Naval Gold Medal

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Naval Gold Medal
Naval Gold Medal. Cigarette Card.png
Obverse, with suspension of the small medal
Type Campaign medal
Awarded forCommand in battle
Presented by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
EligibilityAdmirals and captains, Royal Navy
Campaign(s)French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars 1793–1814
Anglo-American War of 1812
Clasps None
Established1794
Total22 large and 117 small medals
Naval General Service Medal 1847 BAR.svg
Ribbon
Lord Nelson wearing large gold medals for St. Vincent and the Nile. With a later posthumous award for Trafalgar, he was the sole recipient of three large gold medals. Admiral nelson.jpg
Lord Nelson wearing large gold medals for St. Vincent and the Nile. With a later posthumous award for Trafalgar, he was the sole recipient of three large gold medals.
Admiral Sir Charles Knowles wearing a small gold medal for St. Vincent, where he commanded HMS Goliath. Ad Sir Charles Henry Knowles Bt.jpg
Admiral Sir Charles Knowles wearing a small gold medal for St. Vincent, where he commanded HMS Goliath.

The Naval Gold Medal was awarded between 1793 and 1815 to senior officers of the Royal Navy for specified actions.

Contents

Two different sizes were struck. 22 large medals were awarded to flag officers (admirals), commodores and captains of the fleet. 117 smaller medals were awarded to captains. [1] As a separate medal was awarded for each action, it was possible for a recipient to receive and wear more than one. [2]

Awards of the gold medal were discontinued after 1815, as would-be recipients became eligible for the Order of the Bath on its enlargement to three classes. [3]

Appearance

Awards

The coat of arms of the 1st Viscount Duncan was augmented with the Naval Gold Medal after his victory at the battle of Camperdown Arms of Duncan, Viscount Duncan.svg
The coat of arms of the 1st Viscount Duncan was augmented with the Naval Gold Medal after his victory at the battle of Camperdown

Following the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794, the Naval Gold Medal was instituted to reward those admirals and captains who had been conspicuous for courage in that action, as well as those who might distinguish themselves on future occasions. [6]

In spite of representations made by Lord Nelson, no medal was authorised for the Battle of Copenhagen, due to concerns that it may offend the Danes. [1]

Recipients surviving until 1847 were entitled to apply for the Naval General Service Medal with the appropriate clasps. [3]

Gold Medals were issued by the Admiralty for the following actions. [4] Only selected captains received a medal for the Glorious First of June, [7] otherwise all captains or acting captains were recipients.

ActionDateLarge
Medals
Small
Medals
French Revolutionary Wars 1793–1802
Battle of the Glorious First of June 1 June 1794817
Battle of Cape St Vincent 14 February 1797615
Battle of Camperdown 11 October 1797215
Battle of the Nile 1 August 1798114
Recapture of HMS Hermione by HMS Surprise 25 October 179901
Napoleonic Wars 1803–1815
Battle of Trafalgar 21 October 1805327
Battle of Cape Ortegal 4 November 180504
Battle of San Domingo 6 February 180628
Capture of the island of Curaçao by HMS Arethusa 1 January 180704
Capture of Turkish frigate Badere Zaffere by HMS Seahorse 5-6 July 180801
Capture of French frigate Thétis by HMS Amethyst 10 November 180801
Capture of French frigate Furieuse by HMS Bonne Citoyenne 6 July 180901 [8]
Capture of Banda Neira 9 August 181001 [9]
Battle of Lissa 13 March 181104 [9]
Capture of the French ship of the line Rivoli by HMS Victorious 22 February 181201
Capture of the French frigate Étoile by HMS Hebrus27 March 181401
War of 1812 1812–1815
Capture of USS Chesapeake by HMS Shannon 1 June 181301
Capture of USS President by HMS Endymion 15 January 181501
Total22117

Some notable recipients

Only three Naval officers earned three gold medals: [10]

Other selected awards are listed below:

Large Gold Medal

Small Gold Medal

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Ribbons and Medals, page 54
  2. Medals Yearbook, page 122
  3. 1 2 3 Observer Book of British Awards, pages 72-73
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Battles and Medals, pages 32-33
  5. Ribbons and Medals, page 56
  6. "Berryhill and Sturgeon website".
  7. Only awarded to captains specifically mentioned in Lord Howe’s report. See article on Lord Collingwood, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Vol 12, page 673
  8. Battles and Medals, page 51
  9. 1 2 Battles and Medals, page 53
  10. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Vol 12, page 673

Bibliography