Chapter XII: Part 12

=Davison's Medal for the Nile.=--As a souvenir of this historic sea-fight Mr. Alexander Davison, Lord Nelson's prize agent, presented to every officer and seaman of Nelson's fleet a medal; gold to captains and lieutenants, silver to warrant officers, bronze gilt to petty officers, bronze to seamen and marines. The medal, which is 1¹⁷⁄₂₀ in. in diameter, is illustrated facing page 288. Upon the edge is impressed FROM ALEXANDER DAVISON ESQ., ST. JAMES SQUARE, A TRIBUTE OF REGARD. The medals were issued unnamed, but many had their names and the name of their ship also engraved above the sky-line on the reverse. The medals, modelled by C. H. Kuchler, were highly prized by all who received them, from Nelson--who wrote very gratefully to Davison--to the seamen, many of whom had the medals mounted in gold or silver frames and wore them suspended from a broad blue ribbon. This is the first instance of a medal given by a private individual being accepted and worn in the Service.

=Copenhagen.=--This battle, fought on April 2nd, 1801, will long be remembered for the gallant conduct of Nelson, who, when Admiral Sir Hyde Parker signalled "leave off action," placed his glass to his blind eye and saying, "I really do not see the signal!" ordered his own signal for close action to be kept flying. Had it not have been for this daring disregard of orders, Copenhagen would have been among the failures of our navy, instead of one of its most glorious victories, for it was one of the most stubborn fights on record. For five hours Britons and Danes fought with equal courage and determination. For five hours they fought with equal success, and it was only through the pertinacity of Nelson that the fortune of war fell to Britain. This battle has a double significance, for not only did Nelson prove his great capacity as a seaman, but also gave further evidence of his humane character; for when the stubborn spirit of the Danes was likely to lead to useless bloodshed he appealed "to the brothers of Englishmen--the Danes," to recognise the fact that they were beaten, and so prevent unnecessary carnage.

It was an action which he knew would be misunderstood and misrepresented, but he did not falter. Fortunately his message was received by the Crown Prince in the spirit in which it was sent, and the battle of Copenhagen, "the most terrible of all" his engagements, was added to the laurels of the immortal and gentle Nelson, although because Nelson requested the cessation of hostilities, the Danes regarded it as a drawn battle.

The following ships were engaged: "Elephant," (Vice-Admiral Nelson's flagship), "Defiance," "Edgar," "Monarch," "Bellona," "Ganges," "Russell," "Agamemnon," "Ardent," "Polyphemus," "Glatton," "Isis," "Amazon," "Alcméne," "Blanche," "Désirée," "Jamaica," sloops "Arrow," "Dart," "Cruiser," and "Harpy," bomb vessels "Discovery," "Explosion," "Hecla," "Sulphur," "Terror," "Volcano," and "Zebra," and the brigs "Otter" and "Zephyr."

=Trafalgar.=--Napoleon having placed the crown of Italy upon his head (May 6th, 1805), within a fortnight declared Genoa and the Ligurian Republic part of the French Empire. He then had hopes that Admiral De Villeneuve would successfully escort the "Army of England," then encamped at Boulogne, across the Channel. His plans were, however, frustrated by the engagement forced upon Villeneuve by Admiral Sir Robert Calder off Ferrol, while Napoleon, charging his Admiral with cowardice, caused him to leave the harbour of Cadiz on October 19th, 1805, and the epoch-making battle off Cape Trafalgar was the result. Owing to light winds, Villeneuve did not make the Atlantic until the next day, and then his combined fleet of 33 French and Spanish ships of the line, 5 French frigates, and 2 brigs, were sighted off Cape Trafalgar by Nelson's look-out ships. It was not until next day, however, that the fleets formed in battle array. At 6.30 a.m. the British ships cleared for action. The English fleet comprised 27 sail of the line, 4 frigates, a cutter and a schooner. Lord Nelson led the Weather or Northern Division in his flagship the "Victory," while Vice-Admiral Collingwood led the Lee or Southern Division. Just before noon the famous signal "England expects every man to do his duty" was run up, and the battle began. "Engage the enemy more closely" was the only other signal given by the British Admiral, and that was when the enemy's ship "Fougueux" had opened fire upon the "Royal Sovereign"; then followed a series of contests between the French and British ships, which reflect the greatest credit upon the seamen of both nations.

Nelson, being desirous of engaging the French Admiral's flagship, came upon the "Bucentaure" at 12.30 p.m., when she fired upon the British flagship, but, unheedful of the shot from this and seven other ships, the "Victory" ploughed her way ahead in order to break the enemy's line. For three-quarters of an hour her guns refused to bark, though her men were falling fast from the shots which broke through her sides, and tore her sails to shreds; but at 1 o'clock the "Victory" closely engaged the "Bucentaure," and so well were the British shots placed that 20 of the enemy's guns were soon dismounted and, according to a French estimate, 400 seamen were killed. Leaving the "Bucentaure" the "Victory" engaged the "Redoubtable" at ten minutes past 1, and the rigging of the two ships fouling, they were locked in a deadly embrace. Then the crews of the two vessels fought with exceeding gallantry, for both were led by brave men, and the "Redoubtable's" captain cheered his men on to board the "Victory"; indeed, he lowered his main-yard on to the "Victory's" deck, and his men made a brave effort to capture her, but those daring Frenchmen who gained her decks paid for their effort with their lives; not, however, before they had placed 30 of the "Victory's" crew _hors de combat_.

=Death of Nelson.=--Meanwhile, one of the sharpshooters in the mizzen-top of the "Redoubtable" had given Viscount Nelson his death wound. At half-past one the fatal bullet passed through his shoulder and spine, but Britain's greatest admiral lived long enough to learn that the victory was his, and he died at 4.30 p.m. satisfied that he had done his duty. By 5.30 p.m. 18 of the enemy's ships had struck their colours, and the survivors of the fight were making the best of their way to Cadiz, but a gale coming on, the British fleet with its prizes stood out to sea, where some of the prizes foundered with their crews; others were driven ashore and wrecked, while four were retaken by the enemy, so that by the time the triumphant fleet sailed into Gibraltar Bay it only retained 4 prizes. The victory of Trafalgar had, however, made Britain indisputable mistress of the seas, destroyed the sea power of France and Spain, and, while it added to the laurels of British seamen, gave to Nelson a glorious death and secured for him a resting-place in Westminster Abbey.

The following ships were engaged in the battle: "Victory," "Royal Sovereign," "Temeraire," "Britannia," "Conqueror," "Neptune," "Agamemnon," "Leviathan," "Ajax," "Africa," "Minotaur," "Orion," "Belleisle," "Mars," "Thunderer," "Spartiate," "Bellerophon," "Achille," "Colossus," "Polyphemus," "Revenge," "Dreadnought," "Swiftsure," "Defence," "Defiance," "Prince" and "Tonnant." "Naiad," "Sirius," "Euryalus" and "Phœbe" frigates. The cutter "Entreprenaute" and the schooner "Pickle."

