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Auction: 25003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 73

(x) Alexander Davison's Medal for The Nile 1798, bronze-gilt, attractively and contemporarily engraved in the reverse field John Stone MINOTAUR, pierced with small ring and loop suspension, obverse highlights polished and minor contact marks, about very fine

John Stone does not appear on the list of claimants for the Naval General Service Medal; bronze-gilt medals for the Nile were awarded to Petty Officers.

Fought between 1 - 3 August 1798, the Battle of the Nile was the climax of a three-month campaign across the length and breadth of the Mediterranean; a trying time for Nelson's British fleet which had inadvertently, on several occasions, completely missed the French fleet and Egyptian invasion force. However, their enemy was discovered at 2pm on 1 August moored in Aboukir Bay. Advancing during the course of the afternoon, the British ships entered the bay just after 6pm and engaged Vice-Admiral Brueys's fleet directly: the two forces were almost evenly matched in numbers of ships, though Bruyes's gigantic flagship - the 120-gun Orient - tipped the weight of firepower firmly in French favour.

Minotaur was sixth in the British line of battle, immediately astern of Nelson's own H.M.S. Vanguard; those four ships immediately ahead sailed around the front of the French line, consequently engaging their enemy from an unprepared (and unexpected) direction. Bruyes's fleet was enveloped in deadly fire from all sides - but nevertheless the French fought extremely well with Vanguard herself suffering heavily from accurate cannon and musket fire from Spartiate; Captain Louis and the men of the Minotaur came to their chief's aid and one can only imagine the scene on deck at this time, especially as darkness enveloped the participants and the flash of gunpowder lit up the night sky - even more so when the Orient exploded at 10 p.m. Minotaur, meanwhile, had further engaged the 74-gun Aquilon and battered her into submission - some indication of the fierceness of the duel can be seen from the casualty figures: whilst Minotaur lost 87 men killed and wounded but was overall only lightly damaged, Aquilon was completely dismasted, her captain was killed, and no less than 300 of her crew were killed or incapacitated.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240