Part 31
=The New Zealand Cross.=--This was instituted by Order in Council at the Government House, Wellington, March 10th, 1869, and afterwards sanctioned by Her Majesty as "a Decorative Distinction to be conferred on members of the Militia, Volunteers, or Armed Constabulary, who may particularly distinguish themselves by their bravery in action, or devotion to their duty while on service." The conditions are almost exactly similar to those for the Victoria Cross, and the recipient received an annual pension of £10.
It is a silver Maltese cross, with bright silver double borders, having a six-pointed gold star on each arm. In the centre, in a circle, NEW ZEALAND surrounded by a wreath of laurel in gold. The cross is surmounted by a gold crown and attached to a crimson ribbon--1½ in. wide--by a silver bar ornamented with laurel, in gold, connected by a V and ring, in silver, with the top of the crown. The name of the recipient and the date of the action should be engraved on the back of the cross. Clasps may be added for additional acts of bravery or devotion. The clasp to be a silver bar across the ribbon, having a plain surface burnished and inscribed with the date of the occurrence for which the bar is given, and the name of the action--if any. Twenty-one officers and men have received this decoration. These crosses have realised from £15 to £25.
=India Distinguished Service Medal.=--This medal was instituted on June 28th, 1907, by an Army Order published in Simla as a reward for both commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the regular and other forces in India. It bears on the obverse the bust of King Edward VII, and on the reverse a laurel wreath encircling the words FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. The medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, is ordered to be worn immediately to the right of all war medals, suspended by a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide, with blue edges ⅜ in. wide. This medal may be conferred by the Viceroy of India.
=Conspicuous Service Cross.=--This cross was instituted by King Edward VII on June 28th, 1901, as a reward for "distinguished service before the enemy," for bestowal upon warrant officers and subordinate officers of the fleet who do not hold commissions in the navy. No person can be nominated for the cross unless his services shall have been marked by a special mention of his name in dispatches by the Admiral, or senior naval or military officer commanding the squadron or detached force.
The cross (facing page 208) is of silver, patée in form, and convex. It bears on the obverse the monogram E.R.I. surrounded by a raised border, surmounted by the imperial crown, with ring for suspension from a blue ribbon with a white stripe down the centre like that used for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. The reverse is plain. The recipient has the right to append the letters C.S.C. to his name.
=Indian Order of Merit.=--This reward of valour takes chronological precedence over those decorations already described. It was instituted by the H.E.I. Co. in 1837, to reward personal bravery without any reference to length of service or good conduct, and is the Sepoy's Victoria Cross (facing page 136.)
It is divided into three classes and is awarded to native officers and men for distinguished conduct in the field. On the advancement from one class to another the star is surrendered to the Government, and the superior class substituted, but in the event of the death of the recipient his relatives retain the decoration. The order carries with it an increase of one-third in the pay of the recipient, and in the event of his death the allowance is continued to his widow for three years. The First Class consists of a star of eight points, 1⅗ in. in diameter, having in the centre a ground of dark-blue enamel bearing crossed swords in gold, within a gold circle, and the inscription REWARD OF VALOUR, the whole being surmounted by two wreaths of laurel in gold. The Second Class star is of silver, with the wreaths of laurel in gold; and the Third Class entirely of silver. The decoration is suspended from a simple loop and bar from a dark-blue ribbon 1½ in. in width with red edges, bearing a gold or silver buckle according to class.
The Indian Order of Merit realises from £2 10_s._ to £8 8_s._ in the sale-room according to class and action for which it was awarded. It is noteworthy, however, that in June 1900 the following prices were paid in the auction-room: First Class, £58; Second Class, £40; and Third Class, £35. When the order is unnamed, as it was issued, and there is no record of the services for which it was earned, prices invariably range lower than these.
