Part 28

15 March 1793. 1 only issued. 17 March 1794. 30 issued. 29 May 1797. 3 issued. 9 June 1799. 4 issued. 20 Dec. 1799. 3 issued. 29 July 1800. 4 issued. 29 Aug. 1800. 26 issued. 27 Oct. 1800. 5 issued. 21 July 1801. 9 issued. 27 June 1803. 5 issued. 4 Nov. 1803. 1 issued. 4 Feb. 1804. 10 issued. 4 June 1805. 10 issued. 16 July 1806. 51 issued. 2 Jan. 1807. 2 issued. 21 Jan. 1807. 9 issued. 19 April 1807. 1 issued. 13 Feb. 1808. 3 issued. 10 July 1808. 8 issued. 11 Aug. 1808. 12 issued. 28 Nov. 1808. 2 issued. 7 July 1809. 33 issued. 14 July 1809. 8 issued. 25 July 1809. 35 issued. 27 July 1809. 10 issued. 29 July 1809. 11 issued. 28 Aug. 1809. 14 issued. 1 Nov. 1809. 117 issued. 13 Dec. 1809. 10 issued. 13 Feb. 1810. 17 issued. 1 May 1810. 18 issued. 28 June 1810. 24 issued. 27 Sept. 1810. 34 issued. 4 Nov. 1810. 2 issued. 23 Nov. 1810. 66 issued. 24 Dec. 1810. 6 issued. 4 May 1811. 10 issued. 30 July 1811. 4 issued. 2 Aug. 1811. 10 issued. 20 Sept. 1811. 8 issued. 4 Dec. 1811. 18 issued. 4 April 1812. 4 issued. 1 Sept. 1812, 18 Sept. 1812. 24 issued for these 2 clasps. 17 Sept. 1812. 11 issued. 29 Sept. 1812. 26 issued. 6 Jan. 1813. 21 issued. 21 March 1813. 6 issued. 28 April 1813. 2 issued. April and May 1813. 54 issued. 2 May 1813. 49 issued. 8 April 1814. 23 issued. 24 May 1814. 11 issued. 3 and 6 Sept. 1814. 1 only issued. 14 Dec. 1814. 117 issued.

The last two bars are for actions in the war with America.

* * * * *

=Algiers.=--For this battle, fought on August 27th, 1816, 1,362 medals with a single bar, or combined with others, were issued. The action was brought about by the piratical depredations of the Algerines, and the enslavement of Christians by them. Lord Exmouth sailed for the port with 5 ships of the line and 8 smaller vessels, being joined at Gibraltar by 6 Dutch frigates under Admiral Van de Capellen. They appeared before Algiers on August 26th, and proposed certain terms to the Dey, which were not accepted, so next day they commenced to bombard the city. The Algerine fleet was destroyed, and the Dey accepted the terms he had refused. Over 1,200 Christian slaves were freed, and a promise given that piracy and slavery should cease. For a time the promise was kept, but in 1830 the French had to take strong steps to deal with the Algerines, and in the end Algeria became a French colony.

=Exmouth Gold Medal.=--As a reward for his services, Admiral Lord Exmouth was created a Viscount, and received from the Prince Regent a large gold medal, bearing on the obverse the bust of the Prince Regent encircled by TO TAME THE PROUD, THE FETTER'D SLAVE TO FREE. THESE ARE IMPERIAL ARTS, AND WORTHY THEE, and in the exergue PRINCE GEORGE REGENT. On the reverse is a representation of the bombardment, and in the exergue ALGIERS BOMBARDED ITS FLEET DESTROYED AND CHRISTIAN SLAVERY EXTINGUISHED, AUGUST 27TH, 1816. Only 4 medals of this kind were struck.

The following ships were engaged in the bombardment: the flagship "Queen Charlotte," "Impregnable," "Leander," "Superb," "Minden," "Albion," "Severn," "Glasgow," "Hebrus," "Granicus," and the sloops "Mutine," "Cordelia," "Heron," "Britomart," and "Jasper," and the following bomb vessels "Fury," "Infernal," "Beelzebub," "Hecla," and three vessels for transport, ordnance, and dispatch. Eighty-four men of the 1st Batt. Royal Sappers and Miners served as marines on the flagship and the "Impregnable."

