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.
=Commonwealth Naval Medals.=--Although I have stated that the Dunbar
medal was the first campaign medal to be distributed to military
officers and men of all ranks, the Navy holds the distinction of being
the first to be honoured in this way, for in June 1649 it was decided
to issue rewards to the officers and men who had "done good service
at sea." The medal, designed by Thomas Simon, has on the obverse the
Parliament in session, and on the reverse two distinctive cartouches,
depending from the stock of an anchor. The one to the left bears the
St. George's Cross for England, and that on the right the Harp for
Ireland; a rope attached to the anchor is disposed so as to form a
decorative surrounding by the arrangement of three twists; above is the
word MERUISTI. On the stock of the anchor are the medallist's initials
T. S. An order of the Council of State records that Simon was granted
the use of the press in the Tower of London on condition that he did
not use it for any other purpose than that of striking these medals,
and he had to enter into a surety for £500 that he would "make no
unlawful use of the presse."
=Wyard Medal.=--Robert Wyard of the "Adventure," with 22 guns, was
on the night of July 31st, 1650, bold enough to engage six royalist
frigates, and after fighting a whole day made them sheer off. Wyard
received a gold medal, which I illustrate, valued at £50, and his
officers and men medals varying in value from £5 to 10_s._ The obverse
of the medal is as that above described. The reverse shows the
"Adventure" engaging two of the royalist frigates with the other ships
in the distance. Above is the inscription SERVICE ◆ DON ◆ AGAINST ◆ SIX
◆ SHIPS ◆ IVLY ◆ Y ◆ XXXI ◆ & AVGVST ◆ Y ◆ 1 ◆ 1650. The medal is oval,
1·6 in. by 1·35 in., and was struck in gold and silver. (See facing
page 270.)
THE DUTCH WARS
For the victories over the Dutch some fine medals were struck. Probably
the most interesting is the gold medal awarded to the Admirals who
participated in the war and in the decisive battle fought on July 31st,
1653.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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