Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal: Admiral Hawke and the 'Royal George'
AssociatedAssociated with
Lord Mountbatten of Burma
(Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)
Medallist
John Pinches, Medallists
DateMay 2004
Object NameMedal
MediumSterling Silver
ClassificationsMedals
Dimensions44mm
AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Dr Joan M Burrell.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS072500.25
Keywords
Distinguished in earlier life under the command of Lord Anson, his greatest personal triumph came in the autumn of 1759, which was the 'Annus Mirabilis' or Year of Victories for British arms. On 20th November, amid storm and gathering darkness, he annihilated a French fleet under Conflans, pressing in amid the rocks and shoals of Quiberon, making enemy movements a guide for his own pilots on that iron coast.
Hawke had as his flagship on that memorable day the Royal George. The ship did notable service for a quarter of a century, before sinking at Spithead in 1782, through the decay of her wooden structure, when Admiral Kempenfelt and hundreds of the ship's company perished.
When Hawke received a peerage in 1776, he took 'Strike' as his motto, and he became the exemplar of the aggressive naval tactician. He had been appointed First Lord of the Admiralty in 1766, and retained office for five years. When he died, these words were chiselled on his monument at North Stoneham in Hampshire: 'Where'er he sailed, Victory attended him.'
They were true, and Hawke's career was the inspiration of many later admirals.
The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.
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