The exceptional and historic June 1913 Civil Order of the Bath, Sudan 1884 Battle of Tamaai Naval Brigade Machine Gun Detachment Commander, Third Burma War, China Boxer Rebellion and Great War Admiral Commanding Patrol Flotillas and Malta Dockyard group together with foreign honours from France, Italy and Japan, as awarded to Admiral G.A. Ballard, C.B., Royal Navy, who was the only officer to win the Royal United Services Institute Gold Medal in successive years, and one of only two to win it twice. As a Lieutenant with the torpedo boat Hecla, he won an exceptionally rare single Tamaai clasp to his Egypt Medal together with a Mention in Despatches at a field promotion for his command of a Naval Machine Gun Detachment when fighting the forces of Osman Digna at the Battle of Tamaai on 13 March 1884, being with the square formed by the Second Brigade when it was broken by the Mahdist Army, a moment captured in the poem "Fuzzy-Wuz" by Rudyard Kipling. Ballard’s account of this action makes for compelling reading. Ballard was with the gun vessel Woodlark from May 1885 and was specially selected by the Commander-in-Chief Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Richards, K.C.B., to be Naval A.D.C. to General Sir Harry Prendergast during the operations in Burma, for which he was again Mentioned in Despatches and was further personally thanked by General Prendergast and the India Office, who recommended him for favourable consideration. During 1897-1899 he became the only officer to win the Royal United Services Institute Gold Medal in successive years, and one of only two officers to win this award twice! As a Commander he served aboard the cruiser Isis during the Boxer Rebellion in China, and then joined the Naval Intelligence Department, being awarded the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure in February 1904, and ultimately a Companion of the Civil Division of the Order of the Bath in June 1913, he having been Director of the Operations Division, and an A.D.C., to King George V. With the Great War, Ballard was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding Patrol Flotillas, and from September 1916 was the Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard and held this position until January 1919. Promoted to Vice-Admiral, he was thrice decorated by the Allied Powers, being awarded Commander of the French Legion d’Honneur in June 1918, followed by the Commander of the Italian Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus in October 1919, and ultimately the Grand Cross of the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasure in March 1920. Promoted to Retired Admiral in March 1924, he would latterly publish one of the finest fighting accounts of the Naval Brigade in the Mahdi War, this reading like a diary and published in the Naval Review in November 1938 and February 1939.
Group of 13: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. Breast Badge, Civil Division, silver-gilt, with hallmarks for London and date letter ‘r’ for 1912, complete with three pronged ribbon buckle; Egypt and Sudan Medal 1882-1889, reverse undated, 1 Clasp: Tamaai, with officially impressed naming; (LIEUT. G.A. BALLARD, R.N. H.M.S. HECLA.); India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Burma 1885-7, with officially impressed naming; (LIEUT. G.A. BALLARD, R.N. H.M.S. WOODLARK.); China Medal 1900, no clasp, with officially impressed naming; (COMMR. G.A. BALLARD, R.N. H.M.S. ISIS.); 1914-1915 Star; (R. ADML. G.A. BALLARD.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (R. ADML. G.A. BALLARD.); Jubilee Medal 1897 in Silver; Coronation Medal 1911; Khedive’s Star, undated; France - Third Republic: Legion of Honour, 3rd Class or Commanders neck badge, gold and enamels; Italy - Kingdom of: Order of St Maurice & St Lazarus, 3rd Class or Commanders neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Japan: Order of the Sacred Treasure, Grand Cross set comprising sash badge and breast star, both silver-gilt and enamels, together with a display length of sash ribbon. First ten mounted swing style for display.
Condition: very light contact wear, overall Good Very Fine.
Together with the following quantity of related items:
The unique pair of Royal United Services Institute Prize Medal in Gold, both 18 carat gold, both of 45 mm diameter, and weighing respectively 56.20g and 55.79g. Both named ‘To Commander G. A. Ballard, R.N. For Naval Essay 1897’ and ‘...For Naval Essay 1899’, these housed in a fitted case. Also the printed version of his essay and published in the Supplement to “To-Day”, dated 28 June 1900.
Admiralty Letter forwarding to Ballard the Jubilee Medal 1897, dated 30 September 1897.
Admiralty Letter granting Ballard permission to accept and wear the insignia of the Third Class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure of Japan, issued to him when a Captain with the Naval Intelligence Department, dated 12 February 1904.
Admiralty Letter granting Ballard permission to accept and wear the insignia of the Cross of Commander and Officer of the Legion of Honour of France, issued to him when Senior Naval Officer in Charge at Malta, dated 20 April 1917.
Admiralty Letter granting Ballard permission to accept and wear the insignia of the Commander of the Italian Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus, dated 5 January 1921.
Letter of thanks for services rendered as the Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard when working in the interests of both the Military and Civil Government, as written to Ballard by the Governor of Malta, dated 16 November 1918.
Letter from the Imperial Government Workers Union at Malta to Ballard, notifying him of the despatch of a case containing an illuminated address, this being in respect of his services as the Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard, dated 21 June 1918
Letter from the French 1st Naval Army Commander-in-Chief, Vice-Amiral Gauchet, thanking Ballard for his services, dated 23 October 1918.
