Under this heading I might have placed several of those earlier medals which were awarded when campaign medals had not been instituted, but the record for our purpose may begin with the institution of the Meritorious Service Medal on December 19th, 1845, when Her Majesty Queen Victoria decreed that a sum of not more than £2,000 per annum should be set aside for the payment of rewards in the form of annuities not exceeding £20, to sergeants recommended by the Commander-in-Chief in recognition of meritorious or distinguished services. The sum for disbursement was increased to £4,000 in June 1853. This medal bears on the obverse the diademed head of Queen Victoria, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA, and generally has the date of institution in the exergue, but in some of the earlier, and in the later issues also, the date is omitted. On the reverse (as illustrated facing page 136) is the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE, surmounted by a crown, and encircled by a broad wreath of laurel. The suspender is of the same pattern as that issued with the India 1854 medal, and the decoration depends from a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide when worn by military sergeants, and a blue ribbon by sergeants of marines, who in 1849 were also granted the medal. Until November 1902 this medal could not be worn with the L.S. and G.C. medal. These medals realise from £3 to £4 10s. in the sale-room.

H.E.I. Co.'s Meritorious Service Medal.—On May 20th, 1848, the Governor-General of India instituted a medal for meritorious service for distribution among the East India Company's troops. On the obverse is the bust of Queen Victoria as on the war medals of the period, with the date 1848 in the exergue, and on the reverse the arms of the Company encircled by the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The medal is 1¼ in. in diameter, and was suspended by a scroll clasp as used with the Sutlej medal by a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide. The name of the recipient was engraved in a neat running hand upon the edge of the medal. The issue of this medal was discontinued when the English variety was instituted. These medals have realised from £3 10s. to £5.

Distinguished Conduct Medal.—The next in chronological order is the medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, and was instituted on December 4th, 1854, as an indication of the "Sovereign's sense of the distinguished service and gallant conduct in the field of the army then serving in the Crimea." It was awarded to non-commissioned officers and privates only, and has since been given for gallant service in many other campaigns. By the decree the medal could be awarded after selection by the commanding officer. Originally a gratuity went with the medal, but that was discontinued in 1862. In 1881 it was decided that a bar bearing the full date of the action for which it was awarded should be given to a recipient who had again distinguished himself.

The obverse is like the Queen Victoria Long Service Medal, and on the reverse is the inscription FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD. The same kind of clasp as used with the Meritorious Service Medal is employed for suspension by a red ribbon with a broad blue stripe down the centre. The first medals issued had the name, rank, regiment, etc., impressed or engraved upon the edge in Roman capitals, but the modern medals are engraved, and generally bear the date of the action, while those issued during the reign of King Edward VII were impressed in small block capitals.

These medals (see facing page 140) realise from £4 to £7 7s. in the sale-room, generally with a war medal representing the campaign in which it was gained. Groups are relatively higher.

Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.—This medal was instituted on August 13th, 1855, as a reward to petty officers, sailors, non-commissioned officers, and privates in the marines who had distinguished themselves in the Crimean War. With it gratuities were given ranging from £5 to £15. In 1874, after the Ashantee War, it was again decided to issue the medal, and to grant annuities to chief and first-class petty officers, and sergeants of marines, whenever the annual grant authorised by the Treasury had not been exceeded. This medal has the same obverse as the Meritorious Service Medal, and the reverse is practically the same, except for the inscription, which is FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY. The first medals issued were struck from the same die as the Meritorious Service Medal, the second and third lines being erased, and the words CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY engraved in Roman capitals. The suspender in the first issue was the same as that used with the sister medal for the army, but in the second issue, which commenced in 1874, a straight bar was used for suspension from a blue ribbon with a broad white stripe down the centre. The names on these medals are engraved in capital Roman letters like the naming on the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The medal issued during the reign of King Edward VII bore upon the obverse the same bust of His Majesty in Admiral's uniform as is used on the Naval Long Service and Good Conduct medals granted by him. These medals realise from £3 10s. to £5, but a medal of the first issue, together with the Baltic medal awarded to George Belding of H.M.S. "Firefly," realised £59.

The Victoria Cross.—This coveted decoration was first suggested by the Prince Consort, and Queen Victoria being desirous of taking into her royal consideration a means of adequately rewarding the individual gallant services, either of officers of the lower grades in the naval and military service, or of warrant and petty officers, seamen, and marines, ordained by Royal Warrant on June 29th, 1856, that "the cross shall only be awarded to those officers or men who have served us in the presence of the enemy, and shall have performed some signal act of valour or devotion to their country." With the cross an annuity of £10 is awarded to warrant officers, seamen and marines, non-commissioned officers, and privates, and for each additional bar £5 per annum is added to the annuity. In July 1898, owing to the unfortunate condition to which a recipient had been reduced, and so induced to sell his cross, it was decided that the Home Secretary might, in his discretion, increase the annuity to £50. On April 23rd, 1881, the warrant was revised to enable officers of any grade to receive the medal, and on August 8th, 1902, King Edward sanctioned the posthumous award of the cross, and of its issue to relatives of deceased men who had earned it; prior to this the brave fellows' names had been gazetted only. The new regulation was retrospective, so that the surviving representatives of men who had earned the cross as long ago as the Indian Mutiny received the bronze token of their relative's valour.

