Part 13

In his efforts, however, to oppose and belittle the claims of the petitioners for the Peninsular medal he incidentally and unconsciously brought forward the claims of those who had fought in Egypt and on the high seas, and at the battle of the Nile and Trafalgar, from the "Glorious First of June" to the blockade of France and the Bay of Biscay during the Peninsular War. As a result, we may assume, of his arguments against the issue of what is known as the "Military General Service Medal," when the claims came to be considered it was felt that justice must also be done to the sister service, and the "Naval General Service Medal" was likewise instituted on June 1st, 1847, when by a General Order it was commanded that medals be struck and conferred upon every officer and soldier who was present at any battle or siege for which gold medals had been awarded. The medal was given to those who had taken part in the Peninsular Campaign, Egypt, Italy, North America, and in the East and West Indies; and although thirty-four years had elapsed since the last battle, Toulouse, in 1814, over 30,000 applicants made good their claims to the medal. Only six applied for fifteen bars, and of these two made good their claims, Private Talbot of the 45th, and Private Loochstädt, formerly of the King's German Legion. This medal is in Lord Cheylesmore's collection.

=The Military General Service Medal.=--The medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, bears on the obverse the diademed head of Queen Victoria, with VICTORIA REGINA on either side of the head, and the date of issue, ~1848~, underneath. On the reverse is depicted Queen Victoria, robed and crowned, standing on a daïs in the act of placing a laurel wreath on the head of the Duke of Wellington, who kneels on his left knee and holds his field-marshal's baton in his right hand. By the side of the daïs is the British Lion dormant; above is the inscription TO THE BRITISH ARMY, and in the exergue ~1793-1814~. In the left-hand corner of the exergue is the letter "w," the initial of W. Wyon, R.A., the medallist. The medal depends from a straight clasp, which is attached to the medal by a swivelled four-claw clip. The ribbon is 1¼ in. wide, of dark crimson with blue edges. The recipient's name, rank, and regiment are impressed in Roman capitals. It is noteworthy that the bars, which are 1³⁄₁₀ in. by ⅒ in., are arranged in sets of three, where the number warrants, the earliest date being nearest the medal. Those awarded to the infantry are arranged ³⁄₄₀ in. apart until the number exceeds six, when they are arranged, like those issued to the cavalry, closely together.

The following regiments received the medal with bars--the bar for EGYPT being granted by General Order dated February 11th, 1850; and as an indication of the depletion of the ranks of those who fought in 1801, I might mention that only three officers--Hill, Beaven, and Deane--of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment were alive to receive the Military General Service Medal with the bar for Egypt.

EGYPT, 1801.--The 2nd and 3rd Foot Guards; 1st, 2nd, 8th, 10th, 13th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 30th, 40th, 42nd, 44th, 50th, 54th, 58th, 61st, 79th, 80th, 86th, 88th, 89th, 90th, 92nd, and 96th Foot; 11th, 12th, and 26th Light Dragoons; Hompesch's Hussars; De Rolls and Dillon's Regiments; Corsican Rangers; and the 2nd and 13th Bombay Infantry.

MAIDA, July 4th, 1806.--20th, 27th, 35th, 58th, 61st, 78th, and 81st Foot; 20th Light Dragoons.

ROLEIA, August 17th, 1808.--5th, 6th, 9th, 29th, 32nd, 36th, 38th, 40th, 45th, 50th, 60th, 71st, 82nd, 91st, 95th, and 97th Foot; 20th Light Dragoons.

VIMIERA, August 21st, 1808.--2nd, 5th, 6th, 9th, 20th, 29th, 32nd, 36th, 38th, 40th, 43rd, 45th, 50th, 52nd, 60th, 71st, 82nd, 91st, 95th, and 97th Foot; 20th Light Dragoons.

SAHAGUN, December 20th, 1808.--7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th Hussars; 3rd Hussars, K.G.L., and two batteries of Horse Artillery.

CORUNNA, January 16th, 1809.--1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 14th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 28th, 32nd, 36th, 38th, 42nd, 43rd, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 59th, 60th, 71st, 76th, 79th, 81st, 82nd, 91st, 92nd, 95th; 1st and 3rd Batts. 1st Foot Guards; 7th, 10th, 15th, and 18th Light Dragoons; 3rd Dragoons, K.G.L.; three batteries Royal Horse Artillery; five batteries Royal Artillery; 1st and 2nd Light Battalions, K.G.L.