=Ava.=--To those officers and seamen who took part in the Burmese War of 1824-6, the Army of India Medal, described on page 133 as having been awarded to officers and soldiers, was also awarded with a bar for AVA. Dr. Payne has in his collection medals with this bar awarded to a junior captain of the Bombay Marine, with his name impressed, likewise one awarded to a man of the H.E.I. Co.'s "Asseeghur," and one to an ordinary seaman of the "Boadicea" with the name engraved.

The following ships' crews took part: H.M.S. "Liffey," "Larne," "Slaney," "Avachne," "Sophie," "Satellite," "Diana," "Tees," "Alligator," and "Mercury," and the H.E.I. Co.'s "Thetis" and "Teignmouth." These were later joined after the capture of Martaban by the crews of the "Boadicea" and "Champion."

=Navarino.=--This battle was fought on October 20th, 1827. 1,137 Naval General Service Medals bearing the bar for NAVARINO were issued. In 1821 the Greeks had revolted against the Turks, and the latter treated them with ruthless barbarity, murdering in cold blood the inhabitants of Morea and laying waste the country. To put an end to this state of affairs, Great Britain, France, and Russia signed a treaty to ensure the independence of the Greeks, and in September 1827 Vice-Admiral Cordington sailed with the British fleet to Navarino, in the harbour of which the Turco-Egyptian fleet was at anchor. He was joined later by the French and Russian fleets, and an ultimatum was then sent to Ibrahim Pasha to the effect that the barbarities and the ravagings were to cease, and this he agreed to pending communication with the Grand Vizier at Constantinople, but because the allied fleets refused passage to some of his ships from the harbour of Navarino he again resorted to his fiendish practices. The British Admiral thereupon determined to take his ships into the harbour, and anchor near the Turco-Egyptian fleet.

On October 20th, followed by the French and Russian squadrons, Admiral Cordington entered the harbour and anchored close to the hostile fleet, when fire was opened by the Turks upon a ship's boat, killing the lieutenant in charge and several of his men. The "Dartmouth" then opened fire, and the battle commenced. The batteries of the fortress of Navarino then began to fire on the combined fleets, but so bad was the aim of the enemy's gunners that they did as much damage to their friends as to their foes. For four hours the fight continued with great vigour, and had it not been for the splendid co-operation of the French and Russian fleets it is doubtful whether the issue would have been satisfactory to lovers of freedom. It is noteworthy, however, that the French Admiral's flagship was only saved from grappling by a Turkish fireship through the speedy assistance given by the British brig "Rose" and some boats of the Russian fleet. The British losses were 75 killed, and 197 wounded. The French lost 43 killed, and 144 wounded, and the Russians 59 killed, and 139 wounded, while the enemy--according to his own estimate--had thousands killed.

The following British ships were engaged: the flagship "Asia," "Albion," "Genoa," "Glasgow," "Cambrian," "Dartmouth," and "Talbot," and the brigs "Brisk," "Mosquito," "Philomel," and "Rose." There were 4 French ships of the line, a frigate and a schooner, and 5 Russian ships of the line and 3 frigates.

Hereafter the history of the British Navy and its engagements was, until 1914, confined to the bombardment of ports, or combined with that of the army in land service.

=Syria.=--Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt, had in 1839 defeated the Turkish armies and made himself master of Syria, and, as has happened often since, Great Britain went to the sick man's aid, co-operating with Austria, Russia, and Prussia, to compel the recalcitrant Pasha to accept the Vice-Royalty and be satisfied with the governorship of Syria for his lifetime. An ultimatum was sent to him and his generals to the effect that Syria was to be restored to the government of the Sultan of Turkey within twenty-one days, but as no notice was taken of the demand, a squadron of British ships blockaded Alexandria, in the harbour of which the Egyptian fleet was at anchor, while the other portion of the fleet, under Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, bombarded Beyrout. Meanwhile, the towns on the coast of Syria had been retaken, Tyre captured on September 24th and Sidon on the 27th. Concentrating at Acre, the Egyptians were worsted there on November 2nd, and the war was brought to a conclusion by Mehemet Ali accepting the terms he had originally refused.

