The Army Gold Medal (1808–1814), also known as the Peninsular Gold Medal, with an accompanying Gold Cross, was a British campaign medal awarded in recognition of field and general officers' successful commands in campaigns, predominantly the Peninsular War.Gordon, page 45 It was not a general medal, since it was issued only to officers whose status was no less than that of battalion commander or equivalent.Dorling, pages 54-55
Background Naval Gold Medals had been awarded since 1794 to captains and admirals who had served in specified successful naval actions, with admirals' medals being larger.Dorling, page 53 In 1806, a special gold medal was presented to British Army majors and above who had taken a key part in the Battle of Maida. This medal, in diameter, shows the profile of King George III on the obverse with a reverse design incorporating Britannia and the Sicilian triskeles.
A general campaign medal for the Napoleonic Wars, awarded to all British troops irrespective of rank, would only be established in 1847.Mussell, page 129
Awards The Army Gold Medal was established in 1810 to reward service in Napoleonic War battles since 1808. Like the Maida Gold Medal, it was awarded only to majors and above and, like the Naval Gold Medal, it was awarded in two sizes, with the larger to senior officers.
When the Army Gold Medal was first established, a new one was issued for each action. In October 1813, to prevent a proliferation of awards to one recipient, an order was created instructing that only one medal be worn, with a ribbon clasp denoting the battle concerned for any further award. The fourth award was to be marked by a Gold Cross, replacing the earlier medals, with the names of each of the four battles on the arms of the cross. Again, clasps for attachment to the ribbon of the cross were presented for any successive awards.
The award could be made posthumously, and sent to the officer's family.
The total number awarded were:Gordon, page 46
Number awarded Clasps awarded Large Gold Medal88 medals43 clasps Small Gold Medal596 medals237 clasps Gold Cross163 crosses241 clasps
Six or more clasps The highest award was earned by the Duke of Wellington: a Cross with nine bars for a total of 13 actions.Joslin, page 65 It can be viewed on his uniform in the basement at Apsley House.
OfficerClaspsBattlesArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington13Roleia & Vimiera, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D'Onor, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, ToulouseWilliam Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford7Corunna, Busaco, Albuhera, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, ToulouseSir Denis Pack7Roleia & Vimiera, Corunna, Busaco, Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, ToulouseSir Colin Campbell6Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D'Onor, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, ToulouseSir Alexander Dickson6Busaco, Albuhera, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vittoria, San Sebastián, Nivelle, Nive, ToulouseSir George Murray6Corunna, Talavera, Busaco, Fuentes D'Onor, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse
Appearance The medal came in three styles, laid out below:Joslin, pages 65-68
The Large Gold Medal, was restricted to general officers.The medal was in diameter, and mounted in a gold frame, glazed on both sides.Obverse: Britannia with shield, seated and facing left and holding a laurel wreath in her right hand and a palm branch in her left. Behind her, the head of a lion can be seen.Reverse: A laurel wreath surround, with the name of the battle engraved in the centre, although that for Barrosa was die struck.Mussell, page 127The medal was worn around the neck.The designer was Thomas Wyon
The Small Gold Medal was awarded to officers between the rank of major and colonel.The medal was in diameter, mounted in a gold frame and glazed, and of the same design as the Large Medal.It was worn on the left chest, often from a buttonhole, with the ribbon attached via a wide curved suspender.
The Gold (or Peninsular) Cross was awarded to those who earned four or more gold medals, which it replaced. Worn around the neck, it is an ornamental cross pattée across, with a proud lion at its centre and the four qualifying actions embossed on its arms. The obverse and reverse are the same. Any further actions were marked with a clasp.The medal was worn around the neck with the ribbon attached via an ornate loop on top of the cross which passes through a smaller simpler ring below a straight suspender.The designer was Thomas Wyon.
The Clasps were of a common pattern for all awards, with the name of the battle within a wide laurel wreath frame.
The Ribbon for all the awards was broad crimson with blue borders, wide. This ribbon design had been used for the Maida Gold Medal and would later be used for the Waterloo and the Military General Service Medals and the Distinguished Service Order.
Naming. All awards had the name of the recipient engraved on the rim.
A Gold Collar and Cross was awarded to Duke of Wellington and to Viscount Beresford. This cross was of a similar design to the Army Gold Cross, but with a winged figure of Victory at its centre, with suspension from a chain of alternate lions and Union Flag oval medallions. The Gold Collar and Cross was a separate and additional award to the Army Gold Cross.Joslin, page 64
Discontinuation Following the Peninsular War, award of the gold medals and Crosses was discontinued when would-be recipients became eligible for Order of the Bath on its restructuring to three classes.Gordon, page 48
In 1847 the Military General Service Medal (MGSM) was authorised, to be retrospectively awarded to all surviving veterans of the campaigns, irrespective of rank. Holders of the gold medals, crosses or additional clasps were not eligible to claim identical clasps on the MGSM. The eligible battles and campaigns for the MGSM were identical, with the addition of Egypt.
The design of the cross is very similar to the later Victoria CrossDuckers, page 12 and is considered to have provided the inspiration.
Clasps Awards, both medals and clasps, were made for the following 27 battles and campaigns:Joslin, page 68
Roleia Vimiera Sahagun Benevente Sahagun and Benevente (If present at both actions) Corunna Martinique Talavera Guadaloupe Busaco Barrosa Fuentes D'Onor Albuhera Java Ciudad Rodrigo Badajoz Salamanca Fort Detroit Chateauguay Chrysler's Farm Vittoria Pyrenees St Sebastien Nivelle Nive Orthes Toulouse
The Battle of Maida in 1806 was commemorated by a gold medal of different design. On the obverse is depicted the laureate profile of George III, with the legend "GEORGIUS TERTIUS REX" punctuated by a cluster of oak leaves. The reverse features Britannia with shield and spear raised, surrounding Britannia is the name Maida, the date 1806 in roman numerals, a Sicilian Triskel, and beneath Britannia are two crossed spears.
See also :Category:Recipients of the Army Gold Cross :Category:Recipients of the Army Gold Medal
Notes
References Dorling, H. Taprell, (1956), Ribbons and Medals, A. H. Baldwin & Son
Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin (eds), (1988), British Battles and Medals, Spink
Mussell, J (ed), (2015), Medals Yearbook 2015, Token Publishing.
External links British Medals: Army Gold Medal British Medals: Army Gold Cross