The Doggersbank Medal

• Time Period: Pre-WW1
• Institution: 1781
• Country: Netherlands

The Doggersbank Medal was awarded to the officers who took part in the battle of Doggersbank, a naval battle that took place on 5 August 1781 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War.

Both sides claimed victory although no ships were captured and both convoys escaped. Casualties were high on both sides, considering the number of ships involved. Because the Dutch merchantmen reached the harbor and the British fleet first left the battlefield, it was a victory in the eyes of the Dutch.

The Netherlands honored the fleet with numerous parades, receptions, poems and plays. As well as receiving a monetary reward, surviving officers, midshipmen and non-commissioned officers weew awarded a commemorative medal, the Doggersbank Medaille. Nineteen gold medals with a red, white and blue ribbon were awarded to Admiral Zoutman, his first officer (Van Kinsbergen) and the 17 captains of the escorting fleet. Willem V personally hung them around the neck of the flag and supreme officers.

The Doggersbank Medal Design

The Doggersbank medal is oval in shape and thirty-six millimeters high.

On the obverse, the winged Goddess Victoria is depicted on the bow of a warship. In her right hand she holds a wreath of leaves and on the hull of the ship is written “DOGGERSBANK“. Beginning at her right foot and ending at the wreath of  foliage, the left side of the medal reads “PAX QVAERITVR BELLO” (Latin for: “Peace is achieved through war“). The date of the battle “V AVG MDCCLXXXI” (August 5, 1781) is indicated on the right side of the medal.

The reverse of the medal features the text “EXI MIÆ VIRTU TIS PRÆM IVM” (“As a reward for outstanding prowess“) in a wreath of orange tree leaves.

The senior officers received silver medals on the same ribbon. The lieutenants received a silver medal on an orange ribbon.