=The Sultan's Medal for Acre.=--To the officers and men a medal, illustrated facing page 292, was awarded; to the officers ranking as field officers in gold, in silver to quarter-deck and warrant officers, and in bronze to petty officers, seamen, and marines.

The following ships were engaged in the operations upon the coast of Syria in the years 1840-41: "Princess Charlotte," "Powerful," "Revenge," "Bellerophon," "Thunderer," "Ganges," "Benbow," "Edinburgh," "Hastings," "Vanguard," "Rodney," "Asia," "Implacable," "Cambridge," "Pique," "Castor," "Dido," "Carysfort," "Talbot," "Daphne," "Cyclops," "Wasp," "Magicienne," "Vesuvius," "Gorgon," "Hazard," "Phœnix," "Hydra," "Stromboli," "Medea," "Zebra," and "Hecate."

The bar for SYRIA was given with the Naval General Service medal for these operations.

=China, 1840-2.=--In this war, already described on pages 98 and 99, the following ships' crews were engaged: in 1840 "Melville," "Blenheim," "Wellesley," "Blonde," "Druid," "Conway," "Volage," "Larne," "Alligator," "Pylades," "Modeste," "Cruiser," "Nimrod," "Algerine," "Columbine," "Rattlesnake," and the following ships' crews of the Honourable East India Company: "Atalanta," "Queen," "Enterprise," "Calliope," "Madagascar," "Samarang," "Herald," and "Nemesis"; the latter, a well-armed iron steamer, created great terror amongst the Chinese, who named it the "devil ship." The following ships were added from time to time to the fleet: H.M.S. "Cornwallis," "Endymion," "Vindictive," "North Star," "Cambrian," "Hazard," "Pelican," "Harlequin," "Clio," "Wanderer," "Wolverine," "Hebe," "Serpent," "Royalist," "Plover," "Starling," "Driver," "Vixen," and the hospital ship "Minden," likewise the H.E.I. Co.'s steamers "Auckland," "Akbar," "Memnon," "Hooghley," "Proserpine," "Pluto," "Sesostris," "Medusa," and "Phlegethon."

=Scinde, 1843.=--The same medal as awarded to the army was awarded to the naval force taking part in the campaign. One hundred and ten medals were issued to the Indus Flotilla, and of these 40 were to Europeans. For Hyderabad 115 medals were issued to the crews of H.E.I. Co.'s "Comet," "Meteor," and "Nimrod." Medals were given to naval men for Meeanee 1843, Hyderabad 1843, and Meeanee-Hyderabad 1843 (see pages 107-109).

=Punjab, 1848-9.=--A brigade of seamen, 100 strong with 7 officers, from the Indian Navy under Commander F. T. Powell, served at the Siege of Mooltan, and it is noteworthy that this was the first occasion upon which seamen served so far away from their ships. Medals were awarded with and without bar for Mooltan.

=Second China War.=--The squadron of British ships engaged under Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour in 1856-60, in the operations already described on pages 98-100, included the flagship "Calcutta," "Sybille," "Pique," "Winchester," "Encounter," "Bittern," "Hornet," "Comus," "Racehorse," "Barracouta," "Sampson," "Coromandel," "Nankin," "Esk," "Elk," "Amethyst," "Sanspareil," "Cruiser," "Acorn," "Niger," "Inflexible," and a number of gunboats. In the attack on the Taku Forts, August 21st, 1860, the only naval co-operation was made by the gunboats "Clown," "Drake," "Woodcock," and "Janus." Bars were awarded for FATSHAN 1857 (navy only), CANTON 1857, TAKU FORTS 1858 (navy only), TAKU FORTS 1860, and PEKIN 1860. These medals were issued to the navy unnamed, and very few seamen appear to have troubled about having their medals engraved. Many issued to the Indian Navy and some of the marines were, however, impressed in capital Roman letters.