=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.

=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.

=The Official Medal.=--It was not until June 1st, 1847, that it was made known by a General Order that Her Majesty Queen Victoria had commanded that a medal should be struck, not only to commemorate the battle of Trafalgar, but to recognise the services rendered by her fleets and armies from 1793 to 1815. The medal was ready for distribution in January 1849, and later the naval services for which it might be awarded were extended to 1840. The admitted claims totalled 20,900.

NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL.]

NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL.]

=The Naval General Service Medal.=--Two hundred and thirty bars were issued with the medal, which bore upon the obverse the bust of Queen Victoria, as on the Military General Service medal, and the legend VICTORIA REGINA, with the date +1848+ below, and on the reverse a figure of Britannia seated upon a sea-horse holding in her right hand a trident, and in the left an olive branch. The medal, by Wyon, is suspended by a straight clasp from a white ribbon with blue edges, and the recipient's name is impressed upon the edge of the medal in Roman capitals of the same character as those used for the M.G.S. medal. Officers and warrant officers only had their rank described, and in the arrangement of the bars the first action was placed nearest the medal. Although so many bars were issued with the medal, six is the most awarded to any one man. Dr. Payne has in his collection two with five bars; one awarded to Thos. Hewitt, midshipman, for 1 JUNE 1794--12 OCTR 1798--4 FEB BOAT SERVICE 1804--CENTAUR 26 AUGT 180'--ALGIERS, and another awarded to Capt. (afterwards Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas) Ussher, Kt., C.B., K.C.H., illustrated facing page 284, which also includes 1 JUNE 1794--REDWING 7 MAY 1808--REDWING 31ST MAY 1808--MAGALA 29TH APRIL 1812--2 MAY BOAT SERVICE 1813. This is a particularly rare set of bars, for only seven of the second were issued, five of the third, seven of the fourth, and forty-nine of the fifth.

BARS GRANTED WITH THE NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH THE NAMES OF THE ACTIONS THEREON

NYMPH, 18 June 1793. 4 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Cleopatre." Captain E. Pellew, who commanded the "Nymph," was
knighted.

CRESCENT, 20 Oct. 1793. 12 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Reunion," which was added to the British Navy under the same
name.

ZEBRA, 7 March 1794. 2 issued. Running the "Zebra" sloop alongside
the bastion of Fort Royal at Martinique, and storming and
capturing the fort.

CARYSFORT, 29 May 1794. None issued. Recapture of the "Caster."

1 June 1794 ("The Glorious First of June"). 576 issued. Defeat of
the French fleet by Lord Howe, capture of 6 sail of the line and
1 sunk. 58 vessels (for list of principal vessels engaged see
page 279).

ROMENY, 17 June 1794. 2 issued. Capture of French frigate "Sybille."

BLANCHE, 4 Jan. 1795. 5 issued. At the end of the conflict she had
a crew of 190. Capture of the French frigate "Pique."

LIVELY, 13 March 1795. 3 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Tourterelle."

14 March 1795. 111 issued. Action with French fleet, and capture
of 2 sail of the line. 22 vessels under Vice-Admiral Hotham were
engaged.

ASTRÆA, 10 April 1795. 2 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Gloire."

{ Action with four
THETIS, 17 May 1795. 3 issued. { French ships, and
{ capture of "La
HUSSAR, 17 May 1795. 1 issued. { Raison" and
{ "Prevoyante."

MOSQUITO, 9 June 1795. None issued. This was not due to delay in
issuing medals, but to the loss of the captain and crew of the
"Mosquito" soon after. Action with, and capture of, privateer.

17 June 1795. 38 issued. Brilliant repulse by Vice-Admiral
Cornwallis, of a fleet four times superior in force. 7 vessels
engaged.

23 June 1795. 201 issued. Action under Admiral Lord Bridport with
French fleet, and capture of 3 sail of the line; the "Formidable"
became the British ship "Belleisle" and the "Tigre" was also
added under its own name. The "Alexander" was a recapture. 29
vessels engaged.

DIDO, 23 June 1795. 1 only } Action with the French
issued. } frigates "Minerve"
LOWESTOFFE, 24 June 1795. } and "Artemise," and
6 issued. } capture of the former.

SPIDER, 25 Aug. 1795. 1 only issued. Action with 2 French brigs,
and capture of 1. This medal realised £33 at the Gaskill sale.

PORT SPERGUI, 17 March 1796. 4 issued to survivors of the
"Diamond," "Liberty," and "Aristocrat." Destroying the batteries
at Port Spergui, and destroying the corvette "Etourdie," 4 brigs,
2 sloops, and 1 lugger.

INDEFATIGABLE, 20 April 1796. 6 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Virginia," in the English Channel.

{ Action with the three
{ French frigates "La
UNICORN, 8 June 1796. 4 { Tribune," "La Tamise,"
issued. { (formerly the British ship
SANTA MARGARITA, 8 June { "Thames") and "La
1796. 3 issued. { Legere," and capture of
{ the two former. Captain
{ William of the "Unicorn"
{ was knighted.

SOUTHAMPTON, 9 June 1796. 4 issued. Capture of French corvette
"Utile."

DRYAD, 13 June 1796. 7 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Proserpine," which became H.M.S. "Amelia."

TERPSICHORE, 13 Oct. 1796. 3 issued. Capture of the Spanish frigate
"Mahonesa."

LAPWING, 8 Dec. 1796. 2 issued. Action with French ship "Décieux"
and brig "Vaillante," and capture of the former. 1 medal sold for
£21 on July 24th, 1914.

MINERVA, 19 Dec. 1796. 5 { Capture of Spanish frigate
issued. { "Santa Sabina" by the
BLANCHE, 19 Dec. 1796. 2 { "Minerve," and action
issued. { between "Blanche"
{ and "Ceres."

{ Destruction of French
INDEFATIGABLE, 13 Jan. 1797. { "74," "Droits de
8 issued. { L'Homme," off the
AMAZON, 13 Jan. 1797. 6 { coast of France. The
issued. { "Amazon" went
{ ashore and her crew
{ were made prisoners.

ST. VINCENT, 14 Feb. 1797. 363 issued. Action with the Spanish
fleet, and capture of 4 sail of the line. 23 ships engaged (for
list see page 283).

SAN FIORENZO, 8 March 1797. 7 issued. Capture of "Resistance" and
"Constance." The first named became the "Fisgard."

NYMPHE, 8 March 1797. 6 issued.

