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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 64

A Rare ´Shannon With Chesapeake´ Clasp Combination N.G.S. to Private G. Morris, Royal Marines, Combining the Nile, Nelson´s First Fleet Victory, With the Classic American Action Naval General Service 1793-1840, two clasps, Nile, Shannon Wh. Chesapeake (Griffiths Morris.), good very fine Estimate £ 8,000-10,000 Griffiths Morris served as Private, Royal Marines in H.M.S. Audacious during Nelson´s action off the Nile, 1.8.1798; Morris served as the same rank in H.M.S. Shannon 38 guns (Captain P.V. Broke) for the capture of the American 38-gun frigate Chesapeake in Boston Bay, U.S.A., 1.6.1813; the Shannon had been cruising off Boston Harbour for the majority of the previous month laying in wait for the Chesapeake to leave the harbour after undergoing extensive alterations; not wishing to weaken the complement of his crew in readiness for the engagement, Broke destroyed all the enemy vessels he captured during May, sacrificing no less than 25 prospective prizes; on the 1st of June, Captain Broke, after receiving no replies to a number of verbal messages sent in to Captain Lawrence of the Chesapeake, addressed the following to the American Captain: ´As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I request you will do me the favour to meet the Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of our respective flags... favour me with a speedy reply. We are short of provisions and water and cannot stay long here´; in the early afternoon the American frigate sailed out to meet the Shannon, and the action commenced about 6 leagues off Boston Lighthouse - witnessed by a number of pleasure boat spectators desirous of seeing how quick an American could ´whip´ a British frigate; after an exchange of a number of broadsides the Chesapeake had had her tiller ropes shot away and her wheel broken; the American fell aboard the Shannon and Broke ordered the two ships lashed together; in the early evening, Broke at the head of 20 men, jumped onto the quarter-deck of the Chesapeake and shouted ´Follow me who can´; reinforcements quickly rallied behind their gallant Captain and most of the enemy crew were driven below; the Americans kept up a heavy fire from their tops until they were killed or wounded, within 15 minutes of the boarding the vessel all hostilities were ended; the Shannon lost 3 officers and 23 men killed, with Captain Broke (severely wounded in the hand-to-hand fighting) and 58 men wounded; the Chesapeake had her Captain, 7 officers and 53 men killed and mortally wounded, and nearly 90 officers and men wounded. Captain Broke was awarded a Small Naval Gold Medal for this action as well as being created a Baronet and presented with a sword to the value of 100 guineas. Approximately 42 ´Shannon Wh. Chesapeake´ clasps issued. One of only two medals issued with this combination of clasps. Provenance: Spink December 1965

Sold for
£16,000