Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm James Lay as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Pompee for all three actions, one of just 21 recipients of the 'Pompee 17 June 1809' clasp recorded on the Admiralty roll.
'Some small islets, called Saintes, near Guadaloupe, being taken possession of on 14 April [1809] by Captain Beaver and a British Squadron, three French Line-of-Battle Ships, lying at anchor in the roads beneath, were compelled to put to sea. They were chased by the Admiral's Flagship Neptune, 98, and Pompee, 74, which, however, were outsailed by three 18-gun Brigs. One of these, the Recruit, commanded by Captain Charles Napier (who had already earned distinction at Martinique), coming up with the D'Hautpoult, kept up a fire upon her with so much skill and gallantry as to delay her, so that by night the Pompee arrived up. The French Captain fought his ship with obstinate courage, but was compelled to surrender to Pompee, which lost nine killed, and Captain Fahie, the First Lieutenant, and 28 Officers and men wounded' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N. refers).
Ordinary Seaman James Lay is believed to have been wounded in a separate incident on 16.9.1809
'Some small islets, called Saintes, near Guadaloupe, being taken possession of on 14 April [1809] by Captain Beaver and a British Squadron, three French Line-of-Battle Ships, lying at anchor in the roads beneath, were compelled to put to sea. They were chased by the Admiral's Flagship Neptune, 98, and Pompee, 74, which, however, were outsailed by three 18-gun Brigs. One of these, the Recruit, commanded by Captain Charles Napier (who had already earned distinction at Martinique), coming up with the D'Hautpoult, kept up a fire upon her with so much skill and gallantry as to delay her, so that by night the Pompee arrived up. The French Captain fought his ship with obstinate courage, but was compelled to surrender to Pompee, which lost nine killed, and Captain Fahie, the First Lieutenant, and 28 Officers and men wounded' (Great Battles of the British Navy, by Lieutenant C.R. Low, R.N. refers).
Ordinary Seaman James Lay is believed to have been wounded in a separate incident on 16.9.1809