Part 27
=The Naval General Service Medal.=--Two hundred and thirty bars were issued with the medal, which bore upon the obverse the bust of Queen Victoria, as on the Military General Service medal, and the legend VICTORIA REGINA, with the date +1848+ below, and on the reverse a figure of Britannia seated upon a sea-horse holding in her right hand a trident, and in the left an olive branch. The medal, by Wyon, is suspended by a straight clasp from a white ribbon with blue edges, and the recipient's name is impressed upon the edge of the medal in Roman capitals of the same character as those used for the M.G.S. medal. Officers and warrant officers only had their rank described, and in the arrangement of the bars the first action was placed nearest the medal. Although so many bars were issued with the medal, six is the most awarded to any one man. Dr. Payne has in his collection two with five bars; one awarded to Thos. Hewitt, midshipman, for 1 JUNE 1794--12 OCTR 1798--4 FEB BOAT SERVICE 1804--CENTAUR 26 AUGT 180'--ALGIERS, and another awarded to Capt. (afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas) Ussher, Kt., C.B., K.C.H., illustrated facing page 284, which also includes 1 JUNE 1794--REDWING 7 MAY 1808--REDWING 31ST MAY 1808--MAGALA 29TH APRIL 1812--2 MAY BOAT SERVICE 1813. This is a particularly rare set of bars, for only seven of the second were issued, five of the third, seven of the fourth, and forty-nine of the fifth.
BARS GRANTED WITH THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH THE NAMES OF THE ACTIONS THEREON
NYMPH, 18 June 1793. 4 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Cleopatre." Captain E. Pellew, who commanded the "Nymph," was knighted.
CRESCENT, 20 Oct. 1793. 12 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Reunion," which was added to the British Navy under the same name.
ZEBRA, 7 March 1794. 2 issued. Running the "Zebra" sloop alongside the bastion of Fort Royal at Martinique, and storming and capturing the fort.
CARYSFORT, 29 May 1794. None issued. Recapture of the "Caster."
1 June 1794 ("The Glorious First of June"). 576 issued. Defeat of the French fleet by Lord Howe, capture of 6 sail of the line and 1 sunk. 58 vessels (for list of principal vessels engaged see page 279).
ROMENY, 17 June 1794. 2 issued. Capture of French frigate "Sybille."
BLANCHE, 4 Jan. 1795. 5 issued. At the end of the conflict she had a crew of 190. Capture of the French frigate "Pique."
LIVELY, 13 March 1795. 3 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Tourterelle."
14 March 1795. 111 issued. Action with French fleet, and capture of 2 sail of the line. 22 vessels under Vice-Admiral Hotham were engaged.
ASTRÆA, 10 April 1795. 2 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Gloire."
{ Action with four THETIS, 17 May 1795. 3 issued. { French ships, and { capture of "La HUSSAR, 17 May 1795. 1 issued. { Raison" and { "Prevoyante."
MOSQUITO, 9 June 1795. None issued. This was not due to delay in issuing medals, but to the loss of the captain and crew of the "Mosquito" soon after. Action with, and capture of, privateer.
17 June 1795. 38 issued. Brilliant repulse by Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, of a fleet four times superior in force. 7 vessels engaged.
23 June 1795. 201 issued. Action under Admiral Lord Bridport with French fleet, and capture of 3 sail of the line; the "Formidable" became the British ship "Belleisle" and the "Tigre" was also added under its own name. The "Alexander" was a recapture. 29 vessels engaged.
DIDO, 23 June 1795. 1 only } Action with the French issued. } frigates "Minerve" LOWESTOFFE, 24 June 1795. } and "Artemise," and 6 issued. } capture of the former.
SPIDER, 25 Aug. 1795. 1 only issued. Action with 2 French brigs, and capture of 1. This medal realised £33 at the Gaskill sale.
PORT SPERGUI, 17 March 1796. 4 issued to survivors of the "Diamond," "Liberty," and "Aristocrat." Destroying the batteries at Port Spergui, and destroying the corvette "Etourdie," 4 brigs, 2 sloops, and 1 lugger.
