After this glorious victory Mary founded Greenwich Hospital as a home for seamen who had been disabled in the service of their country.
Special Gold Medals.—A number of gold medals and chains were awarded during this reign for service at sea, and, although there is no data to go upon, it may be assumed that the obverse of the medals was struck from the die used for the La Hogue medal described; the reverse being left plain for an inscription, as is the case with the gold medal awarded to Captain Peter Jolliffe, Master of the "Sea Adventure" hoy, which bears on the reverse "His Maties' Gift as a Reward to Peter Jollif, of Poole, for his good service agt the enemy in retaking a Ketch of Weymouth from a French Privateer, and chaceing the said Privateer on Shoar near Lulworth in ye Isle of Purbeck, where shee was broken in pieces, 1694."
War Medals for Fishermen.—During the reign of William and Mary medals were not only given to those actually engaged in the profession of soldier or seaman, but to fishermen and merchant sailors who performed gallant deeds. Among the recipients was William Thompson, the master of a fishing-smack, who, with one man and a boy armed with a couple of small guns and a few muskets, attacked, on May 30th, 1695, a French privateer armed with two guns and manned by sixteen seamen, which he defeated and captured after two hours' fighting. For this service he was awarded a gold chain and medal of the value of £50, and allowed to retain the vessel he had conquered.
As far as can be ascertained, no medals for land service were issued during the reigns of William and Mary, 1689-94, and William III 1694-1702.
Queen Anne.—For the brilliant attack on Vigo, October 12th, 1702, Queen Anne caused medals to be struck for distribution among the officers of the fleet who had taken part in the victory. Vice-Admiral Hopson was made a knight, and granted a pension for his particular service. The medal bears on the obverse the bust of the Queen, as on the medal described hereafter, and on the reverse a representation of the engagement, with the date.
Lampriere Gold Medal.—Captain James Lampriere was, in 1703, awarded a gold medal, and probably a chain also, as there is a ring for suspension, as
"Her Majties reward to Capt. James Lampriere for his Zeal to her Service, and his Successful Conducting ye Squadron commanded by Rear Admiral Dilkes, who destroyed a considerable number of ye Enemy's Merchant Ships under convey of 3 Men of War on their own coast."
This inscription is engraved in writing characters upon the reverse of the gold medal, with the Arms of Lampriere below, with the motto TRUE · TO · MY · TRUST · on a ribbon. On the obverse is the bust of Queen Anne, facing left, wearing the Royal Crown with a row of pearls in her hair, and round her neck the Collar and Star of the order of the Garter, surrounded by the legend ANNA · DEI · GRATIA · MAG : BRITAN : FRA : ET · HIB : REGINA.
Granville, 1703.—It is said that gold medals were presented to Rear-Admiral Dilkes and his officers for their success near Granville in Normandy in July 1703; but there is no official record of their being granted. But to Captain Thomas Legge, who distinguished himself under Rear-Admiral Dilkes in the same year a gold medal was specially struck to commemorate his gallantry, and Campbell states in his "Naval History" that "The Queen ... ordered gold medals to be struck on this occasion and delivered to the Rear-Admiral and all his officers," and Lampriere was one of the officers.
Capture of Gibraltar.—Medals were struck in this reign to celebrate the capture of Gibraltar by Sir G. Rooke in 1704; but they were not, as far as I can ascertain, issued as decorations.