SILVER CROSS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1846.
Awarded to Staff-Surgeon Chas. Benson Brearey, M.D.
IRON CROSS FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1836.
Awarded to Staff-Surgeon John Callender.
H.E.I. Co.'s Meritorious Service Medal.—On May 20th, 1848, the Governor-General of India instituted a medal for meritorious service for distribution among the East India Company's troops. On the obverse is the bust of Queen Victoria as on the war medals of the period, with the date 1848 in the exergue, and on the reverse the arms of the Company encircled by the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The medal is 1¼ in. in diameter, and was suspended by a scroll clasp as used with the Sutlej medal by a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide. The name of the recipient was engraved in a neat running hand upon the edge of the medal. The issue of this medal was discontinued when the English variety was instituted. These medals have realised from £3 10s. to £5.
Distinguished Conduct Medal.—The next in chronological order is the medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, and was instituted on December 4th, 1854, as an indication of the "Sovereign's sense of the distinguished service and gallant conduct in the field of the army then serving in the Crimea." It was awarded to non-commissioned officers and privates only, and has since been given for gallant service in many other campaigns. By the decree the medal could be awarded after selection by the commanding officer. Originally a gratuity went with the medal, but that was discontinued in 1862. In 1881 it was decided that a bar bearing the full date of the action for which it was awarded should be given to a recipient who had again distinguished himself.
The obverse is like the Queen Victoria Long Service Medal, and on the reverse is the inscription FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD. The same kind of clasp as used with the Meritorious Service Medal is employed for suspension by a red ribbon with a broad blue stripe down the centre. The first medals issued had the name, rank, regiment, etc., impressed or engraved upon the edge in Roman capitals, but the modern medals are engraved, and generally bear the date of the action, while those issued during the reign of King Edward VII were impressed in small block capitals.