You might think that after 100 years, the medal collecting community would have noted and recorded the various World War I service medals issued by various towns. However, there are always a few that get overlooked and this is one of those issues. Penfield, New York, a
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Special thanks to Dwight Mercer / aka Borden Battery, CEF Study Group, Canada or sharing their List of Recommended Great War Websites. Click here to download the PDF list
Read more →The condition of a medal can play an important role in whether or not a collector decides that it fits into his collection. Most collectors will shy away from a medal that shows obvious signs of abuse or odd condition problems. Here’s an example where condition plays
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Phenix City, Alabama, had always been a frontier sort of town. Just across the Chattahoochee River from Columbus, Georgia, and Fort Benning, it had been the home of bars, gambling dens and brothels until one night in 1954. That night brought out the National Guard to clear
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Connecticut Medal of Valor Established in 1955, the Connecticut Medal of Valor is the state’s highest award for military heroism in the performance of duty in state emergency operations. The criteria specify that the act be “conspicuous gallantry, at the risk of life, above and beyond the
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Donald Trump is not the first controversial politician in American history and probably won’t be the last. Governor (later Senator), Huey P. Long, of Louisiana, was among the most controversial politicians of his time and will always rank near the top of the list for colorful statements.
Read more →As a collector of American medals to foreigners and foreign medals to Americans, I often see unusual combinations of awards. However, in some cases, the medals are not extraordinary, but the back-story is. The US Army Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Sir
Read more →Since February is Black History Month, this is a medal relating to the largest mass movement among African-Americans in the early part of the 20th century. The Cross of African Redemption appears in numerous photographs of Marcus Garvey, who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). Marcus
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In 1995, the Russian Federation decided to award medals to about 9,000 Americans who had supported the Russian war effort in World War II. Many of the recipients were merchant seamen and Maritime Service personnel who had brought in millions of tons of supplies, equipment and food
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• Examination : in 1797 (PRO ADM 6/95/170-171).
• Lieutenant : on 16 December 1797 (2).
• Commander : on 27 April 1801 (13).
• Post-Captain : on 5 March 1808.
• Died: on 5 October 1832.
Sources:
Marshall, vol ix, p. 295.
The Complete Navy List 1793-1815 (CD).
Received the Small Naval Gold medal for Lissa, and also claimed this NGS clasp along with six other clasps. One of 3 confirmed 7 clasp NGS medals. Served on the ‘Flag Officer’s Committee” overseeing the institution of the NGS medal 1847-50. For more details see: O’Byrne (1949)
KCB 2 Jan 1815, Kt.B 29 Jun 1815, GCB 5 Jul 1855
Died on 8 Jan 1869
Received the Small Naval Gold medal for Surprise wh. Hermione, and claimed the NGS medal with clasp for this action as well. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849)
Kt.B 1 Feb 1800, KCB 2 Jan 1815, Bt 26 Jan 1819
Died on 21 Mar 1851
Received the Small Naval Gold Medal for Victorious wh. Rivoli, and also claimed the NGS with this clasp. His medal group sold at Spink in Jun 1982. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849)
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 5 Jul 1842
Died on 7 Jul 1851
For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 13 Nov 1827
Died on 28 Apr 1851
Admiral Robert Stopford (1768-1847)
Small Naval Gold medal for St. Domingo. He directed the operations that resulted in the capture of Java on 8 August 1811. His last active post, in his early seventies, was as commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean fleet during the Syrian War. Claimed the NGS medal with six clasps, the medal is in the NMM. Colonel of the Royal Marines on 9 November 1805. Governor of Greenwich Hospital from 1 May 1841 till his death. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 6 Jun 1831, GCMG 10 May 1837
Died on 25 June 1847
A veteran of the American Revolutionary War. Received the Small Naval Gold Medal for St. Vincent, which was stolen in 1900 from Greenwich Hospital (with Nelson’s Gold medals). Claimed the NGS medal with ‘St. Vincent’ clasp, the medal is in a private collection in the UK. Shown here as a GCB with Gold Medal. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 17 Nov 1830
Died on 28 Oct 1849
The man who burned Washington
Claimed a six clasp NGS medal, supposedly the only medal issued to a Rear Admiral. The medal is in the NMM. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 20 Feb 1818
Died on 19 Aug 1853
Sir Thomas Byam Martin, wearing the KCB star only, having been invested, but not installed in the Order yet.
A veteran of the American Revolutionary War. As Captain of HMS Santa Margarita captured the French frigate Tamise, June 1796. Commanding HMS Fisgard he captured the French Immortalité off Tory Island in October 1798. In the Baltic in August 1808, as Captain of HMS Implacable, took part in the capture the Russian ship Sewolod. Served on the ‘Flag Officer’s Committee’ overseeing the institution of the NGS medal in 1847-50. For more details see: O’Byrne (1849).
KCB 2 Jan 1815, GCB 3 Mar 1830, Kt.B 1814, KS (Sweden) 1808
Died on 21 Oct 1854
