“His Highness considers that the success of the construction of this bridge is in great measure attributable to their well-planned dispositions, which, although executed with limited means, proved fully effective to resist the storms and strong currents of the Danube.[167] “He desires me to say that he is fully satisfied with the zeal and energy of this detachment of Her Majesty’s fleet under the able direction of Lieutenant Glyn, whom he considers a very promising officer, and entirely worthy of the confidence of your Lordship. “His Highness desires me to add, that it would be very gratifying to him if Her Majesty could in any way reward these officers for the able services they have rendered to the Ottoman army and the common cause. “I am, &c. (Signed) “J. L. A. SIMMONS, “Field-Marshal Lord Raglan, G.C.B., &c. Lieut.-Colonel.” This encomiastic testimonial was apparently insufficient to mark the appreciation of their military services, and decorations were added to commemorate the campaign. In the brigade orders of the 23rd July, 1855, the Sultan’s gift was thus alluded to:—“The Turkish government having awarded a certain number of medals to the officers of royal engineers and the royal sappers and miners who were engaged in the campaign of 1854 on the Danube, the Major-General commanding has much pleasure in publishing the following extract from a letter addressed by his Highness Omar Pasha to Lieut.-Colonel Simmons, Her Majesty’s Commissioner with the Turkish forces.” “I beg you will distribute these medals amongst the officers and men according to the accompanying list, as a mark of the great satisfaction my Sovereign has always experienced from the manner in which they conducted themselves whilst sharing the dangers and fatigues of the campaign of 1854 against our common enemy.” The non-commissioned officers and men who received the medals were— Colour-sergeant John F. Read. Corporal James Curgenven. ” James Cray. ” Joseph J. Stanton. 2nd corporal Robert M. Rylatt. Lance-corporal Michael Westacott. Private John Boyles. ” John Bramley. ” John Doran. ” William Henderson. ” Alexander McCaughey. ” William Morrison. ” George Scown. ” William Allen. ” James Bland. ” John Piper. These sixteen sappers were the only British soldiers honoured with the distinction.