Part 2

=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."