Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, awarded to Pvt. John Lea 1848
Image["Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, 1848"]Obverse, a bust of Queen Victoria
Image["Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, 1848"]Reverse, A full-rigged ship at sea in a circle of rope
Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, 1848
A Naval Long Service Medal was instituted by King William IV in 1831, the year after
that for the Army; when Queen Victoria succeeded
that issue was for a while continued, but the medal was updated, with new designs by William Wyon, in 1848. To earn it a sailor had to have twenty years' service to his credit, although some had amassed rather more by the time of their discharge.
This medal was not in the earliest batch struck in 1848, which
bore that date in the exergue. It does however have the broad suspender of the early issues, which was
later replaced.
This medal was awarded to Private John Lea of the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines, for 21 years' service. He received a gratuity of 5 pounds from the Queen. Lester Watson acquired his medal at some point before 1928.