=Order of British India.=--This order was instituted at the same time as the Order of Merit, to reward native commissioned officers for long and faithful service in the Indian Army. Since 1878, however, any person, European or native, holding a commission in a native regiment, became eligible for admission to the Order without reference to creed or colour. The First Class consists of a gold eight-pointed radiated star 1½ in. in diameter. The centre is occupied by a lion statant gardant upon a ground of light-blue enamel, within a dark-blue band inscribed ORDER OF BRITISH INDIA, and encircled by two laurel wreaths of gold. A gold loop and ring are attached to the crown for suspension from a broad ornamental band ⁹⁄₁₀ in. in diameter, through which the ribbon, once blue, now red, is passed for suspension from the neck. The Second Class is 1⁷⁄₁₀ in. in diameter with dark-blue enamelled centre; there is no crown on this class, and the suspender is formed of an ornamental gold loop. The reverse is plain in both classes. The First Class carries with it the title Sirdar Bahadur, and an additional allowance of two rupees a day; and the second the title of Bahadur, and an extra allowance of one rupee per day.
=India Meritorious Service Medal.=--This was instituted on July 27th, 1888, and on receipt of the medal the order states "a non-commissioned officer must surrender his Long Service and Good Conduct medal"; but on being promoted to a commission he may retain the M.S. medal, but the annuity attached to it will cease. On the obverse is the diademed bust of Queen Victoria facing left, with a veil falling over the crown behind, encircled by the legend VICTORIA KAISAR-I-HIND. On the reverse is a wreath of lotus leaves enclosing a wreath of palm tied at the base, having a star beneath; between the two wreaths is the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. Within the palm wreath is the word INDIA. The medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, is suspended from a scroll by means of a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide.
The medals issued during the reigns of Queen Victoria's successors bear on the obverse their bust in profile with the legend altered to EDWARDVS or GEORGIVS. The Victoria medals have realised from £3 3_s._ to £4 10_s._, and those of King Edward £4 to £5.
=Egyptian Medal for Bravery.=--As a means of rewarding N.C.O.'s and men of the Egyptian Army who distinguish themselves on the field of battle, the Khedive Abbas II instituted in May 1913 the silver medal illustrated. It is 1⅞ in. in diameter and depends from a pale-blue ribbed ribbon and a suspender of the same pattern as the British Distinguished Conduct Medal. It bears on the obverse the cypher of Abbas Hilmi El Thani (Abbas II) and on the reverse in the upper half of the field FOR BRAVERY, and in the lower half in Arabic characters EL SHAHAMA, which is the equivalent of the English lettering above it.
=Distinguished Service Cross.=--As already explained on page 343, His Majesty King Edward VII instituted the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1901 to reward "distinguished service before the enemy" on the part of warrant or acting warrant officers and subordinate officers of His Majesty's Fleet who do not hold naval commissions. On October 14th, 1914, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty--being "of opinion that it would be desirable to enable the said Cross to be granted also to commissioned officers" of the Navy below the rank of Lieutenant-Commander "for meritorious or distinguished services in cases where those services may not be considered sufficient to warrant the appointment of such officers to the Distinguished Service Order"--memorialised His Majesty King George V, who graciously approved of the suggestion that the Cross be in future designated the Distinguished Service Cross with the right to the recipient to append the letters D.S.C. to his name. The Cross is identical with the Conspicuous Service Cross, illustrated on page 208, except in the change of the Royal Cypher, G.R.I. replacing E.R.I. on the obverse. The ribbon, from which the decoration is suspended is dark blue with a broad white stripe down the centre. The decoration, facing page 208, is made by Messrs. Garrard & Co.
=Naval Distinguished Service Medal.=--In response to a memorial from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, His Majesty King George V decided at the Court held at Buckingham Palace on October 14th, 1914, to institute a medal for courageous service in war by chief petty officers, petty officers, and men of His Majesty's Navy, and by non-commissioned officers and men of His Majesty's Corps of Royal Marines, and all other persons holding corresponding positions in His Majesty's Service afloat, in cases where the award of the Conspicuous Service Medal would be inappropriate (Her Majesty Queen Victoria having instituted it as an award for pre-eminent bravery in action with the enemy), the Distinguished Service Medal will be awarded to such men "as may at any time show themselves to the fore in action, and set an example of bravery and resource under fire without performing acts of such pre-eminent bravery as would render them eligible for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal."
