TANCRED: HISTORICAL RECORD OF MEDALS AND HONORARY DISTINCTIONS

George Tancred’s work originally published in 1891, is now reprinted complete with all the superb illustratons.Tancred had catalogued Colonel Murray’s collection, this was a most fortunate liaison as Tancred was able to gain access to a host of numismatic rarities for the illustrations in his book.The Murray collection listed at the end of this work, included 188 MGS and 128 NGS medals, and the largest Regimental Medal collection ever assembled, from these and examples from other collections, Tancred has executed a superb and comprehensive illustrated text on the subject which appears in these pages.Tancred has set out in chronological order the awards bestowed under every monarch, from the Jewel and Star presented to Sir Francis Drake by Queen Elizabeth I, right through to those orders and decorations instituted by Queen Victoria. The NGS and MGS medal sections describes every bar action, naval and military, and opens with an extract from the July 1845 debate by the Duke of Richmond in the House of Lords, concerning the giving of decorations to all veterans of the Peninsular War, the Duke of Wellington’s negative comments make fascinating reading.The early wars in India and Afghanistan are fully detailed, some interesting official communications are reprinted including a directive to dispose of surplus medals and what eventually did happen to them.Other campaigns and their related medals are described in detail.With the Sutlej campaign a chart giving regimental strength, battle bar entitlement and number of unit casualties is set out. Among the many illustrations are included some scarce and seldom encountered awards such as: The Monghyr Mutiny medal 1766, First Burma War Medal 1826, Gold Star for Maharajpoor 1843, the Edwardes Gold Medal, for Special Services in the Punjab 1848. Gold Medal for Special Services during the Burmese War 1824-26. The Regimental, Special and Private medals section, a mammoth gathering of 118 individual illustrations with corresponding text, gives a most impressive visual and informative insight into this important area of rewards for exemplary service and skill at arms.Following the same theme a medal roll of recipients of the Army Best Shot Medal is included.The New Zealand Cross section tells the story of the troubled start to this attractive decoration and sets out the correspondence between Government House, Wellington and the ruffled Earl Granville in London.Included are the award statutes together with citations for 20 of the 23 crosses awarded.