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Auction: 13001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 143

Naval General Service 1793-1840, three clasps, 4 Novr. 1805, Basque Roads 1809, Algiers (Thomas Follett.), minor edge bruise, good very fine

Thomas Follett served as Ordinary Seaman in H.M.S. Caesar as part of Commodore Sir Richard Strachan´s squadron, when he captured four French ships of the line, off Ferrol on the north coast of Gallicia, Spain, 4.11.1805. Four Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action; Follett is given on the Muster List for the same ship as being borne as Able Seaman, when the Caesar took part in Lord Cochrane´s successful destruction of a number of French ships, including four ships of the line, in the Basque Roads, off St. Nazaire, 11-12.4.1809; his name, however, does not appear on the latest published transcription of the medal roll for this clasp. It is of course a possibility that correspondence was undertaken at a later date between the recipient and the Admiralty with regard to his claim and as a consequence a correction was made. Unfortunately such letters have not survived; Follett served as Ordinary Seaman in H.M.S. Queen Charlotte (Lord Exmouth´s flag ship) when the combined English and Dutch fleets attacked the heavily fortified town of Algiers, 27.8.1816.

The medal appears entirely as issued.

Provenance:
Sotheby, April 1902
Spink, November 1975

Sold for
£2,900