Chapter XIII: Part 13

=Abyssinia.=--In the Abyssinian campaign (1867-8), already referred to on pages 189-191 a naval brigade consisting of 83 men, with twelve 12-pounder rocket tubes, commanded by Commander Fellowes of H.M.S. "Dryad," took part, forming part of the first division under General Staveley. Men of the "Octavia," "Dryad," "Spiteful," and "Satellite" took part.

=Ashantee.=--In this campaign (1873-4) seamen and marines from H.M.S. "Argus," "Encounter," "Barracouta," "Druid," "Seagull," "Simoom," "Rattlesnake," and "Beacon" were employed ashore and afloat, while the gunboats "Bittern," "Decoy," and "Merlin" were actually engaged on the coast.

=Perak.=--The crews of H.M. gunboats "Charybdis" and "Hart" were employed in the operations against the Malays during 1875, and the crews of H.M.S. "Egeria," and the gunboats "Fly," "Philomel," "Ringdove," "Thistle," and the corvette "Modeste" in 1876. The I.G.S. Medal 1854, with bar for PERAK, was issued following a General Order of September 1st, 1879. The officers and crews of H.M.S. "Egeria" and the gunboats "Hart" and "Charybdis" received the medal for their services up the Lakut and Lingie Rivers. The naval medals are named in squat, sloping Roman capitals.

=South Africa, 1877-8.=--Sailors and marines from the following ships were engaged at different periods in the various wars in South Africa from 1877 to 1879 (see pages 196-202): H.M.S. "Active," "Boadicea," "Euphrates," "Forester," "Himalaya," "Orontes," "Shah," "Tamar," and "Tenedos."

In the campaign against the Galekas and Gaikas in 1877-8 two small naval brigades composed of men from H.M.S. "Active" and "Florence" were engaged, and both did excellent work with their rocket batteries.

=Zulu War, 1879.=--In this war a naval brigade of 170 seamen and marines from H.M.S. "Active" were attached to the third column under Colonel Pearson. They were under the command of Captain Campbell, and had with them two 7-pounders, a Gatling gun, and two rocket tubes. A brigade from H.M.S. "Boadicea," "Shah," and "Tenedos" marched with the relieving force to Ekowe. At the expiration of the war the naval brigade was warmly thanked by General Sir Garnet (later Viscount) Wolseley for the services they had rendered.

EGYPTIAN WARS

=Alexandria, 1882.=--In this campaign the navy played an important part--indeed, it was opened by the bombardment of Alexandria on July 11th, 1882, the fortifications of which had been strengthened, and the garrison increased by the rebel Arabi Pasha in anticipation of the allied fleets of Britain and France acting on the offensive. Noticing the preparations which Arabi was making, Admiral Sir Beauchamp Seymour called upon him to desist, and as no notice was taken of his demand, or of his ultimatum that unless work was stopped on the fortifications the place would be bombarded, he prepared his ships for action. Meanwhile the French fleet had left the harbour. The British steamed out, and took up a position facing the outer forts; at half-past 6 on July 11th the British ships cleared for action, and the bombardment began by the "Alexandra" firing a shell into Fort Ada. The fort responded, and then the duel between the ships' guns of the British fleet and those of the fort began. In a couple of hours Fort Marsa-el-Kanat was blown up, and very shortly after, nearly all the guns in Fort Mex were silenced. At half-past 10 an attack was made upon the Lighthouse Fort, and within a couple of hours the Ras-el-Tin batteries were silenced.

=The Plucky "Condor."=--Meantime Fort Marabout had been the scene of a memorable action on the part of Lord Charles Beresford. Noticing that the rifled guns of the fort were dropping their shot very near to the ships anchored at about 4,500 yards, viz. the "Monarch," "Penelope," and "Temeraire," he steamed the gunboat "Condor" within range, and by his daring action in pounding away at the fort for two hours diverted the enemy's fire, and thus materially assisted in the reduction of Fort Mex. The "Condor" was assisted in its plucky work by the gunboats "Beacon," "Bittern," and "Cygnet," which the Admiral had sent to help in the work, and so enabled her to be the means of silencing the guns of the fort by 2 p.m. Three hours later all firing ceased, and the battle of Alexandria was won with comparatively small loss to the fleet, the "Alexandra" suffering most from the effects of the enemy's guns. On this vessel gunner Israel Harding won the V.C. for throwing water over a live shell, which had pierced the side of the ship, and then picking it up and placing it in a tub of water; this hero rose to be chief gunner before he retired. A force of sailors and marines were landed, and engaged in keeping order. The successful Admiral became Lord Alcester, and received a grant of £25,000.

The ships engaged in the bombardment of Alexandria were the flagship "Alexandra," "Sultan," "Invincible," "Inflexible," "Temeraire," "Monarch," "Penelope," "Superb," and the gunboats "Beacon," "Bittern," "Condor," "Cygnet," "Decoy," and the dispatch vessel "Helicon."

=Tel-el-Kebir.=--In the operations leading up to the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, a number of seamen were engaged; several strategic points were seized by them, and several minor but vital engagements won by them. Lieutenant Wyatt Rawson, R.N., who guided the Highland Brigade across the desert to Tel-el-Kebir by his correct reading of the stars, was the first to enter the entrenchments--alas! to meet his death shortly after. In the battle of Tel-el-Kebir a naval brigade of 250 men, with 6 Gatling guns, took part; also marine artillery and marines. The latter, attached to General Graham's brigade, were placed in the front line, and suffered somewhat heavily, but the naval brigade did not lose a man.

CROSS OF THE LÉGION D'HONNEUR.]

For the bombardment of Alexandria the Egyptian Medal 1882 with a bar inscribed ALEXANDRIA JULY 11 1882 was awarded to the officers, seamen, and marines, and for TEL-EL-KEBIR to those who took part in that decisive battle (see facing page 160 for medal, also the Khedive's Star which was issued by Prince Tewfik); the naval medals were named.

