IdentifyMedals Logo

Category: Pre-WW1 Medals

The Naval Gold Medal

The Naval Gold Medal is a British Campaign medal awarded between 1793 and 1815 to senior officers of the Royal Navy for specified actions.

Twenty-two large medals were awarded to flag officers (admirals), commodores and captains of the fleet, while 117 smaller medals were awarded to captains. Because a separate medal was awarded for each action, it was possible for a recipient to receive and wear more than one.

Awards of the gold medal were discontinued after 1815, as would-be recipients became eligible for the Order of the Bath.

The Naval Gold Medal Design

The medal was struck in gold and measured 51 mm (large) and 38 mm (small) in diameter.

The obverse shows the winged figure of Victory bestowing a laurel wreath on the head of Britannia, standing in the prow of a galley with a Union Jack shield behind her. Her right foot is on a helmet, and her left hand holds a spear.

The reverse bears the engraved rank and name of the recipient, and the event and date for which the medal was awarded. The large medal has a surround of a wreath of oak and laurel.

The ribbon measures 44mm wide for the large medal and 38 mm for the small, and is white with dark blue edges.

The Coorg Medal

The Coorg Medal was authorized in August 1837 and awarded by the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) to local forces who helped suppress the rebellion of 1837.

Coorg was annexed into the Madras Presidency of the British HEIC after the Coorg War of 1834. In April 1837 a rebellion broke out, but soon ended when many chiefs and local troops gave their support to the British.

The medal was not awarded to all participants, but only to the most senior among the loyal Coorgs and those that had distinguished themselves. Dewans, Subedars, and other chiefs received the medal in gold (a total of 44 awarded), with fourteen of the most distinguished receiving it suspended from a gold chain. Lesser leaders and peasant class combatants received the medal in silver (300 awarded).

Europeans and members of the armies of the Honourable East India Company from outside Coorg were not eligible for this medal.

The Coorg Medal Design

The medal was struck at the Calcutta Mint in gold or silver and measured 50 mm in diameter.

The obverse shows the figure of a Coorg warrior raising a knife in his right hand ready to strike, while his left-hand holds a musket. Around the perimeter is an inscription in Canarese script reading: “A mark of favor given for loyalty to the Company’s Government in suppressing rebellion in the months of April and May 1837.”

The reverse bears crossed knives and other Coorg ornaments within a wreath, surrounded by the English language inscription: “For distinguished conduct and loyalty to the British Government. Coorg April 1837.”

The medal was awarded without a ribbon, but with a chain (for the gold medals) or yellow cord (for the rest).

The Nepal Medal

The Nepal Medal was authorised on 20 March 1816 and awarded by the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) to native Indian officers, and Indian soldiers for particularly distinguished conduct during the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–16.

The award was created by the Marquess of Hastings, Governor-General of India, for award to all native Indian officers, and to selected native soldiers for distinguished zeal and courage during the War. The War was fought between the British HEIC and the Kingdom of Nepal as a result of border disputes between the two countries, and ended in 1816 with the Treaty of Sugauli.

A total of 300 medals were awarded. Members of the British Army were not eligible for the medal, but were entitled to the Army of India Medal with clasp Nepaul.

The Nepal Medal Design

The medal was struck at the Calcutta Mint in gold or silver and measured 51 mm in diameter.

The obverse shows a fortified mountain-top with, in the foreground, a cannon and troops marching with a flag and fitted bayonets behind a hill.

The reverse bears the Persian inscription: “This medal was conferred by the Nawab Governor-General Baghatur, in testimony of the energy, good service, skill and intrepidity which was displayed during the campaigns in the hills, in the Hijri years 1229 and 1230.”

The medal was awarded without a ribbon, but with a yellow cord.

The Java Medal

The Java Medal is a campaign medal authorized in February 1812  and awarded by the Governor-General of India to soldiers of the armies of the Honourable East India Company (HEIC) who participated in the Invasion of Java in August and September 1811, during the Napoleonic Wars.

The medal was awarded to more senior officers in gold (133 awarded) and other ranks in silver (6,519 awarded). Recipients of the silver medal included both native Indian (5,761 recipients) and European (about 750 recipients) soldiers in HEIC service.

Members of the British Army and Royal Navy present did not receive the medal, but were instead eligible for the Military General Service Medal with Java Clasp.

