'History of the Indian Navy. (1613-1863).' [‎531] (550/622)

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
531
") "iHj
'AMI Mill jlj,
Wi «? tsltltliii
JS Honp ^Li.
my il
liiil
under his command, and, in every instance, expressed himself
highly pleased with the discipline and smartness of the crews
and the creditable condition of the ships. The ' Ferooz '
specially received his commendation, and, afterinspectino- her
crew, (who, almost to a man, stood six feet in their stockings
and were in the prime of life, her First-Lieutenant, while shipping
seamen at Calcutta, making these the qualifications for en^ao-e:
ment,) the Admiral said that he had never seen so fine a bodv
of seamen out of H.M.'s yacht.
Lieutenant Chitty, commanding the 4 Zenobia,' enjoyed, in an
especial degree, the confidence of the Admiral, who showed
himself superior to all petty feelings, by taking the unprece
dented step of placing two of H.M.'s gunboats, commanded by
lieutenants, under his orders, and upon the commanding officers
remonstrating at being compelled to serve under an officer of
their own rank, belonging to the Indian Navy, Sir James
pointed to the acknowledged ability and lengthened experience
of Lieutenant Chitty as the best passports to command. Lieu
tenant Chitty proceeded to Swatow, accompanied by H.M.'s gun
boat, 4 Grasshopper,' in order to obtain the release of the second-
master and four seamen of H.M/s gunboat 'Weasel,' taken
prisoners by the Chinese. An attack was made by Lieutenant
Chitty, with the boats of the 4 Zenobia' and gunboats, and the
object sought to be obtained was accomplished without loss.
The China War MedaP was the last gained by the Indian
Navy as a Service, though some officers, after the abolition,
received the medal for Abyssinia. A brief notice here would be
appropriate as to the War Medals gained by the Service during
its long and eventful career.
These decorations were not bestowed until within a com
paratively recent date, though Elizabeth, Charles, and Cromwell
bestowed medals on such Military and Naval leaders as espe
cially distinguished themselves. Medals were also struck
commemorating victories, as Portobello and Culloden, but the
East India Company was the first to inaugurate the system of
awarding them to officers and men alike. It was in the year
1784 that the Company struck the Deccan Medal, in two sizes,
the larger being for the officers, and the smaller for the rank
and file; again, in 1792, they distributed silver medals, inscribed,
''For services in Mysore, A.D. 1791-92;" and, in 1796, large silver
UDdmte^ 1 ;
utilities. Co^ 1
* Tlie following Order relating to the China medal was published from the
Commodore's Office, Bombay, on the 9th of July, 1861 :—" With reference to the
General Government Order of the 6th ult., granting medals for services in China,
the Commander-in-chief directs that the Commander of each vessel of the Indian
Navy, which was employed in the operations which terminated in the capture of
the city of Canton, on the 29th of December, 1857, and also in the operations
which have recently terminated in the capture of the city of Pekin, and the
restoration of peace, shall submit a roll, in duplicate, of the officers, seamen, and
others, who may be entitled to the decorations."
MM 2