=El-Teb.=--When the Mahdi incited the Sudanese to rise against the Khedive in 1883, and practically gained control over the entire Sudan, it became necessary, as I have already explained, to send a British force to deal with the Mahdi and his principal lieutenant Osman Digna. In the war in the Sudan the men of the navy again distinguished themselves by their cheery willingness and ability. At Suakin, Admiral Sir William Hewitt's brigade of sailors and marines was landed from the "Decoy," "Euryalus," "Ranger," and "Sphinx" to defend the place, which they did quite successfully against Osman Digna. On February 1st, 1884, Osman Digna's force practically annihilated the army of 5,000 Egyptian troops at El-Teb under Valentine Baker Pasha (at one time Colonel of the 10th Hussars).

The work this undisciplined force set out to accomplish was then taken in hand by Major-General Graham, and the army with which he proceeded towards Tokar included 13 officers and 150 sailors, with 6 machine guns, under the command of Commander Rolfe, likewise about 400 marines and marine artillerymen under Colonel Tuson. At El-Teb on the morning of February 29th, 1884, the British force advanced in square, over the sickening area where the previous battle had taken place, to attack the Mahdists, who had entrenched themselves upon a narrow ridge about a mile in length. The Arabs opened fire, but the guns of the seamen and artillerymen proving too warm for them, they came forward to meet the advancing square, upon which they fell in their fanatical manner, which was as mad as it was grand. The fire of the naval machine guns stopped their rush, and then their position was taken, but the brunt of the fighting had fallen upon the naval brigade--as well as the "Black Watch" and the "York and Lancasters"--"who contributed materially to the success of the action," in which they lost an officer and 3 men killed, but one naval officer gained the V.C. when the Mahdists almost penetrated the corner of the square and attempted to spear some of the seamen; Captain A. K. Wilson's sword was broken in his gallant effort, and himself would have fallen but for the timely action of some of the 65th (York and Lancasters). The British lost 4 officers and 26 men killed, and 160 officers and men wounded, ere the village of El-Teb had been taken, and the enemy made off in the direction of Tokar, which was taken next day. Those who took part in this action had the bar for EL-TEB added to their Egyptian medal, or, if this was their first experience of Egyptian warfare, the medal without the date, but with the bar for El-Teb, was awarded.

=Tamaai.=--This battle, which took place on March 13th, 1884, again afforded the "handymen" an opportunity of demonstrating their worth. Undismayed by what should have been a salutary lesson at El-Teb, the Mahdists began to preach a strenuous crusade against the infidel. It became necessary, therefore, to again set in motion the force which had returned to Suakin, and to march on Tamaai, where the Arabs had concentrated their forces. On the evening of the 12th the army, in two squares, halted a couple of miles from Tamaai, and it was thought there was little possibility of a night attack, but at 1 a.m. the enemy began to fire upon the British camp, and continued to do so all through the night, until at 8 o'clock the army, arranged in two brigades, advanced--the first under General (later Sir) Redvers Buller, and the second under General Davis, in which the naval brigade and marines were included. The latter, after the skirmishers had fallen back, met the enemy with a rattling fire from their machine guns and rifles, and then the "Black Watch," charging the enemy with considerable impetuosity, left a gap in the formation through which the tribesmen rushed, and all was soon confusion--friend and foe being so mixed, and all so closely packed together, that they could hardly use their weapons; and when they had extricated themselves, hand-to-hand fighting of a most ferocious character took place. In this unfortunate episode the naval guns had to be abandoned for a time, with the loss of 3 lieutenants and several men. Buller's brigade coming up turned the tables, and the guns were retaken and turned upon the fleeing Mahdists. The troops then marched upon Tamaai, took possession of the place next day, and destroyed it together with Osman Digna's camp. In this battle 5 officers and 101 men were killed, and 8 officers and 103 men wounded, but the Mahdists had lost over 3,000 killed.

For this engagement a bar inscribed TAMAAI was issued, and to those who had also taken part in the previous battle of El-Teb one inscribed EL-TEB--TAMAAI.

=Suakin, 1884.=--Undaunted Osman Digna still managed to preach his holy war, and secure thousands of adherents to his banner. Within four miles of the disastrous defeat which he had suffered he successfully got together, at Tamanieb, about 2,000 fighting men, but General Graham did not give him much rope, and immediately set out to meet him. Leaving Suakin on March 25th, he marched with a force which included marines to meet the Mahdists. To guard Suakin in the absence of General Graham and his troops, a force of 200 seamen was landed; the enemy did not, however, come to close grips, and after driving them off on March 27th, and destroying their camp, the troops returned to Suakin, after a very trying time, in which owing to the intense heat many fell victims to sunstroke. Suakin was then garrisoned with a small body of troops, including a battalion of marines, and after the rest of the troops had retired to Cairo, or returned to England, they had to defend the place for several months, during which time the officers and crews of the "Albacore," "Briton," "Coquette," "Myrmidon," "Sphinx," "Tyne," and "Woodlark" were kept busy in assisting the defenders. For these services a clasp inscribed SUAKIN 1884 was issued.

=The Nile, 1884-5.=--The valiant defence of Khartoum by General Gordon ultimately forced upon the British Government the task of attempting to relieve him, and his few European comrades. The expedition was organised to take the field under General Wolseley; and as special efforts were to be made to use the Nile as a water road for the troops, 300 boats of a special type were built, and 500 Canadian boatmen (Voyageurs) and 300 Kroomen were recruited to navigate them. It is said of the Voyageurs that some of them "hardly knew the stern of a boat from the bow," and "when they saw the Cataracts went sick."

It will be remembered that Lord Wolseley offered a prize of £100 to the first regiment to reach Debbeh in boats, and the 1st Royal Irish won it.