The design of the Naval Distinguished Service Medal is the same as the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, except that the suspender is straight and the obverse bears the profile of His Majesty King George V and the reverse FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. The decoration is suspended by a dark-blue ribbon, 1¼ in. wide, with two broad white stripes down the centre divided by a thin dark-blue stripe. (See page 252 for squeezes, the medal not being struck at time of going to press.)
=The Military Cross.=--Following the institution of the Cross and medal above described, His Majesty King George V, by a Royal Warrant published as a supplement to the _London Gazette_ on December 31st, 1914, announced that he had instituted a new decoration to be known as The Military Cross for distinguished service in time of war. The decoration consists of a silver cross, having on each arm the Imperial Crown, and bearing in the centre the letters G.R.I. The Royal Warrant states that "No person shall be eligible for this decoration unless he is a captain, a commissioned officer of a lower grade, or a warrant officer in Our army, or Our Indian or Colonial Military Forces, and the Cross shall be awarded only to officers of the above ranks on recommendation by the Principal Secretary of State for War," and that "The Cross shall be worn immediately after all Orders and before all decorations and medals (the Victoria Cross alone excepted), and shall be worn on the left breast pendant from a riband 1⅜ in. in width which shall be in colour white with a purple stripe." The Cross does not carry with it any individual preference or entitle the recipient to use any letters after his name. The list of first recipients of the decoration was published the same day, included in the list being Lieutenant Dimmer, K.R.R.C., a ranker, who has also the distinction of winning the V.C. in the European War now waging.
LONG SERVICE MEDALS
MILITARY LONG SERVICE MEDALS
The institution of the Long Service and Good Conduct medal is due to an order of King William IV., who notified his intention to establish it in an Order to the Secretary of War on July 30th, 1830. In it His Majesty states that "discharged soldiers receiving a gratuity for meritorious conduct shall be entitled to wear a medal having on one side the words FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT, and on the other in relief the King's Arms, with the name and rank of the soldier, and the year, inscribed on the medal." Those entitled to the medal "must have completed twenty-one years of actual service in the Infantry, or twenty years in the Cavalry, never have been convicted by Court Martial, and must have borne an irreproachable character, or have particularly distinguished themselves in the service." The medal, designed by Pistrucci, was suspended from a dark-crimson ribbon by means of a steel bar attached to a steel clip which gripped the medal as on the Waterloo medal. This medal is sometimes found, however, with a ring through which the ribbon is passed. The name, rank, and regiment and the year of discharge were impressed in large capital Roman letters round the edge of the medal. On the accession of Queen Victoria the Arms of Hanover were omitted. About 1851 a silver scroll suspender replaced the steel clip, and in the new die the lettering on the reverse was cut smaller and the date was omitted. By a warrant dated January 16th, 1860, the grant of the medal was extended to non-commissioned officers on the permanent staff of the Militia. Since 1874 the names and rank of the recipients have been engraved on the edge of the medal. The earlier medals realise from 10_s._ to £1, and the later ones from 5_s._ to 7_s._ 6_d._ each, according to rank and condition.
=King Edward Long Service Medal.=--On the accession of King Edward VII., the obverse of the Military Long Service and Good Conduct medal was altered, and the effigy of King Edward, with the legend EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR substituted for the trophy of arms with the shield of Great Britain in the centre.
=King George's Long Service Medal.=--The same alteration has been made in this latest issue; the bust of H.M. King George V., takes the place of King Edward, and the legend being slightly altered so far as the name is concerned.
