Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 434

(x) Naval General Service 1793-1840, 3 clasps, Boat Service 28 Aug 1809, Boat Service 28 June 1810, Lissa (David Buchanan), naming engraved in an attractive, contemporary style, polished and a few small edge knocks, good fine and better

David Buchanan served as Yeoman of Sheets aboard the 32-gun frigate H.M.S. Amphion; the Medal Roll notes correct entitlement to these three clasps, and further notes "a Duplicate Prepared & Sent". There is an additional annotation mentioning a Medal to Buchanan sold in 1947.

The Amphion made a formidable name for herself whilst under the command of the famous and redoubtable Captain Sir William Hoste K.C.B., one of Admiral Lord Nelson's protege's and undoubtedly one of the greatest frigate captains of the Napoleonic Wars. As the only Yeoman of Sheets aboard the Amphion and as a Petty Officer, it is likely Buchanan came into personal contact with Hoste on a number of occasions.
Spending much time in the Mediterranean, Buchanan's first clasp-awarded action occurred on 28 August 1809, when the boats of the frigate attacked the port of Cortellazzo, at the mouth of the Piave river. The British force succeeded in capturing six gunboats and seven fully-laden coastal vessels, in addition to destroying a battery of four 24-pounder guns. The senior officer present, Lieutenant Charles Phillott of the Amphion, was promoted Commander for this action. On the night of 28 June a year later, the boats of Hoste's squadron captured 30 vessels in Grado Harbour, north-east of Venice - but Hoste's (and the Amphion's) finest hour was yet to come.

Action off Lissa

The Battle of Lissa, fought on 13 March 1811, was for possession of the strategically-important Croatian island of Vis, which the British had occupied as a base to disrupt French shipping in the Adriatic. A combined French-Italian squadron of 12 vessels, carrying troops and under the command of Rear-Admiral Dubordieu, was tasked with defeating Hoste's squadron of four ships and capturing the island. The British were vastly outnumbered in ships, firepower, and men, but stood in line-of-battle ready to oppose the oncoming Franco-Italian vessels, advancing in two columns; it was at this moment that Hoste ordered, from the Amphion, his famous inspirational signal "Remember Nelson!" to be hoisted, which was greeted with wild cheering from the British line. Undoubtedly Buchanan was amongst them.
Dubordieu, in the 40-gun Favorite headed straight for Hoste's flagship, intending to come alongside the British and use his huge superiority in men to board and capture the opposition in quick succession - the British could see a crowd of sailors and soldiers being marshalled onto the Favorite's bow in preparation for boarding. It was at this moment that Hoste utilised a large howitzer on the Amphion's stern, full of lethal musket balls, to be fired at the Favorite at point-blank range. The resulting blast cleared the enemy's deck, killing Dubordieu and all the frigate's officers, leaving the French ship helpless and the Franco-Italian squadron leaderless. The battle-lines then developed into a regular melee of close-action broadside-to-broadside work.

'One of the Most Brilliant Naval Achievements of the War"

Though still much outnumbered, the superior gunnery and training of the British ships quickly began to tell - and without a recognised leader the Franco-Italian vessels lacked all cohesion. Though still able to inflict serious damage on Hoste's frigates (not least his own Amphion), one by one the enemy either surrendered or fled with Admiral Dubordieu's Favorite catching fire and exploding.
Hoste had won a superb victory - though casualties and damage had been severe, with the highest 'Butcher's Bill' being aboard the Amphion herself, which had suffered 15 killed and 47 wounded. Nevertheless, his actions ensured British naval superiority in the region for the rest of the war, together with the destruction of one the best-trained and led squadrons in the French Navy, and the death of one of Napoleon's most aggressive naval commanders. As Captain Hornby, of H.M.S. Volage, with Hoste at Lissa later wrote: "Never again so long as I live shall I see so interesting or so glorious a moment."

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

Sold for
£2,500

Starting price
£520