Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm John Bannatyne as a Master's Mate aboard the Volontaire for both Boat Service actions, one of just 110 and 48 recipients of these clasps respectively recorded on the Admiralty roll.
Lieutenant John Bannatyne entered the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman aboard H.M.S. Apollo in May 1803 and afterwards served as a Midshipman and Master's Mate aboard the Prince George in the West Indies, prior to removing to the Volontaire in September 1806, in which ship he went on to qualify for both of his Boat Service clasps:
'We find him, on the night of 31 October 1809, assisting, in the boats of the latter Frigate and of a Squadron under Lieutenant Tailour, at the capture and destruction, after a desperate struggle, and a loss to the British of 15 men killed and 55 wounded, of the armed Store Ship Lamproie, of 16 guns and 116 men, the Bombards Victoire and Grondeur, and the armed Xebec Normande, with a convoy of Merchantmen, defended by numerous Batteries in the Bay of Rosas' (O'Byrne refers).
In December 1811, Bannatyne was present in the ship's boats at the capture of the Privateer Decide and on 2.5.1813 at the destruction of the Batteries at Morgiou, near Toulon, in addition to the capture of six Merchantmen. Removing in September 1813 to the Caledonia, he was present at the partial action with the French Fleet off Toulon in the November following and advanced to Lieutenant in February 1815. Bannantyne was placed on Half-Pay in 1831.
Lieutenant John Bannatyne entered the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman aboard H.M.S. Apollo in May 1803 and afterwards served as a Midshipman and Master's Mate aboard the Prince George in the West Indies, prior to removing to the Volontaire in September 1806, in which ship he went on to qualify for both of his Boat Service clasps:
'We find him, on the night of 31 October 1809, assisting, in the boats of the latter Frigate and of a Squadron under Lieutenant Tailour, at the capture and destruction, after a desperate struggle, and a loss to the British of 15 men killed and 55 wounded, of the armed Store Ship Lamproie, of 16 guns and 116 men, the Bombards Victoire and Grondeur, and the armed Xebec Normande, with a convoy of Merchantmen, defended by numerous Batteries in the Bay of Rosas' (O'Byrne refers).
In December 1811, Bannatyne was present in the ship's boats at the capture of the Privateer Decide and on 2.5.1813 at the destruction of the Batteries at Morgiou, near Toulon, in addition to the capture of six Merchantmen. Removing in September 1813 to the Caledonia, he was present at the partial action with the French Fleet off Toulon in the November following and advanced to Lieutenant in February 1815. Bannantyne was placed on Half-Pay in 1831.