War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

Death of Nelson.—Meanwhile, one of the sharpshooters in the mizzen-top of the "Redoubtable" had given Viscount Nelson his death wound. At half-past one the fatal bullet passed through his shoulder and spine, but Britain's greatest admiral lived long enough to learn that the victory was his, and he died at 4.30 p.m. satisfied that he had done his duty. By 5.30 p.m. 18 of the enemy's ships had struck their colours, and the survivors of the fight were making the best of their way to Cadiz, but a gale coming on, the British fleet with its prizes stood out to sea, where some of the prizes foundered with their crews; others were driven ashore and wrecked, while four were retaken by the enemy, so that by the time the triumphant fleet sailed into Gibraltar Bay it only retained 4 prizes. The victory of Trafalgar had, however, made Britain indisputable mistress of the seas, destroyed the sea power of France and Spain, and, while it added to the laurels of British seamen, gave to Nelson a glorious death and secured for him a resting-place in Westminster Abbey.

The following ships were engaged in the battle: "Victory," "Royal Sovereign," "Temeraire," "Britannia," "Conqueror," "Neptune," "Agamemnon," "Leviathan," "Ajax," "Africa," "Minotaur," "Orion," "Belleisle," "Mars," "Thunderer," "Spartiate," "Bellerophon," "Achille," "Colossus," "Polyphemus," "Revenge," "Dreadnought," "Swiftsure," "Defence," "Defiance," "Prince" and "Tonnant." "Naiad," "Sirius," "Euryalus" and "Phœbe" frigates. The cutter "Entreprenaute" and the schooner "Pickle."

Gold Medal for Trafalgar.—As already stated, the gold medal instituted by George III to reward the officers of Lord Howe's fleet who took part in the action on "The Glorious" June 1st, 1794, was afterwards awarded for all great naval victories, and among those who received them were Nelson's officers—from post-captains upwards—who took part in the battle of Trafalgar. The gold medal was awarded for 18 different actions, the last award being for the fight between the "Endymion" frigate of 48 guns and the American 50-gun frigate "President" on January 15th, 1815. See facing page [280] for smaller type of medal as awarded to James (afterwards Right Hon. Admiral Lord James) Gambier of the "Defence" for June 1st, 1794.

HORATIUS COUNT NELSON, K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE

Boulton's Trafalgar Medal.—To commemorate the last and greatest of Nelson's victories, Matthew Boulton, the partner of James Watt of the famous Soho Works near Birmingham, decided to strike medals and present one to each participant in the fight. The medal, 1⁹∕₁₀ in. in diameter, bears on the obverse a fine bust of Nelson, with the inscription surrounding it HORATIO VISCOUNT NELSON. K.B. DUKE OF BRONTE. On the reverse the battle is represented en cameo, with the famous signal on a ribbon running with the line of the medal, and in the exergue TRAFALGAR OCT. 21 1805. On the edge of the medal is the inscription TO THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M. BOULTON. The medal was struck in silver for the senior officers, and in pewter for distribution among the junior officers and seamen. The intrinsic value of the medal did not, however, appeal to many of the recipients of the pewter variety, and they either refused them or threw them overboard. Those who retained them wore them suspended from a blue ribbon. A few were struck in bronze as proofs.

Davison's Trafalgar Medal.—This medal, generally supposed to have been struck at the instance of Mr. Alexander Davison for distribution among the surviving members of the crew of the "Victory," has on the obverse a shield bearing the arms of Nelson, encircled by a garter inscribed TRIA · JUNCTO · IN · UNO · ensigned by a bust of Viscount Nelson, with a laurel branch to the left, and a palm branch to the right, and on a scroll beneath the shield PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT and the double inscription ADMIRAL LORD NELSON D. OF BRONTE NATUS SEP. 29TH 1758. HOSTE DEVICTO REQUIEVIT OCT. 21ST 1805 and ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY. On the reverse is a man-of-war with sails furled, and above THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR. EXODUS C 15 V 3, whilst below is VICTORY OFF TRAFALGAR OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE & SPAIN OCT 21 1805. Beneath the man-of-war is HALLIDAY FECIT. The medals, 2 in. in diameter, were struck in pewter or white metal, and were sometimes framed by the recipients in gold, silver, or gilt metal rims, with a loop for suspension from a blue ribbon.

The Official Medal.—It was not until June 1st, 1847, that it was made known by a General Order that Her Majesty Queen Victoria had commanded that a medal should be struck, not only to commemorate the battle of Trafalgar, but to recognise the services rendered by her fleets and armies from 1793 to 1815. The medal was ready for distribution in January 1849, and later the naval services for which it might be awarded were extended to 1840. The admitted claims totalled 20,900.

(Reverse.)