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.
=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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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