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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 51

Naval General Service 1793-1840, one clasp, Eurotas 25 Feby 1814 (Robert Temple.), toned, minor edge nicks, good very fine Estimate £ 5,000-5,500 Robert Temple served as Landsman in H.M.S. Eurotas, 38 guns (Captain J. Phillimore) during the action with the French 40-gun frigate Clorinde, off Brest, 25.2.1814. After a five hour chase the two vessels closed for action. During a furious 20 minute engagement, the Eurotas had her mizen-mast shot away and at about the same time the Clorinde lost her foretop-mast. At 6.20pm the British ship lost her mainmast and this time her adversaries mizen-mast came down. This tit for tat engagement continued with the Eurotas´ foremast going overboard, quickly followed by the fall of Clorinde´s mainmast. The British ship was now totally dismasted and unmanageable; and at 7.30pm the Clorinde with only her fore-yard standing, set the remaining of her foresail and stood away out of range of her enemy´s guns. Early in the action Captain Phillimore had been severely wounded by grapeshot, with the command passing to Lieutenant R. Smith. The latter worked his crew throughout the night, clearing the debris, to get up jury masts in order to be able to pursue their foe the following morning. By 6am they were under way again and got to within four miles of the struggling Clorinde. However, to their dismay H.M. Ships Dryad and Achates had closed upon the Frenchman and completed the formalities. The French captain offered his sword to Captain Galway of the Dryad, however he honourably refused it, observing that it was only due to Captain Phillimore. The Eurotas suffered two officers and nineteen men killed, and three officers and thirty-six men wounded. The Clorinde lost thirty killed and forty wounded. Approximately 32 clasps issued for this action

Sold for
£4,800