In this expedition a naval brigade composed of men from the Mediterranean fleet commanded by Captain (afterwards Admiral) Lord Charles Beresford was prominently engaged. Of the difficulties that had to be encountered in navigating the Nile much could be written, for the work was not accomplished without considerable loss of life, and before the expedition reached Dongola 10 of the Canadians and 40 of the troops had been drowned.

=Abu-Klea.=--At the beginning of January 1885 Lord Wolseley, becoming apprehensive for the safety of General Gordon, ordered General Sir Herbert Stewart to press forward across the desert with about 1,600 men to Metammeh on the Nile, and from there to make for Khartoum--about 100 miles up the river--in Gordon's steamers. After a march of 100 miles the force rested on January 12th at Jadkul; refreshed, the troops marched on until on January 16th they fell in with the enemy about 4 miles from Abu-Klea. A zareba was formed, and the men lay down to rest, which intermittent firing made almost impossible. At 9 o'clock on the morning of January 17th, leaving the camels and wounded inside the zareba, the force advanced towards the enemy's position; the naval brigade under Lord Charles Beresford formed the centre of the near face of the square: they had with them a Gardner gun. After a march of 2 miles the skirmishers were forced back on the square by the rush of thousands of Mahdists, horse and foot, who came up to within 400 feet of the partly formed square. "The terrible rain of bullets poured into them by the mounted infantry, and the Guards, stayed them not," for, as Lord Charles Beresford relates, "they were tearing down upon us with a roar like the roar of the sea, an immense, surging wave of white-slashed black forms brandishing bright spears and long flashing swords; and all were chanting, as they leaped and ran, the war song of their faith.... These things we heard and saw in a flash, as the formidable wave swept steadily nearer."

Meanwhile Lord Charles had ordered the Gardner gun to be run outside the square to the left flank, and he laid the gun himself to make sure. As he fired, he states, "I saw the enemy mown down in rows, dropping like ninepins.... I was putting in most effective work on the leading ranks, and had fired about thirty rounds, when the gun jammed." Then Lord Charles, with the captain of the gun, William Rhodes, chief boatswain's mate, "set to work to try and unscrew the feed-plate in order to clear the barrel, or to take out its lock. The next moment the enemy were on top of us. The feed plate dropped on my head, knocking me under the gun and across its trail." Rhodes was instantly killed by a spear thrust, as was also the armourer, Walter Miller. On struggling to his feet, Lord Charles was "carried bodily backwards by the tremendous impact of the rush, right upon the front rank of the men of No. 4 Company, who stood like rocks." So great was the pressure that the front ranks could not use rifle or bayonet for a few moments; then the pressure forcing the white men back enabled the rear rank to fire over their heads into the mass of the Arabs. "The Arabs fell in heaps, whereupon the front rank, the pressure upon them relaxing, fired, and fought hand to hand with the bayonet, cursing as the rifles jammed and the shoddy bayonets twisted like tin." The men of the naval brigade joined in the furious hand-to-hand fighting--indeed, all round this was the feature of the fight at Abu-Klea, the heavy Camel Regiment, Scots Greys, Royals, and 5th Dragoon Guards desperately fighting in the square, while the Royal Sussex kept the enemy at bay with their steady fire. Every Arab who penetrated the square was killed; outside their comrades wavered, and then sullenly retired, until at half-past 2 the battle was won.

Of the naval brigade 8 were killed and 7 wounded out of the 40 who went into action. Among the killed were Lieutenants Alfred Piggott and R. E. de Lisle. Every man handling the Gardner gun outside the square was killed excepting Lord Charles Beresford, whose providential escape has enabled us to learn the graphic details of the desperate battle of Abu-Klea, which, as Colonel the Hon. Reginald Talbot (who commanded the heavy Camel Regiment at the battle) wrote, "was an Inkermann on a small scale." I have already described the fight towards the river, and the fact that the expedition had been undertaken in vain--for Khartoum had fallen. The bar for ABU-KLEA was issued to all the survivors.

=Suakin, 1885.=--In the fight at Hasheen, 14 miles from Suakin, on March 20th, 1885, a naval brigade and marines from the fleet in the Red Sea took part and were awarded the bar for SUAKIN.

=Tofrek.=--At daybreak on March 22nd, 1885, a force again marched out from Suakin under Major-General Sir John McNeill, V.C.; included was a naval brigade made up of men from the "Condor," "Carysfort," "Coquette," "Dolphin," and "Sphinx," with two Gardner guns, under Commander Domville, also a battalion of marines. The object of the force was to construct zarebas, which were to be garrisoned by the 49th Regiment. The troops, having made good progress with their work, were taking things rather easily--some were breakfasting--when the sudden appearance of the enemy caused great confusion. Roaring camels, screaming mules, and frightened camp followers helped to make the confusion worse confounded as the Arabs hewed their way through the terrified animals and the helpless camp followers. The soldiers hastily rushed for their rifles, and endeavoured to form squares, into one of which, formed by the marines, about 60 Arabs forced their way, but never got out again. Again the Gardner guns jammed, and the unfortunate seamen had a bad time, as the howling Dervishes rushed into their zareba. In half an hour, however, the fight subsided, but not until a naval lieutenant and 6 men had been killed, and a number wounded. After this battle the men of the naval brigade returned to their ships, and the troops evacuated Suakin.

The Egyptian medal, described on page 211, with the bar for TOFREK, was awarded to the sailors and marines who took part in the battle.

