The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-23 00:00:00

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

On the 21st of April last the following notice
appeared in the Gazette
"The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her
intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on

the undermentioned midshipman and seamen of the Royal
Navy, whose claims to the same have been submitted for
her Majesty's approval, on account of the gallantry dis-
played by them during the operations in the Straits of
Simone Seki, Japan, as recorded against their names, viz. :
" Mr. Duncan Gordon Boyes, midshipman, of her Ma-
jesty's ship Euryalus, for the conspicuous gallantry which,
according to the testimony of Captain Alexander, C. 8., at
that time flag-captain to Vice-Admiral ' Sir A. Kuper,
K.C.8., Mr. Boyes displayed on the occasion of the capture
of the enemy's stockade. He carried a colour with the lead-
ing company, kept it in advance of all, in the face of the

thickest fire, hiscolour-sergeants having fallen, one mor•

tally, the other dangerously, wounded ;and he was only
detained from proceeding yet further by the orders of his
superior officer. The colour he carried was six times pierced
by musket balls. Thomas Pride, captain of the after-guard
of her Majesty's ship Euryalus, the survivor of the two
colour-sergeants who supported Mr. Boyes in the gallant
rush which he made in advance of the attack, is also recom-
mended for the Victoria Cross for his conduct on this oc-
casion.—Date of acts of bravery, Sept. 6, 1864.
" William Seeley, ordinary seaman of her Majesty's ship
Euryalus, for the intelligence and daring which, according
to the testimony of Lieut. Edwards, commanding the 3d
company, ho exhibited in ascertaining the enemy's position
and for continuing to retain his position in front during
the advance, after he had been wounded in the arm.—Date
of act of bravery, Sept. 6, 1864."

At that date her Majesty's ship Euryalus was
carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Kuper in Japanese
waters, and the ceremony of presentation of the
crosses was therefore deferred until their arrival in
England. The Euryalus arrived home during the
present month, has since been undergoing the pro-
cess of dismantling alongside Portsmouthdockyard,
this morning will be paid out of commission, and the
presentation of the crosses took place on Southsea-
common, Portsmouth, yesterday, by Admiral Sir
K Seymour, G.C.8., Naval Commander-in-Chief
at Portsmouth, as the representative of her Majesty
oti the occasion.

A general order, dated her Majesty's ship Victory,
Sept. 19, stated that—

" The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having
transmitted to Admiral Sir Michael Seymour decorations
of the Victoria Cross, which the Oueen has been pleased to
confer upon Mr. Duncan Gordon Boyce, midshipman, Thos.
Pride, Captain of the Afterguard, and Wm. Seeley, ordi-
nary seamen of her Majesty's ship Euryalus, to commemo-
rate acts of bravery performed by them during operations
in the Straits of Simono Seki, Japan, and her Majesty hav-
ing signified her commands that these decorations should
be presented in such a public and formal manner as may
be considered best adapted to evince her Majesty's sense of
the noble daring displayed by them before the enemy, and
to testify hes wish that a decoration which officers and men
equally share may be highly prized and eagerly sought after
by all, of whatever rank or degree, in her Majesty's naval
and military services, their lordships specially command
that in the discharge of this duty nothing should bo omitted
that might tend to redound to the honour of the officer and
men and enhance the value of the decoration."

The order further contained instructions for the
assembly of the seamen and marines of her Majesty's
ships in port and at Spithead on Southsea-common,
and also of the Royal Marine Artillery and Light
Infantry from their respective head-quarters at
-Fort Cumberland and Forton. All officers, petty
officers, seamen, and marines who had already
received the decoration of the Victoria Cross were
directed to assemble right and left of the Comman-
der-in-Chief, Sir M. Seymour, to assist at the pre-
sentation. The captains, commanders, and officers
of the fleet were invited to attend, captains and
commanders to be considered as part of the Admi-

ral's staff. All officers taking part in the ceremony
to wear full dress uniform with white trousers, petty
officers and seamen in blue jackets, white frocks
and trousers, and black hats, and the Royal Marine
Artillery and Light Infantry in full parade dress
uniform.

