Lot Essay
Ex Cheylesmore Collection 1930.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Bernard MaCarty as a Quarter-Gunner aboard the Phoenix for the action of 10.8.1805, one of just 26 recipients of this clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll.
'A strikingly gallant action was fought on 10 August [1805], between the Phoenix, 36, Captain Baker, and the Didon, Captain Milius, who, mistaking the British Frigate for a 20-gun ship he was in search of, made sure of an easy victory. Captain Baker endeavoured to engage the enemy to leeward, but, being foiled by his adversary, who displayed much skilful seamanship, ranged up to windward within pistol-shot of the Didon, both ships then being on the port tack. The Didon luffed across her adversary's stern, raking her with good effect; but a second attempt to repeat the manoeuvre not succeeding, the two ships fell foul of each other, when the French seamen tried to board, but on each occasion were repulsed with slaughter. The ships having at length cleared one another, the fight proceeded until the Didon's foremast was shot away, when Captain Milius hauled his Colours. Out of 245 men and boys, the Phoenix lost 12 killed, including two Officers, and 28 wounded, among whom were two Midshipmen and a Lieutenant of Marines [and Bernard MaCarty]. The Didon lost, out of a crew of 330, 27 killed and 44 wounded. She was added to the Navy under the same name' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Bernard MaCarty as a Quarter-Gunner aboard the Phoenix for the action of 10.8.1805, one of just 26 recipients of this clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll.
'A strikingly gallant action was fought on 10 August [1805], between the Phoenix, 36, Captain Baker, and the Didon, Captain Milius, who, mistaking the British Frigate for a 20-gun ship he was in search of, made sure of an easy victory. Captain Baker endeavoured to engage the enemy to leeward, but, being foiled by his adversary, who displayed much skilful seamanship, ranged up to windward within pistol-shot of the Didon, both ships then being on the port tack. The Didon luffed across her adversary's stern, raking her with good effect; but a second attempt to repeat the manoeuvre not succeeding, the two ships fell foul of each other, when the French seamen tried to board, but on each occasion were repulsed with slaughter. The ships having at length cleared one another, the fight proceeded until the Didon's foremast was shot away, when Captain Milius hauled his Colours. Out of 245 men and boys, the Phoenix lost 12 killed, including two Officers, and 28 wounded, among whom were two Midshipmen and a Lieutenant of Marines [and Bernard MaCarty]. The Didon lost, out of a crew of 330, 27 killed and 44 wounded. She was added to the Navy under the same name' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).