War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

The obverse: An open ring formed by the body of a serpent—symbolic of eternity—on the head of which rests an inverted cross; around, on a plain band with simple, moulded edge is the motto, PRO PETRI SEDE▲ PIO · IX · P · M · A · XV▲. On the reverse, in the band, VICTORIA QVAE VINCIT MVNDVM FIDES NOSTRA *.

This (facing page [352]) is a circular medal, 1½ in. in diameter, with a plain, raised, double border, and a scroll bar and claw clip suspender, from a crimson ribbon, 1⅕ in. wide, with two white stripes, edged with yellow.

The Caucasus.—For services in the Caucasus between 1859-1864 the Emperor Alexander II granted a small silver medal 1¹∕₁₆ in. in diameter bearing on the obverse his bust in profile facing left, and on the reverse across the centre is the date 1859-1864 encircled by an inscription in Russian characters stating that it is awarded for the subjugation of the Western Caucasus.

A bronze Cross, with crossed swords between the arms, to be attached to the uniform by means of a ring and bar attachment, was also awarded for the same campaign. It bears the explanatory inscription across the horizontal arms and Alexander's initial in Russian character surmounted by the Russian Imperial crown in the upper arm, and the date 1864 in the lower arm. In the circle which occupies the centre is the Russian eagle. It is 1⁹∕₁₀ in. across the arms. (See facing page [364].)

The Polish Insurrection.—For the suppression of the Polish Insurrection a bronze medal, 1¹∕₁₆ in. in diameter, was granted to the Russian troops. It is suspended from a ¾ in. ribbon composed of three equal stripes of white, yellow, and black, and bears on the obverse the two-headed Imperial eagle, surmounted by the Imperial crown, holding in its claws the orb and sceptre. On the reverse across the centre is the date 1863-1864 encircled by the inscription, in Russian, "For the suppression of the Polish Rebellion."

Cross for König Grätz.—The Cross for König Grätz was awarded to the Prussian troops who fought against the Austrians during the sanguinary and disastrous seven weeks ("seven days") war in 1866. It was this short campaign which demonstrated the superiority of the needle gun or breech-loader, on the bolt principle, over the old-fashioned muzzle-loader used by the Austrians, who assert that they were defeated simply because it took them three or four times as long to load and fire their guns as it did the Prussians. In this fight, also called the battle of Sadowa, the Austrians lost 20,000 men placed hors de combat, and as many prisoners. The Prussian loss was 10,000.

The Cross, which is 1⅖ in. in diameter, bears in the centre the Royal Cypher W.R., surrounded by the legend PREUSSEN SIEGRIECHEM HEERE (To Prussia's victorious army); on the upper arm of the Cross is the Prussian crown, on the right arm GOTT MIT IHM, and on the left WAR UNS SEI, on the bottom arm is DIE EHRE. On the reverse is the crowned Prussian eagle, resting upon a cannon; on the upper arm is KONIG-GRATZ, on the left DENZ, on the right, JULI, and on the lower arm, 1866. The ribbon is of black corded silk, 1 in. wide, with narrow stripes of white and orange at the side. (See facing page [352].)

Geneva Cross, 1870-71.—This bears on the obverse a red enamelled Cross of four arms, with a silver indented border in the centre in white enamel, with a plain silver edge. Reverse: On a silver perpendicular lined surface, within a raised silver double border, above, 1870; below, 1871; between, AUX BLESSÉS DES ARMÉES DE TERRE ET DE MER. The cross has a ring and loop for suspension from a white ribbon, 1½ in. wide, with a red cross in the centre. This Cross appears to be like the one worn by King Edward VII.

The Silver Cross, 1½ in. in diameter, bears on the obverse, above, 1870; below, 1871; between, SOCIÉTÉ FRANÇAISE DE SECOURS AUX BLESSÉS DES ARMÉES DE TERRE ET DE MER. The reverse is plain, with a simple border. Ribbon, the same as the above. The Bronze Cross is the same, 1½ in. in diameter, and is also suspended from the white ribbon with the Geneva Cross in the centre. (See facing page [352].)

French Medal for 1870-71.—The bronze medal recently awarded by the French Government to the survivors of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 is what one might expect from an artistic nation. It is somewhat larger, however, than most French military medals. It bears on the obverse the helmeted and armour-clad bust of a woman, symbolising the Republic, with the legend REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE and on the reverse a finely arranged trophy of French arms, supporting the French tricolour, above a panel inscribed AUX DEFENSEURS DE LA PATRIE (To the defenders of the country). It is suspended by a green ribbon, with four black stripes of equal width. (See facing page [356].)