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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 1

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Trafalgar (Philip Devine.), minor edge bruise, very fine

Provenance:
Sotheby's, July 1981.
Spink, July 1994.

Philip Devine was born in 1788 at Strabane, County Tyrone. Entering the Royal Navy, he served aboard Salvador and Hope, before removing to the Spartiate.

Spartiate was a large two-deck third rate ship (80-guns, later 74-guns) laid down at Toulon in 1797. Originally named La Spartiate whilst in the service of the French, she was captured at Aboukir Bay on 1 August 1798 and renamed Spartiate. During the Battle of Trafalgar she was under the command of Captain Sir Francis Laforey, whilst Philip Levine is confirmed as one of her Landsman. Positioned in Nelson's Weather Division, the ship suffered 3 killed and 20 wounded and the main topmast was left tottering with the ships masts, yards and rigging left a good deal damaged. Most of her damage was caused by the Spanish 80-gun Neptuno, for the pair fought for over an hour, which then surrendered - with some 131 prisoners of war taken on board. Having towed the French prize Tonnant in tow to Gibraltar, Captain Laforey was awarded the Small Gold Medal for the action.

James Clepham, a comrade of Devine, was elevated from the ranks during the course of the action. Promoted First Lieutenant, he was so well-respected by the crew that he was presented with a Union Flag which was made by the crew and flown during the battle. The flag was retained by his family and surfaced at auction in 2009, when it realised a world record £384,000.

On leaving the Navy Devine returned to his native Ireland to be reunited with his wife, Mary. The family would subsequently move to Scotland and latterly Carlisle, living at Packhorse Lane. Devine took work as a labourer and died in 1852, with issue of two sons and three daughters; sold with copied Muster Roll extracts upon a memory stick.

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Sold for
£5,800