=Pegu.=--To those seamen and marines who took part in the second Burmese War, 1852-3, the India General Service Medal 1854 was awarded with the bar for PEGU, which, by the way, is somewhat smaller than the other bars issued with this medal (see pages 137-138). The following ships' crews were engaged: H.M.S. "Fox," "Rattler," "Serpent," "Sphinx," "Salamander," "Hermes," "Winchester," and a gunboat, together with the H.E.I. Co.'s boats "Berenice," "Bhagerutee," "Moofuffer," "Feroze," "Zenobia," "Sesostris," "Medusa," "Pluto," "Proserpine," "Phlegethon," "Soane," "Spy," "Tenasserim," "Mahanuddy," "Fire Queen," "Enterprise," "Indus," "Krishna," "Luckea," "Damoodah," "Sutledge," and "Lord Wm. Bentinck."

=South Africa, 1853.=--This medal, as previously explained, was awarded to cover all the wars and operations that had taken place in South Africa between 1834 and 1853. No bar was issued with the medal, and the only means of discovering when a recipient was engaged is by looking up the period during which his regiment, or ship, was engaged; but this is not quite so easy in the case of naval medals, as the name and rank only are impressed upon them in Roman capitals in the same type as was used on the Naval General Service medal. The third Kaffir War was the first in which the navy took part, and from the end of 1850 to March 1853 a small naval brigade composed of seamen and marines from the following ships were engaged ashore: "Castor," "Dee," "Grecian," "Hermes," "Penguin," "Pantaloon," "Gladiator," "Orestes," "Rhadamanthus" and "Styx."

CRIMEAN WAR

During the early stages of the war the combined British and French fleets were co-operating in Kavarna Bay, and on April 5th anchored before Odessa, when the Russian commandant firing upon H.M.S. "Furious," which was carrying a flag of truce, the following ships were ordered to open fire on the batteries on April 22nd, 1854. H.M.S. "Furious," "Terrible," "Retribution," "Niger," "Arethusa," and 3 French vessels. The fort was blown up, and the shipping destroyed. Later the "Firebrand" and the "Fury" destroyed the Russian batteries at Sulina, and then with the rest of the fleet took part in the bombardment of Sebastopol.

=Sebastopol.=--The following ships were engaged in the bombardment of Sebastopol on October 17th, 1854: "Albion," "Britannia," "London," "Agamemnon," "Queen," "Firebrand," "Niger," "Furious," "Trafalgar," "Retribution," "Vesuvius," "Rodney," "Bellerophon," "Highflyer," "Spitfire," "Arethusa," "Cyclops," "Triton," "Lynx," "Sphinx," "Tribune," "Terrible," "Sampson," and "Sanspareil." In the bombardment 44 were killed and 264 wounded on board the British ships, the "Albion" and the "Agamemnon" suffering most heavily. The French fleet lost about 200 killed and wounded. Prior to the bombardment a naval brigade of 1,050 seamen, under the command of Captain Lushington, landed with 50 heavy guns, and demonstrated their aptitude, and their right to the name of "handymen," by constructing their own batteries and being ready to take the defensive long before the artillerymen had their guns in position. The success of the attack on the Malakoff tower was in no small measure due to the assistance of the naval brigade with their heavy guns. In the assault on the Redan the naval brigade also played a conspicuous and daring part, as the casualty list showed, for out of 120 men 14 were killed and 46 wounded.

=Azoff.=--The following ships were engaged in the expedition which, together with 3 French men-o'-war and 20 frigates, sailed on May 22nd, 1855, for the Sea of Azoff, blowing up _en route_ the works and magazines at Kertch, and destroying Yenikale: H.M.S. "Agamemnon," "Algiers," "Hannibal," "St. Jean d'Acre," "Princess Royal," "Royal Albert," and 27 frigates. The bar for AZOFF was awarded to the officers and crews of the following ships: "Vesuvius," "Stromboli," "Miranda," "Swallow," "Curlew," "Beagle," "Lynx," "Ardent," "Viper," "Snake," "Medina," "Recruit," "Arrow," "Clinker," "Boxer," "Grinder," "Fancy," "Sulina," "Weser," "Jasper," and "Cracker"; also the first and second launches of the "Agamemnon," "Hannibal," "Algiers," "St. Jean d'Acre," "Princess Royal," and the "Royal Albert."

