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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 84

A Rare Three Clasp N.G.S. to a Trafalgar Casualty, Able Seaman Christopher Tute, Who Served in H.M.S. Belleisle During the Battle; Positioned in the Lee Column Belleisle, After Engaging At Least Four Enemy Ships Was Completely Dismasted and Shattered But Remained Undeafeated - A Union Jack Hung From a Pike While An Ensign Was Fixed to the Stump of the Mainmast - Her Losses Totalled 127 Men Killed and Wounded, Which Included Tute Naval General Service 1793-1840, three clasps, St. Vincent, Trafalgar, Guadaloupe (Christr. Tute.), toned, minor edge bruising, good very fine, with original named card box of issue Estimate £ 12,000-14,000 Christopher Tute served as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Prince George at 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; Tute served as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Belleisle 74 guns (Captain W. Hargood) 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 Belleisle ´was present in the lee column, and bore a very distinguished part in the battle.... Early in the action she suffered heavily from the fire of the ships in the allied rear, but only replied with a few shots directed at the Spanish Monarca. She then exchanged shots with the Spanish Santa Ana and the French Indomptable, and became somewhat distantly engaged with the Spanish San Juan Nepomuceno, which, with other vessels, had pressed up from the rear. At about 1pm the Fougueux intervened, and, with her port bow, ran on board the Belleisle, nearly midships on the starboard side. The two ships briskly engaged one another for about twenty minutes, when the Frenchman dropped astern. The Belleisle, though by this time a wreck, was still further attacked until she was completely dismasted and shattered. But she remained unconquered, and suspended a Union Jack at the end of a pike and held it up to view, while an ensign was made fast to the stump of the mainmast. She was, however, succoured in time, and though unable to take further active part in the fighting, she subsequently sent her last remaining boat to take possession of the Spanish Argonauta, which had hauled down her colours, and lay not far off. The losses of the Belleisle amounted to 127 killed and wounded. Her hull was knocked almost to pieces, both sides of it being about equally damaged, while her three masts, bowsprit, and figurehead were shot away, together with her boats and anchors.´ (The Trafalgar Roll, The Officers, The Men, The Ships, Colonel R.H. Mackenzie refers); Tute served as the same rate in H.M.S. Perlen during the combined naval and military operations commanded by Vice Admiral the Honourable Sir Alexander Cochrane and Lieutenant General Sir George Beckwith which culminated in the capture of the French-held island of Guadaloupe, January-February 1810. Christopher Tute born Dublin, Ireland; he is recorded as being a beneficiary of the Lloyd´s Patriotic fund for wounds received in action at Trafalgar (Roll held in the Guild Hall Library, London, Ref. GL Ms 35166/2, article by L.E. Gottfreund refers). Provenance: Spink November 1995 and July 1997

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