INDEFATIGABLE, 20 April 1796. 6 issued. Capture of French frigate "Virginia," in the English Channel.
{ Action with the three { French frigates "La UNICORN, 8 June 1796. 4 { Tribune," "La Tamise," issued. { (formerly the British ship SANTA MARGARITA, 8 June { "Thames") and "La 1796. 3 issued. { Legere," and capture of { the two former. Captain { William of the "Unicorn" { was knighted.
SOUTHAMPTON, 9 June 1796. 4 issued. Capture of French corvette "Utile."
DRYAD, 13 June 1796. 7 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Proserpine," which became H.M.S. "Amelia."
TERPSICHORE, 13 Oct. 1796. 3 issued. Capture of the Spanish frigate "Mahonesa."
LAPWING, 8 Dec. 1796. 2 issued. Action with French ship "Décieux" and brig "Vaillante," and capture of the former. 1 medal sold for £21 on July 24th, 1914.
MINERVA, 19 Dec. 1796. 5 { Capture of Spanish frigate issued. { "Santa Sabina" by the BLANCHE, 19 Dec. 1796. 2 { "Minerve," and action issued. { between "Blanche" { and "Ceres."
{ Destruction of French INDEFATIGABLE, 13 Jan. 1797. { "74," "Droits de 8 issued. { L'Homme," off the AMAZON, 13 Jan. 1797. 6 { coast of France. The issued. { "Amazon" went { ashore and her crew { were made prisoners.
ST. VINCENT, 14 Feb. 1797. 363 issued. Action with the Spanish fleet, and capture of 4 sail of the line. 23 ships engaged (for list see page 283).
SAN FIORENZO, 8 March 1797. 7 issued. Capture of "Resistance" and "Constance." The first named became the "Fisgard."
NYMPHE, 8 March 1797. 6 issued.
CAMPERDOWN, 11 Oct. 1797. 332 issued. Battle of Camperdown, when Admiral Duncan defeated the Dutch fleet. 25 vessels engaged (for list see page 283).
PHŒBE, 21 Dec. 1797. 7 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Néréide," which was added to the British Navy under the same name.
MARS, 21 April 1798. 26 issued. Capture of French 74, "L'Hercule." In this severe action the "Mars" lost her captain, Alexander Hood.
ISLE ST. MARCOU, 6 May 1798. 3 issued. Action at the Island of Marcou. 2 boats engaged.
LION, 15 July 1798. 21 issued. Action with 4 Spanish frigates and capture of the "Santa Dorotea," which was added to the British Navy under the same name.
NILE, 1 Aug. 1798. 351 issued. Battle of the Nile. 15 ships engaged (for list see page 286).
ESPOIR, 7 Aug. 1798. 1 issued. Action with and capture of a Genoese pirate, the "La Guria."
12 Oct. 1798. 81 issued. Action under Sir J. B. Warren with a French squadron, and capture of the "Hoche" "74"--which became the "Donegal"--and 2 frigates. 8 ships engaged.
FISGARD II, 20 Oct. 1799. 9 issued. Capture of the French frigate "L'Immortalite."
SYBILLE, 28 Feb. 1799. 12 issued. Capture of the French frigate "La Forte," after a stern fight in which a detachment of the Scotch Brigade which was on board the "Sybille" took part.
TELEGRAPH, 18 March 1799. None issued. Capture of "L'Hirondelle II."
ACRE, 30 May 1799. 42 issued. The record on the bar for this affair is ACRE, 30 MAY 1799; but as the French raised the siege on May 20th, and Bonaparte retreated leaving 23 cannon, the bar is wrongly inscribed, but it is nevertheless official. The bar was awarded to those who assisted the Turkish fleet to defend "Acre" from the French attack, the ships taking part under Commodore Sir Henry Smith being the "Theseus," "Tigre," and "Alliance."
SCHIERMONIKOOG, 12 Aug. 1799. 10 issued.
ARROW, 13 Sept. 1799. 2 issued. Action and capture of "Draak" and "Gier." 2 vessels. The other boat was the "Wolverine," but no bar was issued for that.