Every means were thus taken by the authorities,
in accordance with the Queen's wishes and the Ad-
miralty instructions, to render the ceremony of the
investiture of the order as impressive as possible.
The general public evinced equal interest to be
present on so exceptional and gratifying an oc-
casion, and by the time the leading divisions of
seamen and marines debouched upon Southsea-
common many thousands of people had congregated.
The Naval Brigade was under the command of
Captain Astley Cooper Key, C. 8., commanding
her Majesty's ship Excellent, and consisted of two
battalions—the right battalion being under the
command of Captain Herbert, of the Royal Sove-
reign, and composed of six companies of seamen
from her Majesty's ship Excellent. The left bat-
talion being composed of six companies from her
Majesty's ships Excellent, Terrible, Research, Scor-
pion, and Royal Sovereign, under the command of
Captain Wilmshurst, of her Majesty's ship Research.
To the brigade was attached a battery of field pieces
from the Excellent manned by fine hardy-looking
seamen, under the command of Lieutenant Pouldan
of the Excellent. To this brigade was also attached
the officers and crew of the Euryalus, under the
command of Captain Dowell, C.B.
The Royal Marine Artillery and Light Infantry
were formed into one brigade under the command
of Colonel Tate, Colonel Commandant of the Royal
Marine Artillery ; Lieutenant and Adjutant Colomb,
of the Royal Marine Artillery, performed the duties
of Brigade-Major to the naval as well as the marine
brigade. On the whole force reaching the Com-
mon it was formed in line of brigades, facing the
sea, the field-battery being on the right of the line ;
the brigade of seamen next, succeeded by the
Royal Marine Light Infantry, and the Marine
Artillery holding the left of the line. The officers
and crew of the Euryalus at the same time fell 'in
right and left of and facing the saluting point, past
which the force was to march past on the arrival
of the Commander-in-Chief. In a central and
prominent position stood the young officer and the
two
seamen who were to receive the decoration,
supported by Captain Highßrournzgeoyncreo,ssof
V.C., and
several men wearing the b
the
order. Captain Geerling, with the lieutenants,
four petty officers, and thirty seamen from his
Dutch Majesty's screw corvette Water now
numbernow
lying in Portsmouth, occupied a
position near the
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an immense number of people
on the esplanade ,between the saluting flag and the

sea beach, and, indeed, on all sides of the square
piece of ground selected for the march past, and the
subsequent investiture of the crosses.
The ground was kept by men of the Royal Marine
Artillery, or rather, was attempted to be kept, for
the crowd of people on the Common was become so
dense by the time the carriage containing the Com-
mander-in-Chief arrived on the ground that it was
evident the civil element held possession at pleasure,
and that the line of soldiers would be quite insuffi-
cient to keep the crowd back at any critical moment
of excitement.

Admiral Sir M. Seymour alighted from his car-
riage in front of the line soon after 2 p.m., and was
received with a general salute. So soon as Sir
Michael had taken his stand, surrounded by his staff,
at the saluting point, the line of seamen and marines,
artillery, and light infantry broke into open column,
right in front, and marched past in quick time in
open columns of companies, the field battery of six
12-pounder Armstrong guns, each with a dozen stout
seamen in the drag ropes, doing their work with a
joyous energy that conjured up visions of the famous
naval brigades of the Crimea and India, and of the
gallant Sir Wm. Peel. The small-arm men of the
Naval Brigade next followed, looking as formidable
with cutlass and rifle as their shipmates ahead of
them with heavier weapons. To the Naval Brigade
succeeded the corps which so worthily bear the motto,
" Per mare, per terram,"—the Royal Marine Artil-
lery and Light Infantry.
Immediately the marching past was concluded the
men were formed in a hollow square, the Naval
Brigade being in the centre, with the artillery and
infantry of the Marines on either flank, and the offi-
cers andcrew of the Euryalus in advance.

Midshipman Duncan Gordon Boyes, captain of
the after-guard Thomas Pride, and ordinary seaman
William Seeley, were then called to the front to
receive the decoration from the hand of Sir Michael
Seymour. _ _

Sir Michael, addressing each of them by name,
said,—l will commence my duty by reading an ex-
tract from the London Gazette of April 21, 1865, hav-
ing done which the gallant admiral continued—The
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have com-
municated to me the Queen's commands to take
the earliest fitting opportunity to present to you
the decoration of the Victoria Cross in such a
public and formal manner as I might consider best
adapted to evince her Majesty's sense of the noble
daring displayed by you before the enemy, and
to testify her will that a decoration, which officers
and men equally share, may be highly prized
and eagerly sought after by all, of whatever rank
or degree, in her Majesty's naval and military ser-
vices. Their lordships have also specially directed
that in the discharge of this duty I should omit
nothing which might tend to redound to your hon-
our or enhance the value of the decoration. I hare,
therefore, assembled here this day the large body of
officers, and seamen, and the Royal Marine Artil-
lery, and Light Infantry, by whom we are now
surrounded, to witness
.your reception of this dis-
tinguished decoration. You will also see by my
side those here who have already reccived the Vic-
toria Cross, and their presence here and co-opera-
tion in this gratifying act of duty is the highest
honour I could pay you. I now invest you with
the Victoria Cross for valour, in the presence of
your gallant brothers in arms of both services, and
that of the numerous inhabitants of the town and
its neighbourhood, who evince by their presence
here in such large numbers their interest in this
ceremony ; and I earnestly hope that in your
future careers you will pursue the same course of
duty which has gained for you this signal mark of
her MajesV's approbation.
Sir Michael having fastened the crosses on .the
breasts of the recipients her Majesty's ship Victory
fired a Royal salute of 21 guns, the bands of the
Royal Marine Artillery and Infantry struck up
" God save the Queen," seamen and marines pre-
sented arms, and the ceremony was over--over so
far as the military part of the programme was con-
cerned, for it was now the turn of the crowd, which,
breaking through the lines of sentries in undulating
masses, surged round Sir Michael Seymour and his
three heroes, and raised cheer upon cheer until the
Common rang again.
In the evening the officers of her Majesty's ship
Victory gave a dinner on board their ship in honour
of the occasion.