The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-06
BRITAIN'S WAR MEDALS.

4 7 'hls Tme. when 20 much Is
n being published concerning the
medals OF honor awarded soldiers
Of the warning armies for acts of BRAY
cry. II is interesting TO consider some OF
the medals and other distinctions which
have been awarded 10 the British
soldiers and sailors for gallant deeds in
the past. Although medals OF kind
are n existence dating from the time
Of Queen Elizabeth these cArltrv SpcCi-
mtps If mrdHliic art We're never issued
in any quantity ana We're only awarded
TO distinguished officers Of high rank.
Some OF them are Of considerable arts
tic merit and were probably intended
to be commemorative rather than worn
as decorations. An interesting example
of his class !s 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
'ranqu!lla " t,NIcuy for what service
tins was awarded is not known but
that It was intended o hc worn by the
recipient + Indicated 10y the presence
Of a ring for suspension.
Another specimen Of THIS period is
bus; OF tho Queen IN very high re
Lief holding the orb and sccptre and
a bay treo uI,uu an island on the re-
verse. This .s generally accepted a.
having been struck 10 commemorate
the defca, Of thu Spanish Armada. II is
large Oval piece over two inches N
length
special medal was ordered 10y
| Charles l. t. be presented 20 Roorlt
| Welch. an Irish soldier. who AZ a.,
battle OF Edgehiu N lG42 succeeded in
reCaptur.ug from he enemy the stand,
ard of the Kings own Regiment winch
| had fallen into the hands Of the Par
! liamentary forces. ON tn" mornu.
| following the hattie Mir WEIGH WAS
! kniGhted by the King This media
bears upon the diverse eni-ies ~ Tie
! King and of Prince Charles. amt ol
| the reverse the Royal Standard. MANY
! medals were awarded during the oiyi
I war to officers Of the RoyailSt ana Par
! lllmentary forces, but most of these ap
pear TO have been more Of the natur,
! Of party badges than rewards for dis
! tinction in IN" field.
After the battle of Dunbar In 1856
orders were given by Parliament -
prepare what were really the frs
medals to be presented to oficrrs an,
men alike. The Dunbar medal" %,
which name II is known, bears on IA,
diverse Il bust Of Oliver Cromwell sur
mounted 10y the words. "Nhe Lord %
7, Hosts" 1t must in fairness To Crum
well be recorded that IN letter to in,
committee Of the army upon the sub
: - bo Al ltStiIst1Nr
that he desired to he spared having Ni
engy upon Il. His modesty wds, how
ever ovcrrulcd and his portrait up
pearcd in spite of his protest, II ia IN,
wort, Of Thomas simon. the celcbrat.
.cucrHVer who designed and execute,
| Tho famous petition" crown Of Charle
H. simon executed u number Of Yer.
fine plaques and medals. which f.
beauty and artistic merit have ueN"
been surpassed.
Gutil the iutroductinu of the Ndtcrlo
medal in 1877 there Is no further rcuur
, of any medal being awarded to officer
, and men for military services. In 100
an act was passed providing for TN
, distribution vt "MCdals ana other I,
wards To naval officers, marines an
S'amcn, and lI the same Year tho |.
lluGNe medal which has on the divers
f., hus,s of KING William and Queen Mar,
Twas presented to officers who Mad take
p part m the action, while Queen Mar
sent $lIO,0U0 to he distributed anon
, the S,Nlicrs and sailors, Various col
medals continued 10 he struck through
f out the eighteenth century for preerl
. tatlou 10 distinguished officers i'm hot
b services and many of the gallant deco
! for which they were awarded proViu
, glorious pages of English history. Dul
: ing this period was introduced u cu~tul
/ initiated by officers of presenting
10 their non commissioned uiiircrs aud me
| what are known as ''rcgmrntU medals
| Some were made of Gold or silver, Other
r of pewter OF copper. and they lroscr
: great variety in design. Although ~
I official they provide a most intefestiu
3 series and arc Of considerable h 4 lrle
y. importance