Peninsula Gallery

Military General Service Medal, 1793-1814

This medal was awarded to Captain G.J. Call in 1848, together with the clasp CUIDAD RODRIGO'. It is one of 17 campaign medals awarded to members of the Call family, now in the museum collection. The medals date from the Peninsular War (1807-1814) to the Great War (1914-1918). The Call family served with the Royal Irish Regiment, which until 1881 was known as the 18th Regiment of Foot. It was also known as the 18th (Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot and the 18th (The Royal Irish) Regiment of Foot. The regiment was disbanded in 1922. The medal, sometimes called the Peninsular Medal, was approved on 1st June 1847 as a retrospective award for various military actions from 1793-1814. Cuidad Rodrigo in Spain was a key border fortress during the Peninsular War, 1808-1814. It was the site of a 10 day siege by the Duke of Wellington and his troops in January 1812. Designed by William Wyon, the obverse of the circular silver medal bears the head of Queen Victoria with the inscription VICTORIA REGINA 1848. The reverse depicts Queen Victoria placing a wreath on the head of the Duke of Wellington with the inscription TO THE BRITISH ARMY 1793-1814'. The rim is inscribed with the recipient's name, rank and regiment. The ribbon is crimson with vertical stripes of blue. TRURI : 1931.40.41

© RIC, photographer Mike Searle

Lizard Lighthouse, Landewednack, Cornwall. Around 1890

View of the lighthouse from below the cliff. The lighthouse was built by Thomas Fonnereau in 1751 as a twin coal-fired light, converted to oil in 1811, and electricity in 1874. A rotating lens was installed in the eastern tower in 1903 and the western tower light removed. The lighthouse was automated in 1998. Hand coloured slide by William Charles Hughes. Photographer: Unknown

© From the collection of the RIC

3rd DCLI recruiting march, The Lizard, Landewednack, Cornwall. 29th June 1915

Lance Corporal Thomas Rendle VC is standing on the left and Coast Guard Edwards is in the centre. Lance Corporal Rendle was born in Bedminster, Bristol, on the 14th December 1884. At the time of his award he was a bandsman in the 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and was acting as a stretcher bearer. He was 29 years old. His citation reads "For his conspicuous bravery on 20 November 1914 near Wulvergem, when he attended to the wounded under very heavy shell fire and rifle fire, and rescued men from the trenches in which they had been buried by the blowing in of the parapets by the fire of the enemy's heavy howitzers". He was the only stretcher bearer to receive a Victoria Cross in World War 1. His medal is held at the DCLI museum in Bodmin. He was awarded the medal by King George V on 12 July 1915. He died in 1946 in Cape Town South Africa. Coast Guard Edwards is wearing naval uniform. The Coast Guard (later known as Coastguard) was part of the Admiralty between 1856 and 1923. Photographer: Arthur William Jordan

© From the collection of the RIC