Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare ‘Rifle Battalion’ medal supposed to have been awarded by Nelson to Sergeant John Craven for ‘Valour’ at the battle of Copenhagen

‘Rifle Battalion’ silver medal 1801, engraved, 46mm., obverse within a garter inscribed ‘Rifle Batallion’ a crowned strung bugle, and further inscribed ‘Serjeant John Craven; the reverse, within a laurel wreath inscribed ‘To Valour’, ‘Copenhagen’ above, and ’April 2 1801’ below, with integral ring attached to a heavy silver wire ring and bar suspension, very fine £1200-1500

Provenance: By family descent and sold with full letter of provenance which states:

‘Gifted to me circa 1965 by my grandmother Mary Foster née Bell (1896-1970). My grandmother informed me that she had received the property from her grandmother Sarah Craven née Bell (1852-1915). Sarah Bell married John Hugh Craven (1809-91) at St John’s Church, Newcastle upon Tyne on 8 June 1886; they resided at Long Lee, Loughoughton, Alnwick, Northumberland. John Hugh Craven’s father was John Hugh Craven (1st), born Wakefield (1776-1847) and is interred at St Michael’s Church, Alnwick. He was possibly the recipient of the medal. I believe there is a John Craven recorded as the Serjeant Major in the Percy (Duke of Northumberland) Tenancy Volunteer Rifle Corps, circa 1816.’


Also sold with two silver prize goblets and related letter from The Northumberland Estates Office, Alnwick Castle:

i. ‘Prize Bitch “Charmer” walked by Mr Craven, Longlee. Greenrig Kennels, Lesbury. 1877’, 200mm. tall, hallmarked Sheffield 1876.

ii. ‘Presented by Earl Percy to Mr J. Craven, for the 2nd best Dog Puppy walked in the year 1880’, 163mm. tall, hallmarked London 1877.


In the records of the 1st Battalion [95th Rifles] it states that ‘an appropriate medal was issued on this occasion [battle of Copenhagen] by Admiral Lord Nelson to the non-commissioned officers and several soldiers.’

Whilst this medal has similarities with the few other known examples, it is the first recorded example given for ‘Valour’. Note the incorrect spelling of ‘Batallion’.

Accompanied by relevant copied muster rolls and ship’s lists, including the muster roll of the ‘Rifle Regiment’ for April 1801 which shows John Craven as one of 5 serjeants in Captain Beckwith’s Company being ‘on secret service with Sir Hyde Parker’. The musters for May to July state ‘This company is with Lord Nelson’, Craven again present throughout.

As he appears in the musters throughout his service with the new ‘Experimental Corps of Riflemen’ in the rank of serjeant, he had clearly transferred from another regiment but from which one, however, no indication is given.

Cope’s History of the Rifle Brigade confirms that Captain Sidney Beckwith’s company took part in the battle of Copenhagen. Initially transported in H.M.S. London, the company was split up into detachments amongst the fleet. Serjeant John Craven appears on the books of H.M.S. St George as part of the detachment of ‘Rifle Corps’ under Lieutenant H. B. Lynch from 12 March 1801. He is then show as being aboard H.M.S. Isis from 31 March to 3 April 1801, arriving from and returning to St George. He was therefore on board Isis during the action on 2 April 1801, when Isis had a close action with the Danish ship Provesteenen before she was ‘rescued’ by the Desirée who also engaged the Danish ship.

On 6 April 1801, Craven joined H.M.S. London, from St George. He was discharged from the Rifle Regiment on 24 June 1802.