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.
=Gold Medal for Trafalgar.=--As already stated, the gold medal
instituted by George III to reward the officers of Lord Howe's fleet
who took part in the action on "The Glorious" June 1st, 1794, was
afterwards awarded for all great naval victories, and among those who
received them were Nelson's officers--from post-captains upwards--who
took part in the battle of Trafalgar. The gold medal was awarded for
18 different actions, the last award being for the fight between
the "Endymion" frigate of 48 guns and the American 50-gun frigate
"President" on January 15th, 1815. See facing page 280 for smaller
type of medal as awarded to James (afterwards Right Hon. Admiral Lord
James) Gambier of the "Defence" for June 1st, 1794.
[Illustration: HORATIUS COUNT NELSON, K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE]
=Boulton's Trafalgar Medal.=--To commemorate the last and greatest of
Nelson's victories, Matthew Boulton, the partner of James Watt of the
famous Soho Works near Birmingham, decided to strike medals and present
one to each participant in the fight. The medal, 1⁹⁄₁₀ in. in diameter,
bears on the obverse a fine bust of Nelson, with the inscription
surrounding it HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON. K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE. On the
reverse the battle is represented _en cameo_, with the famous signal
on a ribbon running with the line of the medal, and in the exergue
TRAFALGAR OCT. 21 1805. On the edge of the medal is the inscription TO
THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M. BOULTON. The medal was struck in silver
for the senior officers, and in pewter for distribution among the
junior officers and seamen. The intrinsic value of the medal did not,
however, appeal to many of the recipients of the pewter variety, and
they either refused them or threw them overboard. Those who retained
them wore them suspended from a blue ribbon. A few were struck in
bronze as proofs.
=Davison's Trafalgar Medal.=--This medal, generally supposed to have
been struck at the instance of Mr. Alexander Davison for distribution
among the surviving members of the crew of the "Victory," has on the
obverse a shield bearing the arms of Nelson, encircled by a garter
inscribed TRIA · JUNCTO · IN · UNO · ensigned by a bust of Viscount
Nelson, with a laurel branch to the left, and a palm branch to the
right, and on a scroll beneath the shield PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT and
the double inscription ADMIRAL LORD NELSON D. OF BRONTE NATUS SEP. 29TH
1758. HOSTE DEVICTO REQUIEVIT OCT. 21ST 1805 and ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY
MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY. On the reverse is a man-of-war with sails furled,
and above THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR. EXODUS C 15 V 3, whilst below is
VICTORY OFF TRAFALGAR OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE & SPAIN OCT
21 1805. Beneath the man-of-war is ~HALLIDAY FECIT~. The medals, 2 in.
in diameter, were struck in pewter or white metal, and were sometimes
framed by the recipients in gold, silver, or gilt metal rims, with a
loop for suspension from a blue ribbon.
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