, Military Order of San Fernando.]

[Illustration: M.G.S. Medal.]

[Illustration: Officer's Gold Cross for Peninsular.]

[Illustration: King John VI's Jewelled Badge, for Special Service.]

[Illustration: Knight's Badge, Order of the Tower and Sword.]

[Illustration: Badge and Star (Knight Commander's) of the Order of St.
Bento d'Aviz.]

[Illustration: Officer's Badge, Order of the Tower and Sword.]

[Illustration: GROUP OF NINE DECORATIONS AWARDED TO LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
SIR EDWARD BRACKENBURY, K.B.A., K.T.S., K.F.]

The regulars represented in this affair were 30 Royal Artillerymen,
about 250 men of the 41st (the Welsh Regiment), which, together with
its linked battalion, the 69th, bears DETROIT on its colours; 50 of the
Royal Newfoundland Regiment; 400 Canadian militiamen, and 600 Indians.

=Vittoria.=--Following the abortive siege of Burgos, September 19th,
1813, Wellington retired to Frenada and Coria on the frontiers of
Portugal, and went into winter quarters to await reinforcements.
They having arrived, and the army being well equipped and in a good
disciplinary spirit, he commenced the second part of the Peninsular
campaign, which was destined to be a series of successes for the
British commander, who commenced the final campaign in May 1813, by
bidding adieu to Portugal, and marching into Spain with 70,000 men. He
swept everything before him to the Pyrenees. "Neither," says Napier,
"the winter gulleys, nor the ravines, nor the precipitate passes among
the rocks, retarded even the march of the artillery--where horses could
not draw, men hauled; when the wheels would not roll, the guns were
let down or lifted by ropes--six days they toiled unceasingly, and
on the seventh (June 20th) they burst like raging streams from every
defile, and went foaming into the basin of Vittoria." There Joseph
Bonaparte and Marshal Jourdan had taken up the position from which
they were to be driven by the forceful Wellington, who spared nothing
to achieve his object. "Never," wrote Napier, "was an army more hardly
used by its commander, and never was a victory more complete." It was
a terrific struggle; "the hills laboured and shook, and streamed with
fire and water," ere the pseudo-king, Joseph Bonaparte, and his army
fled in confusion, leaving all his personal belongings, and the rich
pictures and plunder he had taken from every part of Spain, strewn on
the road, for whosoever had a mind to acquire; 151 guns, 415 caissons
of ammunition, 4,000 rounds for guns, and 2,000,000 musket cartridges
were also abandoned, and a full military treasure-chest. Indeed, never
had such an accumulation of military stores and private wealth been
abandoned by a routed army.

The French General Gazan, who took part in the battle, recorded
that the French "lost all their equipage, all their guns, all their
treasure, all their papers, so that no man could prove how much pay
was due to him." Joseph Bonaparte's carriage was abandoned in the
street in his haste to evade Captain Wyndham, who made a bold dash to