NAVAL LONG SERVICE MEDALS
=William IV Naval Long Service.=--King William IV instituted by Order in Council dated August 24th, 1831, a medal for Long Service and Good Conduct to men of the navy. It was at first granted for not less than twenty-one years' service; but this was subsequently reduced to twenty. It bears on the obverse an anchor surmounted by a crown, encircled by a wreath of oak leaves tied with a ribbon at the base. On the reverse is a blank space within a beaded circle in the centre for the recipient's name, rating, ship, and length of service, and running with the edge of the medal FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT. The medal, 1⁷⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, was issued with a silver ring passed through the medal, which was suspended from a narrow blue ribbon; but many of the recipients had a wire suspender made to take a broad ribbon for attachment to the breast. Only about 450 of these medals were issued. (See facing page 308.) They realise from £1 5_s._ to £2 2_s._ according to condition.
=Victorian Naval Long Service.=--On the accession of Queen Victoria a larger and thicker medal was instituted. It bears on the obverse the bust of Queen Victoria, as on the military medals, and on the reverse a line-of-battle ship at anchor, surrounded by a cable tied at the base in a reef knot, encircled by FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT. In the earlier medals the recipient's name, rank, etc., were engraved, and the medal bore on the obverse 1848--very few were issued thus--and the bar for suspension was nearly half as wide again, 1⅗ in. by 1⁷⁄₁₀ in., as those on the later medals. The later medals are mostly impressed in capital letters, and are suspended from a clasp which takes a 1¼ in. ribbon of blue with white edges. The earlier medals realise about 10_s._, and the later ones about 5_s._ to 6_s._
=India, 1859.=--The H.E.I. Co. issued a medal in 1859 to men of the old Indian Local European Service for "long service and good conduct"; but none were issued to the H.E.I. Co.'s navy! About 100 were issued to men in the three Presidencies before the mistake was discovered. The medal bears on the obverse the diademed head of Queen Victoria as generally used at this time on all war medals, and on the reverse FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT. Above the wording is a crown, and below an anchor surrounded by two oak branches. The medal, 1⅗ in. in diameter, was suspended by a red ribbon 1³⁄₁₀ in. wide by a scroll suspender. The names were impressed on the edges.
=Edward VII Naval Long Service.=--The obverse of this medal bears the bust of the King in Admiral's uniform, and the legend EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR, and the recipient's name, rank, and ship are impressed upon the edge. (See facing page 308.) The reverse is as that of the Victoria variety. It realises, according to condition and rank, 5_s._ to 10_s._
=George V Naval Long Service.=--The medal issued during the reign of our present Sovereign His Majesty King George V is in all respects the same as the above mentioned, except that his bust in Admiral's uniform adorns the obverse, and GEORGIVS takes the place of EDWARDVS. The recipients' names are indented in block capitals.
=Volunteer, Militia, and Territorial Medals.=--I also illustrate representative oval medals issued by King Edward and King George to the Militia, Territorials, and Special Reserve, for Long Service, Good Conduct and Efficiency. These are named in light skeleton block capitals. The Victoria Volunteer Officer's Long Service and the Edwardian Colonial and Auxiliary Forces Officer's Long Service Medals, illustrated facing page 240, were issued unnamed.
=Naval Best Shot.=--The fine medal illustrated facing page 296 was instituted by His late Majesty King Edward as a reward for excellence in Naval Gunnery, and although, like Volunteer Long Service Medals, it can hardly be classed among war medals, the importance of encouraging good gunnery has been well demonstrated in the war now in progress, where our gunners have made wonderful hits at a range of eight or more miles. The obverse of this medal bears the bust of King Edward in Admiral's uniform, as does also that of the Naval Reserve Medal facing page 224.
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I have not herein considered the large number of regimental medals, or those awarded by officers to their men for prowess in war or excellence of conduct in the ranks; these, together with the old Volunteer medals of the eighteenth century, are too numerous for adequate treatment in a volume such as this, and as I have restricted my pages to war medals of an official nature, only including those private ones which have great historical interest, I must leave the consideration of these to the time when I may find leisure to treat of them as they deserve.
