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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 2

(x) Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, 1 June 1794 (John Webb), good very fine

John Webb served as an Ordinary Seaman aboard Bellerophon at the 'Glorious First of June'. It appears that two men of this name were borne on the ships' books at the time, though only one medallic claim is noted.

The 'Billy Ruffian' was one of the most famous 74-gun ships of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars: launched in 1786 she participated in three of the great fleet actions or the era (the Glorious First of June; the Nile; and Trafalgar) and saw very heavy fighting in all of them. She also had the distinction of receiving Napoleon Bonaparte on board upon his final surrender in July 1815.

During the Atlantic Campaign of May 1794, Bellerophon was part of the Channel Fleet and the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley: at the opening action on 28 May, Bellerophon was at the forefront of the pursuit and came up with the 110-gun Revolutionnaire: the two ships exchanged broadsides for some time with the heavier French guns causing serious damage, especially to Bellerophon's mainmast. She fought alone until the remainder of Pasley's squadron joined her, when both sides disengaged and undertook repairs for the great fleet action that was to follow three days later. When battle resumed on 1 June, Pasley in Bellerophon was at the West end of the British line: as they approached the opposing French line and a general cannonade commenced, an 18-pounder shot smashed through the quarter-deck and hit Pasley in the leg - he was quickly taken below, the leg amputated, and his life saved. Captain Hope commanded Bellerophon for the remainder of the battle and, at its conclusion, she had received significant structural damage including the loss of all three topmasts and her mainsail and lower shrouds cut to pieces. Despite this, and Pasley's early incapacitation, casualties were surprisingly light at only four men killed and 30 wounded. Ordinary Seaman Webb would have seen an astonishing amount of action in the course of only a few days and had definitely played his part in one of the most famous naval battles of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

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

Estimate
£800 to £1,200

Starting price
£600