MARTINIQUE, February 24th, 1809.--7th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 23rd, 25th, 46th, 60th, 63rd, and 90th Foot; 1st West India Regiment, and the Royal York Rangers.

TALAVERA, July 27th-28th, 1809.--2nd and 3rd Foot Guards; 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 20th, 24th, 28th, 29th, 31st, 32nd, 36th, 38th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 48th, 50th, 52nd, 53rd, 60th, 61st, 66th, 71st, 79th, 82nd, 83rd, 87th, 88th, 91st, 92nd, 95th, and 97th Foot; 3rd Dragoon Guards; 4th, 14th, 16th, and 23rd Light Dragoons; 1st Light Dragoons, K.G.L.; 1st and 2nd Light Battalions, K.G.L.; 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 7th Line Battalions, K.G.L.; 1st Hussars; 2nd and 4th Batteries Foot Artillery, K.G.L.

GUADALOUPE, January to February 6th, 1810.--1st, 13th, 15th, 25th, 46th, 60th, 63rd, 70th, 90th, and 96th Foot; Marine Artillery and Naval Brigade; the Light Companies of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th West India Regiments; the 8th West India Regiment; York Light Infantry Volunteers; Royal York Rangers; Royal Artillery and Military Artificers.

BUSACO, September 27th, 1810.--1st, 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, 95th, and 97th Foot; three batteries of Royal Artillery; and the 1st and 2nd Light Batts. and the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th Line Batts., K.G.L.; 4th, 14th, and 16th Light Dragoons; 2nd and 3rd Foot Guards.

BARROSA, March 5th, 1811.--1st, 2nd, and 3rd Foot Guards; 9th, 28th, 47th, 67th, 82nd, 87th, and 95th Foot.

FUENTES D'ONOR, May 5th, 1811.--1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, 24th, 30th, 38th, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 60th, 71st, 74th, 79th, 83rd, 85th, 88th, 92nd, 94th, and 95th Foot; 1st Dragoons; 14th and 16th Light Dragoons; 1st Hussars, K.G.L.; 1st and 2nd Light Batts., K.G.L.; 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th Line Battalions, K.G.L.; 2nd and 3rd Foot Guards.

ALBUERA,[6] May 11th, 1811.--3rd, 7th, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 29th, 31st, 34th, 39th, 40th, 48th, 57th, 60th, 66th, and 97th Foot; 3rd Dragoon Guards; 4th and 13th Light Dragoons.

[6] Spelt ALBUHERA on bars.

JAVA, August to September 18th, 1811.--14th, 59th, 69th, 78th, and 89th Foot; 22nd Light Dragoons; Indian Native Cavalry, Infantry, and Bengal Volunteers.

CIUDAD RODRIGO, January 19th, 1812.--2nd and 3rd Foot Guards; 5th, 7th, 23rd, 24th, 30th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 48th, 52nd, 60th, 74th, 77th, 83rd, 88th, 94th, and 95th Foot.

BADAJOZ, March 17th to April 6th, 1812.--2nd Foot Guards; 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th, 23rd, 27th, 30th, 38th, 40th, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 48th, 52nd, 60th, 74th, 77th, 83rd, 85th, 88th, 94th, and 95th Foot; 13th and 14th Light Dragoons.

SALAMANCA, July 22nd, 1812.--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 Foot; 5th Dragoon Guards; 3rd, 4th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Light Dragoons; and the following regiments of the K.G.L.: 1st Hussars; 1st and 2nd Light Battalions, 1st, 2nd, and 5th Line Battalions, and Artillery.

VITTORIA, June 21st, 1813.--2nd and 3rd Foot Guards; 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 31st, 34th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 43rd, 45th, 47th, 48th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 57th, 58th, 59th, 60th, 66th, 68th, 71st, 74th, 82nd, 83rd, 87th, 88th, 92nd, 94th, and 95th Foot; two squadrons 1st and 2nd Life Guards and Horse Guards; 1st Dragoons; 3rd and 5th Dragoon Guards; 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, and 18th Light Dragoons; 15th Hussars.

PYRENEES, July 28th to August 2nd, 1813.--2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 48th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 57th, 58th, 60th, 61st, 66th, 68th, 71st, 74th, 79th, 82nd, 83rd, 87th, 88th, 91st, 92nd, 94th, and 95th Foot; 13th and 14th Light Dragoons.

FORT DETROIT, August 16th, 1812.--Three hundred men of the 41st Foot; Newfoundland Regiment; Canadian Militia, and 600 Indians; Royal Artillery (30 men).