SURPRISE with HERMIONE, 25 Oct., 1799. 7 issued. Boarding and recapturing the "Hermione." For this dashing exploit Captain Hamilton was knighted.
SPEEDY, 6 Nov. 1799. 3 issued. Action with 10 Spanish gunboats and 2 schooners, and successful defence of convoy.
COURIER, 22 Nov. 1799. 3 issued. Action with and capture of the "Guerrier."
VIPER, 26 Dec. 1799. 2 issued. Capture of French brig "Furet."
FAIRY, 5 Feb. 1800. 4 } Action with and capture issued. } of the French frigate } "Pallas," which became HARPY, 5 Feb. 1800. 4 } H.M.S. "Pique." issued. }
PETEREL, 21 March 1800. 2 issued. Capture of "La Ligurienne."
{ Night action with "Guillaume { Tell"; the "Lion" { and "Foudroyant" were PENELOPE, 30 March 1800. { also engaged and actually 11 issued. { captured the vessel, which { was added to the British VINCIEGO, 30 March 1800. { Navy as H.M.S. "Malta," 2 issued. { but no award was made { to the surviving crews of { these ships.
DESIRÉE, 8 July 1800. 23 issued. Boarding and capturing the French frigate "Desirée," and other French vessels. 18 vessels engaged.
SEINE, 20 Aug. 1800. 9 issued. Capture of French frigate "Vengeance," between Porto Rico and San Domingo.
PHŒBE, 19 Feb. 1801. 7 issued. Capture of French frigate "Africaine," which became H.M.S. "Amelia."
EGYPT. 626 issued for services on Coast of Egypt. 117 vessels were engaged.
COPENHAGEN, 1801. 589 issued. 38 vessels engaged.
SPEEDY, 6 May. 7 issued. Capture of the "Gamo."
GUT OF GIBRALTAR, 12 July 1801. 152 issued. 10 ships engaged. Action with the French squadrons in the "Gut of Gibraltar," and destruction of 2 Spanish ships of 122 guns each, and capture of the "St. Antonio" "74." For his services as commander of the British squadron Sir J. Saumarez was made a K.C.B. and given a pension of £1,200 a year.
SYLPH, 28 Sept. 1801. 2 issued. Action with the "Artemise."
PASLEY, 28 Oct. 1801. 3 issued. Capture of the Spanish ship "Virgen del Rosatio."
SCORPION, 31 March 1804. } 1 issued. } Action with and capture BEAVER, 31 March 1804. } of vessels in the Ville None issued. } road.
CENTURION, 18 Sept. 1804. 11 issued. Action with the line-of-battle ship "Marengo," and frigates "Atalante" and "Semillante."
ARROW, 3 Feb. 1805. 8 } For the protection of 28 issued. } British merchant ships, ACHERON, 3 Feb. 1805. 2 } when attacked by 2 issued. } French frigates.
SAN FIORENZO, 14 Feb. 1805. 11 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Psyche."
PHŒNIX, 10 Aug. 1805. 25 issued. Capture of French frigate "Didon." The vessel became H.M.S. "Didon."
TRAFALGAR. 1,710 issued. 33 vessels engaged (see page 290).
4 Nov. 1805. 298 issued. 8 vessels engaged. Capture of 4 sail of French line-of-battle ships.
ST. DOMINGO. 410 issued. Battle of "St. Domingo," and capture and destruction of 4 sail of the line. 11 vessels were engaged.
AMAZON, 13 March 1806. 27 issued. { Capture of " Marengo" { and LONDON, 13 March 1806. 28 issued. { "Belle Poule."
PIQUE, 26 March 1806. 7 issued. Capture of the French brigs "Phæton " and "Voltigeur."
SIRIUS, 17 April 1806. 12 issued. Action with French flotilla at Civita Vecchia, and capture of the "Bergere."
BLANCHE, 19 July 1806. 22 issued. Capture of the "Guerrière." For this deed Captain Lavie was knighted.
