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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 7

'Dr. Clifford the Surgeon Superintendent of the "Norfolk", has now performed three voyages, to this colony in that arduous and responsible capacity. For kind attention to the prisoners under his charge, united with the maintenance of the strictest discipline and good order, Dr Clifford is not surpassed by any of his professional brethren in this branch of public service. Of this, a more satisfactory proof could not be afforded than the fact that he has been presented by the convicts on both this and former voyages, with written testimonials of their gratitude for his humane treatment. The Transport Board has also been made sensible of his merits, for which it has made suitable acknowledgements'

The Naval General Service Medal awarded to Surgeon W. Clifford, who served aboard H.M.S. Racehorse at the Battle of Tamatave before becoming a well-regarded Surgeon on a number of Convict Ships travelling to and from New South Wales

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Off Tamatave 20 May 1811 (William Clifford, Surgn. R.N.), lightly polished and minor contact marks, otherwise very fine

Provenance:
Sotheby's, 1910.
Glendining's, 1937.
London Stamp Exchange, 1979.

Only twelve other men of the Racehorse are entitled to the clasp 'Off Tamatave 20 May 1811'.

William Clifford was born circa 1785 and regrettably little is known of his early life, the earliest appointment record states that he began service as an Assistant Surgeon aboard the H.M.S. Monarch on 18 July 1806.

Clifford was serving aboard Monarch when, on 25 September, she formed part of a British squadron of six other ships which engaged in an action with seven French enemy frigates. That morning, Monarch actively engaged with the enemy, suffering a strike by the enemy ship Minerve and being considerably damaged in the process. Both sides kept up a heavy exchange of fire, but the battle ultimately ended in French surrender, with British Squadron leader Sir Samuel Hood - who had an arm amputated during the battle- commenting that the French ship's 'obstinate resistance was attended with much slaughter'. Clifford's first sea action resulted in many casualties for him to see to.

Monarch thereafter returned to England at Torbay, where Clifford was briefly attached to the 74-gun third rate H.M.S. Bellerophon from January until March 1808. He was afterwards appointed to the H.M.S. Saturn from June 1808 to December 1809, during which time the warship was engaged in the blockade of Lorient. Clifford is then listed as 'unfit for service' for unknown reasons until August 1810, when he joined 18-gun brig sloop H.M.S. Racehorse with a promotion to Surgeon. Racehorse sailed for the Cape of Good Hope to participate in the Mauritius Campaign, arriving there in early 1811.

It was there off the coast of the Tamatave garrison at Madagascar, that the Racehorse saw action in a thrilling and consequential Napoleonic sea battle. On 20 May, Racehorse, forming Captain Charles Marsh Schomberg's squadron together with Astrea, Phoebe and Galatea, sighted Commodore Francois Roquebert's French squadron and gave chase. The ensuing battle ended the Mauritius Campaign and quelled French attempts to reinforce their Mauritius garrison. Schomberg attacked Roquebert's squadron, though both sides were hampered by windy weather. The French were able to inflict some severe attacks early on before the wind changed, allowing the previously disorganised British to better press the enemy squadron. Later in the day the French ships attempted to escape, with Commodore Roquebert sacrificing both his flagship and his life to allow the other two frigates to flee.

Racehorse was ordered to Tamatave harbour under a flag of truce, where the badly damaged French Nereide had docked after the battle. Schomberg accepted the French conditions of surrender, which was the surrender of the frigate and her guns in exchange for the repatriation of the men to France. The British squadron had suffered a total of 25 killed, 86 wounded, and French casualties amounted to 156 killed or wounded. British dominance of the seas East of the Cape of Good Hope was assured.

After the battle, Monarch captured several slave trade vessels prior to the conclusion of Clifford's service aboard her on 29 November 1812. He then joined 10-gun store ship H.M.S. Porpoise soon afterwards on 18 December. Clifford served with her only briefly before being appointed to the transport H.M.S. Regulus on 3 November 1813. She was first engaged in the transport of troops to Holland to aid their attempt to gain independence from France and was then occupied with bringing Peninsular veterans to America to reinforce British troops' defence of Canada in the War of 1812. Regulus sailed first to Bermuda and then to Chesapeake Bay, however, it is unknown whether Clifford accompanied her to Chesapeake as records show his commission ended on 17 July 1814. He does not appear again on any records until 8 September 1827, when he was appointed to the H.M.S. Victor. Clifford's whereabouts from 1814 until 1827 are thus a mystery, but he was to spend the rest of his career as a Surgeon Superintendent aboard convict ships.

The next year, Clifford was serving as Surgeon Superintendent aboard the Harmony when she embarked for Van Dieman's Land on 13 September 1828, with 101 female prisoners on board. Clifford kept journals and medical records of these women who became his patients; the records have survived and represent valuable insight into early nineteenth century medicine and the medical care available to convicts en route to Australia. He was next appointed to convict ship Forth on 11 November 1829, which he accompanied on her journey from Cork to New South Wales in early 1830, again keeping a medical journal of the prisoners. He noted 'The Irish convicts desponding, indolent and disposed to dirt, required every exertion to keep their minds in a fit state'.

Forth returned to England on 20 September 1830, with Clifford soon after joining the Norfolk. He acted again as Surgeon Superintendent for her journey to New South Wales, carrying nearly two hundred prisoners. Clifford's medical journal reveals that the convicts were in good health until reaching the Tropics, when cases of disease began to sprout on board. He left Norfolk on 28 January 1833 and does not appear to have received another appointment until 1 August 1837 when he joined the Sir Chales Forbes, another convict ship baring female prisoners to their exile.

The Sydney Gazette printed on 14 February 1832 a testimonial to Clifford's care of the prisoners: 'Dr. Clifford, the Surgeon Superintendent of the Norfolk, has now performed three voyages, to this colony in that arduous and responsible capacity. For kind attention to the prisoners under his charge, united with the maintenance of the strictest discipline and good order, Dr. Clifford is not surpassed by any of his professional brethren in this branch of the public service. Of this a more satisfactory proof could not be afforded than the fact, that he has been presented by the convicts, both on this and former voyages, with written testimonials of their gratitude for his humane treatment. The Transport Board has also been made sensible of his merits, for which it has made suitable acknowledgements.'

The final entry of his service concludes on 26 June 1938, though he was still listed as fit for service in 1841. After his naval career, Clifford had a medical practice at 30 Cumberland Street in Ballybrit, King's County, and a residence on the same street. He died in Ireland on 2 March 1858 and had at some point been married, with his widow Hannah claiming his pension after his death.

Sold together with a bound book of comprehensive copied research.

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Estimate
£2,000 to £3,000

Starting price
£1600