The cross (facing page 136) carries with it the right to append V.C. after the recipient's name.

The cross is made from captured cannon, and is not, as is generally and wrongly described, a Maltese cross, but a cross patÉe. It bears in the centre of the obverse the royal crest of a lion passant gardant upon the British crown, with a ribbon inscribed FOR VALOUR in a semicircle beneath it, the ends tucked under the raised edge. The cross has a pierced semicircular lug, through which a simple link is run to attach the cross to the laureated suspender by a V. The obverse has raised edges like the front, but the centre is circular. The name, rank, regiment or ship to which the recipient was attached is engraved upon the back of the suspender, and the record of the act which gained the decoration inside the circle on the back of the cross. The cross is suspended by a dark-red ribbon, 1½ in. wide, by military recipients, and by a dark-blue ribbon by naval recipients. The cross, owing to the fact that it is cast and chased, has often been copied, and I have had in my possession one which, but for its size, would have deceived experts, but it had the faults of all cast copies, having shrunk in the casting, and this is the one way of telling a fraud, although it generally needs the genuine article for comparison. The V.C. has realised in the sale-room from £43 for a lieutenant's won in the Mutiny to £175 for a private's won before Sebastopol.

The only Victoria Cross awarded for gallant services not in "the presence of the enemy" was given to Private Timothy O'Hea for extinguishing a fire in an ammunition van during the Fenian Raid in Canada, 1866. It sold in August 1900 for £50.

The Albert Medal.—The Albert Medal, commonly called "The Civilian's Victoria Cross," was originally instituted by Queen Victoria under a Royal Warrant dated March 7th, 1866, as a reward for heroic actions performed in saving life at sea. On April 12th, 1867, the Warrant was revoked by a second which instituted two new decorations respectively styled The Albert Medal of the First Class and The Albert Medal of the Second Class, the original Warrant instituting one class only. Ten years later, on April 30th, 1877, Her Majesty Queen Victoria signed another Warrant which extended the decorations to cases of gallantry in saving life on land.

By the Warrant of April 12th, 1867, it was ordained that the Albert Medal of the First and Second Classes, severally inscribed "For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea," should be made only on a recommendation by the President of the Board of Trade; and in the Warrant dated April 30th, 1877, it was ordained that the award of the Albert Medal of the First and Second Classes, inscribed "For Gallantry in Saving Life on Land," should be made only on a recommendation by the First Lord of the Treasury. On September 13th, 1881, an amended Warrant was issued, ordaining that the award of the Albert Medal should be made only on a recommendation by the Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, "Providing always that the preliminary steps and inquiry concerning the award of the Albert Medals severally inscribed 'For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea' be, as heretofore, with the President of the Board of Trade." By Warrant dated April 30th, 1877, it was ordained that a register of the names of those who received the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea should be kept at the office of the Board of Trade. By Warrant dated Whitehall, March 24th, 1891, the previous Warrants bearing the dates April 30th, 1877, and September 13th, 1881, respectively, were amended, and it was ordained that the award of the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea should be made only on a recommendation of the Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department, "Provided always that the preliminary steps and inquiry concerning the award shall, if the award be to any one belonging to the Royal Navy or the Royal Marines, be with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and in other cases with the President of the Board of Trade." Further, that a register of the names of those persons belonging to the Royal Navy or Royal Marines, upon whom the Albert Medal for Saving Life at Sea shall have been conferred, shall be kept at the offices of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. (See group facing p. 184.)

Distinguished Service Order.—By a Royal Warrant dated September 6th, 1866, Her Majesty Queen Victoria instituted the Distinguished Service Order for the purpose of recognising the special services of commissioned officers of the Army and Navy, likewise the Indian and Colonial Naval and Military Forces.

The badge consists of a gold cross patÉe, convexed, the ground enamelled white, leaving an edge of gold; on the obverse, in the centre, within two sprigs of laurel, enamelled green, is the Imperial Crown in gold, upon a red enamelled ground. On the reverse is the monogram V.R.I. within two branches of laurel, also upon a red enamelled ground. The badge is worn suspended from the left breast by a red ribbon edged with blue, 1 in. in width, from a gold laureated bar 1? in. wide, fastened to the badge by two gold loops, and having a similar gold laureated bar with brooch attachment above. The award carries with it the right to append the letters D.S.O. after the recipient's name. (See facing page 208.)