CAMPERDOWN, 11 Oct. 1797. 332 issued. Battle of Camperdown, when
Admiral Duncan defeated the Dutch fleet. 25 vessels engaged (for
list see page 283).

PHŒBE, 21 Dec. 1797. 7 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Néréide," which was added to the British Navy under the same
name.

MARS, 21 April 1798. 26 issued. Capture of French 74, "L'Hercule."
In this severe action the "Mars" lost her captain, Alexander Hood.

ISLE ST. MARCOU, 6 May 1798. 3 issued. Action at the Island of
Marcou. 2 boats engaged.

LION, 15 July 1798. 21 issued. Action with 4 Spanish frigates and
capture of the "Santa Dorotea," which was added to the British
Navy under the same name.

NILE, 1 Aug. 1798. 351 issued. Battle of the Nile. 15 ships engaged
(for list see page 286).

ESPOIR, 7 Aug. 1798. 1 issued. Action with and capture of a Genoese
pirate, the "La Guria."

12 Oct. 1798. 81 issued. Action under Sir J. B. Warren with a
French squadron, and capture of the "Hoche" "74"--which became
the "Donegal"--and 2 frigates. 8 ships engaged.

FISGARD II, 20 Oct. 1799. 9 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"L'Immortalite."

SYBILLE, 28 Feb. 1799. 12 issued. Capture of the French frigate "La
Forte," after a stern fight in which a detachment of the Scotch
Brigade which was on board the "Sybille" took part.

TELEGRAPH, 18 March 1799. None issued. Capture of "L'Hirondelle II."

ACRE, 30 May 1799. 42 issued. The record on the bar for this affair
is ACRE, 30 MAY 1799; but as the French raised the siege on May
20th, and Bonaparte retreated leaving 23 cannon, the bar is
wrongly inscribed, but it is nevertheless official. The bar was
awarded to those who assisted the Turkish fleet to defend "Acre"
from the French attack, the ships taking part under Commodore Sir
Henry Smith being the "Theseus," "Tigre," and "Alliance."

SCHIERMONIKOOG, 12 Aug. 1799. 10 issued.

ARROW, 13 Sept. 1799. 2 issued. Action and capture of "Draak" and
"Gier." 2 vessels. The other boat was the "Wolverine," but no bar
was issued for that.

SURPRISE with HERMIONE, 25 Oct., 1799. 7 issued. Boarding and
recapturing the "Hermione." For this dashing exploit Captain
Hamilton was knighted.

SPEEDY, 6 Nov. 1799. 3 issued. Action with 10 Spanish gunboats and
2 schooners, and successful defence of convoy.

COURIER, 22 Nov. 1799. 3 issued. Action with and capture of the
"Guerrier."

VIPER, 26 Dec. 1799. 2 issued. Capture of French brig "Furet."

FAIRY, 5 Feb. 1800. 4 } Action with and capture
issued. } of the French frigate
} "Pallas," which became
HARPY, 5 Feb. 1800. 4 } H.M.S. "Pique."
issued. }

PETEREL, 21 March 1800. 2 issued. Capture of "La Ligurienne."

{ Night action with "Guillaume
{ Tell"; the "Lion"
{ and "Foudroyant" were
PENELOPE, 30 March 1800. { also engaged and actually
11 issued. { captured the vessel, which
{ was added to the British
VINCIEGO, 30 March 1800. { Navy as H.M.S. "Malta,"
2 issued. { but no award was made
{ to the surviving crews of
{ these ships.

DESIRÉE, 8 July 1800. 23 issued. Boarding and capturing the French
frigate "Desirée," and other French vessels. 18 vessels engaged.

SEINE, 20 Aug. 1800. 9 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Vengeance," between Porto Rico and San Domingo.

PHŒBE, 19 Feb. 1801. 7 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Africaine," which became H.M.S. "Amelia."

EGYPT. 626 issued for services on Coast of Egypt. 117 vessels were
engaged.

COPENHAGEN, 1801. 589 issued. 38 vessels engaged.

SPEEDY, 6 May. 7 issued. Capture of the "Gamo."

GUT OF GIBRALTAR, 12 July 1801. 152 issued. 10 ships engaged.
Action with the French squadrons in the "Gut of Gibraltar," and
destruction of 2 Spanish ships of 122 guns each, and capture of
the "St. Antonio" "74." For his services as commander of the
British squadron Sir J. Saumarez was made a K.C.B. and given a
pension of £1,200 a year.

SYLPH, 28 Sept. 1801. 2 issued. Action with the "Artemise."

PASLEY, 28 Oct. 1801. 3 issued. Capture of the Spanish ship
"Virgen del Rosatio."

SCORPION, 31 March 1804. }
1 issued. } Action with and capture
BEAVER, 31 March 1804. } of vessels in the Ville
None issued. } road.

CENTURION, 18 Sept. 1804. 11 issued. Action with the line-of-battle
ship "Marengo," and frigates "Atalante" and "Semillante."

ARROW, 3 Feb. 1805. 8 } For the protection of 28
issued. } British merchant ships,
ACHERON, 3 Feb. 1805. 2 } when attacked by 2
issued. } French frigates.

SAN FIORENZO, 14 Feb. 1805. 11 issued. Capture of the French
frigate "Psyche."

PHŒNIX, 10 Aug. 1805. 25 issued. Capture of French frigate "Didon."
The vessel became H.M.S. "Didon."

TRAFALGAR. 1,710 issued. 33 vessels engaged (see page 290).

4 Nov. 1805. 298 issued. 8 vessels engaged. Capture of 4 sail of
French line-of-battle ships.

ST. DOMINGO. 410 issued. Battle of "St. Domingo," and capture and
destruction of 4 sail of the line. 11 vessels were engaged.

AMAZON, 13 March 1806. 27 issued. { Capture of " Marengo"
{ and
LONDON, 13 March 1806. 28 issued. { "Belle Poule."

PIQUE, 26 March 1806. 7 issued. Capture of the French brigs "Phæton
" and "Voltigeur."

SIRIUS, 17 April 1806. 12 issued. Action with French flotilla at
Civita Vecchia, and capture of the "Bergere."

BLANCHE, 19 July 1806. 22 issued. Capture of the "Guerrière." For
this deed Captain Lavie was knighted.

ARETHUSA, 23 Aug. 1806. } Capture of Spanish frigate
6 issued. } "Pomone."
ANSON, 23 Aug. 1806. }

CURAÇOA, 1 Jan. 1807. Taking of Curaçoa. 4 vessels
engaged--"Arson," "Arethusa," "Fisgard," and "Latona."

PICKLE, 3 Jan. 1807. 1 issued. Capture of the French privateer "La
Favorite."