SAN SEBASTIAN, August and September 9th, 1813.--200 of the Foot Guards; 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 36th, 38th, 40th, 43rd, 47th, 48th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 59th, 68th, 82nd, 85th, 87th, 88th, and 95th Foot, and a Naval Brigade.

CHATEAUGUAY, October 26th, 1812.--Royal Artillery; Indians; Canadian Fencibles; Canadian Militia; Voltigeurs; and Chasseurs.

NIVELLE, November 10th, 1813.--1st, 2nd, and 3rd Foot Guards; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 47th, 48th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 57th, 58th, 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 66th, 68th, 71st, 74th, 76th, 79th, 82nd, 83rd, 84th, 85th, 87th, 88th, 91st, 92nd, 94th and 95th Foot; and the following regiments of the K.G.L.: 1st and 2nd Light Battalions; 1st, 2nd, and 5th Line Battalions; 12th, 13th, 14th, and 18th Light Dragoons.

CHRYSTLER'S FARM, November 11th, 1813.--49th and 89th Foot; Canadian Fencibles; Canadian Militia; Indians; Voltigeurs; and Royal Artillery.

NIVE, December 9th to 13th, 1813.--1st, 2nd, and 3rd Foot Guards; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 47th, 48th, 50th, 52nd, 53rd, 57th, 59th, 60th, 61st, 62nd, 66th, 71st, 74th, 76th, 79th, 83rd, 84th, 85th, 87th, 88th, 91st, 92nd, 94th, and 95th Foot; 7th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, and 18th Light Dragoons.

ORTHES, February 17th, 1814.--2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 20th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 37th, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 45th, 48th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 57th, 58th, 60th, 61st, 66th, 68th, 71st, 74th, 82nd, 83rd, 87th, 88th, 91st, 92nd, 94th, and 95th Foot; 3rd, 7th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 18th Light Dragoons.

TOULOUSE, April 10th, 1814.--1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 11th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 45th, 48th, 50th, 52nd, 53rd, 57th, 60th, 61st, 66th, 71st, 74th, 79th, 83rd, 87th, 88th, 91st, 92nd, 94th, and 95th Foot; 2 squadrons 1st and 2nd Life Guards and Horse Guards; 1st Dragoons; 3rd and 5th Dragoon Guards; 3rd, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and 18th Light Dragoons.

Twenty-eight bars were authorised. Twenty-one for the Peninsular, three for North America, two for services in the West Indies, one for Italy, and one for Egypt, 1801, "to those who were still alive." The bars, it should be noted, vary in their arrangement, some being farther apart than others, those awarded to the cavalry being very close together, and those to the infantry ³⁄₄₀ in. apart. If more than six are attached they are placed quite close like those for the cavalry. The bars are attached in sets of three, so that no rivets were used in the fixing of two or three bars to a medal, the set being struck in one piece; six, nine, or more bars were riveted together with very neat, small-headed rivets.

=The India Medal, 1799-1826.=--The European veterans of the Indian wars had been as badly treated in the way of war decorations as the heroes of the Peninsular, but an effort to reward the survivors was made public by the announcement on April 14th, 1851--forty-eight years after the first battle, for which a bar was issued, was fought--that the Queen had assented to the measure proposed by the Court of Directors of the East India Company to grant a medal at their expense to the surviving officers and soldiers of the Crown who were engaged in the services in India from 1799 to 1826. On the obverse is the diademed head of Queen Victoria with VICTORIA REGINA similar to that on the obverse of the medals already described, and on the reverse a seated figure of Victory, holding in her left hand, which falls by her side, a chaplet of laurel, and in her right hand an olive branch. In the background is a palm tree, and in front a trophy of oriental arms. Above all is inscribed TO THE ARMY OF INDIA, and in the exergue ~1790-1826~ and W.W., the initials of the medallist, in small capitals. The medal is 1⅖ in. in diameter, attached to a scroll suspender as used with the Punjab and Sutlej medals; the bars are also of the same design. The ribbon of pale-blue corded silk is 1¼ in. wide. The names, etc., of the European recipients were impressed in capital Roman letters, but most of those awarded to native officers and soldiers were officially engraved in a light, slanting script.