=Bars for Second Sudan War.=--To those who had taken part in the war in the vicinity of Suakin in the Eastern Sudan the Egyptian medal was awarded with five bars. Those already in possession of the medal received the bars to which their services entitled them. All who served south of Assouan on or before March 7th, 1885, received the medal with a bar for THE NILE 1884-5, if not already in possession of one; likewise those who served at Suakin from March 27th, 1884, to May 14th, 1885. A bar inscribed ABU-KLEA was issued to all who took part in the fight on January 17th, 1885. A bar inscribed KIRBEKAN was awarded to those who took part in the action on February 10th, 1885, in which a small naval brigade was present with a Maxim gun. A bar with the record SUAKIN 1885 was issued to those who participated in the operations round that place between March 1st and May 14th, 1885, and a bar with TOFREK to those who took active part in the action on March 22nd, 1885. It should be particularly noted that no medals bearing single bars for ABU-KLEA, KIRBEKAN, or TOFREK were issued, and that these should be in conjunction with either SUAKIN 1885, or in the case of ABU-KLEA or KIRBEKAN with THE NILE 1884-5. Medals without bars were issued to the troops who were located in Egypt but did not participate in any of the engagements. The medals are boldly named in Roman capitals.

To those who were engaged at or to the south of Wady Haifa between November 30th, 1885, and January 11th, 1886, the medal without bar was given to those who had not already earned one, and, although the battle of Ginnis was fought during this period, no bar was issued to those who were not presented with a medal. The Khedive's star was also given to those who took part in these operations.

=Gemaizah.=--In 1888 Suakin was once again the centre of warfare, but the Mahdists were acting on the offensive by endeavouring to invest the place. General Grenfell therefore decided to march out and attack them. In the action, which took place on December 20th, 1888, the navy co-operated by firing from the Nile, H.M.S. "Racer" shelling the enemy's trenches, and H.M.S. "Starling" the wells; the crews of these boats were entitled to the bar for GEMAIZAH.

=Tokar, 1890.=--To the officers and men of H.M.S. "Dolphin" and "Sandfly," engaged in transport duty, and to the British officers who commanded the Egyptian army, the Khedive's bronze star without date, but with the record in Arabic characters ~TOKAR 1890~ on the suspender, was awarded. This is an interesting star, and more valued than the other Khedive's, because it is the decoration for the services rendered, no bars being issued for attachment to the silver Egyptian medal, or medals awarded.

=Burma, 1885-7.=--To the crews of H.M.S. "Bacchante," "Woodlark," "Osprey," "Ranger," "Mariner," "Turquoise," and "Sphinx," which took part in the third Burma War, that resulted in the disposition of Theebaw and the annexation of Burma, the medal with the bar for BURMA 1885-7, as described on page 138, was granted. Those awarded to the navy were generally impressed in tall upright Roman capitals.

=West Africa Medal.=--The boats' crews of H.M.S. "Acorn," "Icarus," and "Rifleman" co-operated with the 1st W.I.R. in the operations from November 13th, 1887, to January 2nd, 1888, against the Yonnie tribes who had raided British territory in the vicinity of Sierra Leone. The medal, with bar 1887-8, was granted for this expedition.

=Witu, 1890.=--The crews of H.M.S. "Boadicea," "Brisk," "Conquest," "Cossack," "Humber," "Kingfisher," "Pigeon," "Redbreast," and "Turquoise," together with marines who took part in the expedition under Rear-Admiral D. Freemantle, C.B., to punish the Sultan of Witu for the murder of nine Germans in his territory, received the medal with the bar inscribed WITU 1890.

=1891-2.=--The crews of H.M.S. "Alecto," "Racer," "Sparrow," "Thrush," and "Widgeon" received the medal with bar inscribed 1891-2 for their expedition against the robber chief Fodi Cabba, up the Gambia River, from December 29th, 1891, to February 5th, 1892.

=1892.=--The bar with 1892 was awarded to those bluejackets and marines who co-operated with the 1st W.I.R. in the expedition against Tambi from March 8th, 1892, to April 11th, 1892. The naval brigade consisted of men from H.M.S. "Alecto," "Racer," "Sparrow," "Thrush," and "Widgeon." The bar inscribed 1892 was also awarded with the medal to the naval brigade from H.M.S. "Alecto," "Racer," and "Sparrow," who co-operated with the 1st W.I.R. in the expedition which ended in the capture and destruction of the town and fort of Toniataba. The operations extended from March 12th to April 30th, 1892.

=Liwondi, 1893.=--A bar inscribed LIWONDI 1893 was awarded to 34 men of H.M.S. "Herald" and "Mosquito," who with a Nordenfelt gun marched under Lieutenant-Commander Carr of the latter vessel to the relief of H.M. Commissioner, Mr. H. Johnston, on the Shire River, Central Africa, between February and March 1893, when they routed the chief Liwondi. Only 29 medals were issued.

=Witu August, 1893.=--This bar, with the West Africa medal, was granted to about 200 men from H.M.S. "Blanche," "Swallow," and "Sparrow," who were landed under the command of Captain Geo. Robert Lindley, and with the assistance of Zanzibar and Sudanese troops punished the chief Fumo Omari. Two hundred and fifty medals were issued.

=Juba River, 1893.=--The bar for JUBA RIVER 1893 was awarded to about 40 men of H.M.S. "Blanche," who volunteered to proceed up the River Juba to release two Englishmen who were besieged by a force of Somalis, August 25th, 1893. They were commanded by Lieutenant Price Vaughan Lewis, R.N. Forty bars were issued for this expedition.

=Lake Nyassa, 1893.=--The bar for LAKE NYASSA 1893 was awarded to 36 men of the "Adventurer" and "Pioneer," two screw steamers of 35 tons, who were engaged against Makaujira and other chiefs, and in the bombardment of Okuirka in Nyassaland in 1893. One hundred and one Sikhs, who were also engaged, received the Central Africa medal, with clip and ring as described on page 228. Thirty-six medals with this bar were issued.

=Gambia, 1894.=--The bar for GAMBIA 1894 was awarded to the naval brigade from H.M.S. "Alecto," "Magpie," "Raleigh," "Satellite," and "Widgeon," which landed early in February at Bathurst on the River Gambia, West Coast of Africa, to operate against Fodi Selah, a slave-raiding chief. The expedition, which lasted from February 22nd to March 11th, 1894, only achieved its object of punishing the chief after surmounting considerable difficulties, and surviving much hard fighting, during which 2 lieutenants and 17 men were killed, and nearly 50 officers and men--mostly of the "Magpie" and "Raleigh"--had been wounded. Surgeon Bowden won the D.S.O. during this expedition.

