War Medals and Their HistorySteward, William Augustus
History
War Medals and Their History
Steward, William Augustus
Great Britain. Army -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.; Great Britain. Royal Navy -- Medals, badges, decorations, etc.
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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