During these operations Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral Sir) E. Commerell of the "Weser" gained the Victoria Cross for his intrepid conduct while engaged in destroying stores on the shore of the Sivash.

=The Baltic Medal.=--For their services in connection with the blockade of the Baltic, Queen Victoria commanded in 1856 that a medal should be struck and issued to the officers, seamen, and marines who had been engaged in the Baltic from March 1854 to August 1855, during which period they had blockaded Bomarsund, attacked and captured it, and bombarded and destroyed Sveaborg. Two officers and 90 sappers and miners who served aboard the flagship and at Bomarsund were also awarded the medal, which bears on the obverse the same bust of Queen Victoria as on the medals previously described, and on the reverse the seated figure of Britannia, holding a trident in her right hand, with a naval gun and pile of shot, flags, and a naval coronet beside her, and behind in the distance the fort of Bomarsund to the left, and Sveaborg to the right; above all is BALTIC, and in the exergue ~1854-55~. The medal, by L. C. Wyon, is 1⅖ in. in diameter, and depends from a yellow ribbon 1¼ in. wide with blue edges, by means of a curled suspender similar to the Sutlej type. The medals were issued unnamed, except in the case of the officers and sappers mentioned above, and theirs were issued with their names impressed.

The following ships were employed in the Baltic: H.M.S. "Duke of Wellington,*" "Saint George," "Neptune," "Princess Royal," "Royal George,*" "Saint Jean d'Acre," "Majestic,*" "Nile,*" "James Watt,*" "Prince Regent," "Cæsar,*" "Monarch," "Boscawen," "Cumberland," "Cressy,*" "Blenheim,*" "Hogue,*" "Edinburgh,*" "Amphion,*" "Arrogant,*" "Ajax,*" "Euryalus,*" "Imperieuse,*" "Cruiser," "Odin," "Dauntless," "Archer," "Leopard," "Valorous," "Desperate," "Magicienne," "Vulture," "Dragon," "Porcupine," "Bulldog," "Conflict," "Driver," "Hecla," "Basilisk," "Rosamund," "Lightning," "Alban," and H.M. Hospital Ship "Belleisle."

After the recall of Sir Charles Napier, who was censured for not attacking Sveaborg, a fleet was dispatched to the Baltic under Rear-Admiral Hon. R. Dundas. It included the ships named above marked with an asterisk, and the "Calcutta," "Colossus," "Orion," "Cornwallis," "Exmouth," "Russell," "Hawk," "Pembroke," "Hastings," "Retribution," "Falcon," "Esk," "Tartar," "Cossack," "Archer," "Harrier," and "Pylades," with a number of smaller vessels and gunboats. During the second operations in the Baltic, Lieutenant Dowell of the Marine Artillery gained the V.C. for leading a volunteer crew in a boat from the "Ruby," and taking the cutter of the "Arrogant" in tow when she was swamped after the explosion of her magazine during an attack on some vessels at Viborg.

The following vessels took part in the attack on Sveaborg: H.M.S. "Duke of Wellington," "Arrogant," "Euryalus," "Exmouth," "Cornwallis," "Cossack," "Pembroke," "Merlin," "Vulture," "Dragon," "Locust," "Volcano," "Lightning," "Hastings," "Amphion," "Edinburgh," "Magicienne," "Geyser," "Eolus," "Belleisle," "Cruiser," "Princess Alice," and the gunboats and mortar vessels "Redwing," "Lark," "Magpie," "Starling," "Skylark," "Stork," "Drake," "Redbreast," "Weasel," "Badger," "Mastiff," "Snapper," "Biter," "Growler," "Pincher," "Porpoise," "Snap," "Blazer," "Dapper," "Pelter," "Pickle," "Havock," "Prompt," "Manly," "Sinbad," "Beacon," "Carron," and "Grappler."

