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拍品專文
Ex Glendining's, November 1963.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Richard Roberts as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Shannon for her action against the Chesapeake on 1.6.1813, one of just 42 recipients of this clasp on the Admiralty roll. Two other men with these names are on the roll, one of whom was awarded the Medal with '4 Novr. 1805' and 'Bonne Citoyenne Wh. Furieuse' clasps, and the other the Medal with single 'Syria' clasp.
The Shannon had accounted for nearly 40 enemy vessels within a fortnight of the declaration of hostilities with America but it was her later brief to keep watch on Boston Harbour that led to one of the most famous naval engagements of all time. During May 1813, the American Frigates President and Conquest had managed to slip out unobserved in a thick blanket of fog and Captain Broke of the Shannon, not wanting to be cheated of a full scale action, challenged the Captain of the sole remaining American ship to come out and 'face the music'. Fortunately for Broke, his counterpart was no less honourable or anxious for action.
Thus on 1.6.1813, Captain Lawrence aboard the U.S.S. Chesapeake edged confidently out of Boston Harbour to face his foe. That February the Chesapeake had sunk the British Brig of War Peacock in little more than 15 minutes, and accordingly Lawrence rallied his crew with such remorseless words as "Peacock her, my lads! Peacock her!" - the awaiting "Shannon" had other ideas.
The Chesapeake rapidly closed on the Shannon's starboard quarter and taking full advantage of his renowned gunnery skills, Captain Broke perfectly timed his order to open fire. Within seconds the full horror of this terrific broadside was painfully evident, with nearly 100 casualties sprawled over the Chesapeake's decks. Even more significant was the damage done to her tiller, for now she drifted out of control and into position for a second broadside. Broke never even hesitated.
The Chesapeake was now lying mangled alongside the Shannon and, with the famous words of "Follow me who can!", Captain Broke led his Boarding Party over the side. A desperate and bloody hand-to-hand struggle ensued but it was not long before the British were ready to receive Lawrence's surrender. At that moment a tragic error occurred when one of the Shannon's guns accidentally hit a party of her own crew and re-kindled a temporary pocket of American resistance.
The entire action had been fought out in just 13 minutes and British casualties amounted to 26 killed and 56 wounded. The Americans lost 70 killed and another 100 wounded. The subsequent voyage to Halifax took six days but their triumphant reception made the effort worthwhile, and soon afterwards all major newspapers were writing about the "Fighting Shannons". Captain Broke eventually recovered from his wounds and received a richly-deserved Small Gold Medal. Sadly his brave counterpart, Captain Lawrence, was mortally wounded.
Richard Roberts, a native of Caernarvon, had joined the Ship's Company of the Shannon in November 1810, aged 22 years.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm Richard Roberts as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Shannon for her action against the Chesapeake on 1.6.1813, one of just 42 recipients of this clasp on the Admiralty roll. Two other men with these names are on the roll, one of whom was awarded the Medal with '4 Novr. 1805' and 'Bonne Citoyenne Wh. Furieuse' clasps, and the other the Medal with single 'Syria' clasp.
The Shannon had accounted for nearly 40 enemy vessels within a fortnight of the declaration of hostilities with America but it was her later brief to keep watch on Boston Harbour that led to one of the most famous naval engagements of all time. During May 1813, the American Frigates President and Conquest had managed to slip out unobserved in a thick blanket of fog and Captain Broke of the Shannon, not wanting to be cheated of a full scale action, challenged the Captain of the sole remaining American ship to come out and 'face the music'. Fortunately for Broke, his counterpart was no less honourable or anxious for action.
Thus on 1.6.1813, Captain Lawrence aboard the U.S.S. Chesapeake edged confidently out of Boston Harbour to face his foe. That February the Chesapeake had sunk the British Brig of War Peacock in little more than 15 minutes, and accordingly Lawrence rallied his crew with such remorseless words as "Peacock her, my lads! Peacock her!" - the awaiting "Shannon" had other ideas.
The Chesapeake rapidly closed on the Shannon's starboard quarter and taking full advantage of his renowned gunnery skills, Captain Broke perfectly timed his order to open fire. Within seconds the full horror of this terrific broadside was painfully evident, with nearly 100 casualties sprawled over the Chesapeake's decks. Even more significant was the damage done to her tiller, for now she drifted out of control and into position for a second broadside. Broke never even hesitated.
The Chesapeake was now lying mangled alongside the Shannon and, with the famous words of "Follow me who can!", Captain Broke led his Boarding Party over the side. A desperate and bloody hand-to-hand struggle ensued but it was not long before the British were ready to receive Lawrence's surrender. At that moment a tragic error occurred when one of the Shannon's guns accidentally hit a party of her own crew and re-kindled a temporary pocket of American resistance.
The entire action had been fought out in just 13 minutes and British casualties amounted to 26 killed and 56 wounded. The Americans lost 70 killed and another 100 wounded. The subsequent voyage to Halifax took six days but their triumphant reception made the effort worthwhile, and soon afterwards all major newspapers were writing about the "Fighting Shannons". Captain Broke eventually recovered from his wounds and received a richly-deserved Small Gold Medal. Sadly his brave counterpart, Captain Lawrence, was mortally wounded.
Richard Roberts, a native of Caernarvon, had joined the Ship's Company of the Shannon in November 1810, aged 22 years.