THE GOLD CROSS AND CLASPS.[55]
Reading edition
THE GOLD CROSS AND CLASPS.[55]
Officers in the course of the war had received so many medals, that it became extremely inconvenient to wear them, and it was the practice for a short time to engrave the name of the second or third action on the medal originally given to them.[56] It was afterwards determined that only one 162medal should be worn by any officer; for every other action in which he might distinguish himself, a gold clasp, with the name of the event, was to be attached to the ribbon, until two clasps had been received. On the next occasion whereon he might signalize himself, a gold cross, having on each compartment the names of each of the four services, was to be conferred instead of the medal and clasps originally received. For every subsequent action a clasp was to be issued, to be attached to the ribbon above the cross. In the centre of the cross, which was fastened to the ribbon or swivel by a large ring, chased with laurel, is a lion statant; in each compartment, surrounded by an edge of laurel, is the name of the battle or action. Wreaths of laurel are also round the names of the actions on the clasps.
So much reluctance was evinced by officers to relinquish the original medals, that the design of having them returned was given up. When officers had received both the medals, as necessarily happened during the lengthened struggle in the Peninsula, the large one was worn, with the clasps of the actions for which the small medals had been conferred.
The following regulations regarding the grant of the Cross and clasps were published in the “London Gazette”:—
“Horse Guards, October 7th., 1813.
Whereas considerable inconvenience having been found to attend the increased number of medals, that have been issued in commemoration of the brilliant and distinguished events, in which the success of His Majesty’s arms has received the royal approbation, the Prince Regent has been pleased to command, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, that the following regulations shall be adopted, in the grant and circulation of such marks of distinction, namely,—
1st.—That one medal only shall be borne by each officer, recommended for such distinction.
2nd.—That for the second and third events, which may be 163subsequently commemorated in like manner, each individual recommended to bear the distinction, shall carry a gold clasp attached to the ribbon to which the medal is suspended, and inscribed with the name of the battle, or siege, to which it relates.
3rd.—That upon a claim being admitted to a fourth mark of distinction, a cross[57] shall be borne by each officer, with the names of the four battles, or sieges, respectively inscribed thereupon; and to be worn in substitution of the distinctions previously granted to such individuals.
4th.—Upon each occasion of a similar nature, that may occur subsequently to the grant of a cross, the clasp shall again be issued to those who have a claim to the additional distinction, to be borne on the ribbon to which the cross is suspended, in the same manner as described in No. 2, of these regulations.
His Royal Highness is further pleased to command, in the name and on behalf of his Majesty, that the distribution of medals, or badges, for military services of distinguished merit, shall be regulated as follows, namely,—
1st.—That no general, or other officer, shall be considered entitled to receive them, unless he has been personally, and particularly engaged upon those occasions of great importance and peculiar brilliancy, in commemoration of which the Prince Regent, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, may be graciously pleased to bestow such marks of distinction.
2nd.—That no officer shall be considered a candidate for the medal, or badge, except under the special selection and report 164of the Commander of the Forces upon the spot, as having merited the distinction by conspicuous services.
3rd.—That the Commander of the Forces shall transmit to the Commander-in-Chief, returns signed by himself, specifying the names and ranks of those officers whom he shall have selected as particularly deserving.
4th.—The Commander of the Forces, in making the selection, will restrict his choice to the undermentioned ranks,[58] namely,—General officers: Commanding officers of brigades; Commanding officers of artillery, or engineers; Adjutant-General, and Quartermaster-General, Deputies of Adjutant-General, and Quartermaster-General, having the rank of field officers; Assistants-Adjutant and Quartermaster-General, having the rank of field officers, and being at the head of the staff, with a detached corps, or distinct division of the army; Military Secretary, having the rank of field officer; Commanding officers of battalions, or corps equivalent thereto; and officers who may have succeeded to the actual command during the engagement, in consequence of the death, or removal, of the original commanding officer.
The Prince Regent is therefore graciously pleased to command, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, that, in commemoration of the brilliant victories obtained by His Majesty’s arms in the battles of Roleia and Vimiera, Corunna, Talavera de la Reyna, Busaco, Barrosa, Fuentes d’Onor, Albuhera, and Salamanca, and in the assaults and captures of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz, the officers of the army, present on those occasions, shall enjoy the privilege of bearing badges of distinction; and His Royal Highness having approved of the crosses, medals, and clasps, which have been prepared, is pleased to command that they shall be worn by the general officers, suspended by a ribbon the colour of the sash, with a blue edge, round the neck; and by the commanding officers of battalions, or corps equivalent thereto, and officers who may have succeeded to the actual command during the engagement, the chiefs of military departments, and their deputies and assistants, (having the rank of field officers,) and such other officers as may be specially recommended, attached by a ribbon of the same description to the button-hole of their uniform.
The Prince Regent is also pleased to command, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, that those badges which would have been conferred upon the officers who have fallen at, or died since, the above-named battles and sieges, shall, as a token of respect for their memories, be transmitted to their respective families.
By command of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent.
Frederick, Commander-in-Chief.
H. Torrens, Colonel and Military Secretary.”
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