Baltic Medal 1854-5

Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria with a diadem, hair tied in a knot (left). Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA'. Reverse: Britannia in a helmet holding an upright trident seated on a block ornamented with a naval gun and trophy, Russian forts of Bomarsund and Sveaborg in the distance on either side. Legend: 'BALTIC'. Exergue '1854-1855'. Suspended from a cusped bar and yellow ribbon edged with blue. Un-named. Presented to Paymaster William Evans.

William Evans (1828-1903) joined the Navy in 1853 as a clerk in the 50-gun frigate HMS ‘Imperieuse’, serving in South Africa and the Baltic. He was then stationed in the Pacific in HMS ‘Monarch’, 84 guns, between 1854 and 1858. He was promoted full paymaster in 1863, serving in the Mediterranean and at Chatham and Sheerness. Continued service saw him on the North America station and in the East Indies. Evans was in HMS ‘Penelope’ at the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882, staying with her for the remainder of his career after she became the drill ship at Harwich. He retired in 1884 with the rank of paymaster-in-chief.

He married Sarah Eliza Boucher in 1862 at Rochester, Kent and the couple had one son William Boucher Evans. After his retirement William Evans lived in Maidstone, Kent, then moved to Ross, Herefordshire where he died.

Object Details

ID: MED0091
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wyon, William; Wyon, Leonard Charles
Events: Crimean War, 1854-1856; Crimean War: Baltic Campaign, 1854-1855
Date made: 1855
People: Evans, William
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm