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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 123

The Unique Three Clasp N.G.S. to Rear-Admiral of the White W. Ward, Royal Navy, Who as First of H.M.S. Pique Led the Boarding Party of the French Corvette Phaeton, 26.3.1806; He Was Severely Wounded During the Action, With Over 75% of His Men Being Killed or Wounded as 'Her Decks Were, Inch By Inch, Defended With Desperate Obstinacy, And the Slaughter On Both Sides Was Dreadful.' As a Reward For His Gallant Conduct, Ward Was Appointed to the Command of His Prize, the Newly Named H.M.S. Mignonne
Naval General Service 1793-1840, three clasps, 23rd June 1795, St. Vincent, Pique 26 March 1806 (William Ward, Midshipman.), darkly toned, very fine

William Ward served as Midshipman in H.M.S. Barfleur at the defeat of the French fleet and capture of three ships-of-the-line by Admiral Bridport off the Isle de Groix, Brittany, 23.6.1795; Ward served in the same capacity and in the same ship for the defeat of the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, 14.2.1797. Six Large Naval Gold Medals and fourteen Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action; he also served as Lieutenant in H.M.S. Pique when she captured two 16-gun French corvettes the Phaeton and the Voltigeur, between St. Domingo and Curacoa in the Caribbean Sea, 26.3.1806.

Approximately 8 'Pique 26 March 1806' clasps issued.

Rear-Admiral of the White William Ward was born in Southampton, November 1782; he joined the Royal Navy as First Class Volunteer, aged 11, March 1793; Ward initially served in H.M.S Sceptre (Captain J. Dacres), and 'on 1 June, 1794, he was present, as Midshipman, in company with the Belliqueux 64, at the capture, after a smart action of some hours, off Fort Brissoton, near Port-au-Prince, which place, with several others adajacent, surrendered in the course of the same month. Having rejoined Capt. Dacres on board the Barfleur 98, he took part in her in the actions off the Ile de Groix and Cape St. Vincent 23 June, 1795, and 14. Feb. 1797' (O'Byrne refers); his last action of note in the Barfleur was assisting at the cutting-out of three French men-of-war from Tunis Bay and at the blockade and bombardments of Cadiz; having advanced to Lieutenant, subsequent service included in H.M. Ships Arethusa, Discovery, Malborough and Oiseau, including being wrecked in the Malborough near Belleisle, 4.11.1800; he was appointed to H.M.S. Pique (Captain C. Ross) and 'as First [aged 21] of La Pique he witnessed the taking, in 1803, of Aux Cayes and Cape Francois, St. Domingo. Besides aiding at the capture, in the course of 1804-5 of Le Terreur French cutter of 10 guns and 75 men, and of the Spanish ships-of-war Diligentia and Orquijo, he boarded in the gig and yawl, and took, in March, 1806, after a sharp struggle, a schooner, the Santa Clara, carrying one 9-pounder and 28 men and completely equipped for the purposes of war. He was further, 26 March, 1806, present at the capture of the French corvettes Phaeton and Voltigeur of 16 guns and 115 men each. The former, after 20 minutes of destructive firing, was by him boarded at the head of about 30 men. Her decks were, inch by inch, defended with desperate obstinacy, and the slaughter on both sides was dreadful, amounting on the part of the British (one-half of their opponents were either killed or wounded) to 9 killed and 14 wounded. Included among the dangerously wounded was Mr. Ward, whose good conduct, we learn from his Captain's official letter, had at all times merited his highest approbation and now induced him to recommend him to the notice of the Commander in Chief [London Gazette 1806, p731]. As a reward for his gallantry, he was offered by the latter, the command of either of the two prizes. Choosing the one he had boarded, and whose name on her being added to the British Navy was changed to Pelican [sic - it was in fact named H.M.S. Mignonne, the Voltigeur was named Pelican], he was accordingly appointed to her 8 April ensuing; and 23 July he was confirmed. He was presented, we may add, with the sum of 100l by the Patriotic Society' (O'Byrne refers); he saw service during the expedition to Copenhagen, 1807, and having returned to the West Indies the following year he served at the reduction of Desada; he was nominated Acting-Captain of the Daedalus on the same station, and posted to bring the frigate Bacchante home to be paid off; in summer 1809 'he was appointed to the Resolution 74... he sailed with the expedition to the Walcheren. During the operations in the Scheldt he served with the flotilla in an attack on Ter Ver, and commanded a division of armed transports employed to complete the investment of Flushing [London Gazette 1809, p1326]. He lost a Lieutenant and 2 men in passing the enemy's batteries' (O'Byrne refers); he went on half-pay in 1810, and attained flag-rank 9.11.1846.

The Douglas-Morris roll gives Ward's entitlement to all three clasps, but with 'verifed aboard not on roll' for his first clasp. Message's latest online roll gives his entitlement to 'St Vincent' only, despite listing Ward as being wounded during the Pique action. The Hayles roll gives entitlement to all three clasps, as does O'Byrne, with British Battles and Medals and the London Gazette listing Ward's presence for the Pique clasp. The medal is entirely as issued, and a unique clasp combination.



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£35,000