=1893-4.=--It is noteworthy that those men of the 1st W.I.R. who were also engaged received the medal with bar for 1893-4, instead of the bar for GAMBIA 1894; a very definite distinction is thus made between the military and the naval medal.

=Benin River, 1894.=--The bar for BENIN RIVER 1894 was issued to those sailors and marines of H.M.S. "Alecto," "Philomel," "Phœbe," and "Widgeon" who, assisted by Houssas, fought against the chief Náná, the terror of the inhabitants of the Benin River, whom he had plundered for a number of years. The steam launch of the "Alecto," while steaming up the narrow creek leading to the stronghold Brohemie, on August 25th, was fired upon by a concealed battery, the steersman shot dead, and every man on board wounded. In this unfortunate affair Chief Petty Officer Crouch and Leading Stoker Joseph Perkins earned the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for their exceeding bravery. On September 18th Brohemie was attacked and captured, and the expedition proceeded to another fortified town three miles distant, and this also was captured, together with Nana's war canoes, which had helped him so much in his depredations. Brohemie was then placed under the Niger Coast Protectorate. Commander Heugh and Lieutenants Hickley and Gore-Browne gained the D.S.O. in these operations.

=Brass River, 1895.=--The bar for BRASS RIVER 1895 was awarded to the men from H.M.S. "Barrosa," "Saint George," "Thrush," and "Widgeon" who took part in the attack on Nimbi, the stronghold of King Koko and other native chiefs, from February 17th to March 26th, 1895.

=Benin River, 1897.=--Those sailors and marines who landed from the following ships were awarded the bar for BENIN RIVER 1897: H.M.S. "Alecto," "Barrosa," "Forte," "Magpie," "Philomel," "Phœbe," "Saint George," "Theseus" and "Widgeon"; about 1,400 officers and men took part.

=Sierra Leone, 1898-9.=--The bar for SIERRA LEONE 1898-9 was awarded to those who landed from H.M.S. "Alecto," "Blonde," and "Fox," likewise the Colonial boat "Countess of Derby," and took part in the boat expedition up the river and were actually under fire. The men from H.M.S. "Blonde" were engaged in the Sherboro neighbourhood from May 1st to 15th, and with the men from the "Alecto" on the Boom Kittam River next day. Those belonging to the "Fox" and the "Countess of Derby" were engaged on the Brempé River between May 11th and 14th, 1898. This bar is wider than the others previously issued, as the inscription is in two lines.

=Mwele, 1895-6.=--By an Admiralty Order dated January 1st, 1897, a further grant of the West Africa medal was sanctioned, and the medal awarded to those who had taken part in the operations against Mwele, the stronghold of the rebel chief Sheik Mbarnok Bin Rashid, which was captured on August 17th, 1895. No bar was issued for this affair, the name and date MWELE 1895 being engraved on the edge of the medal in slanting Roman capitals, together with the name, etc., of the recipient. Those already in possession of the medal had MWELE 1895 engraved after their name. The little force comprised men from H.M.S. "Barrosa," "Phœbe," "Racoon," and "Saint George," and the 24th and 26th Bombay Infantry--their medals had MWELE impressed on one side of the claw of the suspender and 1895 on the other side--who also received the medal, while camp followers were given the medal in bronze. This medal is described on page 228.

=Central Africa, 1895.=--Payne has in his collection the only Central African 1895 medal believed to have been issued to the navy. It was awarded to Lieutenant J. S. Brogden, R.M.L.I., who afterwards became Captain R.N.

BOER WAR

During the Boer War a naval contingent was employed, and their assistance in the defence and relief of Ladysmith is one of the outstanding features of that long conflict. The men of H.M.S. "Powerful," who helped in the defence of Ladysmith under Captain (afterwards Admiral Sir) Percy Scott, R.N., whose genius was such a material asset to the beleaguered, did excellent work, while the naval brigade which took part in the Natal campaign and the relief of Ladysmith made splendid efforts. It comprised 39 officers and 403 men of the Royal Navy, and 2 officers and 50 men of the Natal Naval Volunteers, who during the fighting leading up to the relief, on February 28th, 1900, had fired 4,000 rounds of ammunition from the 4·7-inch guns, and 12,000 rounds from the 12-pounder quick-firing guns.

=Bars Gained by Navy.=--The officers and men of H.M.S. "Powerful" received the bar for the DEFENCE OF LADYSMITH. The bar for the RELIEF OF LADYSMITH was awarded to officers and men from H.M.S. "Terrible" and "Philomel." Men from the latter ships also took part in the battle of the TUGELA HEIGHTS. The sailors from the "Philomel," in addition to the bars already mentioned, received those for ORANGE FREE STATE and LAING'S NEK, while men from the "Monarch" and "Doris" were awarded bars for BELMONT, MODDER RIVER, PAARDEBERG, DRIEFONTEIN, DIAMOND HILL, and BELFAST. Men from H.M.S. "Naiad" fought in, and received bars for, CAPE COLONY, TRANSVAAL, WITTEBERGEN, and SOUTH AFRICA 1902.

Medals with bars to the navy are rare, and those with more than two particularly so. A leading stoker of H.M.S. "Doris" received, in addition to those mentioned above as awarded to men from his ship, the rare one for WEPENER, but though this bar to the navy was afterwards recalled, Dr. Payne has this rare medal with this and six other bars in his collection.

