secure, he proposed to reduce the numbers of the Army of Occupation. During these movements of the regiment the Czar conferred the decorations of the Order of St. Anne on Lieut.-Colonel Elphinstone of the 33rd, in testimony of His Majesty's approbation of (his) services and conduct, particularly in the late battles fought in the Netherlands." On the 4th of December orders came for the 33rd to return to England. The regiment accordingly marched through Paris, under the command of Bt.-Lieut.-Colonel Parkinson, proceeded by easy stages to Calais, and embarking on the 23rd of December, landed at Ramsgate and Dover. The separation of the transports because of the rough weather accounted for this. The flank companies were more unfortunate, the transport in which they were being driven on to Ostend.

On Christmas Day the 33rd marched into Canterbury, but after a short stay proceeded to Chatham, then to Tilbury, and on to Colchester, where they arrived on New Year's Day, a terribly depleted regiment after the heavy losses in the Waterloo Campaign. The flank companies did not join them until the 11th of January, but ultimately the whole regiment left for Hull, where the Regimental Depôt was taken on the strength.

The 33rd, shortly after their arrival at Sunderland, April 15th, received their Waterloo medals. They had reason to be proud of the part they played in that combined effort of the nations to crush Napoleon.

NOTE: The Waterloo Medal.-A medal was struck for this victory, which was conferred on all present in the three actions of the 16th, 17th, and 18th of June, 1815. In a letter from the Duke of Wellington to the Duke of York, dated Orville, June 28th, 1815, His Grace wrote, "I would likewise beg leave to suggest to your Royal Highness the expediency of giving to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers engaged in the Battle of Waterloo a medal. I am convinced it would

have the best effect in the army; and if that battle should settle our concerns, they will well deserve it." In a letter from His Grace to Earl Bathurst, Secretary of State for the War Department, on the 17th of September, this passage occurs: "I have long intended to write to you about the medal for Waterloo. I recommended that we should all have the same medal, hung to the same ribbon as that now used with the medals."

The Waterloo medal has on the obverse the laureated head of the Prince Regent, inscribed "George P. Regent"; on the reverse is Victory, seated on a pedestal, holding a palm in the right hand, and an olive branch in the left. Above the figure of Victory is the name of the illustrious Wellington, and under it the word "Waterloo," with the date of the battle, June 18th, 1815. The figure evidently owes its origin to the ancient Greek coin. The name, rank, and regiment of the officer or soldier were engraved round the edge of the medal, which was to be suspended from the buttonhole of the uniform by the ribbon authorised for the military medals, namely, crimson with blue edges. In the "London Gazette" of the 23rd of April, 1816, was published the following official notification:

MEMORANDUM

HORSE GUARDS, March 10th, 1816.

The Prince Regent has been graciously pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to command, that in commemoration of the brilliant and decisive victory of Waterloo, a medal should be conferred on every officer, noncommissioned officer, and soldier of the British Army present upon that memorable occasion.

His Royal Highness has further been pleased to command that the ribbon issued with the medal

shall never be worn but with the medal suspended to it.

By command of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent,

FREDERICK, Commander-in-Chief.

H. TORRENS, Major-General and Military

Secretary.

This was the first medal ever given to all ranks by the British Government, and all who received it were permitted to count two years' service towards a pension.1

(See "British War Medals." Thos. Carter)

West Indian and Home Service

CHAPTER XXV

BETWEEN THE WARS

WHAT followed these movements from place to place 1816. on arrival in England was nothing more than the ordinary barrack life and experience, with inspections from time to time, which go far to show that the 33rd were as keen as ever in maintaining the traditions of the regiment for smartness in appearance and for discipline.

A very important change came in March, 1818, 1818. while the 33rd were quartered in the citadel of Hull. The Establishment was augmented from 700 to 800 rank and file, and stood as under:

1819.

This change, however, was not for long. As soon as peace was ensured the strength of the 33rd was reduced from 800 rank and file to 650, while a Major and an Assistant Surgeon were placed on half pay from the 24th of the following December. The reduction took place in October.

While the regiment was in Guernsey and Alderney there was an inspection, and the order which followed is worth quoting to show that the esprit de corps of the 33rd was as fine as ever. This was previous to the transfer of the regiment to Portsmouth.

GUERNSEY,

11th October, 1819.

Major-General Bayly has great satisfaction in expressing how much he was pleased with the appearance of the 33rd Regiment inspected particularly by him on Saturday last. Its attention to everything prescribed by His Majesty's Regulations, the excellent system of its interior economy, as well as the steadiness of its discipline and perfect knowledge of Field Exercise, reflect the highest credit on the Commanding Officer, and also upon all the various ranks serving under him.

Major-General Sir George Cooke, who had been so honourably connected with the regiment in its Netherlands experiences, followed up the preceding recognition of the regiment's merits by an Order on the occasion of the 33rd leaving Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH,

13th December, 1819. Major-General Sir George Cooke, upon the departure of the 33rd Regiment from this station, begs leave to express the fullest approbation of their regularity and good conduct during the time they have been under his command.