The New Zealand Cross.—This was instituted by Order in Council at the Government House, Wellington, March 10th, 1869, and afterwards sanctioned by Her Majesty as "a Decorative Distinction to be conferred on members of the Militia, Volunteers, or Armed Constabulary, who may particularly distinguish themselves by their bravery in action, or devotion to their duty while on service." The conditions are almost exactly similar to those for the Victoria Cross, and the recipient received an annual pension of £10.

It is a silver Maltese cross, with bright silver double borders, having a six-pointed gold star on each arm. In the centre, in a circle, NEW ZEALAND surrounded by a wreath of laurel in gold. The cross is surmounted by a gold crown and attached to a crimson ribbon—1½ in. wide—by a silver bar ornamented with laurel, in gold, connected by a V and ring, in silver, with the top of the crown. The name of the recipient and the date of the action should be engraved on the back of the cross. Clasps may be added for additional acts of bravery or devotion. The clasp to be a silver bar across the ribbon, having a plain surface burnished and inscribed with the date of the occurrence for which the bar is given, and the name of the action—if any. Twenty-one officers and men have received this decoration. These crosses have realised from £15 to £25.

India Distinguished Service Medal.—This medal was instituted on June 28th, 1907, by an Army Order published in Simla as a reward for both commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the regular and other forces in India. It bears on the obverse the bust of King Edward VII, and on the reverse a laurel wreath encircling the words FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. The medal, 1? in. in diameter, is ordered to be worn immediately to the right of all war medals, suspended by a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide, with blue edges ? in. wide. This medal may be conferred by the Viceroy of India.

Conspicuous Service Cross.—This cross was instituted by King Edward VII on June 28th, 1901, as a reward for "distinguished service before the enemy," for bestowal upon warrant officers and subordinate officers of the fleet who do not hold commissions in the navy. No person can be nominated for the cross unless his services shall have been marked by a special mention of his name in dispatches by the Admiral, or senior naval or military officer commanding the squadron or detached force.

The cross (facing page 208) is of silver, patÉe in form, and convex. It bears on the obverse the monogram E.R.I. surrounded by a raised border, surmounted by the imperial crown, with ring for suspension from a blue ribbon with a white stripe down the centre like that used for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. The reverse is plain. The recipient has the right to append the letters C.S.C. to his name.

Indian Order of Merit.—This reward of valour takes chronological precedence over those decorations already described. It was instituted by the H.E.I. Co. in 1837, to reward personal bravery without any reference to length of service or good conduct, and is the Sepoy's Victoria Cross (facing page 136.)

It is divided into three classes and is awarded to native officers and men for distinguished conduct in the field. On the advancement from one class to another the star is surrendered to the Government, and the superior class substituted, but in the event of the death of the recipient his relatives retain the decoration. The order carries with it an increase of one-third in the pay of the recipient, and in the event of his death the allowance is continued to his widow for three years. The First Class consists of a star of eight points, 1? in. in diameter, having in the centre a ground of dark-blue enamel bearing crossed swords in gold, within a gold circle, and the inscription REWARD OF VALOUR, the whole being surmounted by two wreaths of laurel in gold. The Second Class star is of silver, with the wreaths of laurel in gold; and the Third Class entirely of silver. The decoration is suspended from a simple loop and bar from a dark-blue ribbon 1½ in. in width with red edges, bearing a gold or silver buckle according to class.

The Indian Order of Merit realises from £2 10s. to £8 8s. in the sale-room according to class and action for which it was awarded. It is noteworthy, however, that in June 1900 the following prices were paid in the auction-room: First Class, £58; Second Class, £40; and Third Class, £35. When the order is unnamed, as it was issued, and there is no record of the services for which it was earned, prices invariably range lower than these.

Order of British India.—This order was instituted at the same time as the Order of Merit, to reward native commissioned officers for long and faithful service in the Indian Army. Since 1878, however, any person, European or native, holding a commission in a native regiment, became eligible for admission to the Order without reference to creed or colour. The First Class consists of a gold eight-pointed radiated star 1½ in. in diameter. The centre is occupied by a lion statant gardant upon a ground of light-blue enamel, within a dark-blue band inscribed ORDER OF BRITISH INDIA, and encircled by two laurel wreaths of gold. A gold loop and ring are attached to the crown for suspension from a broad ornamental band ⁹/₁₀ in. in diameter, through which the ribbon, once blue, now red, is passed for suspension from the neck. The Second Class is 1⁷/₁₀ in. in diameter with dark-blue enamelled centre; there is no crown on this class, and the suspender is formed of an ornamental gold loop. The reverse is plain in both classes. The First Class carries with it the title Sirdar Bahadur, and an additional allowance of two rupees a day; and the second the title of Bahadur, and an extra allowance of one rupee per day.

