Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Joseph Richard Raggett Webb as a Lieutenant aboard the Cherokee for the action of 10.1.1810, the only Officer and one of just four men entitled to this clasp.
Commander Joseph Richard Raggett Webb entered the Royal Navy as a First Class Volunteer aboard H.M.S. Galykheid during the course of 1798, and went on to serve in the North Sea in her, and two other ships, prior to transferring in August 1803, as a Midshipman, to the Romney. In this latter vessel, having served in waters off Africa and in the West Indies, he was wrecked in the Texel in November 1804. Sufficiently recovered from this latter ordeal, Webb next served in the Flagships Namur and Leopard, and in March 1806, as a Lieutenant, he removed to the Anson, then fitting out for Bermuda. A few months later, he received his own Command, the Laura, bringing her home from the latter place.
In June 1808, Webb removed to the 10-gun Cherokee, a small Brig with a complement of 70 men under the command of Captain (later Rear-Admiral, C.B.) Richard Arthur and, in early January 1810, assisted in her at the capture of the French Privateer Aimable Nelly off Dieppe Harbour, a gallant enterprise fought out under the enemy's Batteries within 200 yards from the pier-head. Arthur's subsequent advancement to Captain for this 'dashing exploit' secured Webb's entitlement to the appropriately-clasped Naval General Service Medal some 40 years later.
For the remainder of the War with France he served in the Franchise on the Mediterranean and Newfoundland Stations and was advanced to Commander in May 1828. Webb was latterly employed in the Guardship Ocean at Sheerness from 1839-42.
Commander Joseph Richard Raggett Webb entered the Royal Navy as a First Class Volunteer aboard H.M.S. Galykheid during the course of 1798, and went on to serve in the North Sea in her, and two other ships, prior to transferring in August 1803, as a Midshipman, to the Romney. In this latter vessel, having served in waters off Africa and in the West Indies, he was wrecked in the Texel in November 1804. Sufficiently recovered from this latter ordeal, Webb next served in the Flagships Namur and Leopard, and in March 1806, as a Lieutenant, he removed to the Anson, then fitting out for Bermuda. A few months later, he received his own Command, the Laura, bringing her home from the latter place.
In June 1808, Webb removed to the 10-gun Cherokee, a small Brig with a complement of 70 men under the command of Captain (later Rear-Admiral, C.B.) Richard Arthur and, in early January 1810, assisted in her at the capture of the French Privateer Aimable Nelly off Dieppe Harbour, a gallant enterprise fought out under the enemy's Batteries within 200 yards from the pier-head. Arthur's subsequent advancement to Captain for this 'dashing exploit' secured Webb's entitlement to the appropriately-clasped Naval General Service Medal some 40 years later.
For the remainder of the War with France he served in the Franchise on the Mediterranean and Newfoundland Stations and was advanced to Commander in May 1828. Webb was latterly employed in the Guardship Ocean at Sheerness from 1839-42.