The Java Medal Design

The medal was struck at the Calcutta Mint in gold or silver and measured 49 mm in diameter.

The obverse shows the storming of Fort Cornelis, which British and HEIC troops captured on 26 August 1811, with the word CORNELIS above.

The reverse bears the Persian inscription “This medal was conferred in commemoration of the bravery and courage exhibited by the Sepoys of the English Company in the capture of the Kingdom of Java, in the Hijri year 1228″ with the inscription around the edge reading “JAVA CONQUERED XXVI AUGUST MDCCCXI”.

The medal was awarded without a ribbon, but with a yellow cord.

The Bagur and Palamos Medal

The Bagur and Palamos Medal was awarded by the Spanish Government to the Officers, seamen, and marines of H.M. Ships Kent, Ajax and Cambrian as a reward for the assistance they rendered the Spaniards in their attempt to expel the French from Catalonia in September 1810.

At Bagur, the Spaniards with the help of the British Marines, defeated a French detachment and destroyed a battery, and in the attack on Palamos, by the co-operation of the ships, the French were again defeated and the place taken.

The medal was awarded in gold and silver, with as few as 8 gold medals being awarded.

The Bagur and Palamos Medal Design

The medal was struck in gold or silver and measured 45 mm in diameter.

The obverse bears the crowned shields of Spain and Great Britain placed side by side, surrounded by their respective flags. An inscription below reads ‘ALIANZA ETERNA.’, surrounded by a laurel wreath.

The reverse shows the inscription, ‘BAGÚR 10 de Setiembre 1810‘ ‘PALAMÓS 14 de Setiembre 1810‘ and, enclosed by a circle, ‘GRATITUD DE ESPAÑA A LA INTREPIDEZ BRITANICA.’

The ribbon is red with yellow edges.

The Medal for Capture of Rodriguez, Isle of Bourbon and Isle of France

The Medal for the capture of Rodriguez, Isle of Bourbon and Isle of France is a campaign medal awarded by the Governor-General of India to native Indian soldiers of the East India Company (EIC), the Bengal and Bombay Armies who took part in the capture of three French islands on the Indian Ocean.

These actions included the Island of Rodriguez in July 1809; the Isle of Bourbon (now Réunion) in July 1810; and the Isle de France (now Mauritius) in November 1810. Only 200 EIC troops were present in Rodrigues, the smallest, while the Isle de France involved 10,000 British and Indian forces.

The medal was authorized in September 1811 by Lord Minto, the Governor-General of India, and the medals were completed and distributed in 1813. A total of 2,201 medals were issued, with native Indian officers awarded the medal in gold (45 awarded) and other ranks receiving silver medals (2,156 awarded).

The Medal for Capture of Rodriguez, Isle of Bourbon and Isle of France Design

The medal was struck at the Calcutta Mint in gold or silver and measures 49 mm in diameter.

The obverse depicts a sepoy standing in front of a field gun, holding a Union Jack in his right hand and a musket with a fixed bayonet in his left. His foot tramples the French colors and Imperial Eagle, while the British fleet is at anchor is in the background.

The reverse bears an inscription in Persian, within a wreath, that translates as: “This medal was conferred in commemoration of the bravery and accustomed fidelity exhibited by the Sepoys of the English Company in the capture of the Mauritius Islands in the Hijri year 1226″. Around the edge and outside the wreath, is the English inscription: “RODRIGUES VI JULY MDCCCIX. BOURBON VIII JULY & ISLE OF FRANCE III DEC. MDCCCX”.

The medal was issued unnamed with a flattened loop for suspension, through which passed a yellow cord allowed the medal to be worn around the neck.

The Davison’s Trafalgar Medal

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Year of Institution: 1805
Country: Great Britain

The Davison’s Trafalgar Medal was awarded to survivors of the action by Alexander Davison, Nelson’s prize agent. It was given to the ratings of HMS Victory who took part in the battle.

This medal is said to have been given as a gift of Mr. A. Davison.

The Davison’s Trafalgar Medal Design

The medal is struck in pewter with a copper ring and measures 52 mm in diameter.

The obverse bears an oval shield with Nelson’s arms and ribbon below inscribed with his motto ‘PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT‘, surmounted by a bust of the admiral within laurel and palm branches. Around the shield is inscribed the motto ‘TRIA . JUNCTA . IN . UNO.’ and ‘ADMIRAL LORD NELSON D. OF BRONTE‘. The inner line reads ‘ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY‘ and bellow ‘NATUS SEP. 29. 1758.’ ‘HOSTE DEVICTO REQUIEVIT’, ‘OCT. 21 1805‘. The maker’s initials are ‘H.F.’