HYDRA, 6 Aug. 1807. 10 issued. In the harbour of Bergur, attack of
batteries, and capture of "L'Eugene," "Rosario," and "Caroline."

COMUS, 15 Aug. 1807. 10 issued. Capture of the Danish frigate
"Frederickscoarn."

LOUISA, 28 Oct. 1807. 1 issued. Action with and defeat of a French
privateer.

CARRIER, 4 Nov. 1807. 1 issued. Capture of the French cutter
"L'Actif."

ANN, 24 Nov. 1807. None issued. Action with 10 Spanish gunboats.

SAPPHO, 2 March 1808. 5 issued. Capture of the Danish brig "Admiral
Yawl."

SAN FIORENZO, 8 March 1808. 16 issued. Capture of the French
frigate "Piedmontaise." The British commander, Captain Hardinge,
was killed, and a monument to his memory erected in St Paul's
Cathedral at the public expense.

EMERALD, 13 March 1808. 12 issued. Destruction of the batteries at
Vivero and war vessels.

CHILDERS, 14 March 1808. 4 issued. Captain Wilson and a crew of 65
participated in this affair. Action with the Danish brig "Lougen."

NASSAU, 22 March 1808. } Destruction of Danish line-of-battle
37 issued. } ship "Prince
} Christian Frederic." 2
STATELY, 22 March 1808. } ships engaged.
25 issued. }

OFF ROTA, 4 April 1808. 20 issued. Fight with gunboats and convoy.
"Alceste," "Mercury," and "Grasshopper" engaged.

GRASSHOPPER, 24 April } Action with and destruction
1808. 1 issued. } of Spanish ships and gunboats
} at Faro. 2 vessels
RAPID, 24 April 1808. 1 } engaged.
issued. }

REDWING, 7 May 1808. 7 issued. Action with Spanish gunboats and
destroying them.

VIRGINIE, 19 May 1808. 21 issued. Capture of Dutch frigate
"Guelderland."

REDWING, 31 May 1808. 5 issued. Destroying Tarifa Battery near Cape
Trafalgar, and taking 2 vessels.

SEAHORSE WH BANDERE LA ZAFFERE, 6 July 1808. 35 issued. Capture of
the Turkish frigate "Badere Zaffer."

COMET, 11 Aug. 1808. 5 issued. Action with three French brigs, and
capture of the "Sylphe." This became H.M.S. "Seagull."

CENTAUR, 26 Aug. 1808. }
38 issued. } Fight with Russian fleet
} and capture of 74-gun
IMPLACABLE, 26 Aug. 1808. } ship "Sewolod."
45 issued. }

CRUIZER, 1 Nov. 1808. 4 issued. Action with Danish flotilla off
Gottenburgh and capture of brig-of-war.

AMETHYST with THETIS, 10 Nov. 37 issued. Capture of French frigate
"Thetis" by Captain Seymour, who was knighted for his prowess.

OFF THE PEARL ROCK, 13 Dec. 1808. Action with batteries and French
boats. 6 vessels engaged.

ONYX, 1 Jan. 1809. 6 issued. Recapture from Dutch of the brig
"Manly."

CONFIANCE, 14 Jan. 1809. 8 issued. Taking of Cayenne.

MARTINIQUE. 523 issued. Capture of Martinique. 43 vessels engaged.

HORATIO, 10 Feb. 1809. { Capture of the French
14 issued. { frigate "Junon," which
{ was added to the British
SUPÉRIÉURE, 10 Feb. 1809. { Navy under the same
2 issued. { name.

AMETHYST, 5 April. 28 issued. Capture of French frigate "Niemen."

12 April. 646 issued. Fight with French squadron and destruction of
ships in Basque Road. 35 ships engaged.

POMPÉE, 17 June 1809. 17 { Chase and capture of French
issued. { ship of the line "Hautpoult"
{ which became
CASTOR, 17 June 1809. 4 { H.M.S. "Abercromby."
issued. { 3 vessels engaged. This
{ action took place on
RECRUIT, 17 June 1809. 3 { April 17 and not as stated
issued. { on the bars.

CYANE, 25 and 27 June { Action with "Ceres," and
1809. 5 issued. { capture of 18 gunboats,
{ and destruction of 4.
L'ESPOIR, 25 and 27 June { Captain Staines, commander
1809. 5 issued. { of the "Cyane,"
{ was knighted.

BONNE CITOYENNE with FURIEUSE. 12 issued. Capture of French frigate
"La Furieuse," July 6th, 1809. Captain Mounsey received the Naval
Gold Medal for this exploit, as already explained.

DIANA, 11 Sept. 1809. 3 issued. Capture of Dutch brig "Zephyr."

ANSE-LE-BARQUE, 18 Dec. 1809. 42 issued. Storming batteries of
Anse-le-barque, and capture of "Loire" and "Seine" frigates. 9
vessels engaged.

CHEROKEE, 10 Jan. 1810. 4 issued. Capture of the French lugger
"L'Aimable Nelly."

SCORPION, 12 Jan. 1810. 12 issued. Capture of the French brig
"L'Oreste."

GUADALOUPE. 509 issued. Capture of Guadaloupe, January and February
1810. 50 vessels engaged.

THISTLE, 10 Feb. 1810. None issued. Capture of the Dutch corvette
"Havik."

SURLY, 24 April 1810. 1 }
issued. } Capture of the French
} privateer "Alcide."
FIRM, 24 April 1810. 1 }
issued. }

SYLVIA, 26 April 1810. 1 issued. Capture of the Dutch brig "Echo,"
in the Straits of Sunda.

SPARTAN, 2 May 1810. 32 issued. Action with the French frigate
"Ceres," and consorts, and capture of the corvette "Sparviéve."

ROYALIST, May and June 1810. 3 issued. Action in the Channel with
and capture of 6 armed French ships.

AMANTHEA, 25 July. 29 issued. Action with gunboats, and capture
and destruction of a number of transports at Amanthea. "Thames,"
"Pilot," "Weasel" engaged.

BANDA NEIRA. 69 issued. Capture of the Island of "Banda Neira," 9
Aug. 1810. 3 boats engaged.

{ Action with French squadron
BOADICEA, 18 Sept. 1810. { and capture of the French
16 issued. { frigate "Venus" and recapture
{ of the British
OTTER, 18 Sept. 1810. { frigate "Ceylon." "Boadicea,"
8 issued. { "Otter," and
{ "Staunch" engaged. The
STAUNCH, 18 Sept. 1810. { "Venus" was added to
2 issued. { the British Navy as the
{ "Néréide."

BRISEIS, 14 Oct. 1810. 2 issued. Capture of the French privateer
"Sans-Souci."

LISSA. 130 issued. Action with French squadron and capture of
frigates off Lissa, March 13th, 1811. 4 vessels engaged.

