Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Archibald Gray as a Caulker's Mate aboard the Barfleur for the Battle of Cape Vincent on 14.2.1797 and as a Carpenter aboard the Arrow for the action of 3.2.1805, this latter being one of just eight such clasps recorded on the Admiralty roll.
For the most gallant and successful protection of 32 British Merchantmen when attacked by two 40-gun French Frigates off Cape Caxine, Algeria. The Arrow, a Sloop, and the Acheron, a Bomb Vessel, were finally captured by the French and surviving crew members taken P.O.W., a fact confirmed in Captain Vincent's statement regarding his Carpenter, Archibald Gray (dated at Carthagena, 13.2.1805):
'This letter' is to certify the Honourable Commissioner of His Majesty's Navy that Mr. Archibald Gray, Carpenter of His Majesty's late Sloop Arrow, under my command, lost all his Books, Accounts and Papers, relative to said Sloop, on the 4th instant, in consequence of Arrow's foundering immediately after the action, in which she was captured by the French National Frigates L'Hortense and L'Incorruptible, the Officers and Crew being obliged to quit the ship to preserve their lives, without having time to save any of their effects, she being in the act of sinking when they quitted her.
And I further certify that the last Accounts of Mr. Archibald Gray were made up to the 20th day of December 1804 and sent to England from Malta in His Majesty's Ship Thisbe, directed to his Agents, Messrs. Cook and Halford of London - and that owing to the ship being under Sailing Orders for England, from the 6th day of November last, he did not call a survey and that all his Books, Accounts and Papers since the above prior were in his own possession at the time the ship was captured'.
For the most gallant and successful protection of 32 British Merchantmen when attacked by two 40-gun French Frigates off Cape Caxine, Algeria. The Arrow, a Sloop, and the Acheron, a Bomb Vessel, were finally captured by the French and surviving crew members taken P.O.W., a fact confirmed in Captain Vincent's statement regarding his Carpenter, Archibald Gray (dated at Carthagena, 13.2.1805):
'This letter' is to certify the Honourable Commissioner of His Majesty's Navy that Mr. Archibald Gray, Carpenter of His Majesty's late Sloop Arrow, under my command, lost all his Books, Accounts and Papers, relative to said Sloop, on the 4th instant, in consequence of Arrow's foundering immediately after the action, in which she was captured by the French National Frigates L'Hortense and L'Incorruptible, the Officers and Crew being obliged to quit the ship to preserve their lives, without having time to save any of their effects, she being in the act of sinking when they quitted her.
And I further certify that the last Accounts of Mr. Archibald Gray were made up to the 20th day of December 1804 and sent to England from Malta in His Majesty's Ship Thisbe, directed to his Agents, Messrs. Cook and Halford of London - and that owing to the ship being under Sailing Orders for England, from the 6th day of November last, he did not call a survey and that all his Books, Accounts and Papers since the above prior were in his own possession at the time the ship was captured'.