image

Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 81

Naval General Service 1793-1840, three clasps, 1 June 1794, St. Vincent, Trafalgar (John Lake.), good very fine Estimate £ 11,000-13,000 John Lake served as Landsman in H.M.S. Culloden during the fleet action that became known as ´The Glorious First of June´. A total of seven Large Naval Gold Medals and 15 Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action; Lake served as Purser´s Steward in the same vessel for the defeat of the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, 14.2.1797. Six Large Naval Gold Medals and fourteen Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action; he also served as Purser´s Steward in H.M.S. Neptune 98 guns (Captain F. Fremantle) during the major fleet action off Cape Trafalgar between the British fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson and the Franco-Spanish fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral P.C. de Villeneuve, 21.10.1805. At Trafalgar the Neptune ´was the third ship in the weather column. She got into action about 1.45pm, when she hauled up for the nearest of the enemy´s ships, and passing immediately under the stern of the French Bucentaure, delivered her broadside into it with terrible effect. She then continued under the stern and along the starboard side of the Spanish Santissima Trinidad, and luffed up to leeward of the huge four-decker, which had already suffered badly, and which she fought until the Spaniard became wholly unmanageable. The Neptune was afterward somewhat severely handled by several ships of the combined van, which raked her after they bore up. She lost forty-four killed and wounded in the battle. Her masts and her standing and running rigging were all more or less damaged, and she had nine shots between wind and water. On the following day she took the Royal Sovereign in tow, but afterwards towed the Victory to Gibraltar.´ (The Trafalgar Roll, The Officers, The Men, The Ships, Colonel R.H. Mackenzie refers). John Lake born Exeter, Devon; joined the Royal Navy January 1793.

Sold for
£9,500