ANHOLT, 27 March 1811. 40 issued. Action in defence of Anholt
Island when attacked by Danes.

ARROW, 6 April 1811. None issued. Action with "Chassemarées" and
batteries off the French coast.

OFF TAMATAVE, 20 May 1811. 79 issued. Action with French frigates
and capture of "Renommée" and "Néréide"; the vessels became
H.M.S. "Java" and "Madagascar." "Astree," "Galatea," "Phœbe," and
"Racehorse" engaged.

HAWKE, 18 Aug. 1811. 6 issued. Capture of the 16-gun French brig
"Heron" and convoy.

JAVA, 715 issued. Capture of Java, August and September 1811. 25
vessels engaged.

SKYLARK, 11 Nov. 1811. } Action with Boulogne flotilla
2 issued. } of 12 gun-brigs and capture
} of 1.
LOCUST, 11 Nov. 1811. }
2 issued. }

PELAGOSA, 29 Nov. 1811. 64 issued. Action with French frigates
"Pauline" and "Pomone" and capture of same. "Alceste," "Active,"
and "Unitie" engaged.

{ Capture of the French "74"
{ "Rivoli," February 22nd,
{ 1812. The "Victorious"
{ lost 27 killed and 99
VICTORIOUS with RIVOLI. { wounded, but the "Weasel"
WEASEL, 22 Feb. 1812. { did not have a man
6 issued. { injured. Captain Talbot of
{ the "Victorious" was made
{ K.C.B., and the "Rivoli"
{ became a British war
{ vessel.

Note that the bars are named differently for same engagement.

ROSARIO, 27 March 1812. }
6 issued. } Capture of 2 French brigs-of-war
} off Dieppe. Two vessels
GRIFFON, 27 March 1812. } engaged
3 issued. }
NORTHUMBERLAND, 22 } Destruction of the French
May 1812. 62 issued. } frigates "Arienne" and
} "Andromache" and a
GROWLER, 22 May 1812. } brig. 2 vessels engaged.
4 issued. }

MAGALA, 29 May 1812. 17 issued. Capture of French privateers
"Brave" and "Napoleon," at Malaga. The date of the action was 29
April. 4 vessels engaged.

OFF MARDOE, 6 July 1812. 48 issued. Destruction of 2 Danish
frigates and 2 brigs. 4 British boats engaged--"Calypso,"
"Dictator," "Flamer," and "Podargus."

SEALARK, 21 July 1812. 4 issued. Capture of the French privateer
"Ville de Caen."

ROYALIST, 29 Dec. 1812. 3 issued. Capture of the French privateer
lugger "La Ruse."

WEASEL, 22 April 1813. 6 issued. Destruction of 6 French gunboats
in the Adriatic.

SHANNON with CHESAPEAKE. 49 issued. Capture of American frigate
"Chesapeake," on 1 June 1813.

PELICAN, 14 Aug. 1813. 4 issued. Capture of the American brig
"Argus."

ST. SEBASTIAN, Aug. and Sept. 1813. 292 issued. 16 vessels engaged
(see page 53).

THUNDER, 9 Oct. 1813. 7 issued. Capture of the French privateer
"Neptune."

GLUCKSTADT, 5 Jan. 1814. 45 issued. Capture of the fortress of
Gluckstadt. 6 ships and 8 gunboats engaged.

VENERABLE, 16 Jan. 1814. { Capture of the French
31 issued. { frigates "Alcméne" and
{ "Iphigénia," which were
CYANE, 16 Jan. 1814. { added to the Navy as
18 issued. { H.M.S. "Gloire" and
{ "Dunira."

Presented by Admiral Earl St. Vincent to the petty officers, seamen, and marines of his flagship the "Ville de Paris" for loyalty and good conduct.]

EUROTAS, 25 Feb. 1814. 32 issued. Capture of the French frigate
"Glorinde," which became H.M.S. "Burma."

HEBRUS with L'ETOILE, 27 March 1814. Capture of French frigate
"L'Etoile."

PHŒBE, 28 March 1814. 28 }
issued. } Capture of the American
CHERUB, 28 March 1814. 10 } frigates "Essex" and
issued. } "Essex Junior."

THE POTOMAC, 17 Aug. 1814. 107 issued. Daring navigation of the
Potomac River and destruction of shipping in the Potomac. 8
vessels engaged.

ENDYMION with PRESIDENT, 15 Jan. 1815. Capture of the American
frigate "President."

GAIETA, 24 July. 89 issued. Attack and reduction of Gaieta. "Malta"
and "Berwick" engaged.

ALGIERS. 1,362 issued. Battle of Algiers. 27 Aug. 1816. 22 vessels
engaged. See page 307.

NAVARINO. 1,137 issued. Battle of "Navarino," Oct. 20th, 1827. 11
ships engaged. See page 309.

SYRIA. 6,877 issued. (Quite a number of these were used for
fraudulent purposes, bars being manufactured bearing the records
of rare bars and substituted for the common Syria.) Capture of
"Acre," Nov. 1840, and operations with it on the coast of Syria.
32 ships engaged. See page 310.

BARS GRANTED FOR BOAT ACTIONS

The boat actions commemorated by these bars cover a number of brilliant actions performed by boats' crews in cutting out, and in some instances actually recovering, British vessels lost to the enemy, or capturing enemies' vessels.

15 March 1793. 1 only issued. 17 March 1794. 30 issued. 29 May 1797. 3 issued. 9 June 1799. 4 issued. 20 Dec. 1799. 3 issued. 29 July 1800. 4 issued. 29 Aug. 1800. 26 issued. 27 Oct. 1800. 5 issued. 21 July 1801. 9 issued. 27 June 1803. 5 issued. 4 Nov. 1803. 1 issued. 4 Feb. 1804. 10 issued. 4 June 1805. 10 issued. 16 July 1806. 51 issued. 2 Jan. 1807. 2 issued. 21 Jan. 1807. 9 issued. 19 April 1807. 1 issued. 13 Feb. 1808. 3 issued. 10 July 1808. 8 issued. 11 Aug. 1808. 12 issued. 28 Nov. 1808. 2 issued. 7 July 1809. 33 issued. 14 July 1809. 8 issued. 25 July 1809. 35 issued. 27 July 1809. 10 issued. 29 July 1809. 11 issued. 28 Aug. 1809. 14 issued. 1 Nov. 1809. 117 issued. 13 Dec. 1809. 10 issued. 13 Feb. 1810. 17 issued. 1 May 1810. 18 issued. 28 June 1810. 24 issued. 27 Sept. 1810. 34 issued. 4 Nov. 1810. 2 issued. 23 Nov. 1810. 66 issued. 24 Dec. 1810. 6 issued. 4 May 1811. 10 issued. 30 July 1811. 4 issued. 2 Aug. 1811. 10 issued. 20 Sept. 1811. 8 issued. 4 Dec. 1811. 18 issued. 4 April 1812. 4 issued. 1 Sept. 1812, 18 Sept. 1812. 24 issued for these 2 clasps. 17 Sept. 1812. 11 issued. 29 Sept. 1812. 26 issued. 6 Jan. 1813. 21 issued. 21 March 1813. 6 issued. 28 April 1813. 2 issued. April and May 1813. 54 issued. 2 May 1813. 49 issued. 8 April 1814. 23 issued. 24 May 1814. 11 issued. 3 and 6 Sept. 1814. 1 only issued. 14 Dec. 1814. 117 issued.