The reverse shows a starboard broadside view of a ship of the line at anchor and the legend: ‘THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR’, ‘EXODUS C.15. V.3.’, ‘JOHN CREMER HMS SIRIUS‘ and below ‘VICTORY OFF TRAFALGAR OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE & SPAIN’, ‘OCT. 21.1805‘.

The medal was given without a ribbon but used unofficially a 32 mm navy blue one.

The Boulton’s Trafalgar Medal

The Boulton’s Trafalgar Medal was struck by Matthew Boulton of the Soho Mint, Birmingham, on his own initiative, to be presented to survivors of the battle of Trafalgar. Boulton was “publicly saddened” that King George III had not produced an award for the brave Royal Navy seamen who fought & won the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805.

It’s said that when the crews found out that the medal wasn’t made of silver (they were small, flat, two-piece metal shells) and couldn’t be pawned for 5 shillings, the vast majority were duly thrown overboard into the harbor.

The medal was re-stuck on at least two occasions. There’s a medal in the exhibition at the Nelson, Navy, Nation Gallery in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.

The Boulton’s Trafalgar Medal Design

The medal is struck in gold, silver, white metal, gilt-bronze or bronze and measured 48 mm in diameter.

The obverse shows the bust of Vice-Admiral Viscount Nelson with pigtail, in uniform and with ribbon and star of the Bath. An inscription reads: ‘HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE &‘.

The reverse shows a general view of the battle and the legend: ‘ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY‘. On the exergue is inscribed: ‘TRAFALGAR. OCTR. 21. 1805‘.

The medal was initially awarded without a ribbon or suspension but unofficially used a 32mm navy blue one.

The Highland Society’s Medal for Egypt 1801

The Highland Society’s Medal for Egypt 1801 was awarded by the Highland Society of London to all ranks of The Black Watch, or 42nd Regiment, for their conduct at the Battle of Alexandria on 21 March 1801, against the French.

General Abercromby commanded the British expedition to Egypt (landing at Aboukir Bay on 2 March 1801) in the face of strenuous French opposition in what is considered one of the most brilliant exploits of all times. Abercromby died after a surprise attack on 21 March and died aboard the flagship seven days later.

Medals in gold were presented to the Prince Regent and Abercromby’s sons, while later silver and bronze variations were awarded to senior officers of the expedition and soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the campaign.

The Highland and Agricultural Society (now Royal) was founded in 1784 to promote the development of agriculture in Scotland (and in particular in the Highlands).

The Highland Society’s Medal for Egypt 1801 Design

The medal is struck in gold or silver, and measures 49 mm in diameter. It was designed by Pidgeon.

The obverse bears the right-facing bust of General Sir Ralph Abercromby and a Latin inscription alluding to his death in Egypt. The reverse shows  a Gaelic inscription: “NA FIR A CHOISIN BUAIDHSAN EPHAIT“, or ‘These are the heroes who won Victory in Egypt‘ and the date 21 MAR 1801. On the edge is the inscription “On choumun Chaeleach D’on Fhreiceadan Dubh Na XLII RT” (or “From the London Highland Society to the Black Watch or 42nd Regt.)

The emblem of the sphinx was awarded as a battle honor to regiments that had distinguished themselves in the Egyptian Campaign of 1801.

The medals were originally awarded without a ribbon.

The Sultan’s Medal for Egypt

The Sultan’s Medal for Egypt was awarded by Sultan Selim III of Turkey to British Officers and NCOs for their participation in the Turkish campaign against the French in Egypt in 1801.

This medal was produced in five gold versions for award to different ranks of commissioned officers, and one silver version for award to sergeants and corporals.

Fewer than 100 First Class medals were ever awarded.

The Sultan’s Medal for Egypt Design

The medal is struck in gold or silver, and varies in size.

The obverse shows, within a ribboned arabesque floral wreath as a border, the Sultan’s toughra or monogram. The reverse bears, within a similar border, the crescent of the moon and an eight-pointed star.

The medals were originally suspended by a gold hook and chain, while the silver medals were hung from a sand-colored ribbon.