Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-12-15

published concerning the medals of
honor awarded soldiers of the warning
armies for acts of bravery, 1T Is inter-
| esting to consider some of the medals
and other distinctions which have been
awarded to the British soldiers and
! sailors for gallant deeds in the past.
Although medals of a kind are in ex-
istence dating from the time of Queen
! Elizabeth. the earlier specimens of
/ medallic art were never issued in any
quantity, and were only awarded to dis
tinguished officers of high rank. Some
of them are of considerable artistic
merit and were probably intended to be
commemorative rather than worn as
decorations. An interesting example of
| this class Is the well-known ARK in
Flood medal of Queen Elizabeth. which
bears her portrait on the diverse, and
on the reverse an ark upon the food,
with the inscription Per undas sevas
tranquilla' Exactly for what service
this was awarded is not known, but
that 1t was intended to be worn by the
recipient is indicated by the presence
of a ring for suspension.
Another specimen of this period is
one bearing on the diverse a crowned
bust of the Queen in very high relief
holding the orb and scepter and bay
tree upon an island on the reverse. This
is generally accepted as having been
struck to commemorate the defeat Of
the Spanish Armada. 1t is a large oval
piece over two inches in length.
A special medal was ordered by
Charles ]. to be presented to Robert
WEIGH an Irish soldier, who at the
battle of Edgehill in 1912 succeeded in
recapturing from the enemy the stand
ard of the Kings Own Regiment. which
had fallen into the hands of the Parlia-
mentary forces. On the morning fol-
lowing the battle Mr.. WEIGH was Knight
ed by the King. This medal bears upon
Prince Charles and on the reverse the
Royal Standard. Many medals were
awarded during the civil war to officers
of the Royalist and Parliamentary
forces but most of these appear to
have been more Of the nature of party
badges than rewards for distinction in
the field.
After the battle of Dunbar, in 1850.
orders were given by Parliament to pre-
pare what were really the first medals
to be presented to officers and men
alike. The Dunbar Medal" by which
name it Is known, bears on the diverse
bust of Oliver Cromwell, surmounted
| by the words, THE Lord of Hosts" 1t
must, in fairness to Cromwell, be re-
corded that in letter to the committee
of the army upon the subject of the
medal he distinctly stated that he de-
sired to be spared having his effigy
upon it, His modesty was, however,
| oyerruled and his portrait appeared in
/ spite of his protest. 1t Is the work OF
| Thomas Simon, the celebrated engraver.
who designed and executed the famous
/ petition" crown of Charles II. Simon
executed a number of very fine plaques
and medals, which for beauty and arts
tic merit have never been surpassed.
Until the introduction of the Water
| loo Medal, in 1917. there is no further
record of any medal being awarded to
officers and men for military services.
In 1892 an act was passed providing for
| the distribution of medals and other
rewards to naval officers, marines and
seamen. and in the same year the La
Hogue Medal, which has on the OBJ
verse busts of King william and Queen
Mary, was presented to officers who had
taken part in the action, while Queen
Mary sent $4,000 to be distributed
among the soldiers and sailors Vari-
GUS gold medals continued to be struck
throughout the eighteenth century for
presentation to distinguished officers in
both services, and many of the gallant
deeds for which they were awarded pro-
vide glorious pages of English history.
During this period was introduced a
custom initiated by officers of present.
! ing to the noncommissfoned officers and
men what are known as "regimental
medals" Some were made of gold or
silver. others of pewter or copper, and
they present great variety in design.
Although unofficial, they provide a most
interesting series and are of consider
able historical Importance.
A well-earned special medal was that
presented in 1913 to Lieutenant Latham,
of the Bluffs. 1t was subscribed for by
his brother officers to commemorate his
gallant action in preventing the King s
colors from falling into the hands of
the enemy at the battle of Albuera. The
members Of the color party in charge of
the standard having all been put out of
action, it was seized by Lieutenant La
than, who chung to 1t in spite Of fear
full wounds. and when at last he was
knocked down and trampled upon he
managed to conceal 1t beneath his body.
He was found later on apparently dead
with the colors still in hts possession.
and eventually recovered from his
wounds.
In 1916. at the suggestion of the
Duke of Wellington. orders were given
by the Prince Regent that in comment
grafton of the victory of Waterloo a
medal should be conferred upon every
officer and soldier present upon that
memorable occasion.
Thus originated the famous Waterloo
medal, which bears on the diverse a
bust of the Prince Regent and on the
reverse a figure Of Victory, the design
of which is copied from the reverse OF
a well-known coin of Ellis, struck a,
the finest period of Greek art. When
the distribution of these medals tool
place, great dissatisfaction WIS felt by
| veterans of similar actions in the
Peninsnlar war that their SERVICES
should be unrecognized. and 1t would