The deeds of the "Pearl" and "Shannon" Brigades during the Indian Mutiny have always impressed students of the war, and collectors have invariably been found willing to pay relatively high prices for medals without a bar if awarded to a man of the "Pearl" Brigade of 250 men, because of the splendid work they did in no less than twenty engagements. The "Shannon" Brigade was composed of 410 seamen and marines from that vessel, under the command of Captain W. Peel, who landed with six 68-pounders--which were employed for the first time as field pieces--eight 24-pounders, a battery of 8 rockets, and 2 howitzers, also some of the crew of the "Pearl," together with 120 sailors recruited from merchant ships. At Allahabad part of the "Shannon's" company was left to garrison the place, the rest marching to Cawnpore. Near Futtehgur 100 men of the naval brigade, co-operating with 450 soldiers, defeated a force of 4,000 mutineers and captured 2 guns. In November the brigade was attacking and assisting in the capture of the Martinière, and later breached the walls of the Secundrabagh and Shah Nujeef at Lucknow. In this daring work Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral Sir) M. Salmon and three of his men won the V.C. In January the brigade took part in the battle of Kallee Nudee, and in March 1858 was again at Lucknow storming the Dilkoosha and breaching the Martinière, where Captain Peel was wounded. He died on March 27th from an attack of smallpox, just when his gallantry had earned for him a knighthood. With the capture of Lucknow the work of the "Shannon" brigade was finished, and on September 15th she sailed for home. Five hundred and thirty medals were issued to men of the "Shannon" and 232 to men of the "Pearl." Three hundred Europeans of the Indian Marine also received the medals without bars; this medal was generally inscribed INDIAN NAVAL BRIGADE. =Persia, 1857.=--The crews of the following ships of the Indian Navy received the medal with bar for PERSIA: "Ajdaha," "Assyria," "Assaye," "Berenice," "Clive," "Comet," "Constance," "Euphrates," "Falkland," "Ferooz," "Hugh Lindsay," "Lady Falkland," "Napier," "Nitocris," "Planet," "Punjab," "Semiramis," "Victoria." =New Zealand.=--I have already described at some length the extended operations in New Zealand between 1845 and 1866. In these operations the navy on many occasions took an important part, particularly the crew of H.M.S. "Hazard" at the beginning of the war in 1845. The ships' crews engaged in 1845-7 were H.M.S. "Hazard," "North Star," "Castor," "Elphinstone," "Racehorse," "Osprey." =New Zealand, 1845-6-7.=--The ships engaged during this period were H.M.S. "Castor," "Calliope," "Driver," "Elphinstone," H.E.I. Co.'s "Hazard," "Inflexible," "North Star," "Osprey," and "Racehorse."