India Meritorious Service Medal.—This was instituted on July 27th, 1888, and on receipt of the medal the order states "a non-commissioned officer must surrender his Long Service and Good Conduct medal"; but on being promoted to a commission he may retain the M.S. medal, but the annuity attached to it will cease. On the obverse is the diademed bust of Queen Victoria facing left, with a veil falling over the crown behind, encircled by the legend VICTORIA KAISAR-I-HIND. On the reverse is a wreath of lotus leaves enclosing a wreath of palm tied at the base, having a star beneath; between the two wreaths is the inscription FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. Within the palm wreath is the word INDIA. The medal, 1? in. in diameter, is suspended from a scroll by means of a red ribbon 1¼ in. wide.

The medals issued during the reigns of Queen Victoria's successors bear on the obverse their bust in profile with the legend altered to EDWARDVS or GEORGIVS. The Victoria medals have realised from £3 3s. to £4 10s., and those of King Edward £4 to £5.

Egyptian Medal for Bravery.—As a means of rewarding N.C.O.'s and men of the Egyptian Army who distinguish themselves on the field of battle, the Khedive Abbas II instituted in May 1913 the silver medal illustrated. It is 1? in. in diameter and depends from a pale-blue ribbed ribbon and a suspender of the same pattern as the British Distinguished Conduct Medal. It bears on the obverse the cypher of Abbas Hilmi El Thani (Abbas II) and on the reverse in the upper half of the field FOR BRAVERY, and in the lower half in Arabic characters EL SHAHAMA, which is the equivalent of the English lettering above it.

Distinguished Service Cross.—As already explained on page 343, His Majesty King Edward VII instituted the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1901 to reward "distinguished service before the enemy" on the part of warrant or acting warrant officers and subordinate officers of His Majesty's Fleet who do not hold naval commissions. On October 14th, 1914, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty—being "of opinion that it would be desirable to enable the said Cross to be granted also to commissioned officers" of the Navy below the rank of Lieutenant-Commander "for meritorious or distinguished services in cases where those services may not be considered sufficient to warrant the appointment of such officers to the Distinguished Service Order"—memorialised His Majesty King George V, who graciously approved of the suggestion that the Cross be in future designated the Distinguished Service Cross with the right to the recipient to append the letters D.S.C. to his name. The Cross is identical with the Conspicuous Service Cross, illustrated on page 208, except in the change of the Royal Cypher, G.R.I. replacing E.R.I. on the obverse. The ribbon, from which the decoration is suspended is dark blue with a broad white stripe down the centre. The decoration, facing page 208, is made by Messrs. Garrard & Co.

Naval Distinguished Service Medal.—In response to a memorial from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, His Majesty King George V decided at the Court held at Buckingham Palace on October 14th, 1914, to institute a medal for courageous service in war by chief petty officers, petty officers, and men of His Majesty's Navy, and by non-commissioned officers and men of His Majesty's Corps of Royal Marines, and all other persons holding corresponding positions in His Majesty's Service afloat, in cases where the award of the Conspicuous Service Medal would be inappropriate (Her Majesty Queen Victoria having instituted it as an award for pre-eminent bravery in action with the enemy), the Distinguished Service Medal will be awarded to such men "as may at any time show themselves to the fore in action, and set an example of bravery and resource under fire without performing acts of such pre-eminent bravery as would render them eligible for the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal."

The design of the Naval Distinguished Service Medal is the same as the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, except that the suspender is straight and the obverse bears the profile of His Majesty King George V and the reverse FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. The decoration is suspended by a dark-blue ribbon, 1¼ in. wide, with two broad white stripes down the centre divided by a thin dark-blue stripe. (See page 252 for squeezes, the medal not being struck at time of going to press.)

The Military Cross.—Following the institution of the Cross and medal above described, His Majesty King George V, by a Royal Warrant published as a supplement to the London Gazette on December 31st, 1914, announced that he had instituted a new decoration to be known as The Military Cross for distinguished service in time of war. The decoration consists of a silver cross, having on each arm the Imperial Crown, and bearing in the centre the letters G.R.I. The Royal Warrant states that "No person shall be eligible for this decoration unless he is a captain, a commissioned officer of a lower grade, or a warrant officer in Our army, or Our Indian or Colonial Military Forces, and the Cross shall be awarded only to officers of the above ranks on recommendation by the Principal Secretary of State for War," and that "The Cross shall be worn immediately after all Orders and before all decorations and medals (the Victoria Cross alone excepted), and shall be worn on the left breast pendant from a riband 1? in. in width which shall be in colour white with a purple stripe." The Cross does not carry with it any individual preference or entitle the recipient to use any letters after his name. The list of first recipients of the decoration was published the same day, included in the list being Lieutenant Dimmer, K.R.R.C., a ranker, who has also the distinction of winning the V.C. in the European War now waging.