The last two bars are for actions in the war with America.

* * * * *

=Algiers.=--For this battle, fought on August 27th, 1816, 1,362 medals with a single bar, or combined with others, were issued. The action was brought about by the piratical depredations of the Algerines, and the enslavement of Christians by them. Lord Exmouth sailed for the port with 5 ships of the line and 8 smaller vessels, being joined at Gibraltar by 6 Dutch frigates under Admiral Van de Capellen. They appeared before Algiers on August 26th, and proposed certain terms to the Dey, which were not accepted, so next day they commenced to bombard the city. The Algerine fleet was destroyed, and the Dey accepted the terms he had refused. Over 1,200 Christian slaves were freed, and a promise given that piracy and slavery should cease. For a time the promise was kept, but in 1830 the French had to take strong steps to deal with the Algerines, and in the end Algeria became a French colony.

=Exmouth Gold Medal.=--As a reward for his services, Admiral Lord Exmouth was created a Viscount, and received from the Prince Regent a large gold medal, bearing on the obverse the bust of the Prince Regent encircled by TO TAME THE PROUD, THE FETTER'D SLAVE TO FREE. THESE ARE IMPERIAL ARTS, AND WORTHY THEE, and in the exergue PRINCE GEORGE REGENT. On the reverse is a representation of the bombardment, and in the exergue ALGIERS BOMBARDED ITS FLEET DESTROYED AND CHRISTIAN SLAVERY EXTINGUISHED, AUGUST 27TH, 1816. Only 4 medals of this kind were struck.

The following ships were engaged in the bombardment: the flagship "Queen Charlotte," "Impregnable," "Leander," "Superb," "Minden," "Albion," "Severn," "Glasgow," "Hebrus," "Granicus," and the sloops "Mutine," "Cordelia," "Heron," "Britomart," and "Jasper," and the following bomb vessels "Fury," "Infernal," "Beelzebub," "Hecla," and three vessels for transport, ordnance, and dispatch. Eighty-four men of the 1st Batt. Royal Sappers and Miners served as marines on the flagship and the "Impregnable."

=Ava.=--To those officers and seamen who took part in the Burmese War of 1824-6, the Army of India Medal, described on page 133 as having been awarded to officers and soldiers, was also awarded with a bar for AVA. Dr. Payne has in his collection medals with this bar awarded to a junior captain of the Bombay Marine, with his name impressed, likewise one awarded to a man of the H.E.I. Co.'s "Asseeghur," and one to an ordinary seaman of the "Boadicea" with the name engraved.

The following ships' crews took part: H.M.S. "Liffey," "Larne," "Slaney," "Avachne," "Sophie," "Satellite," "Diana," "Tees," "Alligator," and "Mercury," and the H.E.I. Co.'s "Thetis" and "Teignmouth." These were later joined after the capture of Martaban by the crews of the "Boadicea" and "Champion."

=Navarino.=--This battle was fought on October 20th, 1827. 1,137 Naval General Service Medals bearing the bar for NAVARINO were issued. In 1821 the Greeks had revolted against the Turks, and the latter treated them with ruthless barbarity, murdering in cold blood the inhabitants of Morea and laying waste the country. To put an end to this state of affairs, Great Britain, France, and Russia signed a treaty to ensure the independence of the Greeks, and in September 1827 Vice-Admiral Cordington sailed with the British fleet to Navarino, in the harbour of which the Turco-Egyptian fleet was at anchor. He was joined later by the French and Russian fleets, and an ultimatum was then sent to Ibrahim Pasha to the effect that the barbarities and the ravagings were to cease, and this he agreed to pending communication with the Grand Vizier at Constantinople, but because the allied fleets refused passage to some of his ships from the harbour of Navarino he again resorted to his fiendish practices. The British Admiral thereupon determined to take his ships into the harbour, and anchor near the Turco-Egyptian fleet.

On October 20th, followed by the French and Russian squadrons, Admiral Cordington entered the harbour and anchored close to the hostile fleet, when fire was opened by the Turks upon a ship's boat, killing the lieutenant in charge and several of his men. The "Dartmouth" then opened fire, and the battle commenced. The batteries of the fortress of Navarino then began to fire on the combined fleets, but so bad was the aim of the enemy's gunners that they did as much damage to their friends as to their foes. For four hours the fight continued with great vigour, and had it not been for the splendid co-operation of the French and Russian fleets it is doubtful whether the issue would have been satisfactory to lovers of freedom. It is noteworthy, however, that the French Admiral's flagship was only saved from grappling by a Turkish fireship through the speedy assistance given by the British brig "Rose" and some boats of the Russian fleet. The British losses were 75 killed, and 197 wounded. The French lost 43 killed, and 144 wounded, and the Russians 59 killed, and 139 wounded, while the enemy--according to his own estimate--had thousands killed.

NAVAL LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS.]

The following British ships were engaged: the flagship "Asia," "Albion," "Genoa," "Glasgow," "Cambrian," "Dartmouth," and "Talbot," and the brigs "Brisk," "Mosquito," "Philomel," and "Rose." There were 4 French ships of the line, a frigate and a schooner, and 5 Russian ships of the line and 3 frigates.

Hereafter the history of the British Navy and its engagements was, until 1914, confined to the bombardment of ports, or combined with that of the army in land service.

=Syria.=--Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt, had in 1839 defeated the Turkish armies and made himself master of Syria, and, as has happened often since, Great Britain went to the sick man's aid, co-operating with Austria, Russia, and Prussia, to compel the recalcitrant Pasha to accept the Vice-Royalty and be satisfied with the governorship of Syria for his lifetime. An ultimatum was sent to him and his generals to the effect that Syria was to be restored to the government of the Sultan of Turkey within twenty-one days, but as no notice was taken of the demand, a squadron of British ships blockaded Alexandria, in the harbour of which the Egyptian fleet was at anchor, while the other portion of the fleet, under Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, bombarded Beyrout. Meanwhile, the towns on the coast of Syria had been retaken, Tyre captured on September 24th and Sidon on the 27th. Concentrating at Acre, the Egyptians were worsted there on November 2nd, and the war was brought to a conclusion by Mehemet Ali accepting the terms he had originally refused.

