Badge and Star: Order of the Bath, 1st class (military)
Awarded to Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford (1838-1913) in 1901. Badge: Maltese cross of eight points, enamelled white, each point tipped with a small gold ball and in each angle between the arms of the cross a lion. In the centre of the cross a device consisting of a rose, thistle and shamrock issuing from a sceptre and three Imperial crowns, surrounded by red enamel circle bearing the motto in gold. The circle is surrounded by two branches of laurel enamelled green and below is a blue enamel scroll inscription in gold. Badge and Star, Motto: 'TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO'. Scroll: 'ICH DEIN'. Suspended by a loop and ring from a crimson sash worn across the right shoulder with the badge pendant on the left hip. Star: Silver with usual device for military divison of the Order. Reverse: Plain with vertical pin fastening.
Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford entered the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, in 1852. He served in paddle frigate HMS ‘Samson’ during the Crimean War and was present at the bombardment of Odessa and Sebastopol in the Black Sea. Transferring to the Baltic in ‘Vulture’, he was engaged in rocket boats at the bombardment of Sveaborg.
He was promoted Lieutenant in November 1859 and served in the Mediterranean until the following year. Bedford was promoted Commander in December 1871 and became flag-captain to Rear-Admiral de Horsey, commanding HMS ‘Shah’ during the engagement with the Peruvian ironclad ‘Huascar’ on 26 May 1877.
He was appointed Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich during 1882-3. Notably, he also organised the flotilla on the Nile for the relief of General Gordon in 1884-5. From 1889-92 he was Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, and from 1892-95 was Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Stations, taking part in punitive anti-slavery expeditions along the West African coast.
He became Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty on 5 May 1895 and was appointed Governor of the State of Western Australia in 1903. He retired in 1909.
Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford entered the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, in 1852. He served in paddle frigate HMS ‘Samson’ during the Crimean War and was present at the bombardment of Odessa and Sebastopol in the Black Sea. Transferring to the Baltic in ‘Vulture’, he was engaged in rocket boats at the bombardment of Sveaborg.
He was promoted Lieutenant in November 1859 and served in the Mediterranean until the following year. Bedford was promoted Commander in December 1871 and became flag-captain to Rear-Admiral de Horsey, commanding HMS ‘Shah’ during the engagement with the Peruvian ironclad ‘Huascar’ on 26 May 1877.
He was appointed Captain of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich during 1882-3. Notably, he also organised the flotilla on the Nile for the relief of General Gordon in 1884-5. From 1889-92 he was Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, and from 1892-95 was Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Stations, taking part in punitive anti-slavery expeditions along the West African coast.
He became Second Sea Lord of the Admiralty on 5 May 1895 and was appointed Governor of the State of Western Australia in 1903. He retired in 1909.
Object Details
| ID: | MED2157 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Coins and medals |
| Type: | Order |
| Display location: | Not on display |
| People: | Bedford, Frederick George Denham |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
| Measurements: | badge: 80 mm; star: 92 mm |
| Parts: | Badge and Star: Order of the Bath, 1st class (military) |