Bicentenary Waterloo Medal 1815-2015

Picture of the medal from their site

 

In 1815 the Duke of Wellington proposed that everyone who fought in the British Army at Waterloo should be honoured with a medal, and 37,500 Campaign medals were originally made. 

To celebrate the bicentenary of the battle of Waterloo, The Royal London Mint have minted a solid bronze medal 36 mm in diameter  to remember that famous battle 200 years ago this year. A total of 500,000 are to be minted and only one per household may be sold.  

For a price of £2.95 plus £2.50 for P + P you will receive an official Waterloo 200 Medal folder containing the Certificate of Authenticity from the Worchester Medal Service.

The folder provides you with important Historical Background Information of the Battle of Waterloo and your very own Commemorative Waterloo Campaign Medal safe and elegantly. 

I have purchased one of these and it will be the nearest thing that I will ever get to owning my own Waterloo Medal. It’s a shame that it does not come with the Waterloo ribbon but for £5.45 pence I hope it’s going to be a good item to own even though they say it's "Free"!

Prussian Campaign Medal for 1815 (Waterloo Medal)

The medal was instituted by King Friedrich Wilhelm III at Frankfurt-am-Main on the 24^th December 1813 and amended on 3^rd October 1815 to be awarded to ‘all warriors who without exception, whether in the field or before a fortress, truly fought and uncompromisingly did their duty throughout this current conflict’. This circular gilt bronze medal with loop for ribbon suspension.

The ribbon colour was gold centre with black and white striped edging and 32mm in width. On the front of the medal it has a cross pattée with rays between the arms, the date “1815” centrally within a laurel wreath. On the reverse side with the crowned cipher of Friedrich Wilhelm III above the inscription “Preubens tapfern kriegern” (Prussia’s brave warriors) circumscribed ‘Gott war mit uns, Ihn sey die Ehre’ (God was with us To Him the Glory) On the edging is inscribed ‘AUSEROBERTEM GESCHUTZ’ (from captured cannon). This medal is a generic one as the same medal exists with other dates inscribed on the medal. They are 1813, 1814, 1813/1814 and 1815 and with square and rounded ends to the cross.

Nassau Waterloo Medal

Nassau Waterloo Medal 1815. The Nassaus's contingent consisted of roughly 3000 soldiers and saw a lot of action during the battles of Quatre-Bras and Waterloo. The Medal was made of Silver and was 28.9mm in diameter. The ribbon was dark blue with gold yellow edging. On the front is a bust of Friedrich August.

SOLD- Waterloo Medal's

On Saturday the 26th September 2010 at the McTear's Auctioneers of Glasgow, two Waterloo Medals went to Auction.
The first medal was from Sergeant James Draffen of the 2nd Battalion of the Grenadier Guards and was sold for £2,500, while a second medal was sold for £2,050.
This medal belonged to James Smith of the 1st Battalion of the 71st Regiment of Foot with the original ribbon still attached to the medal. Although I do not know the condition of the two, what a bargin for a bit of history.

Hanoverian Waterloo Medal

The Hanoverian medal was instituted by the Prince Regent for award to survivors from Hanover to all ranks who served at the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras and Waterloo 16th-18th June 1815.

The Medal was made of Silver and was 34.5 mm in Diameter. It was fitted with a steel ring and clip. The ribbon was crimson with dark blue edging.

The front shows the Bust of Prince George III facing right with the words – GEORG PRINZ REGENT 1815. On the reverse it has Laurels, standards with the words– HANNOVERSCHER TAPFERKEIT WATERLOO JUN XVIII. On the edge of this medal is impressed with details of the recipient. A total of 11,000 were made.

Brunswick Waterloo Medal

Authorised by the Prince Regent for the Battle of Quatre Bras and Waterloo the medal was issued to the contingent for the Dutchy of Brunswick.

The medal is made of Bronze and was 35 mm in diameter. The ribbon was gold yellow and pale blue striped. The front shows the Duke’s head who was mortally wounded on the 16th June 1815 at Quatre Bras. On the edging would be the recipient’s name. On the reverse side is a Loral reef with the date 1815 in the middle. A total of 6,000 were awarded to those who took part.

The 'Black Brunswickers' participated in many of the Napoleonic campaigns including Peninsular War.

Waterloo Medal

The Waterloo Medal was awarded to all rank and file of the British Army who took part in one or more of the battles at Ligny (16th June) Quatre Bras (16th June) and the Battle of Waterloo (18th June 1815).
The medal was issued from 1816-17 to every solider present at one or more of these battles. They were also credited with two extra years’ service, to count for all purposes.

The medal was made of silver and was 37 mm wide. On the front of the medal bears a effigy of the Prince Regent’s head with the inscription ‘GEORGE P. REGENT’, and on the reverse side is a engraving of the seated figure of Victory with the words ‘WELLINGTON’ and ‘WATERLOO’ with the date ‘JUNE 1815’ at the bottom. All of the lettering was in large impressed Roman capitals, with stars at the beginning and end of the naming. The medal had a steel clip and ring, which was always prone to rust. The ribbon was of crimson, with blue edges.

A total of 39,000 were awarded. Out of these 6000 were issued to Cavalry, 4000 to Guards, 16000 to line Regiments and 5000 to Artillery. In addition to the supply personal, 6,500 were awarded to the contingent of the Kings German Legion.

This was the first medal to be issued by the British Government to all soldiers who were present at any of the three battles. The Waterloo Medal was also the first campaign medal to be awarded to the next-of-kin of the men killed in action.

It was also the very first medal to have the recipient’s name engraved around the edge by machine.

On Saturday 26th September a rare Waterloo medal is to be sold for charity. The medal belonged to Sergeant James Draffen of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. It has been in his family for more than 180 years. It is expected to sell at between £2,500 and £3,000 when it goes under the hammer. The money will go to Help for Heroes charity.