Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm William Boardy as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Lion for the action of 15.7.1798, one of just 23 recipients of this clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll.
'Very glorious to British arms was an action fought on 15 July [1798], between the Lion, 64, Captain Manley Dixon, and a Spanish Squadron of four 34-gun Frigates. Having passed along the Spanish line, Captain Dixon endeavoured to close one of the Frigates, the Santa Dorotea, which, having lost her fore-topmast, was rather to leeward of her companions. The Spanish Commodore with his three remaining ships passed to windward of the Lion within musket-shot, each Frigate bestowing in succession a broadside, which, though returned by Captain Dixon, did not deter him from the pursuit of the Santa Dorotea. Again the Spanish ships, having tacked, renewed the attempt to succour their comrades, but the Lion, having succeeded in getting alongside the Spaniard, engaged her yard-arm to yard-arm until she struck, having lost 20 killed and 32 wounded. The Prize was added to our Navy as a 32-gun Frigate' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).
'Very glorious to British arms was an action fought on 15 July [1798], between the Lion, 64, Captain Manley Dixon, and a Spanish Squadron of four 34-gun Frigates. Having passed along the Spanish line, Captain Dixon endeavoured to close one of the Frigates, the Santa Dorotea, which, having lost her fore-topmast, was rather to leeward of her companions. The Spanish Commodore with his three remaining ships passed to windward of the Lion within musket-shot, each Frigate bestowing in succession a broadside, which, though returned by Captain Dixon, did not deter him from the pursuit of the Santa Dorotea. Again the Spanish ships, having tacked, renewed the attempt to succour their comrades, but the Lion, having succeeded in getting alongside the Spaniard, engaged her yard-arm to yard-arm until she struck, having lost 20 killed and 32 wounded. The Prize was added to our Navy as a 32-gun Frigate' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers).