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 . 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.
19-651: Gold Cross or Golden Cross may refer to: Awards [ edit ] Army Gold Cross , British Army award of the Napoleonic wars German awards: German Cross in Gold , a Nazi Germany military award Cross of Honor of the German Mother , a Nazi Germany civilian award Spanish Cross in Gold , a Nazi Germany award given to certain Germans who participated in
38-406: A Cross with nine bars for a total of 13 actions. It can be viewed on his uniform in the basement at Apsley House . The medal came in three styles, laid out below: The Large Gold Medal , was restricted to general officers. The medal was 2.12 inches (54 mm) in diameter, and mounted in a gold frame, glazed on both sides. Obverse: Britannia with shield, seated and facing left and holding
57-611: A Polish military award instituted in 1942 Places in the United Kingdom [ edit ] Golden Cross, Herstmonceux , East Sussex, a hamlet in the Pevensey Levels Golden Cross, East Sussex , a small village in Chiddingly parish Monkland and Stretford , Herefordshire, an electoral ward and crossroads Buildings in the United Kingdom [ edit ] Golden Cross, Cardiff ,
76-411: 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. The 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
95-432: 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
114-418: A public house Golden Cross, Coventry , a public house Golden Cross, Oxford , a shopping arcade Golden Cross, Shrewsbury , a public house Other uses [ edit ] Golden cross in technical analysis of financial securities, a particular, considered bullish, signal Golden Cross mine , New Zealand Golden Cross (TV series) , 2014 South Korean TV series Cicindela aurofasciata ,
133-600: A species of tiger beetle, sometimes called the 'gold cross' See also [ edit ] Cross of Gold speech Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Gold Cross . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gold_Cross&oldid=1002947675 " Categories : Disambiguation pages Place name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
152-519: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Army Gold Cross Naval Gold Medals had been awarded since 1794 to captains and admirals who had served in specified successful naval actions, admirals' medals being larger. 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, 1.5 inches (38 mm) in diameter, shows
171-505: 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 Cross and is considered to have provided the inspiration. Awards, both medals and clasps, were made for the following 27 battles and campaigns: The Battle of Maida in 1806 was commemorated by a gold medal of different design. Naval Gold Medal The Naval Gold Medal
190-836: The Spanish Civil War One of the grades of the Badge of Honour of the Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) , a German Federal Republic award One of the classes of the Greek Order of the Redeemer Gold Cross (Philippines) , a decoration of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Polish awards: Cross of Merit (Poland) (Golden Cross of Merit), a Polish award instituted in 1923 Cross of Merit with Swords (Gold Cross of Merit with Swords),
209-755: The gold medal were discontinued after 1815, as would-be recipients became eligible for the Order of the Bath on its enlargement to three classes. Following the Battle of the Glorious First of June 1794, the Naval Gold Medal was instituted to reward those admirals and captains who had been conspicuous for courage in that action, as well as those who might distinguish themselves on future occasions. In spite of representations made by Lord Nelson, no medal
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#1732771962048228-506: The gold medals and Crosses was discontinued when would-be recipients became eligible for Order of the Bath on its restructuring to three classes. 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
247-694: The name of the battle within a wide laurel wreath frame. The Ribbon for all the awards was broad crimson with blue borders, 1.75 inches (44 mm) 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
266-522: 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. The Army Gold Medal was established in 1810 to reward service at Napoleonic War battles since 1808. Like the Maida Gold Medal, it
285-548: 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. Following the Peninsular War, award of
304-497: Was 1.3 inches (33 mm) 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 1.5 inches (38 mm) across, with
323-467: Was awarded between 1793 and 1815 to senior officers of the Royal Navy for specified actions. Two different sizes were struck. 22 large medals were awarded to flag officers ( admirals ), commodores and captains of the fleet . 117 smaller medals were awarded to captains. As a separate medal was awarded for each action, it was possible for a recipient to receive and wear more than one. Awards of
342-510: 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
361-451: 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: The highest award was earned by the Duke of Wellington :
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