A few medals were struck and given to pilots and fishermen; five to the crew of the "Leonora" in consideration of their courage and resolution in driving the Frenchmen (13 who had been placed as a prize crew on the captured ship to pilot her to France) then aboard her "off the Quarter-deck, and bringing the said shipp into England."
Boy's Medal for Gallantry.—In Dr. Payne's collection is a unique specimen of a Queen Anne medal awarded to a boy for conspicuous gallantry. On the obverse is the laureated bust of Queen Anne, facing left, draped, with a row of pearls about the shoulders, with the legend ANNA D : G : MAG : BRI : FR : ET HIB : REG :. The medal, which is 2·75 in. in diameter, has a raised border of laurel leaves and roses, and a ring for suspension. On the reverse is the inscription engraved in writing characters:
"Her Majties reward to Robert Taylor Boy of ye Mary Galley, for his Zeal and Courage at ye taking of ye French Privateer Jacques La Blonde of Dunkirk."
This medal, illustrated facing page [276], is one of the few struck during the reign of Queen Anne "to give all due Encouragement to the Valour and Fidelity of Her Subjects serving aboard any of Her Majesties Ships of War or Privateers." The cost of providing the medals, it was further ordered, was to be paid out of Her Majesty's share of prizes. This declaration, made on June 1st, 1702, in the first year of her reign, differs from the Act of 1692, which directed that they were to be provided out of a tenth part set aside for that special purpose.
George I.—During the reign of George I there is on record the award in 1715 of a gold enamelled jewel and £1,000 sterling to Captain Matthew Martin, Commander of the "Marlborough," for his gallant defence of his ship against three French ships-of-war in the Bay of Bengal, and getting her safely to Fort St. George in 1712. The medal, it will be observed, was awarded for an action in the reign of George's predecessor. It bore on the obverse the Arms of the East India Company, and was enamelled and set with diamonds; on the reverse was an inscription recording the services for which it was awarded. No official decoration was awarded for the victory of Sir George Byng over the Spanish fleet off Cape Passaro in the Mediterranean on July 31st, 1718, although a silver medal was struck to commemorate the event.
SILVER MEDAL AWARDED BY QUEEN ANNE TO A BOY FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY.
George II.—Commemorative medals were also struck in connection with the taking of Puerto Bello, in the Caribbean Sea, by Admiral Vernon with six ships in 1739. The city had about 10,000 inhabitants, and Vernon got possession of the place within forty-eight hours and destroyed the fortifications. There are several "Vernon" medals in existence, varying in size and shape, in white metal, bronze, and silver; but most have on the reverse "He took Porto Bello with Six Ships only." It is by no means certain that any of these medals were issued as official decorations.
Callis Gold Medal.—In 1742 a gold medal and chain of the value of £100 was awarded to Captain Smith Callis, R.N., for his gallant service in taking the "Duke" fireship into the Port of St. Tropez in Provence, on June 14th, and burning five Royal Spanish galleys which had fired upon the blockading fleet. On the obverse of the medal, which is 2·1 in. in diameter, George II, laureated and attired as a Roman Emperor, is represented in the act of presenting a medal to an officer. Under the group, at the top of the plain exergue, is the medallist's name T. PINGO F:. Above all on a ribbon is PRO TALIBVS AVSIS (For such enterprise), and on the reverse five galleys in shore with a squadron of ships-of-war preparing to attack, and in the exergue OB. V. TRIREM. HISPAN. A. S. CALLIS. COMBVST. V. IVLII. MDCCXLII. The date on the medal is the day on which the information was given of the successful venture; but the actual driving into port of the galleys, and the successful attack by the "Duke," was on June 14th. It is believed that the medal in silver was awarded to the other officers who took part in the general affair.