The crews of the following ships received the medal: H.M.S. "Barracouta," "Barrossa," "Beagle," "Blonde," "Doris," "Dwarf," "Fearless," "Forte," "Gibraltar," "Magicienne," "Magpie," "Monarch," "Naiad," "Niobe," "Partridge," "Pearl," "Pelorus," "Philomel," "Powerful," "Racoon," "Rambler," "Rattler," "Redbreast," "Sappho," "Sybille," "Tartar," "Terpsichore," "Terrible," "Thesis," "Thrush," and "Widgeon."

=Africa General Service Medal.=--This medal, described on page 254, was awarded to the army and navy. It was instituted by King Edward VII to commemorate and recognise the naval and military operations in East Central and West Africa, and on its institution the East and West and Central Africa medals were no longer issued.

=Jubaland.=--The medal with bar for JUBALAND for the operations against the Ogaden Somalis, from November 16th, 1900, to April 30th, 1901, was awarded to the officers and men of the Royal Navy and marines from H.M.S. "Magicienne," "Terpsichore," and "Scout."

=Gambia, 1901.=--Those members of the crews of H.M. ships who had received the Africa General Service medal with the bar for JUBALAND were not entitled to this bar.

=Aro, 1901-2.=--The crew of H.M.S. "Thrush" took part in the operations against the Aro tribe from November 15th, 1901, to March 23rd, 1902 (see also page 255). The naval recipients of the medal with the bar for ARO 1901-2 were 53 of the crew of the "Thrush," and 3 officers and 27 sailors belonging to the Protectorate gunboat "Jackdaw."

=Somaliland, 1902-4.=--In this campaign men belonging to the following ships participated in the expedition under Colonel Rochfort, C.B., C.M.G., and were entitled to this bar: H.M.S. "Cossack," "Dryad," "Fox," "Highflyer," "Harrier," "Hussar," "Hyacinth," "Mohawk," "Merlin," "Naiad," "Perseus," "Porpoise," "Pomone," and "Redbreast" (see also page 256).

=Somaliland, 1908-10.=--This bar was awarded with the medal to those who took part in the campaign. Men from H.M.S. "Hyacinth" and "Proserpine" were engaged.

=Transport Medal.=--King Edward VII, on his birthday, November 9th, 1903, instituted a medal which was granted as a special recognition of the magnificent work done, and for the nautical skill and perfect efficiency shown, by those who were engaged in connection with the Transport Service during the China and South Africa campaigns. On the obverse is the bust of King Edward VII, facing left, in the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, wearing his orders and decorations, and the legend EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR. On the reverse, in the foreground, is a large liner ("Ophir") ploughing through the sea; above is a map of the world on Mercator's projection, which embraces the British Empire from the West Indies to New Zealand, but, owing to the circular form of the medal, omits the North American Continent; below is the legend OB PATRIAM MILITIBUS PER MARE TRANSVECTIS ADJUTAM. The medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, is suspended by means of a straight swivel bar from a red ribbon, with two blue stripes each ¼ in. broad. The names are impressed round the edge of the medal in capital letters. The official announcement of the issue stated that the "Transport Medal shall be granted in future wars to the Officers of the Mercantile Marine serving in the transports" whenever a war medal is granted for the campaign. These medals have realised from £2 to £4 each at public auction.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALS

Under this heading I might have placed several of those earlier medals which were awarded when campaign medals had not been instituted, but the record for our purpose may begin with the institution of the Meritorious Service Medal on December 19th, 1845, when Her Majesty Queen Victoria decreed that a sum of not more than £2,000 per annum should be set aside for the payment of rewards in the form of annuities not exceeding £20, to sergeants recommended by the Commander-in-Chief in recognition of meritorious or distinguished services. The sum for disbursement was increased to £4,000 in June 1853. This medal bears on the obverse the diademed head of Queen Victoria, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA, and generally has the date of institution in the exergue, but in some of the earlier, and in the later issues also, the date is omitted. On the reverse (as illustrated facing page 136) is the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE, surmounted by a crown, and encircled by a broad wreath of laurel. The suspender is of the same pattern as that issued with the India 1854 medal, and the decoration depends from a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide when worn by military sergeants, and a blue ribbon by sergeants of marines, who in 1849 were also granted the medal. Until November 1902 this medal could not be worn with the L.S. and G.C. medal. These medals realise from £3 to £4 10_s._ in the sale-room.

Awarded to Staff-Surgeon Chas. Benson Brearey, M.D.]

Awarded to Staff-Surgeon John Callender.]

=H.E.I. Co.'s Meritorious Service Medal.=--On May 20th, 1848, the Governor-General of India instituted a medal for meritorious service for distribution among the East India Company's troops. On the obverse is the bust of Queen Victoria as on the war medals of the period, with the date 1848 in the exergue, and on the reverse the arms of the Company encircled by the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The medal is 1¼ in. in diameter, and was suspended by a scroll clasp as used with the Sutlej medal by a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide. The name of the recipient was engraved in a neat running hand upon the edge of the medal. The issue of this medal was discontinued when the English variety was instituted. These medals have realised from £3 10_s._ to £5.

=Distinguished Conduct Medal.=--The next in chronological order is the medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, and was instituted on December 4th, 1854, as an indication of the "Sovereign's sense of the distinguished service and gallant conduct in the field of the army then serving in the Crimea." It was awarded to non-commissioned officers and privates only, and has since been given for gallant service in many other campaigns. By the decree the medal could be awarded after selection by the commanding officer. Originally a gratuity went with the medal, but that was discontinued in 1862. In 1881 it was decided that a bar bearing the full date of the action for which it was awarded should be given to a recipient who had again distinguished himself.

The obverse is like the Queen Victoria Long Service Medal, and on the reverse is the inscription FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD. The same kind of clasp as used with the Meritorious Service Medal is employed for suspension by a red ribbon with a broad blue stripe down the centre. The first medals issued had the name, rank, regiment, etc., impressed or engraved upon the edge in Roman capitals, but the modern medals are engraved, and generally bear the date of the action, while those issued during the reign of King Edward VII were impressed in small block capitals.

