Orders, Decorations and Medals

22nd Regiment Order of Merit 1785 (3), by L. Pingo, obv. Hercules crowning a Roman soldier, in exergue: ‘Order of Merit Estab. MDCCLXXXV’; rev. within a palm wreath, ‘Reward for Military Virtue from Lt. Col. Crosbie’’, with circumscription, ‘XXII or Cheshire Regiment’, 38mm., bronze-gilt, unnamed, loop suspension, ref. Balmer R245c; another (2), for 7 years good conduct, bronze, one with steel claw and straight bar suspension, the other pierced and lacking suspension, ref. Balmer R245d, last two very worn, first nearly extremely fine (3) £70-90

The 22nd Regiment Order of Merit was instituted by Lieutenant-Colonel Crosbie in 1785 when stationed at Windsor. The medal was issued in silver-gilt, silver and bronze and is known additionally in bronze-gilt. King George III honoured the regiment by accepting one of these medals at a general parade. By the early 1800’s the medal had fallen into disuse. In 1820 the Order was re-established by Colonel Sir Hugh Gough.