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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 433

(x) Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Navarino (A. L. Dorehill, Midshipman.), highlights a little polished, very fine

Arthur Lettsom Dorehill was born in London in 1813 and was appointed Midshipman in the Royal Navy in 1826. He was present, in this rank, aboard the 84-gun H.M.S. Asia at the battle of Navarino (20 October 1827) - for which action he received this Medal and Clasp, confirmed upon the Roll. H.M.S. Asia was the flagship of the Allied force under the command of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet. A fellow Midshipman on board the Asia, who must have shared the same berth as Dorehill, was the Admiral's son Henry.

In Action Against the Ottomans

The 14-year-old Dorehill was in the thick of the fighting during the battle - indeed, the Asia anchored between two substantial Ottoman vessels and though reduced both to wrecks within a short space of time due to superior gunnery and training, in return she suffered casualties of 85 killed and wounded - the most of any British ship engaged that day. Interestingly the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, holds Admiral Codrington's undress coat, worn during the battle, which shows a tear caused by a flying splinter - a very close call. Though ultimately a great victory for the Allies (the Ottomans losing 70 of their 78 vessels and suffering over 4,000 casualties), the political ramifications over the balance of power in the Mediterranean were huge and many felt the British should never have got involved, blaming Codrington for deliberately starting a battle which could have been avoided.
It appears that young Dorehill later wrote about his experiences that day, recounting to a nephew in later life that he was "six hours on the quarter deck under fire" and that "owing to the absence of wind, the smoke hung so that it was difficult to see the ships except the tops of their masts" (Sir William Garrow: His Life, Times and Fight for Justice, refers).

Later Life

Dorehill continued to serve for a while in the Navy after Navarino, but left in 1833 to study abroad. He returned to Britain two years later and married a cousin, Eliza Baker; after a short period in the Civil Service working in London's Somerset House, Arthur and Eliza removed to Bath, where they lived for the rest of their lives. The source quoted above also states that Dorehill was "a strong, vigorous man and used frequently to walk from his house to the Bath Club" and, intriguingly, mentions that he was "great friends" with the famous barrister, politican and judge Sir William Garrow.
Dorehill died, aged 86, on 12 April 1899 (likely one of the last surviving veterans of Navarino) and is buried at Locksbrook St. Saviour's cemetery in Bath. His wife survived him by three years, and there were no children from the union.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,800

Starting price
£1200