=Bars Awarded.=--Twenty-one bars were issued with the medal: ALLIGHUR, DELHI, ASSYE, ASSEERGHUR, LASWARREE, ARGAUM, GAWILGHUR, DEFENCE OF DELHI, DEIG, CAPTURE OF DEIG, NEPAUL, KIRKEE, POONA, KIRKEE AND POONA, SEETABULDEE, NAGPORE, SEETABULDEE AND NAGPORE, MAHEIDPOOR, CORYGAUM, AVA, BHURTPOOR. Only four medals were issued with the single bar for Seetabuldee and Nagpore, and one of these with edge impressed and verification of award to a man of the 39th Native Infantry realised £74 at auction. Nineteen only were issued for Assye, thirteen for Gawilghur, twenty-six for Maheidpoor, forty-eight for Laswarree, seventy-nine for Corygaum, but only a few of any of these to Europeans. The Duke of Wellington's medal had three clasps; for ASSYE, ARGAUM, and GAWILGHUR. Only thirteen with this combination were issued. A single bar for Capture of Deig awarded to a Lieutenant-Colonel has realised £50. An officer's four bar has realised £100, and a five bar £150. (See sales prices.)

FIRST KAFFIR WARS

In 1834-5 the Kaffirs in South Africa became very troublesome and necessitated the employment of armed force to subdue them, but the first serious Kaffir war broke out in 1846 owing to the outrages perpetrated by the Gaikas, and considerable fighting had to be done before the Kaffirs, by this time armed with firearms, were subdued, and Sandilli and his brother surrendered. In this campaign the following regiments were represented: 6th, 27th, 45th, 73rd, 90th, 91st, and 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade; 7th Dragoon Guards; Royal Artillery; Engineers, Sappers and Miners, also Cape Mounted Riflemen.

At the end of the year 1850 the Kaffirs were again in a turbulent condition, and Sir Harry Smith, a Peninsular veteran whose record in India I have indicated, summoned the chiefs to meet him, but Sandilli ignored the invitation and was outlawed. Then began another protracted war with the natives, during which several disasters befell the British troops. In the Keiskamma defile misfortune overtook Colonel Mackinnon, where with a force of 600 men, which included detachments of the 6th and 73rd Regiments, he was ambuscaded. He, however, reached Fort Cox, where the Governor, Sir Harry Smith, was surrounded by the dusky hordes. He managed to get away with a flying escort, and safely reached King William's Town. In June 1851 operations were conducted in the Amatola and Wolf Valley with comparatively severe losses to the British troops. In December the passage of the Kei was effected, despite the enemy's ingenious attempt--a new method in warfare to them--at constructing breastworks. Ultimately the chiefs of the Gaikas and Seyolo requested peace upon terms which could not be conceded, and the war was continued. In the spring of 1852 a determined advance was made by the British against Sandilli's stronghold in the Amatola mountains, from whence the 74th Highland Regiment, the "tortoises" as the Kaffirs called them in allusion to the markings of their kilt, after much hard fighting cleared them out. Sir Harry Smith was relieved of his command at the Cape by Sir George Cathcart, and ultimately the Water Kloof was cleared, and the Basutos under Moshesh defeated at Berea; Sandilli again surrendered, and the recalcitrant natives were expelled from the territory they had previously occupied.

The regiments represented in the campaign were the 2nd, 6th, 12th, 43rd, 45th; 2nd Batt. 60th Rifles; 73rd, 74th, 91st; 1st Batt. Rifle Brigade; 12th Lancers; Royal Artillery; Engineers, Sappers and Miners; Cape Mounted Rifles, Seamen and Marines.

=Loss of the "Birkenhead."=--The South African Wars of 1834-53 recall the loss of the troopship "Birkenhead" on February 26th, 1852, when 9 officers and 349 men, drawn up in parade order on the deck, went to a watery grave after placing the women and children, and sick, in the boats. They were on their way out as drafts for the regiments engaged in the third Kaffir war, which began at the end of 1850, and was not terminated until March 1853. The German Emperor was so impressed with the heroism of these British soldiers, who so calmly went to their death, that he caused an account of their gallant conduct to be read to every regiment of his army.

Those who took part in these wars were awarded a medal in a General Order issued in November 1854, and although many of the recipients had fought their battles twenty years previously, the medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, bore the date ~1853~ in the exergue, above which is an admirably modelled lion, crouching under a mimosa bush; above all the record SOUTH AFRICA. No bars were given with the medal, which was only awarded to survivors, and the only way to distinguish the campaign for which it was granted is by the name of the regiment indented on the edge of the medal; but this means of identification is not possible in medals issued to the Naval Brigade, for the rank only is frequently given, as for instance, J. SHORE, STOKER. The diademed head of Queen Victoria, as issued with the medal previously described, was used on the obverse of this medal, which was suspended by a scroll clasp. The ribbon is orange and watered, with two thick and thin stripes of dark blue, leaving a narrow orange margin at the edge; the names, etc., were indented on the edge in square Roman capitals. The illustration of the medal is from a photograph of the one awarded to Captain (afterwards Lieutenant-General) A. C. Bentinck of the 7th Dragoon Guards--father of the present Duke of Portland.

