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Auction: 16001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 294

(x) Naval General Service 1793-1840, two clasps, Emerald 13 March 1808, 14 Dec Boat Service 1814 (D. Baird, Master's Mate.), lightly cleaned, minor edge nick, good very fine, Unique clasp combination

Daniel Baird served as Master's Mate in H.M.S. Emerald for the destruction of the French 8-gun schooner L'Apropos (which was carrying despatches from the Isle de France) and the destruction of enemy batteries by men of the boats of H.M.S. Emerald (36 guns Captain F.L. Maitland) at Vivero, north west coast of Spain, 13.3.1808; Baird served as Supernumerary Master's Mate in H.M.S. Norge and was present in the boats commanded by Commanders Lockyer, Montrenor and Roberts who were tasked with an attack on an American force of 5 gunboats, a sloop and a schooner, 14.12.1814. This attack was to take place on Lake Borgne in preparation for clearing the way for a direct assault on New Orleans. On the 12th at 9.30am, arriving within longshot of the enemy, Commander Lockyer and his men, after a 36-mile pull against a strong current all the way, stopped for breakfast. At 10.30am they took to their oars again, with the tide running against them at three miles an hour, and moved forward into a hail of round and grape shot. Almost at noon, Commander Lockyer's boat, being foremost, got alongside the gunboat with the Commodore's pennant and a desperate fight ensued in which nearly all the assailants were either killed or wounded. Commander Lockyer was among the latter, but the remnant gained the American's deck and, being well supported by other boats, the vessel was soon taken. The guns of the captured gunboat were turned on the remaining four and, with the boats of the second and third divisions arriving in quick succession, the whole American force was taken in five minutes. One of the most daring naval feats on record was not without loss, mostly sustained from the galling fire on the boats when advancing to the attack against a heavy current - 17 killed and 67 wounded, three mortally. This was the last and indeed the largest Boat Action for which the Naval General Service 1793-1840 medal was granted.

Approximately 10 'Emerald 13 March 1808' clasps issued.

Lieutenant Daniel Baird joined the Royal Navy as First Class Volunteer, July 1803; he initially served in H.M.S. Loire (Captain F.L. Maitland), attaining the rank of Midshipman in February of the following year; On '16th March and 17th August in the same year, he assisted at the capture of the French privateers Braave, of 16 guns and 110 men, and (after a chase of 20 hours) Blonde, of 30 guns and 240 men; was under fire of the batteries in Muros Bay when they were gallantly stormed and carried, and the privateers Confiance and Bélier taken by the boats under Lieutenant the late Sir James Lucas Yeo, 4th June 1805; aided, on 25th of the same month, in capturing another privateer, Le Vaillant, of a force similar to the Blonde; on 24th December following was in company with L'Egyptienne at the capture, after an obstinate resistance, of La Libre, of 40 guns and 280 men; and, in July, 1806, conveyed to Sir Richard Keats, off L'Orient, intelligence which led to the capture of Le Rhin, of 44 guns' (O'Byrne refers); after a brief return home, in 1806, he saw subsequent service in H.M. Ships Magnificent, Volontaire, and Royal William; he rejoined Captain Maitland when he was appointed to H.M.S Emerald, December 1806; in April 1807 'we find him contributing to the capture, among other vessels, of the Austerlitz privateer, of 14 guns and 96 men, and during the remainder of the year employed with the force under Sir Richard Strachan at the blockade of Rochefort. On the night of 13th March, 1808, Mr Baird participated, under Lieutenant Charles Bertram, in a very desperate effort to bring out from Vivero harbour, on the coast of Spain, a large French schooner, L'Apropos, of 8 guns and 70 men, of which, while the majority of the boats were engaged with two heavy forts, he was deputed to take possession. The attack however proving impracticable, in consequence of the vessel having gone on shore at high water, she was eventually fired and blown up; previously to which, Mr Baird, who had been rejoined by Lieutenant Bertram, had taken part in a sharp affray with the enemy, and had been for several hours exposed to a galling fire from musketry of a body of troops not 30 yards distant' (ibid); Baird was Mentioned in Captain Maitland's Despatch of 14.3.1808 (London Gazette 1808, p416) for the action thus, 'While these occurrences were taking place, Mr. Bertram, with his Party, had walked on over land, and joined Mr. Baird, the Midshipman, who had been sent to take possession of the schooner, which had run on shore on the rocks. As soon as they made out our determination of entering the port on the road, he was met by a party of the schooner's crew, consisting of about sixty men; they gave and received a discharge of musketry from our people; but on their advancing with the pike and bayonet, took to flight, leaving several dead on the road. Mr. Bertram's anxiety to save the schooner induced him to persevere, for several hours, in attempting to get her off (which was rendered impracticable from her having gone on shore at high water); during which time a large body of infantry had been collected, and galled our men excessively with musketry, that it became absolutely necessary to set her on fire, which was accordingly done about 1am when she soon blew up, and at daylight there was not a vestige of her to be seen'; the British losses for the action were 9 killed and 16 wounded; Baird served as Master's Mate for Lord Gambier's destruction of the shipping in Basque Roads, April 1809; subsequent service included in Sir A.I. Cochrane's flag-ships Pompee, Neptune and Statira, all on the West Indies station; he was attached to H.M.S. Conquestador (Captain Lord William Stewart), in the Channel, 1810, and 'on 27th December 1811, was taken prisoner in a brave but inauspicious attack on a French flotilla near Isle d'Aix. He returned from captivity 20th April 1814 (O'Byrne refers); served as Supernumerary Master's Mate in H.M. ships Royal William (Captain R. Hall) and the Norge (Captain C. Dashwood), May 1814-May 1815; appointed Lieutenant for service in H.M.S. Emolus, February 1815, and placed on half-pay the following year.

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