Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Alexander Henning as a Midshipman aboard the Christian VII for the Boat Service action of 13.2.1810 and in the same rank aboard the Galatea for the action off Tamatave on 20.5.1811, one of just 20 and 79 recipients of these clasps respectively recorded on the Admiralty roll.
Lieutenant Alexander Henning entered the Royal Navy as a 2nd Class Volunteer aboard the Christian VII in May 1808 and was appointed Midshipman in August of the following year. He was subsequently engaged in two 'boat affairs of considerable gallantry', the first of which took place on 20.1.1810, when part of an enemy convoy of 30 ships was captured or destroyed, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry and within a stone's throw of the Batteries in the Maumusson Passage. On the second occasion, which qualified him for his 13.2.1810 Boat Service clasp, Henning participated in the destruction of three 'deeply-laden' Chasse-Marees which had grounded on a reef between Rochelle and Ile d'Aix and were protected by nine French Gunboats. Removing to the Galatea in September 1810, he saw further action off Tamatave, Madagsacar on 20.5.1811, being slightly wounded in the left arm during a 'long and trying' contest with the French 40-gun Frigates Renommee, Clorinde and Nereide. The gallant Galatea 'had 55 shot-holes in her hull and four feet of water in the hold' and 'lost 14 killed', two mortally, 19 severely (including her Captain, First Lieutenant, a Marine Officer and two Midshipmen), and 27 men slightly wounded' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers). Henning was advanced to Lieutenant in September 1815.
Lieutenant Alexander Henning entered the Royal Navy as a 2nd Class Volunteer aboard the Christian VII in May 1808 and was appointed Midshipman in August of the following year. He was subsequently engaged in two 'boat affairs of considerable gallantry', the first of which took place on 20.1.1810, when part of an enemy convoy of 30 ships was captured or destroyed, under a heavy fire of grape and musketry and within a stone's throw of the Batteries in the Maumusson Passage. On the second occasion, which qualified him for his 13.2.1810 Boat Service clasp, Henning participated in the destruction of three 'deeply-laden' Chasse-Marees which had grounded on a reef between Rochelle and Ile d'Aix and were protected by nine French Gunboats. Removing to the Galatea in September 1810, he saw further action off Tamatave, Madagsacar on 20.5.1811, being slightly wounded in the left arm during a 'long and trying' contest with the French 40-gun Frigates Renommee, Clorinde and Nereide. The gallant Galatea 'had 55 shot-holes in her hull and four feet of water in the hold' and 'lost 14 killed', two mortally, 19 severely (including her Captain, First Lieutenant, a Marine Officer and two Midshipmen), and 27 men slightly wounded' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N., refers). Henning was advanced to Lieutenant in September 1815.