The regiments engaged in the three Kaffir wars were: 1834-5: 27th, 72nd, 75th. 1846-7: 6th, 27th, 45th, 73rd, 90th, 91st; Rifle Brigade and 7th Dragoon Guards. 1850-3: 2nd, 6th, 12th, 43rd; 2nd Batt. 60th; 73rd, 74th, 91st; 1st Batt. Rifle Brigade; Royal Marines; a Naval Brigade and Cape Mounted Rifles.

SECOND BURMESE WAR

As a result of the violation of the treaty of Yandaboo, which was really never kept, and the refusal of the King of Ava to redress the grievances of the Europeans in Rangoon, who had been compelled to seek safety on board the "Proserpine," a force of 5,767 men, composed of the 18th Royal Irish, 51st and 80th, together with Artillery, Sappers and Miners, Gun Lascars, and three Infantry Regiments of the H.E.I. Co., under the command of General Godwin, occupied, after very little resistance, Martaban and Rangoon. In the reduction of the latter place the naval contingent and the ships of the fleet participated. The key to the position, the Golden Pagoda, Shwe Dagon, was carried by the Royal Irish and the 80th after a very trying time caused by the excessive heat, five of the senior officers being struck down by solar apoplexy--Major Oakes, who commanded the artillery, and another officer fatally. In the capture of Rangoon 2 officers were killed, and 14 wounded; 15 non-commissioned officers and men killed, and 114 wounded, of whom one-third belonged to the Royal Irish, which lost its adjutant at the foot of the Shwe Dagon.

=Pegu.=--Expeditions were sent out to the north and west, Bassein being captured by one force and Pegu taken on November 21st, 1852, by the other. The province of Pegu was then annexed; but the Burmese continued to harass the garrison which held the city, and it was not until after the arrival of reinforcements from Rangoon that steps could be taken to successfully deal with the enemy. The war was concluded in June 1853, but not before the army had been considerably reduced by disease, cholera claiming a large number of victims, and 22 men had been killed, and 14 officers and 94 men wounded in the taking of the village of Donobyu, held by Myat Toon, a robber chief who had about 8,000 guerillas at his call. It was in the attack on this village that Viscount, then Ensign, Wolseley of the 80th, in leading a small body of men from the 18th, 51st, and 80th, was struck down at the moment of victory. On June 30th, 1853, the war was declared at an end without any formal treaty, and a few months later the troops left a country which had claimed a terrible toll of brave men's lives in the swamps and jungles, the 18th Royal Irish having alone lost 365 officers and men mostly by disease.

=First India General Service Medal.=--On January 23rd, 1854, Queen Victoria sanctioned the issue of a silver medal with bar for PEGU to those who had taken part in the Burmese War of 1852-3. This, later called the India General Service Medal, 1854, has been given for all the various campaigns up to the fighting in the Kachin Hills in 1892-3. Twenty-three bars were given, representing the different "little wars" in which the recipients were engaged during forty-one years. This medal, illustrated facing page 120, has the same kind of suspender and bars as the Punjab medal, likewise the same head of Victoria, but on the reverse a figure of Victory crowning with laurel a seated warrior in classic pose, holding in his right hand a Roman sword, and in his left a sheath. In the exergue is a lotus flower and leaves, and L. C. WYON beneath it. The medals, 1⅖ in. in diameter, have the rank, name, and the regiment or ship, impressed in Roman capitals for Pegu, Persia, North-West Frontier, Umbeyla, Bhootan, but for Perak and the rest of the series, except Jowaki, the lightly engraved running hand or Roman capitals were used for naming. The ribbon, 1¾ in. wide, is dark crimson with two dark-blue stripes.

The regiments entitled to the medal with bar for Pegu were the 18th, 51st, and 80th; Artillery; Sappers and Miners; 1st Bengal Fusiliers; 1st Madras Fusiliers; 5th Madras Native Infantry; and the Naval Brigade from thirteen of Her Majesty's ships.