Sardinian Medal for Valour presented to Vice-Admiral Sir William Nathan Wrighte Hewett, VC, KCB, KSI.

In 1854 Hewett was serving as Acting Mate on board HMS ‘Beagle’. He commanded a Naval Brigade at Sebastopol that was manning a battery. Hewett fought off the Russians who were advancing towards the battery until the Russians retreated. It was for this exploit and for further bravery at the Battle of Inkerman that Hewett was awarded the Victoria Cross. Hewett was born in 1834 and entered the Navy in 1847 as a First Class Volunteer. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral in 1884, retired in 1888 and died the same year. He is buried in Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth.

The medal is silver. On the obverse are the arms of Savoy within a wreath of palm and laurel tied with a bow, the crown of Sardinia above, surrounded by the legend ‘AL VALORE MILITARE’ (for military valour). On the reverse of the medal is a laurel wreath and the inscription ‘Lieut. Wm. Nathan Wright Hewitt N.’ Bde.’, surrounded by the legend ‘SPEDIZIONE D’ORIENTE 1855 1856’. The medal is fitted with a loop and blue ribbon.

The Museum also holds (on loan) the following medals awarded to Vice-Admiral Hewett: Victoria Cross (MED1948), India General Service Medal, bar ‘Pegu’ (MED1949), Crimea War Medal, bars ‘Inkerman’, ‘Sebastopol’ and ‘Azof’ (MED1950), Ashanti Medal, bar ‘Coomassie’ (MED1951), Egypt Medal, bars ‘Suakin’ and ‘El Teb’ (MED1952), Legion d’Honneur 5th Class Chevalier (MED1953), Order of Mejidieh 4th Class (MED1954), Khedive Star (MED1955), Turkish Crimea Medal (MED1956). Vice-Admiral Hewett’s decorations are also held by the Museum.