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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 5

The 2-clasp Naval General Service Medal awarded to Able Seaman W. Marshall, Royal Navy, wounded aboard Admiral Nelson's Flagship Vanguard at the Battle of the Nile: the wound was so severe it led to his discharge and the award of a pension, he had seen previous service aboard Victory

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, St. Vincent, Nile (William Marshall.), light contact marks, very fine

Provenance:
Commander Forsythe Collection, Spink Australia, 1981.
Spink, 1983.

Three others of the same name upon the Roll, these being single clasp awards for '29 September 1812 Boat Service', 'Algiers' and 'Syria'.

William Marshall was born in 1774 and had his place of birth listed on Ship's Muster Rolls at Portsmouth and Edinburgh during his career. His name first appears upon the books of Victory on 24 April 1795, having volunteered for service afloat. Having departed Portsmouth, Marshall saw his first action on 13 July at the Battle of Hyeres. During the engagement Victory suffered five killed - which numbered half those for the whole allied side - and 16 wounded, including 7-year old William Rivers who received two wounds whilst assisting his father who was a Gunner. Her lower masts were damaged and the sheets shredded as a result of the fire taken.

Having endured cut rations during late 1796, Victory was again to the fore at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent on 14 February 1797. Once the Spanish line broke and smaller ships attempted to impede the British line, the Flagship Principe de Asturias almost struck Victory after she had been out-tacked. The Spanish vessel fired as she passed, but without a shot landing. The crew held true and opened up on her with a full - and devastating - broadside. As a member of the Goliath observed:

'We gave them their Valentine in style.'

Victory later engaged the Salvador del Mundo after Excellent had her share, the vessel a wreck by the close of battle. Victory herself was lucky not to be wrecked just five days later when she was driven from her anchors in bad weather - however she arrived safe to port in Lisbon by 24 February. Following repairs, she thence joined the blockade of Cadiz and her boats were used during the night attacks in early July which were personally led, on occasion, by Nelson himself. Having shared in heavy action Victory was recalled home, accompanied by the prizes and made Spithead on 1 October.

After Nelson was wounded on Tenerife, he returned fit for service in late 1797. His next command would be the Vanguard, which was manned with 'choice men', with 60 specially selected - Marshall included - added to her books. She slipped anchor and set off for Cadiz on 8 April, to later learn of Napoleon's plans for Egypt. Nelson was now on the hunt for the French fleet. Having chased around the Mediterranean without luck, he arrived off Alexandria on 1 August. The health of his men was waning and in the previous months scores had gone down with ailments, including the dreaded scurvy. Marshall was amongst them, being placed on the Sick List from 21 May-23 July as a result of ulcers on his leg.

Fit for the fight which faced them, Vanguard and the British fleet found themselves in an epic engagement. Nelson himself suffered a severe head wound and casualties were taken across the board - but the French flagship L'Orient , after being battered with the concentrated broadsides of several British ships, caught fire and eventually exploded with massive loss of life. Vanguard alone suffered 30 killed and a further 75 wounded. Marshall was wounded in his back; such were the wounds that he was sent aboard Defence to transfer for further hospital treatment on 13 August. He was discharged with a pension of £8 per annum for life (ADM22/269 refers); sold together with a file of copied research.

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