CONTINENTAL PENINSULAR MEDALS
Alcantara Medal.—For the battle of Alcantara a medal of gold was given to some of the officers, and Dr. Payne has in his collection one awarded to Brigadier-General William Mayne, K.T.S., late Colonel Loyal Lusitana Legion, which by his kindness I am able to illustrate. It is 17∕20 in. in diameter, enclosed in a gold-rimmed glass case, suspended from a gold-hinged waved bar 17∕10 in. long by a salmon-pink ribbon 1½ in. wide, with a gold buckle attached thereto. On the obverse is engraved an outstretched sleeved arm and hand, below is the word CUIDADO, and above an eye, the whole within a wreath of palm and olive. On the reverse is the inscription, in bold Roman capitals, AL MERITO, and underneath, in script, "De la Juntade Gobierno y guerra de la Villa de Alcantara MDCCCIX." On the rim the name of the recipient is engraved in Spanish: AL CORONEL MAYNE DE LA LEAL LEGION LUZITANA.
Gold Cross for Albuhera.[4]—On March 1st, 1815, it was decided by the Spanish Government to issue a cross to Generals, officers, and men of the army of Estremadura, who had distinguished themselves at the battle of Albuhera on March 16th, 1811. This is an oblong, four-pointed cross of gold enamelled red, the points terminating in gold knobs, having red enamelled gold-edged flames issuing between the arms of the cross. In the centre of the cross, on a white enamelled ground, is the letter F in script, with VII in gold, surrounded by a frosted gold oval band bearing the inscription in bright gold letters AL BUHE RA. The cross is suspended from a squat green enamelled laurel wreath, to which is fixed a gold loop and ring for attachment to the ribbon, which is 1½ in. wide, and red with blue edges.
[4] Should be Albuera, but is spelt ALBUHERA on cross, also bars.
Gold Cross for Vittoria.—On April 22nd, 1815, a gold enamelled cross was instituted in Spain for presentation to officers to commemorate the battle of Vittoria, June 21st, 1813. The battle was won by the division of the 4th Corps of the Army, under the command of the Captain-General, the Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo (Wellington), and Field-Marshal D. Francisco Thomas de Longa. The cross is 1⅕ in. in diameter, and enamelled white with a red four-pointed star (see facing page [36]), and between the cross, which is enamelled the same both sides, is a green enamelled laurel wreath; the cross is suspended from a gold Spanish crown surmounted by an orb ensigned with a gold fleur-de-lis; the ring for attachment to the ribbon being run through the ball. On the obverse is a white enamelled circle with gold borders encircling a red irradiated ground, whereon are three gold crossed swords, with a gold ribbon (inverted) bearing the motto IRURAG BAT. On the reverse, on a domed gold ground, is the legend in raised stamped letters, arranged in three lines, RECOMPENSA DE LA BATALLA DE VITTORIA. This cross depends from a 1½ in. ribbon composed of equal stripes of black, crimson, and pale blue.
Gold Cross for Commanders.—This gold cross, as the illustration facing page [28] shows, is star-like in form, but owing to the number of engagements recorded the number of arms varies. This particular cross, weighing nearly 2 oz., was awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Brunton, of the 13th Light Dragoons, late of the Portuguese Service, and forms part of the great collection of Dr. A. A. Payne. The cross was instituted by King John VI of Portugal, on July 26th, 1816, and was given to British officers who served on the Portuguese Staff during the Peninsular War, and who were in command of divisions, brigades, or regiments. The arms of this cross, enamelled white, have double points terminating in gold beads, resting on a blue enamelled band bearing a gold wreath of laurel; on each of the arms is a green enamelled torpedo-shaped overlay, each recording the name of an action in which the recipient was engaged: a gold scroll forms the attachment for the loop which carries the broad red ribbon, edged with blue, by which the cross was suspended from the neck. On the obverse a small gold bust of King John occupies the centre, which is enamelled light blue surrounded by a conventional continuous border of leaves. On the reverse, within a similar band, but on a white enamelled ground, are the initials of the recipient. Sir Denis Pack was awarded the cross with eleven actions recorded on it.
Officers' Gold Crosses.—King John VI also instituted, on July 26th, 1816, an officer's cross for bestowal upon those officers who had participated in all or any of the six campaigns which were fought during the Peninsular War. The cross of gold was awarded to all who fought in at least three campaigns, crosses of silver being given to those who had only been engaged in one or two. The cross illustrated was given to Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Brunton, for service in four campaigns. It has four ornamental arms, 111∕20 in. long, resting upon a green enamelled laurel wreath. In the centre of the obverse are the arms of Portugal in gold on a convex ground, surrounded by a blue enamelled circle, with the inscription GUERRA PENINSULAR. On the reverse is a continuous gold wreath of laurel, enclosing the pierced Roman numerals indicative of the total campaigns in which the recipient was engaged. The loop to carry the broad red blue-edged ribbon is attached to the cross by means of an inverted husk of gold. The gold cross, awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Edward Brackenbury, differs somewhat from that awarded to Colonel Burton. The arms on the obverse of the cross are 17∕20 in. long, and the coat-of-arms is of a somewhat different character, and is not surmounted by a crown. On the reverse the single gold pierced figure 4 is within a blue enamelled circle. A gold ball and swivel bar are used for attachment to a blue watered ribbon 1⅗ in. wide.
Officer's Silver Cross.—This was of the same size as Lieutenant-Colonel Brackenbury's, and suspended from a gold swivel bar, but the ribbon for suspension was blue silk ribbed, with broad pale yellow borders; the width 1⅗ in.
Crosses for Ciudad Rodrigo.—These were instituted on December 6th, 1819, for bestowal upon those who had distinguished themselves at the sorties on July 10th, 1810. They were given in gold to officers and in silver to privates who comprised the garrison. The cross has four arms, with blue enamelled edges tipped with gold beads. On the obverse is a gold tower, with rays issuing therefrom, upon a red enamelled ground enclosed by a white enamelled oval band. On the reverse is an inscription in gold letters upon a white enamelled ground, VALOR ACREDITADO EN CIUDAD RODRIGO. (See facing page [36].)