These medals (see facing page 140) realise from £4 to £7 7_s._ in the sale-room, generally with a war medal representing the campaign in which it was gained. Groups are relatively higher.

=Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.=--This medal was instituted on August 13th, 1855, as a reward to petty officers, sailors, non-commissioned officers, and privates in the marines who had distinguished themselves in the Crimean War. With it gratuities were given ranging from £5 to £15. In 1874, after the Ashantee War, it was again decided to issue the medal, and to grant annuities to chief and first-class petty officers, and sergeants of marines, whenever the annual grant authorised by the Treasury had not been exceeded. This medal has the same obverse as the Meritorious Service Medal, and the reverse is practically the same, except for the inscription, which is FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY. The first medals issued were struck from the same die as the Meritorious Service Medal, the second and third lines being erased, and the words CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY engraved in Roman capitals. The suspender in the first issue was the same as that used with the sister medal for the army, but in the second issue, which commenced in 1874, a straight bar was used for suspension from a blue ribbon with a broad white stripe down the centre. The names on these medals are engraved in capital Roman letters like the naming on the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The medal issued during the reign of King Edward VII bore upon the obverse the same bust of His Majesty in Admiral's uniform as is used on the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct medals granted by him. These medals realise from £3 10_s._ to £5, but a medal of the first issue, together with the Baltic medal awarded to George Belding of H.M.S. "Firefly," realised £59.

=The Victoria Cross.=--This coveted decoration was first suggested by the Prince Consort, and Queen Victoria being desirous of taking into her royal consideration a means of adequately rewarding the individual gallant services, either of officers of the lower grades in the naval and military service, or of warrant and petty officers, seamen, and marines, ordained by Royal Warrant on June 29th, 1856, that "the cross shall only be awarded to those officers or men who have served us in the presence of the enemy, and shall have performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their country." With the cross an annuity of £10 is awarded to warrant officers, seamen and marines, non-commissioned officers, and privates, and for each additional bar £5 per annum is added to the annuity. In July 1898, owing to the unfortunate condition to which a recipient had been reduced, and so induced to sell his cross, it was decided that the Home Secretary might, in his discretion, increase the annuity to £50. On April 23rd, 1881, the warrant was revised to enable officers of any grade to receive the medal, and on August 8th, 1902, King Edward sanctioned the posthumous award of the cross, and of its issue to relatives of deceased men who had earned it; prior to this the brave fellows' names had been gazetted only. The new regulation was retrospective, so that the surviving representatives of men who had earned the cross as long ago as the Indian Mutiny received the bronze token of their relative's valour.

The cross (facing page 136) carries with it the right to append V.C. after the recipient's name.

The cross is made from captured cannon, and is not, as is generally and wrongly described, a Maltese cross, but a cross patée. It bears in the centre of the obverse the royal crest of a lion passant gardant upon the British crown, with a ribbon inscribed FOR VALOUR in a semicircle beneath it, the ends tucked under the raised edge. The cross has a pierced semicircular lug, through which a simple link is run to attach the cross to the laureated suspender by a V. The obverse has raised edges like the front, but the centre is circular. The name, rank, regiment or ship to which the recipient was attached is engraved upon the back of the suspender, and the record of the act which gained the decoration inside the circle on the back of the cross. The cross is suspended by a dark-red ribbon, 1½ in. wide, by military recipients, and by a dark-blue ribbon by naval recipients. The cross, owing to the fact that it is cast and chased, has often been copied, and I have had in my possession one which, but for its size, would have deceived experts, but it had the faults of all cast copies, having shrunk in the casting, and this is the one way of telling a fraud, although it generally needs the genuine article for comparison. The V.C. has realised in the sale-room from £43 for a lieutenant's won in the Mutiny to £175 for a private's won before Sebastopol.

The only Victoria Cross awarded for gallant services not in "the presence of the enemy" was given to Private Timothy O'Hea for extinguishing a fire in an ammunition van during the Fenian Raid in Canada, 1866. It sold in August 1900 for £50.

=The Albert Medal.=--The Albert Medal, commonly called "The Civilian's Victoria Cross," was originally instituted by Queen Victoria under a Royal Warrant dated March 7th, 1866, as a reward for heroic actions performed in saving life at sea. On April 12th, 1867, the Warrant was revoked by a second which instituted two new decorations respectively styled The Albert Medal of the First Class and The Albert Medal of the Second Class, the original Warrant instituting one class only. Ten years later, on April 30th, 1877, Her Majesty Queen Victoria signed another Warrant which extended the decorations to cases of gallantry in saving life on land.

By the Warrant of April 12th, 1867, it was ordained that the Albert Medal of the First and Second Classes, severally inscribed "For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea," should be made only on a recommendation by the President of the Board of Trade; and in the Warrant dated April 30th, 1877, it was ordained that the award of the Albert Medal of the First and Second Classes, inscribed "For Gallantry in Saving Life on Land," should be made only on a recommendation by the First Lord of the Treasury. On September 13th, 1881, an amended Warrant was issued, ordaining that the award of the Albert Medal should be made only on a recommendation by the Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, "Providing always that the preliminary steps and inquiry concerning the award of the Albert Medals severally inscribed 'For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea' be, as heretofore, with the President of the Board of Trade." By Warrant dated April 30th, 1877, it was ordained that a register of the names of those who received the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea should be kept at the office of the Board of Trade. By Warrant dated Whitehall, March 24th, 1891, the previous Warrants bearing the dates April 30th, 1877, and September 13th, 1881, respectively, were amended, and it was ordained that the award of the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea should be made only on a recommendation of the Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, "Provided always that the preliminary steps and inquiry concerning the award shall, if the award be to any one belonging to the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines, be with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and in other cases with the President of the Board of Trade." Further, that a register of the names of those persons belonging to the Royal Navy or Royal Marines, upon whom the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea shall have been conferred, shall be kept at the offices of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. (See group facing p. 184.)