ARETHUSA, 23 Aug. 1806. } Capture of Spanish frigate 6 issued. } "Pomone." ANSON, 23 Aug. 1806. }
CURAÇOA, 1 Jan. 1807. Taking of Curaçoa. 4 vessels engaged--"Arson," "Arethusa," "Fisgard," and "Latona."
PICKLE, 3 Jan. 1807. 1 issued. Capture of the French privateer "La Favorite."
HYDRA, 6 Aug. 1807. 10 issued. In the harbour of Bergur, attack of batteries, and capture of "L'Eugene," "Rosario," and "Caroline."
COMUS, 15 Aug. 1807. 10 issued. Capture of the Danish frigate "Frederickscoarn."
LOUISA, 28 Oct. 1807. 1 issued. Action with and defeat of a French privateer.
CARRIER, 4 Nov. 1807. 1 issued. Capture of the French cutter "L'Actif."
ANN, 24 Nov. 1807. None issued. Action with 10 Spanish gunboats.
SAPPHO, 2 March 1808. 5 issued. Capture of the Danish brig "Admiral Yawl."
SAN FIORENZO, 8 March 1808. 16 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Piedmontaise." The British commander, Captain Hardinge, was killed, and a monument to his memory erected in St Paul's Cathedral at the public expense.
EMERALD, 13 March 1808. 12 issued. Destruction of the batteries at Vivero and war vessels.
CHILDERS, 14 March 1808. 4 issued. Captain Wilson and a crew of 65 participated in this affair. Action with the Danish brig "Lougen."
NASSAU, 22 March 1808. } Destruction of Danish line-of-battle 37 issued. } ship "Prince } Christian Frederic." 2 STATELY, 22 March 1808. } ships engaged. 25 issued. }
OFF ROTA, 4 April 1808. 20 issued. Fight with gunboats and convoy. "Alceste," "Mercury," and "Grasshopper" engaged.
GRASSHOPPER, 24 April } Action with and destruction 1808. 1 issued. } of Spanish ships and gunboats } at Faro. 2 vessels RAPID, 24 April 1808. 1 } engaged. issued. }
REDWING, 7 May 1808. 7 issued. Action with Spanish gunboats and destroying them.
VIRGINIE, 19 May 1808. 21 issued. Capture of Dutch frigate "Guelderland."
REDWING, 31 May 1808. 5 issued. Destroying Tarifa Battery near Cape Trafalgar, and taking 2 vessels.
SEAHORSE WH BANDERE LA ZAFFERE, 6 July 1808. 35 issued. Capture of the Turkish frigate "Badere Zaffer."
COMET, 11 Aug. 1808. 5 issued. Action with three French brigs, and capture of the "Sylphe." This became H.M.S. "Seagull."
CENTAUR, 26 Aug. 1808. } 38 issued. } Fight with Russian fleet } and capture of 74-gun IMPLACABLE, 26 Aug. 1808. } ship "Sewolod." 45 issued. }
CRUIZER, 1 Nov. 1808. 4 issued. Action with Danish flotilla off Gottenburgh and capture of brig-of-war.
AMETHYST with THETIS, 10 Nov. 37 issued. Capture of French frigate "Thetis" by Captain Seymour, who was knighted for his prowess.
OFF THE PEARL ROCK, 13 Dec. 1808. Action with batteries and French boats. 6 vessels engaged.
ONYX, 1 Jan. 1809. 6 issued. Recapture from Dutch of the brig "Manly."
CONFIANCE, 14 Jan. 1809. 8 issued. Taking of Cayenne.
MARTINIQUE. 523 issued. Capture of Martinique. 43 vessels engaged.
HORATIO, 10 Feb. 1809. { Capture of the French 14 issued. { frigate "Junon," which { was added to the British SUPÉRIÉURE, 10 Feb. 1809. { Navy under the same 2 issued. { name.
AMETHYST, 5 April. 28 issued. Capture of French frigate "Niemen."
