The Peninsula Campaign was two years old before any medals were authorized to commemorate the successful major operations therein. The battles of Roleia (Rolica), Vimiera, Corunna and Talavera had all been fought before the Army Gold Medals were instituted under general order, Sept. 9, 181o. In addition to the foregoing the Army Gold Medal was authorized for officers, not below the rank of battalion commander, for the following opera tions : Sa/iagun, Benevente, Busaco, Barossa, Fuentes d'Onor, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, St. Sebastian, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse. Originally a separate medal was awarded for each separate opera tion and many officers became entitled to several medals. This, however, caused inconvenience to the recipients and a new sys tem was instituted in 1813 under which only one medal was to be borne by each officer entitled thereto. For the second and third occasions gold clasps, the first ever sanctioned, were added to the medal ribbon, and on becoming entitled to a fourth mark of distinction the medal was surrendered and a Gold Cross issued in its place, on the four arms of which were inscribed the f our battles for which marks of distinction had been awarded. On becoming entitled to a fifth or further marks of distinction, gold bars inscribed with the name of each battle were added to the Gold Cross ribbon. The substitution of a cross for a medal was never repeated.
Of the 20 operations in the Peninsula Campaign for which medals, crosses and clasps were awarded, the Duke of Wellington had distinctions for 14, viz. (a) inscribed on the Gold Cross:— Roleia and V imiera, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes d'Onor, (b) clasps to the Gold Cross: Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes and Toulouse.
The first war medal to be issued to all ranks, alike in all re spects, was the Waterloo Medal—this, at the suggestion of the Duke of Wellington.
The fact that the Waterloo Medal, the China Medal (184o-42) and the Jellalabad Medal (1842) were given to all ranks alike without discrimination, appears to have started an agitation amongst those who had taken part in operations for which the Army Gold Medal and Gold Cross had been awarded but for which they were not eligible, owing to their rank. In this case, the Duke of Wellington opposed granting such a medal but it was adopted as the Army General Service Medal. The Military Rib band was worn with the medal. It was usually referred to as the Peninsula Medal, colour being lent to the idea by Wellington's figure appearing thereon, but it included campaigns in which Wellington had no military concern. Clasps were added.
The grant of the Army G.S.M. naturally led to a similar medal being authorized for the Navy, the Navy General Service Medal which covered operations from 1793 to those off the coast of Syria in 1840. Clasps included: Howe's Victory (June 1, 1794), Camp erdown (Oct. II, 1797), Nile (Aug. 1, 1798), Copenhagen (April 2, 1801), Trafalgar (Oct. 21, 1805), Navarino (Oct. 20, 1827).
Later medals commemorate service in the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, New Zealand campaigns and those in Egypt.
The Honourable East India Company followed the example of the home Government and instituted the "India 1851" medal. Four further India general service medals have been granted to cover operations from 1895-98, 1901-02, and from 1908 to 1928. For the late Lord Roberts' march from Kabul to Kanda har in 1880 there is a bronze, known as Roberts' Star. For minor campaigns, the General Service Medal is granted.
Other awards of lesser degree in this class are : Distinguished Service Order, instituted in 1886 and the Military Cross (1914); only officers are eligible for the award. Distinguished Conduct Medal instituted in 1854, also the Military Medal (1916) ; only "other ranks" are eligible for the award. Meritorious Service Medal, instituted in 1845, awarded to sergeants as a reward for distinguished or meritorious service; it carries a gratuity. Con spicuous Gallantry Medal, originally sanctioned for Crimean War only, reinstituted 1874 and now available for any war; only "other ranks" of Royal Navy and Royal Marines are eligible for the award. Indian Distinguished Service Medal, instituted 1907, only Indian officers and "other ranks" are eligible. The Royal Air Force has medals, etc., comparable to the foregoing. See also on next page under Other Medals and Decorations.