Royal Air Force Headquarters Mediterranean District at Malta, letter of appreciation for Ballard’s letter on the work of the units of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force at Malta, dated 13 November 1918.
Admiralty letter notifying Ballard that his period of service as Admiral of Patrols qualifies for participating in Prize Money, dated 9 April 1919.
Admiralty Letter to Ballard stating that they have no objection to his receiving an illuminated address from the Malta Branch of the Imperial Government Workers Union, dated 8 August 1919. This being for his work as the Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard.
Admiralty appointment documents, 18 in all, for ships and appointments that Ballard served aboard or held during his career, namely: Audacious, Britannia, Colossus, Commonwealth, Euryalus, Gorgon, Hampshire, Isis, Linnet, Royal Arthur, Sans Pareil, Temeraire, Terrible, Tourmaline, Woodlark. and also the Naval Intelligence Department (1902) and President for special service at the Admiralty (1911). These are pinned together with his report for his time as a Naval Cadet with Britannia.
Admiralty Letter notifying Ballard that there is no prospect of there being further employment, dated 14 June 1921.
Letter thanking Ballard for his contribution to the King George’s Jubilee Trust, circa 1935, bearing facsimile signature of Edward Prince of Wales.
British Legion Card from the Morgans Vale, Red Lynch and Woodalls Downton Branches, issued with proud thanksgiving and grateful remembrance to Admiral G.A. Ballard C.B.
Hand drawn Golden Wedding Greetings Card to Ballard, harking back to his ancestor, Sir Thomas Ballard of Kent.
Old photograph of a group of naval officers including Ballard.
George Alexander Ballard was born on 7 March 1862 in Bombay, India, the son of General J. A. Ballard, C.B., Royal Engineers. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard Britannia, which he joined on 15 January 1875, at the age of 13. On passing out of Britannia he gained 6 months’ sea time, and was appointed to Resistance in December 1876. He then transferred to Achilles in May 1877, and whilst in this ship he was promoted to Midshipman on 22 June 1877. His next appointment was to Tourmaline in September 1880, and whilst in this ship he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 22 June 1881. He then joined Excellent in July 1882 for College and Gunnery examination; on passing out, he joined the torpedo boat Hecla in March 1883.
During service in Hecla, Ballard was landed in March 1884 for service with the Naval Brigade in the Sudan, and was present at the battle of Tamaai on 13 March, where he commanded a Naval Machine Gun Detachment as part of the Second Brigade, being in the very thick of the action. He was Mentioned in Despatches and specially promoted to Lieutenant the day after the battle by the Naval Commander in Chief. Many years later Ballard would write an article on his participation in the campaign, this being published in two parts in the Naval Review for November 1938, and the Naval Review for February 1939. It reads like a diary and gives graphic insight into the dessperate fight within the square.
The Battle of Tamai (or Tamanieh) took place on 13 March 1884 between a British force under Sir Gerald Graham and a Mahdist Sudanese army led by Osman Digna. At 8am on 13 March 1884, the British force paraded for the advance to attack Osman Digna’s camp, some two miles distant. Two brigade squares were formed with the Second Brigade leading and the First Brigade marching on a path behind and to the right of the Second Brigade.
The leading Second Brigade, commanded by General Davis, comprised 1st Black Watch, 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment, the Royal Marine Light Infantry detachment and the Royal Naval Brigade with Gardiner and Gatling guns. The First Brigade comprised 1st Gordon Highlanders, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers and 3rd King’s Royal Rifle Corps and was commanded by Colonel Redvers Buller. General Graham and his staff accompanied the leading Second Brigade. The British cavalry, after reconnoitring the Sudanese positions, fell back behind the Second Brigade. The Mahdists could be seen ahead of the squares, skirmishers to the front and the main force in the camp to the rear. The going for the British troops was difficult, the route dotted with thorn bushes and intersected by gullies containing dry water courses. Two squadrons of British cavalry moved forward on the left and engaged the Mahdists with dismounted rifle fire, until, under threat of being overrun, they withdrew.
The Second Brigade came into contact with the Mahdists and fire was opened, the brigade square continuing to advance. The brigade then found itself on the edge of a wide deep gully. The sides of the square were subjected to repeated and increasingly threatening rushes by the Mahdists. The fire discipline of the troops began to deteriorate. Smoke from the rifle fire with the dust from the dry plain, stirred up by the numbers f men moving about, made visibility increasingly difficult. The front face of the brigade square moved down into the ravine, but the men forming the sides of the square failed to conform fully to the movement, so that the continuity of the square was broken and it began to disintegrate. The Mahdists launched an attack on the right face of the square, comprising 2nd York and Lancaster, which halted to give fire, while the front face of the square continued to advance. The York and Lancaster fell back on the Royal Marine Light Infantry and the two battalions became intertwined and disordered. The Black Watch, forming the front, were thrown into confusion and retreated into the square. The brigade was forced to withdraw, pressed hard by the attacking tribesmen.