12 April. 646 issued. Fight with French squadron and destruction of ships in Basque Road. 35 ships engaged.
POMPÉE, 17 June 1809. 17 { Chase and capture of French issued. { ship of the line "Hautpoult" { which became CASTOR, 17 June 1809. 4 { H.M.S. "Abercromby." issued. { 3 vessels engaged. This { action took place on RECRUIT, 17 June 1809. 3 { April 17 and not as stated issued. { on the bars.
CYANE, 25 and 27 June { Action with "Ceres," and 1809. 5 issued. { capture of 18 gunboats, { and destruction of 4. L'ESPOIR, 25 and 27 June { Captain Staines, commander 1809. 5 issued. { of the "Cyane," { was knighted.
BONNE CITOYENNE with FURIEUSE. 12 issued. Capture of French frigate "La Furieuse," July 6th, 1809. Captain Mounsey received the Naval Gold Medal for this exploit, as already explained.
DIANA, 11 Sept. 1809. 3 issued. Capture of Dutch brig "Zephyr."
ANSE-LE-BARQUE, 18 Dec. 1809. 42 issued. Storming batteries of Anse-le-barque, and capture of "Loire" and "Seine" frigates. 9 vessels engaged.
CHEROKEE, 10 Jan. 1810. 4 issued. Capture of the French lugger "L'Aimable Nelly."
SCORPION, 12 Jan. 1810. 12 issued. Capture of the French brig "L'Oreste."
GUADALOUPE. 509 issued. Capture of Guadaloupe, January and February 1810. 50 vessels engaged.
THISTLE, 10 Feb. 1810. None issued. Capture of the Dutch corvette "Havik."
SURLY, 24 April 1810. 1 } issued. } Capture of the French } privateer "Alcide." FIRM, 24 April 1810. 1 } issued. }
SYLVIA, 26 April 1810. 1 issued. Capture of the Dutch brig "Echo," in the Straits of Sunda.
SPARTAN, 2 May 1810. 32 issued. Action with the French frigate "Ceres," and consorts, and capture of the corvette "Sparviéve."
ROYALIST, May and June 1810. 3 issued. Action in the Channel with and capture of 6 armed French ships.
AMANTHEA, 25 July. 29 issued. Action with gunboats, and capture and destruction of a number of transports at Amanthea. "Thames," "Pilot," "Weasel" engaged.
BANDA NEIRA. 69 issued. Capture of the Island of "Banda Neira," 9 Aug. 1810. 3 boats engaged.
{ Action with French squadron BOADICEA, 18 Sept. 1810. { and capture of the French 16 issued. { frigate "Venus" and recapture { of the British OTTER, 18 Sept. 1810. { frigate "Ceylon." "Boadicea," 8 issued. { "Otter," and { "Staunch" engaged. The STAUNCH, 18 Sept. 1810. { "Venus" was added to 2 issued. { the British Navy as the { "Néréide."
BRISEIS, 14 Oct. 1810. 2 issued. Capture of the French privateer "Sans-Souci."
LISSA. 130 issued. Action with French squadron and capture of frigates off Lissa, March 13th, 1811. 4 vessels engaged.
ANHOLT, 27 March 1811. 40 issued. Action in defence of Anholt Island when attacked by Danes.
ARROW, 6 April 1811. None issued. Action with "Chassemarées" and batteries off the French coast.
OFF TAMATAVE, 20 May 1811. 79 issued. Action with French frigates and capture of "Renommée" and "Néréide"; the vessels became H.M.S. "Java" and "Madagascar." "Astree," "Galatea," "Phœbe," and "Racehorse" engaged.
HAWKE, 18 Aug. 1811. 6 issued. Capture of the 16-gun French brig "Heron" and convoy.
JAVA, 715 issued. Capture of Java, August and September 1811. 25 vessels engaged.
SKYLARK, 11 Nov. 1811. } Action with Boulogne flotilla 2 issued. } of 12 gun-brigs and capture } of 1. LOCUST, 11 Nov. 1811. } 2 issued. }
PELAGOSA, 29 Nov. 1811. 64 issued. Action with French frigates "Pauline" and "Pomone" and capture of same. "Alceste," "Active," and "Unitie" engaged.