=The Sultan's Medal for Acre.=--To the officers and men a medal, illustrated facing page 292, was awarded; to the officers ranking as field officers in gold, in silver to quarter-deck and warrant officers, and in bronze to petty officers, seamen, and marines.

The following ships were engaged in the operations upon the coast of Syria in the years 1840-41: "Princess Charlotte," "Powerful," "Revenge," "Bellerophon," "Thunderer," "Ganges," "Benbow," "Edinburgh," "Hastings," "Vanguard," "Rodney," "Asia," "Implacable," "Cambridge," "Pique," "Castor," "Dido," "Carysfort," "Talbot," "Daphne," "Cyclops," "Wasp," "Magicienne," "Vesuvius," "Gorgon," "Hazard," "Phœnix," "Hydra," "Stromboli," "Medea," "Zebra," and "Hecate."

The bar for SYRIA was given with the Naval General Service medal for these operations.

=China, 1840-2.=--In this war, already described on pages 98 and 99, the following ships' crews were engaged: in 1840 "Melville," "Blenheim," "Wellesley," "Blonde," "Druid," "Conway," "Volage," "Larne," "Alligator," "Pylades," "Modeste," "Cruiser," "Nimrod," "Algerine," "Columbine," "Rattlesnake," and the following ships' crews of the Honourable East India Company: "Atalanta," "Queen," "Enterprise," "Calliope," "Madagascar," "Samarang," "Herald," and "Nemesis"; the latter, a well-armed iron steamer, created great terror amongst the Chinese, who named it the "devil ship." The following ships were added from time to time to the fleet: H.M.S. "Cornwallis," "Endymion," "Vindictive," "North Star," "Cambrian," "Hazard," "Pelican," "Harlequin," "Clio," "Wanderer," "Wolverine," "Hebe," "Serpent," "Royalist," "Plover," "Starling," "Driver," "Vixen," and the hospital ship "Minden," likewise the H.E.I. Co.'s steamers "Auckland," "Akbar," "Memnon," "Hooghley," "Proserpine," "Pluto," "Sesostris," "Medusa," and "Phlegethon."

=Scinde, 1843.=--The same medal as awarded to the army was awarded to the naval force taking part in the campaign. One hundred and ten medals were issued to the Indus Flotilla, and of these 40 were to Europeans. For Hyderabad 115 medals were issued to the crews of H.E.I. Co.'s "Comet," "Meteor," and "Nimrod." Medals were given to naval men for Meeanee 1843, Hyderabad 1843, and Meeanee-Hyderabad 1843 (see pages 107-109).

=Punjab, 1848-9.=--A brigade of seamen, 100 strong with 7 officers, from the Indian Navy under Commander F. T. Powell, served at the Siege of Mooltan, and it is noteworthy that this was the first occasion upon which seamen served so far away from their ships. Medals were awarded with and without bar for Mooltan.

=Second China War.=--The squadron of British ships engaged under Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour in 1856-60, in the operations already described on pages 98-100, included the flagship "Calcutta," "Sybille," "Pique," "Winchester," "Encounter," "Bittern," "Hornet," "Comus," "Racehorse," "Barracouta," "Sampson," "Coromandel," "Nankin," "Esk," "Elk," "Amethyst," "Sanspareil," "Cruiser," "Acorn," "Niger," "Inflexible," and a number of gunboats. In the attack on the Taku Forts, August 21st, 1860, the only naval co-operation was made by the gunboats "Clown," "Drake," "Woodcock," and "Janus." Bars were awarded for FATSHAN 1857 (navy only), CANTON 1857, TAKU FORTS 1858 (navy only), TAKU FORTS 1860, and PEKIN 1860. These medals were issued to the navy unnamed, and very few seamen appear to have troubled about having their medals engraved. Many issued to the Indian Navy and some of the marines were, however, impressed in capital Roman letters.

=Pegu.=--To those seamen and marines who took part in the second Burmese War, 1852-3, the India General Service Medal 1854 was awarded with the bar for PEGU, which, by the way, is somewhat smaller than the other bars issued with this medal (see pages 137-138). The following ships' crews were engaged: H.M.S. "Fox," "Rattler," "Serpent," "Sphinx," "Salamander," "Hermes," "Winchester," and a gunboat, together with the H.E.I. Co.'s boats "Berenice," "Bhagerutee," "Moofuffer," "Feroze," "Zenobia," "Sesostris," "Medusa," "Pluto," "Proserpine," "Phlegethon," "Soane," "Spy," "Tenasserim," "Mahanuddy," "Fire Queen," "Enterprise," "Indus," "Krishna," "Luckea," "Damoodah," "Sutledge," and "Lord Wm. Bentinck."

=South Africa, 1853.=--This medal, as previously explained, was awarded to cover all the wars and operations that had taken place in South Africa between 1834 and 1853. No bar was issued with the medal, and the only means of discovering when a recipient was engaged is by looking up the period during which his regiment, or ship, was engaged; but this is not quite so easy in the case of naval medals, as the name and rank only are impressed upon them in Roman capitals in the same type as was used on the Naval General Service medal. The third Kaffir War was the first in which the navy took part, and from the end of 1850 to March 1853 a small naval brigade composed of seamen and marines from the following ships were engaged ashore: "Castor," "Dee," "Grecian," "Hermes," "Penguin," "Pantaloon," "Gladiator," "Orestes," "Rhadamanthus" and "Styx."

CRIMEAN WAR

During the early stages of the war the combined British and French fleets were co-operating in Kavarna Bay, and on April 5th anchored before Odessa, when the Russian commandant firing upon H.M.S. "Furious," which was carrying a flag of truce, the following ships were ordered to open fire on the batteries on April 22nd, 1854. H.M.S. "Furious," "Terrible," "Retribution," "Niger," "Arethusa," and 3 French vessels. The fort was blown up, and the shipping destroyed. Later the "Firebrand" and the "Fury" destroyed the Russian batteries at Sulina, and then with the rest of the fleet took part in the bombardment of Sebastopol.

