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Auction: 1025 - The Turl Collection of Naval General Service Medals 1793 - 1840
Lot: 89

A Highly Unusual Three Clasp Combination N.G.S. to W. Tuckey, Royal Navy, Spanning 30 Years Between the First and Last Clasp Actions Naval General Service 1793-1840, three clasps, Lissa, Pelagosa 29 Novr. 1811, Syria (William Tuckey.), light contact marks, otherwise good very fine Estimate £ 5,000-7,000 William Tuckey served as Landsman in H.M.S. Active as part of the British squadron which engaged a Franco-Venetian squadron off the Island of Lissa, in the Adriatic, 13.3.1811. Captain Hoste´s squadron captured two enemy frigates, the 40-gun Bellona, the 40-gun Corona and destroyed the 40-gun frigate Favorite. The combined loss to the British squadron amounted to 190 killed and wounded against an enemy loss of about 430. The original British force was approximately 886 seaman and marines against at least 2,500 Franco-Venetian allies with less than half their gun superiority. Four Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action; Tuckey served in the same rate in the same ship when she in company with H.M. Ships Unité and Alceste engaged three French frigates, capturing two, off the Island of Pelagosa in the Adriatic, 29.11.1811; Tuckey served as Blacksmith in H.M.S. Bellerophon on and off the coast of Syria, 1840. William Tuckey born Canterbury, Kent, 1792; joined the Royal Navy in 1809, and served as Landsman in H.M.S. Active, September 1809-June 1812; served with the Tenedos 38 gun frigate, taking part in the blockade of American ports and cruising off Marblehead and Sandy Hook; in the latter vessel, he took part in the chase and eventual capture of the U.S. frigate President off Sandy Hook, 15.1.1815; though the President was largely engaged with, and surrendered to, the Endymion, after a bloody fight boats were sent from both the Pomone and Tenedos to take possession of the American ship; the war against America ended in May 1815 and Tuckey was paid off on 29th August following; he rejoined the Navy as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Ramillies, August 1826, and was promoted to Armourer´s Mate, May 1829; subsequent service included in H.M. Ships Talavera, Isis, Comet, Jupiter, and Princess Charlotte before joining the Bellerophon, September 1837; Blacksmith 1839; transferred as Blacksmith to H.M.S. Siren, August 1841; he left the service in April 1844, with a Pension of £28/12/- per annum for life, for the loss of his right eye in October 1842; he died 16.10.1851 at ´Bread and Cheese Houses, Chatham´ Provenance: Lord Cheylesmore Collection, July 1930 J.B. Hayward June 1976

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£5,500