PREFACE.
Reading edition
When Napoleon proposed the institution of the Legion of Honour, he was met by the assertion that: “Crosses and ribbons were the pillars of an hereditary throne, and that they were unknown to the Romans, who conquered the world.” In his reply to this objection—after showing that Rome rewarded the achievements of her citizens by all kinds of distinctions—he added: “For the soldier, as for all men in active life, you must have glory and distinction; recompenses are the food which nourish military virtue.”
For many years a similar antagonistic feeling to the granting of Medals to all ranks prevailed in this country, although the propriety of rewarding the victors of a hundred fights with some decoration was warmly advocated by the press, and the result eagerly expected by the veterans who had survived.
It remained for her present Majesty the Queen to carry out the foregoing maxim of a great military genius, in her Army and Navy; for with vithe exception of the Medal given for Waterloo, the soldiers who won the fields of Assaye, Salamanca, and Vittoria, and the gallant seamen who conquered at St. Vincent, the Nile, and Trafalgar, remained undecorated till the year 1847, without even a piece of ribbon to show for the many actions in which they had risked their lives in the service and defence of their country.
The following Work, besides describing the Medals, aims at giving a concise account of the Campaigns and Actions for which Medals and Clasps have been conferred, drawn from the most authentic sources; interspersed with notes and anecdotes of regimental and individual acts of bravery. The engravings have been executed from the Medals themselves, so as to ensure their exact representation; and it is hoped the narratives of “How they were won,” will be found equally trustworthy, as no pains have been spared to secure accuracy.
The accounts of the Wars in New Zealand and South Africa, and of the numerous Expeditions for which the Indian General Service Medal has been granted, will be found in a more detailed and collected form than hitherto published in a single volume.
The first edition of this Work, by the late Mr. T. Carter, described the Medals of the British viiArmy, and the Campaigns for which they were granted, to the year 1860. This part has been carefully revised, and alterations either of excision or addition made in almost every page. For the accounts of all Expeditions and Battles, and the Decorations given for them, from 1860 to the present date, the Editor alone is responsible.
Descriptions of some Naval Engagements and Actions of Naval Brigades will also be found, as in most of the campaigns the operations of the two branches of the service have been so combined, that it is scarcely possible to describe one without the other.
A complete history of the Medals of the British Navy, and how they were won; forming a companion volume to the present, is now in the press, and will be published as speedily as possible.
W. H. L.
February, 1893.
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