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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 72

A Good ´Fighting´ N.G.S. to J. Cusack, Royal Navy, Veteran of H.M.S. Amethyst´s Two Most Famous, Ferocious and Bloody Actions With the French Frigates Thetis and Niemen, When She Honed Her Broadside to Broadside and Hand to Hand Fighting Skills to the Cost of Many a Frenchman Naval General Service 1793-1840, two clasps, Amethyst Wh. Thetis, Amethyst 5 April 1809 (John Cussack.), minor edge nicks, extremely fine Estimate £ 8,000-10,000 John Cussack served as Landsman in H.M.S. Amethyst 38 guns (Captain M. Seymour) at the capture of the French 40-gun frigate Thetis off Ile de Groix, Lorient, 10.11.1808; on the evening of the latter date after an engagement of approximately an hour, the Thetis made a determined but unsuccessful attempt to board the Amethyst; in turn Captain Seymour, after inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and seriously damaging their ship, boarded the entirely dismasted Thetis and captured her; over 130 Frenchmen were killed (including the Captain), together with about 100 wounded; the Amethyst lost 18 men killed and 51 wounded; her mizzen-mast was shot away, her other masts were severely damaged, and three and a half feet of water was found in her hold. Captain Seymour was awarded a Small Naval Gold Medal for this action, as well as receiving a Knighthood and 100 guinea sword; Cussack served as the same rate in the Amethyst during the chase and capture of the French 40-gun frigate Niemen in the Bay of Biscay, 5.4.1809; after a day long chase the two vessels finally engaged in the early hours of the morning and after a two-and-a-quarter-hour close fought action both ships ceased fire having been seriously damaged; a short time later H.M.S. Arethusa 38 guns (Captain R. Mends) arrived and took the surrender of the Niemen; the French vessel was taken in to the Royal Navy under the same name. Captain Seymour was created a Baronet for this service. Approximately 31 ´Amethyst Wh. Thetis´ clasps issued. Approximately 26 ´Amethyst 5 April 1809´ clasps issued. Provenance: Spink December 1985

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