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Auction: 9022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 517

x Naval General Service 1793-1840, one clasp, Trafalgar (Richard Daniel, Mate.), edge bruise, good very fine Estimate £ 4,000-5,000 Richard Daniel served in H.M.S. Conqueror for the major fleet action off Cape Trafalgar between the British fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson and the Franco-Spanish fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral P.C. de Villeneuve, 21.10.1805. In what capacity he served, however, is a source of debate. The Muster (encompassing the battle of Trafalgar) for H.M.S. Conqueror, 1.10.1805-31.12.1805, shows Richard Daniel as Midshipman. The Muster also gives him as the only Richard Daniel serving in her. The Message Roll gives Richard Daniel as a Private Royal Marines, H.M.S. Conqueror and the Douglas-Morris Roll gives him as a Seaman (applied as Superannuated Gunner) in H.M.S. Conqueror. However, the Trafalgar Roll by Colonel R.H. Mackenzie is in agreement with the Muster, and has Daniel as a Midshipman. The recipient appears on the original Admiralty Claimants List as a Private R.M. The medal itself lends it´´s weight to the argument that Daniel was an officer, given the rank impressed upon it. Nothing is conclusive from this except that a Richard Daniel (the only man of this name on any of the rolls) did serve at the battle of Trafalgar in H.M.S. Conqueror and that the medal appears entirely as issued. Provenance: Glendining September 1911

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£5,200