I have endeavoured, while making my book helpful, to make it also interesting, for I am of opinion that those who do not generally take more than a mere handling interest in the things they sell lose more than half the interest which a business life affords, while those who simply take a pleasure in the mere possession of the things they collect fail to understand the true meaning and value of the collector's spirit.
HOW MEDALS ARE NAMED
I append a few sketches and notes which may be helpful, together with the facts I have given, to those who collect or sell the golden medallions, the bright discs of silver, or the intrinsically valueless but precious bronze crosses or stars which have adorned the breasts of the brave.
First let me state that any re-engraved medal is comparatively valueless, and that those who purchase high-priced medals should not trust to their own judgment, but employ the services of those experts and dealers who possess the necessary technical knowledge and have at their command the means of identification.
The names on the Waterloo medals were impressed with Roman capitals like ~ROBERTS~ or ~MURPHY~, so large that they left little margin between the edge of the medal and the top and bottom of the letters.
The Peninsular, or Military General Service, medal had the names indented in Roman capitals as follows: ~STEWARD~. The same type was used on the Naval General Service and the Army of India medals, also the Mutiny medal.
On the Afghan medal of 1842, for Candahar, Ghuznee, and Cabul, the same kind of Roman capitals were used, but sometimes rather larger and narrower, and the down-strokes somewhat lighter: these medals were not always impressed, and many were engraved in this style ~John~ and others in a light script.
The Punjab medals for 1849 were indented in the same style as the M.G.S. medal; but on many of the Sutlej medals the rather taller type of Roman capital was used.
The South Africa 1853 medals were named with the same letters as the M.G.S. medals.
On those of the Crimean medals which were returned for naming the same type was used, but the letters were rather more openly spaced. Some were also impressed in large and others in small skeleton Roman, so, ~MURRAY~, many were engraved in square Roman capitals, and others in upper and lower case upright block.
The India General Service medal, 1854, had the names mostly impressed with the same type as the M.G.S. medals up to Bhootan 1864-6; some, particularly naval medals, were named in a smaller kind of Roman capitals stamped closer together. The same type of Roman capital was likewise used on the New Zealand medals, while the China medals for 1857 and 1860, which were only named for the army, had the names indented in the same type. But the naming on the China medal for 1842 was very characteristic, and heavy Roman impressed capitals of a square nature, like ~DUNCAN~, were employed in the stamping, with three long stars to fill the gap on either side between the name and the lug of the suspender.
The Abyssinian medal is distinctive in its naming, the recipient's name and regiment being impressed in relief on the centre of the reverse, or, in the case of the Indian troops, in the same manner or struck incuse, while some are engraved.
The Canada General Service medal has the names indented in square block capitals, as ~BROCK~, or in caps and lower case, as ~Boston~. Some were engraved in square upright Roman capitals.
The home troops who received it had the regimental numbers impressed and not the territorial designations, as on the South African medals. The Naval medals were generally engraved in dwarfed Roman capitals.
The Ashantee medal for 1873-4 was engraved in this style, ~BUCHANAN, 42ND.~ with the date 1873-74, after the regiment, but on the 1892 medals, while the same style was used, it was engraved with thinner down-strokes and was smaller.
When the I.G.S. medals, 1854 type, were first issued the names were impressed similar to the M.G.S. medal; but those medals awarded to the navy and the army for Pegu have very small tall Roman capitals on the edge; for Perak the names are engraved in sloping Roman capitals like the Afghan medals described below; or like the medals for the rest of the campaigns with the exception of Jowaki, 1877-8, which by the way was the first campaign medal to have the date indicated on the bar, the names were generally engraved as ~P. Murphy~, and the same style of script, but very lightly engraved, as ~Edward~, was used to name the I.G.S. 1895 medal. This light and somewhat scratchy form of script was also employed in a very characteristic manner, to name the Punniar and Maharajpoor stars, and also some of the first Cabul medals, 1842.