=Sebastopol.=--The following ships were engaged in the bombardment of Sebastopol on October 17th, 1854: "Albion," "Britannia," "London," "Agamemnon," "Queen," "Firebrand," "Niger," "Furious," "Trafalgar," "Retribution," "Vesuvius," "Rodney," "Bellerophon," "Highflyer," "Spitfire," "Arethusa," "Cyclops," "Triton," "Lynx," "Sphinx," "Tribune," "Terrible," "Sampson," and "Sanspareil." In the bombardment 44 were killed and 264 wounded on board the British ships, the "Albion" and the "Agamemnon" suffering most heavily. The French fleet lost about 200 killed and wounded. Prior to the bombardment a naval brigade of 1,050 seamen, under the command of Captain Lushington, landed with 50 heavy guns, and demonstrated their aptitude, and their right to the name of "handymen," by constructing their own batteries and being ready to take the defensive long before the artillerymen had their guns in position. The success of the attack on the Malakoff tower was in no small measure due to the assistance of the naval brigade with their heavy guns. In the assault on the Redan the naval brigade also played a conspicuous and daring part, as the casualty list showed, for out of 120 men 14 were killed and 46 wounded.

=Azoff.=--The following ships were engaged in the expedition which, together with 3 French men-o'-war and 20 frigates, sailed on May 22nd, 1855, for the Sea of Azoff, blowing up _en route_ the works and magazines at Kertch, and destroying Yenikale: H.M.S. "Agamemnon," "Algiers," "Hannibal," "St. Jean d'Acre," "Princess Royal," "Royal Albert," and 27 frigates. The bar for AZOFF was awarded to the officers and crews of the following ships: "Vesuvius," "Stromboli," "Miranda," "Swallow," "Curlew," "Beagle," "Lynx," "Ardent," "Viper," "Snake," "Medina," "Recruit," "Arrow," "Clinker," "Boxer," "Grinder," "Fancy," "Sulina," "Weser," "Jasper," and "Cracker"; also the first and second launches of the "Agamemnon," "Hannibal," "Algiers," "St. Jean d'Acre," "Princess Royal," and the "Royal Albert."

During these operations Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral Sir) E. Commerell of the "Weser" gained the Victoria Cross for his intrepid conduct while engaged in destroying stores on the shore of the Sivash.

=The Baltic Medal.=--For their services in connection with the blockade of the Baltic, Queen Victoria commanded in 1856 that a medal should be struck and issued to the officers, seamen, and marines who had been engaged in the Baltic from March 1854 to August 1855, during which period they had blockaded Bomarsund, attacked and captured it, and bombarded and destroyed Sveaborg. Two officers and 90 sappers and miners who served aboard the flagship and at Bomarsund were also awarded the medal, which bears on the obverse the same bust of Queen Victoria as on the medals previously described, and on the reverse the seated figure of Britannia, holding a trident in her right hand, with a naval gun and pile of shot, flags, and a naval coronet beside her, and behind in the distance the fort of Bomarsund to the left, and Sveaborg to the right; above all is BALTIC, and in the exergue ~1854-55~. The medal, by L. C. Wyon, is 1⅖ in. in diameter, and depends from a yellow ribbon 1¼ in. wide with blue edges, by means of a curled suspender similar to the Sutlej type. The medals were issued unnamed, except in the case of the officers and sappers mentioned above, and theirs were issued with their names impressed.

The following ships were employed in the Baltic: H.M.S. "Duke of Wellington,*" "Saint George," "Neptune," "Princess Royal," "Royal George,*" "Saint Jean d'Acre," "Majestic,*" "Nile,*" "James Watt,*" "Prince Regent," "Cæsar,*" "Monarch," "Boscawen," "Cumberland," "Cressy,*" "Blenheim,*" "Hogue,*" "Edinburgh,*" "Amphion,*" "Arrogant,*" "Ajax,*" "Euryalus,*" "Imperieuse,*" "Cruiser," "Odin," "Dauntless," "Archer," "Leopard," "Valorous," "Desperate," "Magicienne," "Vulture," "Dragon," "Porcupine," "Bulldog," "Conflict," "Driver," "Hecla," "Basilisk," "Rosamund," "Lightning," "Alban," and H.M. Hospital Ship "Belleisle."

After the recall of Sir Charles Napier, who was censured for not attacking Sveaborg, a fleet was dispatched to the Baltic under Rear-Admiral Hon. R. Dundas. It included the ships named above marked with an asterisk, and the "Calcutta," "Colossus," "Orion," "Cornwallis," "Exmouth," "Russell," "Hawk," "Pembroke," "Hastings," "Retribution," "Falcon," "Esk," "Tartar," "Cossack," "Archer," "Harrier," and "Pylades," with a number of smaller vessels and gunboats. During the second operations in the Baltic, Lieutenant Dowell of the Marine Artillery gained the V.C. for leading a volunteer crew in a boat from the "Ruby," and taking the cutter of the "Arrogant" in tow when she was swamped after the explosion of her magazine during an attack on some vessels at Viborg.

The following vessels took part in the attack on Sveaborg: H.M.S. "Duke of Wellington," "Arrogant," "Euryalus," "Exmouth," "Cornwallis," "Cossack," "Pembroke," "Merlin," "Vulture," "Dragon," "Locust," "Volcano," "Lightning," "Hastings," "Amphion," "Edinburgh," "Magicienne," "Geyser," "Eolus," "Belleisle," "Cruiser," "Princess Alice," and the gunboats and mortar vessels "Redwing," "Lark," "Magpie," "Starling," "Skylark," "Stork," "Drake," "Redbreast," "Weasel," "Badger," "Mastiff," "Snapper," "Biter," "Growler," "Pincher," "Porpoise," "Snap," "Blazer," "Dapper," "Pelter," "Pickle," "Havock," "Prompt," "Manly," "Sinbad," "Beacon," "Carron," and "Grappler."

=Naval Brigade in Crimea.=--Some of the naval brigade in the Crimea received medals with three clasps for BALAKLAVA, INKERMANN, and SEBASTOPOL; others two clasps for INKERMANN and SEBASTOPOL, or BALAKLAVA and SEBASTOPOL. Others, showing they had fought _per mare_, _per terras_, three clasps for AZOFF, BALAKLAVA, and SEBASTOPOL, or AZOFF, INKERMANN, and SEBASTOPOL. The only single bars are for AZOFF or SEBASTOPOL. Some of the marines who fought ashore received the whole four clasps for land service as awarded to soldiers. The medals issued to the navy were generally unnamed, but I have in my possession a few named with the same impressed lettering as on the medals issued to the army. The sailors and marines who fought in the Crimea were also awarded the Turkish medal described on page 152, while fifty of them received the Sardinian medal described on page 153.

INDIAN MUTINY

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."

=New Zealand, 1860-6.=--Members of the crews of the following ships received the medal for this period, although after August 1864, following the Gate Pa affair--in which Samuel Mitchell, captain of the foretop of H.M.S. "Harrier," gained the V.C.--the navy was not actively employed: H.M.S. "Brisk," "Cordelia," "Curaçoa," "Eclipse," "Esk," "Falcon," "Harrier," "Himalaya," "Iris," "Miranda," "Niger," "Pelorus," and "Victoria" (see page 186 for description of medal).