Three Royal Navy guns had to be abandoned and casualties mounted. The tribesmen captured several Gatling and Gardiner guns. Colonel Buller’s First Brigade now came up on the right of the Second Brigade, to the lip of the ravine. Not until now engaged and in good order, Buller’s battalions opened a heavy fire on the Mahdist tribesmen. The Second Brigade was reformed by General Graham and his staff, fresh supplies of ammunition being brought forward. The brigade, with the Black Watch taking the lead, moved back to engage the Mahdists at the edge of the ravine, retaking the abandoned guns. A party of tribesmen launched an attack from concealed positions in a neighbouring gully, but were shot down by the British troops, now well in hand. The two brigades opened a heavy fire on the Mahdists, as they withdrew across the ravine and up the far bank. With the First Brigade providing supporting fire, the Second Brigade stormed across the ravine. The brigades reformed on the far bank of the ravine and moved into the valley to occupy Osman Digna’s camp. The Mahdists continued to resist the advance, but were finally dispersed by artillery fire. The battle was over, leaving Osman Digna’s camp in British hands, to be burnt by Colonel Buller’s brigade.
The breaking of the British square would my immortalised by Rudyard Kipling in his poem "Fuzzy-Wuz”.
So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;
You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;
An' 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your 'ayrick 'ead of 'air -
You big black boundin' beggar - for you broke a British square!
In all, of the force of Royal Navy / Royal Marines who fought at Tamaai, which numbered approximately 14 Royal Navy officer’s and 464 ratings,and marines, Hecla had 7 recipient’s of the Tamaai clasp, one of whom was Ballard. Unusually Ballard does not appear to have gained entitlement to the Suakin 1884 clasp which was usually issued in conjunction with the El-Teb, Tamaai, or El-Teb_Tamaai clasp for these operations.
In the rank of Lieutenant he next served aboard Euryalus from March 1884; Temeraire from April 1884; and then the gun vessel Woodlark from May 1885. Whilst serving in the latter ship in the East Indies, he was specially selected by the Commander-in-Chief Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Richards, K.C.B., to be Naval A.D.C. to General Sir Harry Prendergast during the operations in Burma in 1885-87. He was again Mentioned in Despatches and was further personally thanked by General Prendergast and the India Office, who recommended him for favourable consideration. In all only 62 officers and men from Woodlark received the clasp Burma 1885-7 to the India General Service Medal.
On leaving Woodlark in June 1887, Ballard was next afloat in Gorgon, which he joined in July 1887 followed by: Temeraire in October 1887; Medea in July 1891; Audacious in September 1891; Linnet in December 1891; Gibraltar in April 1895; Wildfire in October 1895; and Colossus in May 1896. Promoted to Commander on 31 December 1897, Ballard then became the only naval officer to ever win the Royal United Services Institute Prize Medal in Gold on successive years, and one of only two Officers to win the medal twice, the first being ‘For Naval Essay 1897’ and the second ‘For Naval Essay 1899’, these two awards are still with his group, and are housed in a specially fitted case.
Ballard was appointed to the cruiser Isis in April 1899, and then saw service with her out on the China Station where he was when he saw active service during the Boxer Rebellion. Some 432 officers and men from Isis received the China Medal 1900, all without clasp.
Ballard was then with President from February 1902 whilst employed on service with the Naval Intelligence Department. Promoted to Captain on 31 December 1903, after serving only six years as a Commander. On promotion he was reappointed to the Naval Intelligence Department as Assistant to the Director, and was awarded the Commander 3rd Class Grade of the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Empire of Japan in 1904, being granted permission to wear this insignia by His Majesty King Edward VII. Following this appointment, Ballard joined Euryalus in command from January 1906, and then commanded the following: Royal Arthur from May 1906; Terrible from July 1906; Hampshire from August 1907; Commonwealth from January 1910; and Britannia from December 1910. In January 1912 he returned to the Admiralty for service as Director of the Operations Division. Whilst holding this appointment, Ballard became an A.D.C., to King George V in May 1913, and was made a Companion of the Civil Division of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, the Civil Division being conferred upon him as he was not holding an active Naval Command. This award was announced in the King’s Birthday Honours List as published in the London Gazette for 3 June 1913.
With the outbreak of the Great War, Ballard was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 27 August 1914 and appointed to the Depot Ship Wallington, based in Immingham, as Rear-Admiral Commanding Patrol Flotillas. In September 1916 he was appointed Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard and held this position until superseded in January 1919. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 11 February 1919. For his Great War service he was thrice decorated by the Allied Powers. Initially he was awarded the Commander 3rd Class Grade of the French Legion d’Honneur, as published in the London Gazette for 21 June 1918, before being awarded the Commander 3rd Class Grade of the Order of St Maurice & St Lazarus by the Kingdom of Italy, this award being published in the London Gazette for 17 October 1919. Ultimately he was awarded the Grand Cross 1st Class Grade of the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Empire of Japan, this award being published in the London Gazette for 8 March 1920.
At his own request, Ballard was placed on the Retired List on 14 June 1921, and was promoted to Retired Admiral on 3 March 1924. He died on 15 September 1948, having reached his 87th year, and remaining the only officer to win the R.U.S.I. Gold Medal on successive years, and one of only two Officers to win the medal twice
