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Lot Essay
Ex Spink, October 1950.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Henry Notley as a Quarter-Master's Mate aboard the Caroline for the capture of the Island of Neira in the Banda Group, Moluccas in August 1810, one of just 68 recipients of this clasp on the Admiralty roll.
'And before the end of the Summer [in 1810], Captain Cole, of the Caroline, 36, with the Remonstrance, 38, Captain Foote, and the Barracouta, 18, Lieutenant Kenah, achieved a glorious success in the reduction of Banda, the chief of the Spice Islands. Disembarking less than 400 men, half of whom missed their way in the dark, he first scaled the strong castle of Belgica, and then gained possession of the castle and town of Nassau, and forced the garrison of 700 Regulars and a large body of Militia to lay down their arms. This almost unique feat of arms, by which two castles and 10 Batteries, amounting to 138 guns, fell into British hands, was accomplished with only 140 sailors and 40 soldiers, and without the loss of a single man. Captain Cole was knighted, and received the Thanks of the Admiralty, Commander-in-Chief and Governor-General, and four Swords of Honour, one of which, with a letter from the crew of the Caroline, must have been especially gratifying to this dashing Officer' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
Henry Notley entered the Royal Navy at Calcutta as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Caroline in October 1803, aged 22 years. A native of Dorchester, he had most likely seen previous service as a Merchant Seaman. Advanced to Able Seaman in January 1805 and to Quarter-Master's Mate in May 1810, he was still aboard her at the capture of the Island of Neira later that year, but on 'Trafalgar Day' following was admitted to Madras Hospital. Subsequently discharged in February 1811, he was given passage home in the Barbados (Various P.R.O. ADM sources refer).
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Henry Notley as a Quarter-Master's Mate aboard the Caroline for the capture of the Island of Neira in the Banda Group, Moluccas in August 1810, one of just 68 recipients of this clasp on the Admiralty roll.
'And before the end of the Summer [in 1810], Captain Cole, of the Caroline, 36, with the Remonstrance, 38, Captain Foote, and the Barracouta, 18, Lieutenant Kenah, achieved a glorious success in the reduction of Banda, the chief of the Spice Islands. Disembarking less than 400 men, half of whom missed their way in the dark, he first scaled the strong castle of Belgica, and then gained possession of the castle and town of Nassau, and forced the garrison of 700 Regulars and a large body of Militia to lay down their arms. This almost unique feat of arms, by which two castles and 10 Batteries, amounting to 138 guns, fell into British hands, was accomplished with only 140 sailors and 40 soldiers, and without the loss of a single man. Captain Cole was knighted, and received the Thanks of the Admiralty, Commander-in-Chief and Governor-General, and four Swords of Honour, one of which, with a letter from the crew of the Caroline, must have been especially gratifying to this dashing Officer' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
Henry Notley entered the Royal Navy at Calcutta as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Caroline in October 1803, aged 22 years. A native of Dorchester, he had most likely seen previous service as a Merchant Seaman. Advanced to Able Seaman in January 1805 and to Quarter-Master's Mate in May 1810, he was still aboard her at the capture of the Island of Neira later that year, but on 'Trafalgar Day' following was admitted to Madras Hospital. Subsequently discharged in February 1811, he was given passage home in the Barbados (Various P.R.O. ADM sources refer).