=Naval Brigade in Crimea.=--Some of the naval brigade in the Crimea received medals with three clasps for BALAKLAVA, INKERMANN, and SEBASTOPOL; others two clasps for INKERMANN and SEBASTOPOL, or BALAKLAVA and SEBASTOPOL. Others, showing they had fought _per mare_, _per terras_, three clasps for AZOFF, BALAKLAVA, and SEBASTOPOL, or AZOFF, INKERMANN, and SEBASTOPOL. The only single bars are for AZOFF or SEBASTOPOL. Some of the marines who fought ashore received the whole four clasps for land service as awarded to soldiers. The medals issued to the navy were generally unnamed, but I have in my possession a few named with the same impressed lettering as on the medals issued to the army. The sailors and marines who fought in the Crimea were also awarded the Turkish medal described on page 152, while fifty of them received the Sardinian medal described on page 153.

INDIAN MUTINY

The deeds of the "Pearl" and "Shannon" Brigades during the Indian Mutiny have always impressed students of the war, and collectors have invariably been found willing to pay relatively high prices for medals without a bar if awarded to a man of the "Pearl" Brigade of 250 men, because of the splendid work they did in no less than twenty engagements. The "Shannon" Brigade was composed of 410 seamen and marines from that vessel, under the command of Captain W. Peel, who landed with six 68-pounders--which were employed for the first time as field pieces--eight 24-pounders, a battery of 8 rockets, and 2 howitzers, also some of the crew of the "Pearl," together with 120 sailors recruited from merchant ships. At Allahabad part of the "Shannon's" company was left to garrison the place, the rest marching to Cawnpore. Near Futtehgur 100 men of the naval brigade, co-operating with 450 soldiers, defeated a force of 4,000 mutineers and captured 2 guns. In November the brigade was attacking and assisting in the capture of the Martinière, and later breached the walls of the Secundrabagh and Shah Nujeef at Lucknow. In this daring work Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral Sir) M. Salmon and three of his men won the V.C. In January the brigade took part in the battle of Kallee Nudee, and in March 1858 was again at Lucknow storming the Dilkoosha and breaching the Martinière, where Captain Peel was wounded. He died on March 27th from an attack of smallpox, just when his gallantry had earned for him a knighthood. With the capture of Lucknow the work of the "Shannon" brigade was finished, and on September 15th she sailed for home. Five hundred and thirty medals were issued to men of the "Shannon" and 232 to men of the "Pearl." Three hundred Europeans of the Indian Marine also received the medals without bars; this medal was generally inscribed INDIAN NAVAL BRIGADE.

=Persia, 1857.=--The crews of the following ships of the Indian Navy received the medal with bar for PERSIA: "Ajdaha," "Assyria," "Assaye," "Berenice," "Clive," "Comet," "Constance," "Euphrates," "Falkland," "Ferooz," "Hugh Lindsay," "Lady Falkland," "Napier," "Nitocris," "Planet," "Punjab," "Semiramis," "Victoria."

=New Zealand.=--I have already described at some length the extended operations in New Zealand between 1845 and 1866. In these operations the navy on many occasions took an important part, particularly the crew of H.M.S. "Hazard" at the beginning of the war in 1845. The ships' crews engaged in 1845-7 were H.M.S. "Hazard," "North Star," "Castor," "Elphinstone," "Racehorse," "Osprey."

=New Zealand, 1845-6-7.=--The ships engaged during this period were H.M.S. "Castor," "Calliope," "Driver," "Elphinstone," H.E.I. Co.'s "Hazard," "Inflexible," "North Star," "Osprey," and "Racehorse."

=New Zealand, 1860-6.=--Members of the crews of the following ships received the medal for this period, although after August 1864, following the Gate Pa affair--in which Samuel Mitchell, captain of the foretop of H.M.S. "Harrier," gained the V.C.--the navy was not actively employed: H.M.S. "Brisk," "Cordelia," "Curaçoa," "Eclipse," "Esk," "Falcon," "Harrier," "Himalaya," "Iris," "Miranda," "Niger," "Pelorus," and "Victoria" (see page 186 for description of medal).

=Abyssinia.=--In the Abyssinian campaign (1867-8), already referred to on pages 189-191 a naval brigade consisting of 83 men, with twelve 12-pounder rocket tubes, commanded by Commander Fellowes of H.M.S. "Dryad," took part, forming part of the first division under General Staveley. Men of the "Octavia," "Dryad," "Spiteful," and "Satellite" took part.