Lot Essay
Ex Whittaker Collection 1890.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Thomas Brown as a Private in the Royal Marines at the defence of Anholt Island on 27.3.1811, one of just 40 recipients of this clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll. Six men, however, with the same names, were entitled to single 'Syria' clasps.
'One of the most brilliant operations of the War was the defence of the Island of Anholt, in the Baltic, by Captain Maurice, with 400 Marines commanded by Major Torrens. This small party, being attacked by 1000 Danish soldiers, beat them off, and forced no less than 520 men to surrender, while the Tartar, 32, Captain Baker, and the Sheldrake, 16, Captain Stewart, pursued a Division of 12 Gunboats protecting their landing, and captured two and sunk a third. The Danish loss amounted to 35 killed and 23 wounded, the British only losing two killed and Major Torrens and 30 men wounded' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Thomas Brown as a Private in the Royal Marines at the defence of Anholt Island on 27.3.1811, one of just 40 recipients of this clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll. Six men, however, with the same names, were entitled to single 'Syria' clasps.
'One of the most brilliant operations of the War was the defence of the Island of Anholt, in the Baltic, by Captain Maurice, with 400 Marines commanded by Major Torrens. This small party, being attacked by 1000 Danish soldiers, beat them off, and forced no less than 520 men to surrender, while the Tartar, 32, Captain Baker, and the Sheldrake, 16, Captain Stewart, pursued a Division of 12 Gunboats protecting their landing, and captured two and sunk a third. The Danish loss amounted to 35 killed and 23 wounded, the British only losing two killed and Major Torrens and 30 men wounded' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).