Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: First Fleet of Australia

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Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: First Fleet of Australia

AssociatedAssociated with Lord Mountbatten of Burma (Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)

Medallist John Pinches, Medallists

DateMay 2004

Object NameMedal

MediumSterling Silver

ClassificationsMedals

AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Dr Joan M Burrell.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS072500.31

Keywords

About MeCaptain Cook discovered the coast of New South Wales on 19th April, 1770. The Endevour stayed at the place he called Botany Bay for a week : before proceeding northward. Cook himself was not enthusiastic about the new land of which he took possession: 'The land produces hardly anything fit for men to eat, and the natives know nothing of cultivation ; but, he adds, 'it can never be doubted but what most sorts of grain etc. would flourish here were they brought hither, planted and cultivated by the hands of industry .'

It was Sir Joseph Banks, the most important passenger on Cook's ship, who realised the potentialities of the land, so that it was he who suggested that a convict settlement might be made there. Convicts had previously been sent to the southern colonies of North America. When the War of Independence interrupted this traffic, English gaols were soon full to overflowing and the advice of Banks, now President of the Royal Society, was at length acted upon. In 1786 Captain Arthur Phillip RN was appointed to escort six transports in HMS Sirius and HMS Supply.

The convicts of the First Fleet numbered 568 males and 191 females. After a voyage of 250 days, Phillip reached Botany Bay only to find that it was unsuitable for a settlement. He sailed north a few miles to discover the magnificent inlet called Port Jackson, where he founded the city of Sydney. He remained governor of the half-starved colony until 1792.

Though his own voyage had been hard, those of the Second and Third Fleets were much worse. 'The slave trade is merciful compared with what I have seen in this fleet', wrote one of the officers. Transportation was at first a tragic business because the ships were hired by contract. Not until the Admiralty took over were reasonable standards of health and discipline achieved. By the age of the clipper ship the length of the voyage had been reduced to 90 days and the mortality rate was low.

Transportation to New South Wales ceased in 1840, but it continued to Western Australia until 1868, by which date 160,663 convicts had been landed. Free emigration was now the rule, the prosperity of the colony having been assured by the introduction of Merino sheep by John Macarthur and by the gold rush of 1851.

The fact that the new colonies of Australia and New Zealand were permitted to develop in peace is due to British supremacy at sea. The warships on the Australian station, few and small as they were, proved sufficient to deter any interference on the part of foreign powers.

The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.