Lot Essay
Ex Whalley Collection 1887.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Peter Smith as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Spartiate for the Battle of Trafalgar on 21.10.1805 and as an Able Seaman for the Venerable action of 16.1.1814, this last being one of just 42 such clasps recorded on the Admiralty roll. One man, however, with the same names, was entitled to a single 'Algiers' clasp and a single 'Venerable 16 Jany. 1814' clasp has been recorded on the market.
'In the Weather Column, she [Spartiate] fought under Sir Francis Laforey in the great victory of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805; her losses amounting to five killed and 20 wounded. The Minotaur and Spartiate were the two rear most ships in the Weather Column, but exchanged broadsides with several of the Combined Fleet. They managed to cut off the Spanish 84-gun Neptune, of which they contrived to get along side, and which, after a fight of over an hour, surrendered. The Spartiate had her foretopsail yard shot away, and her masts, yards and rigging in general were a good deal damaged' (The Trafalgar Roll, by Colonel R.H. McKenzie, refers).
Venerable's action of 16.1.1814, fought in the company of the Cyane, off the Canary Islands, resulted in the capture of the French Frigates Alcmene and Iphigenie, the former making a gallant resistance and losing 30 killed and 50 wounded.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Peter Smith as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Spartiate for the Battle of Trafalgar on 21.10.1805 and as an Able Seaman for the Venerable action of 16.1.1814, this last being one of just 42 such clasps recorded on the Admiralty roll. One man, however, with the same names, was entitled to a single 'Algiers' clasp and a single 'Venerable 16 Jany. 1814' clasp has been recorded on the market.
'In the Weather Column, she [Spartiate] fought under Sir Francis Laforey in the great victory of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805; her losses amounting to five killed and 20 wounded. The Minotaur and Spartiate were the two rear most ships in the Weather Column, but exchanged broadsides with several of the Combined Fleet. They managed to cut off the Spanish 84-gun Neptune, of which they contrived to get along side, and which, after a fight of over an hour, surrendered. The Spartiate had her foretopsail yard shot away, and her masts, yards and rigging in general were a good deal damaged' (The Trafalgar Roll, by Colonel R.H. McKenzie, refers).
Venerable's action of 16.1.1814, fought in the company of the Cyane, off the Canary Islands, resulted in the capture of the French Frigates Alcmene and Iphigenie, the former making a gallant resistance and losing 30 killed and 50 wounded.