The Davison’s Trafalgar Medal was awarded to survivors of the action by Alexander Davison, Nelson’s prize agent. It was given to the ratings of HMS Victory who took part in the battle.
This medal is said to have been given as a gift of Mr. A. Davison.
The Davison’s Trafalgar Medal Design
The medal is struck in pewter with a copper ring and measures 52 mm in diameter.
The obverse bears an oval shield with Nelson’s arms and ribbon below inscribed with his motto ‘PALMAM QUI MERUIT FERAT‘, surmounted by a bust of the admiral within laurel and palm branches. Around the shield is inscribed the motto ‘TRIA . JUNCTA . IN . UNO.’ and ‘ADMIRAL LORD NELSON D. OF BRONTE‘. The inner line reads ‘ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY‘ and bellow ‘NATUS SEP. 29. 1758.’ ‘HOSTE DEVICTO REQUIEVIT’, ‘OCT. 21 1805‘. The maker’s initials are ‘H.F.’
The reverse shows a starboard broadside view of a ship of the line at anchor and the legend: ‘THE LORD IS A MAN OF WAR’, ‘EXODUS C.15. V.3.’, ‘JOHN CREMER HMS SIRIUS‘ and below ‘VICTORY OFF TRAFALGAR OVER THE COMBINED FLEETS OF FRANCE & SPAIN’, ‘OCT. 21.1805‘.
The medal was given without a ribbon but used unofficially a 32 mm navy blue one.
