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D. Hastings Irwin: War Medals and decorations, issued to the British Military and naval forces and allies from 1588 to 1910 , London: Upcott Gill, 1910
On May ist, 1798, the Emperor Francis II. of
Germany presented a gold medal and chain to eight vmicrs-en.
/v f , r i ii Crouch*,
officers of the i5th Light Dragoons, for distinguished 1794-
conduct at the Battle of Villiers-en-Crouche', near
Cambray, on April 24th, 1794. By the gallant con-
c
i8 BRITISH WAR MEDALS
duct of the I5th the Emperor was saved being taken
prisoner by the French. There were only two
squadrons engaged, and they, in conjunction with a
small body of German cavalry, drove back a body of
about 10,000 French soldiers, inflicting a loss of 1200
killed and wounded, and capturing three guns.
The following letter from the Adjutant-General of
the Forces to Lord Dorchester, Colonel of the i5th
Light Dragoons, dated May ist, 1798, gives the
King's permission to the officers to wear the
distinction conferred upon them :
My Lord, The Emperor of Germany having been pleased
to present each of the officers of the i5th Rgt., under your Lord-
ship's command, who distinguished themselves in so gallant
a manner by their spirited attack upon the enemy, with a very
inferior force, on the 24th April, 1794, near Cambray, a Gold
Medal has been struck by his Imperial Majesty's orders, on the
occasion, as a particular mark of the sense he entertained of
the signal service thereby rendered to the Allied army; I have,
therefore, the honour, by order of his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief, to signify to your Lordship his Majesty's
pleasure that the above-mentioned officers shall be permitted to
wear the said medals constantly with their uniforms, as an
honorary badge of their bravery in the field of action, and an in-
ducement to all others to imitate, on every favourable occasion,
their glorious example.
I have, etc.,
WM. FAWCETT, Adjutant-General.
The officers of the regiment who received the
medal were: Major William Aylett; Captains
Edward Pocklington and Edward Ryan ; Lieutenants
Thos. Calcraft, William Keir, and Thos. Blount;
Cornets Edward Butler and Robert Wilson. The
text of the letter which accompanied the medals was
as follows :
Vienna, March 5, 1798.
Sir, The Emperor remembers with satisfaction the distin-
guished proofs of valour that you, Sir, and seven other officers
of the i5th Light Dragoons, manifested on the 24th April, 1794,
AND DECORATIONS. 19
near Cambray. His Majesty regrets that the statutes of the
Order of Maria Theresa, confirmed by constant custom, do not
allow the Cross of the Order, strictly national, to be conferred
on officers so worthy of being decorated with it; but wishing,
at the same time, to give you and your honourable companions-
in-arms a public mark of his particular esteem, his Majesty
has ordered a medal to be struck to perpetuate the remem-
brance of this brilliant action, and has commanded me to
offer you, in his name, the only impressions which have been
struck, except that which is placed in the Imperial cabinet at
Vienna.
In fulfilling the intention of his Imperial Majesty, I beg you
to accept for yourself, Sir, and to distribute to the other officers
who, in the important affair of the 24th April, 1794, fought
under your command, these medals, which for that purpose I
have delivered to Captain Ryan. I have the honour to add the
assurances of the consideration with which I have the honour
to be, Sir, &c.
LE BARON THUGUT.
To Lieut.-Col. Aylett.
This display of heroism made a lasting impres-
sion on the mind of the Emperor, for, later on, the
following letter was received by Lieutenant-Colonel
Aylett from Lord Minto, British Envoy at Vienna :
Vienna, November ;th, 1800.
< Sir, I have received from his Excellency, Baron Thugut,
eight crosses of the Order of Maria Theresa, which the Em-
peror has been pleased to confer on yourself and seven other
officers of the i5th Light Dragoons, who distinguished them-
selves in a most gallant action near Villiers-en-Crouche, on
the 24th April, 1794. His Imperial Majesty had already testified
the high sense he entertained of the brilliant and important
service which the Regiment performed on that occasion, by pre-
senting the officers engaged with a medal struck for the
purpose of commemorating that brilliant action, and affording
to those who achieved it a lasting testimony of his approbation
and gratitude. It was deemed worthy at the time of the Cross
of Maria Theresa, but at that period a doubt existed whether
this Order could be conferred on foreigners; that this difficulty
being now removed, His Imperial Majesty avails himself with
pleasure of the occasion to evince his high esteem for the Regi-
ment, as well as his regard for the individuals, by investing
with this order of merit gentlemen who have proved themselves
so worthy to wear it.
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