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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 71

Naval General Service 1793-1840, two clasps, Centaur 26 Augt. 1808, Amanthea 25 July 1810 (Geo. R.W. Trefusis, Midshipman.), good very fine and a unique combination of clasps Estimate £ 14,000-16,000 George Trefusis served as First Class Volunteer in H.M.S. Centaur during the pursuit of the Russian fleet of 24 ships and the capture of the 74 gun Sevolod by H.M. Ships Centaur (flag ship of Sir Samuel Hood, Captain W.H. Webley) and Implacable (Captain T.B. Martin) off Hango Head, south coast of Finland. During this spirited action, in which the Sevolod was captured, escaped and captured once more resulting in her being set on fire and completely destroyed, the Russians lost over 300 men killed and wounded, whilst the British losses were a combined total of 62 killed or wounded; Trefusis served as Midshipman in H.M.S. Thames 32 guns (Captain the Hon. G.G. Waldegrave) in-conjunction with the Pilot 18 guns and the Weazle at the capture and destruction of 32 Franco-Neopolitan transports and action with the escort of seven gunboats, four armed vessels and an armed pinnace, below the town of Amanthea on the Calabrian coast, Italy, 25.7.1810 Approximately 41 ´Centaur 26 Augt. 1808´ clasps issued Approximately 23 ´Amanthea 25 July 1810´ clasps issued. Captain The Honourable George Rolle Walpole Trefusis, R.N., born April 1793, third son of Robert George William Trefusis, 15th Lord Clinton; joined the Royal Navy as First Class Volunteer, April 1806, and served in H.M.S. Centaur (Commodore, afterwards Rear-Admiral, Sir Samuel Hood) from that month; on the 25th September he was in company with the Mars and the Monarch off Rochefort for the capture of four heavy French frigates; he assisted at the siege of Copenhagen, 1807, and witnessed the surrender of Madeira; after the capture of the Sevolod he served with Lord Radstock, March 1810-November 1813, in the Thames and in the Volontaire on the Mediterranean station; he served in the boats of the Thames for the demolition of 10 large armed feluccas on the beach close to Cetraro, in the Gulf of Policastro, 16.7.1811; Trefusis served in the boats of the Volontaire, under the command of Lieutenant I. Shaw, when they brought out from the harbour of Palamos a well protected privateer La Décidé, mounting 2 long 6-pounders (pierced for 6) with a cargo of provisions from Cette, bound to Barcelona, 26.12.1811; he went out in the boats again when they captured a felucca La Colombe, of 1 long gun, 8 swivels, and 45 men, 23.6.1812; on the latter occasion a Midshipman was killed with two ratings wounded, the enemy suffered 3 killed and 7 wounded; after service as a Midshipman in H.M.S. Royal William he was appointed Lieutenant to H.M.S. Ethalion (Captains E. Heywood and W.H. Dobie); he served with the latter on the coast of Ireland, December 1813-August 1815; appointed to H.M.S. Iris (flag ship of Sir Home Popham), December 1815; Commander March 1816; subsequent appointments included in H.M. Ships Redwing and Jaspar; appointed to the command of the North Star, May 1831; his last appointments were to the Winchester (flag ship of Sir Edward G. Colpoys) and the Sapphire, all of which were on the North American and West Indian station; took charge of the Barbados division from July 1833; retired October 1846. Provenance: Sotheby October 1983

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