Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/197

Rh DECORATIONS OF HONOUR.

1. Decoration of the Battle at Copenhagen.—After this battle, in which the Danes fought bravely (though unsuccessfully), on the 2nd April, 1801, against the English, the King caused a Medal of Honour to be struck for those who had distinguished themselves in the affair. It was presented in gold to officers, and in silver to inferior grades, and was worn suspended by a red ribbon, in which is interwoven the Cross of Danneborg. The obverse exhibits a lion standing upon the forequarters of a man-of-war, holding by one claw the arms of Denmark, with the inscription: ' 2nd April, 1801,' while the reverse shows the royal insignia, crown, sceptre, and sword, with the inscription: ' Kongen Foedrer, Faederlandet Skjénner' (The King honours, and fatherland is grateful). On the edge is impressed the name and grade of the recipient. The medal is seldom now met with, as but few of the owners are left among the living.

2. Medal of Merit at the Dockyards.—It was founded on the 29th January, 1801, by Christian VII, as a reward for the workmen at the royal dockyards, and for the encouragement of those belonging to the fleet. The same medal was subsequently, (4th September, 1814), distributed also amongst the sub-officers of the artillery, and the navy, inspectors of fireengines and dockyards, and all those engaged in the formation of nautical models. To be entitled to the medal, sailors, artillerymen, cannoneers, ship-carpenters, and other master-mechanics, or their chief clerks, must have completed their twenty-fifth year, while rope-makers, cabinet-makers, and others, must have been full thirty years in the royal service, before they can lay claim to the medal. The obverse of the medal has the inscrip-