Lot Essay
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm James Webster as Private in the Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Revenge at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21.10.1805. He is the only 'James Webster' on the roll.
'Under Captain Robert Moorsom the Revenge took part in the victory of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, and was in the Lee Column. In attempting to pass through the enemy's line and secure an advantageous position athwart the hawser of the French Aigle, she fouled the latter's jib-boom, and while the ships were interlocked delivered a couple of broadsides into the Frenchman's bows. Then, standing on, she was in the act of hauling up on the port tack, when a tremendous fire was poured into her lee quarter by the Spanish Principe de Asturias. Three tow-deckers also hemmed her in, and greatly punished her until they were driven off by the approach of other British vessels. Her injuries in the Battle were in consequence severe and her losses heavy, the latter amounting to 28 killed and 51 wounded, including her Captain. Her bowsprit, three lower masts, maintop mast, and gaff, were badly injured. She received nine shots below the copper; her stern, transoms and timbers, and several beams, knees, riders and iron standards, were very much damaged and so was her hull generally. She had several chain plates shot away, several of her lower deck ports destroyed, and three of her guns dismounted' (The Trafalgar Roll, by Colonel R.H. MacKenzie refers).
'Under Captain Robert Moorsom the Revenge took part in the victory of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, and was in the Lee Column. In attempting to pass through the enemy's line and secure an advantageous position athwart the hawser of the French Aigle, she fouled the latter's jib-boom, and while the ships were interlocked delivered a couple of broadsides into the Frenchman's bows. Then, standing on, she was in the act of hauling up on the port tack, when a tremendous fire was poured into her lee quarter by the Spanish Principe de Asturias. Three tow-deckers also hemmed her in, and greatly punished her until they were driven off by the approach of other British vessels. Her injuries in the Battle were in consequence severe and her losses heavy, the latter amounting to 28 killed and 51 wounded, including her Captain. Her bowsprit, three lower masts, maintop mast, and gaff, were badly injured. She received nine shots below the copper; her stern, transoms and timbers, and several beams, knees, riders and iron standards, were very much damaged and so was her hull generally. She had several chain plates shot away, several of her lower deck ports destroyed, and three of her guns dismounted' (The Trafalgar Roll, by Colonel R.H. MacKenzie refers).