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Auction: 9022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 122

x Naval General Service 1793-1840, four clasps, 1 June 1794, St. Vincent, Gut of Gibraltar 12 July 1801, St. Domingo (John Davies.), minor edge nicks, good very fine Estimate £ 3,800-4,200 John Davies served as Landsman in H.M.S. Southampton, six other men of this name appear on the Admiralty Claimants List, which includes three for Syria; Davies served with the Southampton for the fleet action that became known as ´´The Glorious First of June´´. A total of seven Large Naval Gold Medals and 15 Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action. Davies served as Ordinary Seaman in the same vessel for the defeat of the Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vincent, 14.2.1797. Six Large Naval Gold Medals and fourteen Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action. Davies served as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Superb as part of Admiral Sir James Saumarez´´s squadron which successfully attacked the Franco-Spanish squadrons under the enemy batteries in Algeciras Bay, 12.7.1801. Davies served as the same rating in the same vessel, then Admiral Sir John Duckworth´´s Flag ship, for the capture of three and the destruction of two French ships-of-the-line off St. Domingo, Dominca, 6.2.1806. Three Large Naval Gold Medals and seven Small Naval Gold Medals were awarded for this action. John Davies, born Swansea, Wales; joined the Royal Navy in 1793, and was posted as Ordinary Seaman to H.M.S. Southampton in March of the same year; he was fined for "Straggling" and dis-rated to Landsman, and it is in this capacity in which he fought at Lord Howe´´s Action; he was borne on the ship´´s books at the time of the boarding and capture of the French frigate Utile, off Toulon, for which the clasp ´´Southampton 9 June 1796´´ was later sanctioned; for reasons unknown Davies either did not claim or receive the clasp in addition to his four others - only 4 claims were made and sanctioned for this rare clasp; Davies served in H.M.S. Boadicea from August 1797, before being transferred to H.M.S. Superb, March 1801; the latter was "Paid Off" November 1809, and Davies next saw service in H.M.S. Argo; advancement came in rapid succession as was promoted to Quarter Master´´s Mate and then Coxswain by August 1810; advanced Quarter Master December 1812; transferred as Acting Gunner to H.M.S. Talbot, October 1814; confirmed as Gunner with Seniority 19.4.1815; his later service included in H.M.S. Cadmus (´´In Ordinary´´), 1817-21; Davies served in the Plymouth area, June 1830-November 1833, after which time he was given passage to be the Gunner in H.M.S. Pyramus, which was the "Receiving Ship" in Halifax, Nova Scotia; on 3.8.1837 Davies took his Pension just two months after Queen Victoria came to the throne. He had served continuously for forty-four years under four Monarchs, during which period he could claim some distinction from serving afloat throughout the whole of the Great World War (1793-1815) even during that curious period of so called peace after the Treaty of Amiens. Provenance: Glendining July 1946 Sotheby June 1971

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£4,600