=Distinguished Service Order.=--By a Royal Warrant dated September 6th, 1866, Her Majesty Queen Victoria instituted the Distinguished Service Order for the purpose of recognising the special services of commissioned officers of the Army and Navy, likewise the Indian and Colonial Naval and Military Forces.

The badge consists of a gold cross patée, convexed, the ground enamelled white, leaving an edge of gold; on the obverse, in the centre, within two sprigs of laurel, enamelled green, is the Imperial Crown in gold, upon a red enamelled ground. On the reverse is the monogram V.R.I. within two branches of laurel, also upon a red enamelled ground. The badge is worn suspended from the left breast by a red ribbon edged with blue, 1 in. in width, from a gold laureated bar 1⅕ in. wide, fastened to the badge by two gold loops, and having a similar gold laureated bar with brooch attachment above. The award carries with it the right to append the letters D.S.O. after the recipient's name. (See facing page 208.)

=The New Zealand Cross.=--This was instituted by Order in Council at the Government House, Wellington, March 10th, 1869, and afterwards sanctioned by Her Majesty as "a Decorative Distinction to be conferred on members of the Militia, Volunteers, or Armed Constabulary, who may particularly distinguish themselves by their bravery in action, or devotion to their duty while on service." The conditions are almost exactly similar to those for the Victoria Cross, and the recipient received an annual pension of £10.

It is a silver Maltese cross, with bright silver double borders, having a six-pointed gold star on each arm. In the centre, in a circle, NEW ZEALAND surrounded by a wreath of laurel in gold. The cross is surmounted by a gold crown and attached to a crimson ribbon--1½ in. wide--by a silver bar ornamented with laurel, in gold, connected by a V and ring, in silver, with the top of the crown. The name of the recipient and the date of the action should be engraved on the back of the cross. Clasps may be added for additional acts of bravery or devotion. The clasp to be a silver bar across the ribbon, having a plain surface burnished and inscribed with the date of the occurrence for which the bar is given, and the name of the action--if any. Twenty-one officers and men have received this decoration. These crosses have realised from £15 to £25.

=India Distinguished Service Medal.=--This medal was instituted on June 28th, 1907, by an Army Order published in Simla as a reward for both commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the regular and other forces in India. It bears on the obverse the bust of King Edward VII, and on the reverse a laurel wreath encircling the words FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. The medal, 1⅖ in. in diameter, is ordered to be worn immediately to the right of all war medals, suspended by a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide, with blue edges ⅜ in. wide. This medal may be conferred by the Viceroy of India.

=Conspicuous Service Cross.=--This cross was instituted by King Edward VII on June 28th, 1901, as a reward for "distinguished service before the enemy," for bestowal upon warrant officers and subordinate officers of the fleet who do not hold commissions in the navy. No person can be nominated for the cross unless his services shall have been marked by a special mention of his name in dispatches by the Admiral, or senior naval or military officer commanding the squadron or detached force.

The cross (facing page 208) is of silver, patée in form, and convex. It bears on the obverse the monogram E.R.I. surrounded by a raised border, surmounted by the imperial crown, with ring for suspension from a blue ribbon with a white stripe down the centre like that used for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. The reverse is plain. The recipient has the right to append the letters C.S.C. to his name.

=Indian Order of Merit.=--This reward of valour takes chronological precedence over those decorations already described. It was instituted by the H.E.I. Co. in 1837, to reward personal bravery without any reference to length of service or good conduct, and is the Sepoy's Victoria Cross (facing page 136.)

It is divided into three classes and is awarded to native officers and men for distinguished conduct in the field. On the advancement from one class to another the star is surrendered to the Government, and the superior class substituted, but in the event of the death of the recipient his relatives retain the decoration. The order carries with it an increase of one-third in the pay of the recipient, and in the event of his death the allowance is continued to his widow for three years. The First Class consists of a star of eight points, 1⅗ in. in diameter, having in the centre a ground of dark-blue enamel bearing crossed swords in gold, within a gold circle, and the inscription REWARD OF VALOUR, the whole being surmounted by two wreaths of laurel in gold. The Second Class star is of silver, with the wreaths of laurel in gold; and the Third Class entirely of silver. The decoration is suspended from a simple loop and bar from a dark-blue ribbon 1½ in. in width with red edges, bearing a gold or silver buckle according to class.

The Indian Order of Merit realises from £2 10_s._ to £8 8_s._ in the sale-room according to class and action for which it was awarded. It is noteworthy, however, that in June 1900 the following prices were paid in the auction-room: First Class, £58; Second Class, £40; and Third Class, £35. When the order is unnamed, as it was issued, and there is no record of the services for which it was earned, prices invariably range lower than these.

=Order of British India.=--This order was instituted at the same time as the Order of Merit, to reward native commissioned officers for long and faithful service in the Indian Army. Since 1878, however, any person, European or native, holding a commission in a native regiment, became eligible for admission to the Order without reference to creed or colour. The First Class consists of a gold eight-pointed radiated star 1½ in. in diameter. The centre is occupied by a lion statant gardant upon a ground of light-blue enamel, within a dark-blue band inscribed ORDER OF BRITISH INDIA, and encircled by two laurel wreaths of gold. A gold loop and ring are attached to the crown for suspension from a broad ornamental band ⁹⁄₁₀ in. in diameter, through which the ribbon, once blue, now red, is passed for suspension from the neck. The Second Class is 1⁷⁄₁₀ in. in diameter with dark-blue enamelled centre; there is no crown on this class, and the suspender is formed of an ornamental gold loop. The reverse is plain in both classes. The First Class carries with it the title Sirdar Bahadur, and an additional allowance of two rupees a day; and the second the title of Bahadur, and an extra allowance of one rupee per day.