BRONZE MEDAL GIVEN BY LEOPOLD, GRAND DUKE OF BADEN, "FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE IN WAR."
SILVER MEDAL FOR SAN SEBASTIAN, 1836.
By the Warrant of April 12th, 1867, it was ordained that the Albert Medal of the First and Second Classes, severally inscribed "For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea," should be made only on a recommendation by the President of the Board of Trade; and in the Warrant dated April 30th, 1877, it was ordained that the award of the Albert Medal of the First and Second Classes, inscribed "For Gallantry in Saving Life on Land," should be made only on a recommendation by the First Lord of the Treasury. On September 13th, 1881, an amended Warrant was issued, ordaining that the award of the Albert Medal should be made only on a recommendation by the Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, "Providing always that the preliminary steps and inquiry concerning the award of the Albert Medals severally inscribed 'For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea' be, as heretofore, with the President of the Board of Trade." By Warrant dated April 30th, 1877, it was ordained that a register of the names of those who received the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea should be kept at the office of the Board of Trade. By Warrant dated Whitehall, March 24th, 1891, the previous Warrants bearing the dates April 30th, 1877, and September 13th, 1881, respectively, were amended, and it was ordained that the award of the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea should be made only on a recommendation of the Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, "Provided always that the preliminary steps and inquiry concerning the award shall, if the award be to any one belonging to the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines, be with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and in other cases with the President of the Board of Trade." Further, that a register of the names of those persons belonging to the Royal Navy or Royal Marines, upon whom the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea shall have been conferred, shall be kept at the offices of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. (See group facing p. [184].)
Distinguished Service Order.—By a Royal Warrant dated September 6th, 1866, Her Majesty Queen Victoria instituted the Distinguished Service Order for the purpose of recognising the special services of commissioned officers of the Army and Navy, likewise the Indian and Colonial Naval and Military Forces.
The badge consists of a gold cross patée, convexed, the ground enamelled white, leaving an edge of gold; on the obverse, in the centre, within two sprigs of laurel, enamelled green, is the Imperial Crown in gold, upon a red enamelled ground. On the reverse is the monogram V.R.I. within two branches of laurel, also upon a red enamelled ground. The badge is worn suspended from the left breast by a red ribbon edged with blue, 1 in. in width, from a gold laureated bar 1⅕ in. wide, fastened to the badge by two gold loops, and having a similar gold laureated bar with brooch attachment above. The award carries with it the right to append the letters D.S.O. after the recipient's name. (See facing page [208].)
The New Zealand Cross.—This was instituted by Order in Council at the Government House, Wellington, March 10th, 1869, and afterwards sanctioned by Her Majesty as "a Decorative Distinction to be conferred on members of the Militia, Volunteers, or Armed Constabulary, who may particularly distinguish themselves by their bravery in action, or devotion to their duty while on service." The conditions are almost exactly similar to those for the Victoria Cross, and the recipient received an annual pension of £10.
It is a silver Maltese cross, with bright silver double borders, having a six-pointed gold star on each arm. In the centre, in a circle, NEW ZEALAND surrounded by a wreath of laurel in gold. The cross is surmounted by a gold crown and attached to a crimson ribbon—1½ in. wide—by a silver bar ornamented with laurel, in gold, connected by a V and ring, in silver, with the top of the crown. The name of the recipient and the date of the action should be engraved on the back of the cross. Clasps may be added for additional acts of bravery or devotion. The clasp to be a silver bar across the ribbon, having a plain surface burnished and inscribed with the date of the occurrence for which the bar is given, and the name of the action—if any. Twenty-one officers and men have received this decoration. These crosses have realised from £15 to £25.