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Lot Essay
Ex Seaby's, April 1951.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm John Burd as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Implacable for the Boat Service action of 7.7.1809, one of just 34 recipients of this clasp on the Admiralty roll.
For the capture and destruction of eight Russian Gunboats and twelve Merchantmen at Percola Point in the Baro Sound, off Finland, by seventeen boats with 270 men drawn from the Ship's Companies of the Bellerophon, Implacable, Melpomene and Prometheus.
Interestingly, the Douglas-Morris roll states that John Burd is also verified aboard the same ship for her action of 26.8.1808 and, as such, he would be one of approximately 40 men entitled to claim for the appropriate clasp:
'On the outbreak of War with Russia, Sir James Saumarez was sent with a Fleet of 11 Sail-of-the-Line to the Baltic, but no general engagement place. The Admiral sent his Second-in-Command, Sir Samuel Hood, with his own ship, the Centaur, and the Implacable, 74, Captain Byam Martin, to join the Swedish Squadron, and the only fighting that took place was between these ships and the Russian Fleet. The Implacable engaged the Sewolod, 74, and after a smart action, compelled her to strike, but was unable to take possession, as the Russian Admiral, Hanikoff, bore down to the rescue. The enemy proceeded to the harbour of Rogerswick, and the Sewolod taking the ground, Sir Samuel Hood ran on board her, and lashing the bowsprit of the Russian 74 to his mizen rigging, compelled her a second time to strike her Colours. Other Russian ships now advanced, and the Prize being immovable, with her hold half-full of water, she was set on fire and destroyed, after all the prisoners and wounded had been removed. The total number of casualties in the Implacable amounted to six killed and 26 wounded; in the Centaur, three killed and 27 wounded; while the Sewolod had 43 killed and 80 wounded in her first action, and after having received a reinforcement of 100 men, lost 180 more in the engagement with the Centaur' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
John Burd was born circa 1785 and can first be traced as a Supernumerary aboard the Eliza and Jane in December 1807. Transferring in the same month to the Implacable as a Landsman, he remained with her until being discharged to the Hospital Ship Gorgon in August 1809, a span of service taking in both of the above described engagements (Various P.R.O. ADM sources refer).
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm John Burd as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Implacable for the Boat Service action of 7.7.1809, one of just 34 recipients of this clasp on the Admiralty roll.
For the capture and destruction of eight Russian Gunboats and twelve Merchantmen at Percola Point in the Baro Sound, off Finland, by seventeen boats with 270 men drawn from the Ship's Companies of the Bellerophon, Implacable, Melpomene and Prometheus.
Interestingly, the Douglas-Morris roll states that John Burd is also verified aboard the same ship for her action of 26.8.1808 and, as such, he would be one of approximately 40 men entitled to claim for the appropriate clasp:
'On the outbreak of War with Russia, Sir James Saumarez was sent with a Fleet of 11 Sail-of-the-Line to the Baltic, but no general engagement place. The Admiral sent his Second-in-Command, Sir Samuel Hood, with his own ship, the Centaur, and the Implacable, 74, Captain Byam Martin, to join the Swedish Squadron, and the only fighting that took place was between these ships and the Russian Fleet. The Implacable engaged the Sewolod, 74, and after a smart action, compelled her to strike, but was unable to take possession, as the Russian Admiral, Hanikoff, bore down to the rescue. The enemy proceeded to the harbour of Rogerswick, and the Sewolod taking the ground, Sir Samuel Hood ran on board her, and lashing the bowsprit of the Russian 74 to his mizen rigging, compelled her a second time to strike her Colours. Other Russian ships now advanced, and the Prize being immovable, with her hold half-full of water, she was set on fire and destroyed, after all the prisoners and wounded had been removed. The total number of casualties in the Implacable amounted to six killed and 26 wounded; in the Centaur, three killed and 27 wounded; while the Sewolod had 43 killed and 80 wounded in her first action, and after having received a reinforcement of 100 men, lost 180 more in the engagement with the Centaur' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
John Burd was born circa 1785 and can first be traced as a Supernumerary aboard the Eliza and Jane in December 1807. Transferring in the same month to the Implacable as a Landsman, he remained with her until being discharged to the Hospital Ship Gorgon in August 1809, a span of service taking in both of the above described engagements (Various P.R.O. ADM sources refer).