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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 37

A Rare and Interesting N.G.S. to Lieutenant R. Cotgrave, Who as Midshipman Was Present in ´Commando Style´ Operations Made By A Detachment of Seamen and Marines Which Landed from Boats and Raided Deep into Enemy Territory to Intercept Bodies of French Troops Making Predatory Incursions in the Cuxhaven Area, July 1809 Naval General Service 1793-1840, one clasp, 27 July Boat Service 1809 (R.B. Cotgrave, Midshipman.), nearly extremely fine, with original riband and contemporary silver riband buckle with gold retaining pin Estimate £ 10,000-12,000 Rowland B. Cotgrave served as Midshipman in H.M.S. Pincher as part of Captain Lord George Stuart´s squadron operating near the mouth of the Elbe in July 1809. French troops based in Hanover were regularly making incursions into the Cuxhaven area, and Stuart was instructed to eradicate this problem. As a consequence of this he landed from the boats of his squadron a detachment of seamen and marines to intercept the marauding Frenchmen. What ensued was a seek and destroy ´Commando´ style raid deep into enemy territory, ´the British discovered a large body of Frenchmen and pursued them to the town of Gessendorf near Cuxhaven where they made a stand. Captain William Goat of H.M.S. Mosquito with his detachment moved towards the town while another party led by Captain Pettet of H.M.S. Briseis attacked and took a gun battery of four 12-pounders in the flank, and the remainder of the British party under Commander George Edward Watts of H.M.S. Ephira attacked the battery from the front. On the approach of Captain Goat´s men, the enemy swiftly evacuated Gessendorf and the defenders of the battery, being attacked from two points, abandoned their position and retired. The battery was destroyed and the detachment returned to its ship without loss after a march of over 28 miles into enemy territory.´ (British Battles and Medals, refers). Approximately 10 clasps issued for this action Lieutenant Rowland Burdon Cotgrave, R.N., born 1798; joined the Royal Navy March 1808, and was appointed as Midshipman to the Pincher gun-brig (commanded by Lieutenant S. Burgess, his brother-in-law); after assisting in the taking of the batteries of Cuxhaven and Gessendorf, July 1809, he entered the the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth, October 1812; proceeded to the West Indies in H.M.S. Tigris (Captain R. Henderson), September 1815; between December 1817-June 1822 he served as Admiralty Midshipman in H.M.S. Antelope (Rear-Admiral J. Harvey), in a similar capacity in H.M.S.s Helicon, Iphigenia and Impregnable the latter being the flag ship of Sir Alexander Cochrane; he was actively employed in the suppression of smuggling and slavery on the Home and African stations; after being appointed to H.M.S. Bann (Captain C. Phillips), he was promoted Lieutenant 1822; Cotgrave held the command of the tender San Raphael before returning to England in March 1823; after service in H.M.S. Rattlesnake, he removed to the Ramillies (Captains W. McCulloch and H. Pigot), March 1824; from December 1825 he was employed in cruizing for protection of the Revenue, with the Antelope cutter under his orders as a tender to the Ramillies; served with the Coast Guard, 1836-1842.

Sold for
£9,000