1845 Privates Patrick J. Hogan and Charles Holland. From H. R. H. Prince Albert. Each a case of mathematical drawing instruments, “as a mark of his approbation for merit in the execution of a survey and drawing of Windsor and its vicinity.”
1847 Corporal John Rae. From the Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. A case of mathematical drawing instruments, “for intelligence, zeal, and uniform good conduct in charge of the detachment employed in field-work instruction at the college.” Is now staff-sergeant at the college.
1847 Sergeant James Rainey Mutch. By the members of the Woolwich Literary and Scientific Institution. A silver snuff-box “for his valuable and successful services as secretary to the Institution.” This non-commissioned officer was chief clerk in the Assistant-Adjutant-General’s office at Chatham. His attainments are of a character to make his services very efficient and satisfactory. Having studied in King’s College, Aberdeen, where he graduated M.A., he has a fair knowledge of Greek and Latin, and is well grounded in mathematics. For many years, apart from his military duties, he held the office of secretary to the Woolwich Institution; and to his perseverance and untiring advocacy, it was mainly indebted for continuing so long in existence. When it passed from under his superintendence into other hands, it gradually lost energy and vitality, and, in time, uniting itself to a local speculation, fell to pieces with the insolvency of its new alliance. It should also be mentioned, to his credit, that sergeant Mutch had the honour of originating in Woolwich the movement in favour of the Great Exhibition. By consulting a few leading men, the project received the countenance it merited, and eventually, a meeting to extend the object, the largest demonstration ever known in Woolwich, was held in the riding-school, under the auspices of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Downman, who presided on the occasion.
1847 Private James Peat. Bronze medallion, from the Royal Humane Society, for prompt and intrepid conduct in assisting to rescue from drowning, two gunners of the royal artillery, who had sunk while bathing in St. Mary’s Creek. Private Peat was pontooning at the time.
1849 Privates William Thomas, Daniel Jones, and James Cray. Bronze medallion each, from the Royal Humane Society, “for their noble courage and humanity in endeavouring to rescue from drowning their comrade, private Joseph Cox, who had fallen into the river Medway, on the 26th April, 1849.” The first private, on a previous occasion, had jumped into the Medway after a civilian, and brought the body ashore too late for resuscitation.
1850 Private Robert McDonald. A handsomely-bound Polyglot Bible, from the teachers and children of the village of Elrig, Mochrum, “in token of his Christian benevolence in founding the Sabbath school at Elrig, and conducting it with unwearied labour and at much sacrifice of his limited means and time to its present flourishing condition.” The Bible was presented at a soiree, and Mr. Routledge, on the part of the meeting, “expressed the gratitude felt to private McDonald for having reclaimed so many poor children, and brought them together for a purpose so calculated to promote their interests.”
1851 Colour-sergeant John Carlin. Gold pen and engineering pencil-case, from Lord Frederick Fitzclarence, “for showing himself exceedingly clever in calculations of a rather puzzling nature, and being a most zealous, active, and painstaking non-commissioned officer.”
1852 Sergeant Henry Quodling. By a number of civilians at York. A case of professional instruments, “was a token of their affectionate regard on his leaving England for Van Diemen’s Land.” It was presented to him at a dinner provided by the subscribers; “and it must,” writes the ‘Yorkshire Gazette’ of June 12, 1852, “be highly gratifying to the members of the corps connected with the ordnance survey in the city, to find that their general conduct has been such, as to win for them the respect of the citizens of York.”
1854 Sergeant Benjamin Castledine. From the Governor of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. A case of mathematical drawing instruments, “for intelligence, zeal, and uniform good conduct in charge of the detachment employed in the field-work instruction at the college.”
1855 Quartermaster Michael Bradford. From the non-commissioned officers of the corps at Woolwich. An elegant double-handled silver goblet, “as a mark of regard and esteem.”