{ Capture of the French "74" { "Rivoli," February 22nd, { 1812. The "Victorious" { lost 27 killed and 99 VICTORIOUS with RIVOLI. { wounded, but the "Weasel" WEASEL, 22 Feb. 1812. { did not have a man 6 issued. { injured. Captain Talbot of { the "Victorious" was made { K.C.B., and the "Rivoli" { became a British war { vessel.
Note that the bars are named differently for same engagement.
ROSARIO, 27 March 1812. } 6 issued. } Capture of 2 French brigs-of-war } off Dieppe. Two vessels GRIFFON, 27 March 1812. } engaged 3 issued. } NORTHUMBERLAND, 22 } Destruction of the French May 1812. 62 issued. } frigates "Arienne" and } "Andromache" and a GROWLER, 22 May 1812. } brig. 2 vessels engaged. 4 issued. }
MAGALA, 29 May 1812. 17 issued. Capture of French privateers "Brave" and "Napoleon," at Malaga. The date of the action was 29 April. 4 vessels engaged.
OFF MARDOE, 6 July 1812. 48 issued. Destruction of 2 Danish frigates and 2 brigs. 4 British boats engaged--"Calypso," "Dictator," "Flamer," and "Podargus."
SEALARK, 21 July 1812. 4 issued. Capture of the French privateer "Ville de Caen."
ROYALIST, 29 Dec. 1812. 3 issued. Capture of the French privateer lugger "La Ruse."
WEASEL, 22 April 1813. 6 issued. Destruction of 6 French gunboats in the Adriatic.
SHANNON with CHESAPEAKE. 49 issued. Capture of American frigate "Chesapeake," on 1 June 1813.
PELICAN, 14 Aug. 1813. 4 issued. Capture of the American brig "Argus."
ST. SEBASTIAN, Aug. and Sept. 1813. 292 issued. 16 vessels engaged (see page 53).
THUNDER, 9 Oct. 1813. 7 issued. Capture of the French privateer "Neptune."
GLUCKSTADT, 5 Jan. 1814. 45 issued. Capture of the fortress of Gluckstadt. 6 ships and 8 gunboats engaged.
VENERABLE, 16 Jan. 1814. { Capture of the French 31 issued. { frigates "Alcméne" and { "Iphigénia," which were CYANE, 16 Jan. 1814. { added to the Navy as 18 issued. { H.M.S. "Gloire" and { "Dunira."
EUROTAS, 25 Feb. 1814. 32 issued. Capture of the French frigate "Glorinde," which became H.M.S. "Burma."
HEBRUS with L'ETOILE, 27 March 1814. Capture of French frigate "L'Etoile."
PHŒBE, 28 March 1814. 28 } issued. } Capture of the American CHERUB, 28 March 1814. 10 } frigates "Essex" and issued. } "Essex Junior."
THE POTOMAC, 17 Aug. 1814. 107 issued. Daring navigation of the Potomac River and destruction of shipping in the Potomac. 8 vessels engaged.
ENDYMION with PRESIDENT, 15 Jan. 1815. Capture of the American frigate "President."
GAIETA, 24 July. 89 issued. Attack and reduction of Gaieta. "Malta" and "Berwick" engaged.
ALGIERS. 1,362 issued. Battle of Algiers. 27 Aug. 1816. 22 vessels engaged. See page 307.
NAVARINO. 1,137 issued. Battle of "Navarino," Oct. 20th, 1827. 11 ships engaged. See page 309.
SYRIA. 6,877 issued. (Quite a number of these were used for fraudulent purposes, bars being manufactured bearing the records of rare bars and substituted for the common Syria.) Capture of "Acre," Nov. 1840, and operations with it on the coast of Syria. 32 ships engaged. See page 310.
BARS GRANTED FOR BOAT ACTIONS
The boat actions commemorated by these bars cover a number of brilliant actions performed by boats' crews in cutting out, and in some instances actually recovering, British vessels lost to the enemy, or capturing enemies' vessels.