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Auction: 9022 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 91

x Naval General Service 1793-1840, one clasp, 12 Octr 1798 (Edward Boys.), minor edge bruise, good very fine, with the following book: Boys (Captain Edward). Narrative of a Captivity and Adventures in France and Flanders, Between the Years 1803 and 1809. By Captain Edward Boys, R.N., late a Midshipman of His Majesty´s Ship Phoebe. - Coloured folding frontispiece (plan of the Citadel of Valenciennes), 4 plates. 8vo. Contemporary panelled calf, gilt, rebacked, new endpapers, some foxing to plates, mostly marginal. viii, 228pp. London, 1827. Estimate £ 2,800-3,200 Edward Boys (he is listed on the Admiralty Claimants List as ´´Boyes´´) served as Able Seaman in H.M.S. Ethalion for the capture of the French 74 gun ship-of-the-line, Hoche and three frigates by Commodore Sir John Borlase Warren´´s squadron off the north-west coast of Ireland, 12.10.1798. Captain Edward Boys, R.N., joined the Royal Navy as Volunteer, 1796, and after a brief period with H.M.S. Overyssel, was appointed to H.M.S. Ethalion (Captain G. Countess) the following year, and was borne on her books as Able Seaman; appointed Midshipman H.M.S. Robust (Captain G. Countess, 1899; appointed in the same rank to H.M.S. Royal Sovereign, 1800; Master´´s Mate 15.6.1802; appointed Midshipman H.M.S. Phoebe, 1802, for service on the Mediterranean Station; Marshall´´s Naval Biography offers further insight, ´´shortly after the renewal of hostilities, in 1803, the Phoebe was ordered off Toulon, to watch the enemy´´s fleet in that port. On her way thither, when off Civita Vecchia, two French privateers were seen from the mast-head, and, it being then dead clam, her boats, one of which was commanded by Mr. Boys, were despatched in chase, under the orders of Lieutenant Perkins. After five hours´´ rowing, about 10pm, they came up with one of the enemy´´s vessels; but, from an unfortunate medley of disastrous circumstance, were twice repulsed, with the loss of eight men killed and wounded. On the 1st of following month, Mr. Boys commanded a boat, under the orders of Lieutenant Tickell, at the capture of two settees, laden with fruit and sundry merchandize, close to the land near Cape Sicie. On rejoining the Phoebe, he was placed in charge of one if these prizes, with orders to proceed, as soon as her sails could be put in order, to Lord Nelson, then on the coast of Catalonia, and from thence to Malta. Unfortunately, however, it was otherwise ordained; for on the 4th both settees were retaken by a French squadron, from which the Phoebe herself with difficulty escaped...... After performing quarantine in Toulon roads, Mr. Boys, Messrs Murray and Whitehurst, midshipmen, Mr. Danderson, master of transport, and ninety men, were landed about two miles to the westward of the town, and from thence escorted by a guard of infantry, through Aix, Tarascon, Beaucaire, Nismes, Montpellier, Beziers, Narbonne, Carcassone, Castelnaudry, and Ville Franche, to Toulouse. In this once noble capital they remained, on parole, from Sept. 12th , until Dec. 2d., and then set out for Verdun, in company with a Lieutenant and six Midshipmen, who had been taken in the Redbridge......... The following extracts from a "Narrative of his captivity and adventures in France and Flanders", published by the subject of this memoir, in 1827 [a copy of which is included in the lot], "Upon being escorted to the citadel, certain regulations as the conditions of my parole, were given to me for perusal. These I signed; permission was then given me to retire into the town, where I took lodgings suitable to my finances..... With respect to the personal treatment of the prisoners at Verdun (setting aside extortion), every candid mind will confess that it was generally apportioned to individual desert; and if occasional acts of oppression occurred, they were exceptions emanating from the petty malice of vulgar minds, unaccustomed to exercise authority........ Four of us were rambling about in the country.... when the gun was fired (as signal of someone having deserted). On our return, in passing through the village of Tierville, we were surprised by two gens-d´´armes, one of whom instantly dismounted, and seized me, uttering the most blasphemous epithets; he tied my elbows behind me, then slipping a noose around my bare neck, triced me up to the holsters of his saddle, remounted, and returned with his prize to town, exulting his cowardly triumph, and pouring forth his vollies of vulgar abuse, every now and then tightening the cord, so as to keep me trotting upon the very extremity of the toes, to obtain relief; then again loosening it, as occasional guttural symptoms of strangulation seemed to indicate necessity. Vain would be the attempt to convey an adequate idea of the impotent rage then boiling within me, at the insult offered to my juvenile dignity, whilst a determined haughtiness disdained to betray the slightest indication of submission or complaint´´; in July 1808, an attempt at escape was made by three midshipmen and as a consequence of them having been seen to violate their parole the French removed all of the British prisoners to the citadel before deciding to split the group and transport them elsewhere; as a consequence of this Boys decided to attempt escape himself; Boys was transported to the citadel at Valenciennes, his plans for escape however reached his guards and he was closely watched; he had several abortive attempts, until the 16th November, ´´At half-past seven, p.m., we assembled, armed with clasped knives, and each provided with a paper of fine pepper, upon which we placed our chief dependence; for in case of being closely attacked, we intended throwing a handful into the eyes of the assailants.... The plan was, that Hunter and myself were to depart first, fix the rope, and open the opposing doors; a quarter of an hour afterwards, Whitehurst and Mansell were to follow... Our intentions were, to march to the sea side, and range the coast to Breskins, in the island of Cadsand, opposite Flushing; and if means of getting afloat were not found before arriving at that place, we proposed to embark in the passage-boat for Flushing, and about mid-channel, rise and seize the vessel. It was now blowing very fresh, and was so dark and cloudy, that not a star could be seen.... it being a quarter past eight, Hunter and myself, with woollen socks over our shoes, that our footsteps might not be heard, and each having a rope, a small poker, or a stake, and a knapsack, took leave of our friends, and departed. We first went into the back-yard... got over the wall, passed through the garden and palisades, crossed the road, and climbed silently upon our hands and knees up the bank at the bank of the north guard-room - lying perfectly still as the sentinels approached, and as they receded again advancing, until we reached the parapet over the gateway leading to the upper citadel.... With the utmost precaution we crept upon the summit, and down the breast-work towards the outer edge of the rampart´´; with a succession of climbs and descents Boys and his party managed to avoid the sentries and several climbing scrapes until, ´´We all shook hands, and in the excess of joy, heartily congratulated ourselves upon this providential success, after a most perilous laborious work of three hours and three quarters´´; they continued their escape through the countryside, being accosted by group of French men at the town of St. Amand, but successfully seeing them off before proceeding at a quicker pace; at day break they had reached the ruins of Tournay and hear took rest; the party decided to move on at 10p.m. arriving in the suburbs of Courtray at 6 a.m.; they took rest in a swampy thicket, Marshall takes up the tale again, ´´In this manner, and with a continuation of bad weather, our travellers pursued their course to Blankenberg, a village on the sea-coast, to the eastward of Ostend. On their arrival at the gates of Bruges.... they were all in a deplorable condition - wet to the skin, their feet bleeding, and so swollen, that they could scarcely walk..... Mr. Boys had also a tumour forming on his left side.... and proved the foundation of a rheumatism, to which he has ever since been subject..... Midway between Bruges and Blankenberg, Mr. Boys and his companions found a warm friend in Madame Deriske, landlady of the Raie-de-Chat, a solitary public house; by whom they were long concealed, and ultimately enabled to escape. During the time they enjoyed her protection, Mr. Boys made no less than thirteen trips to the coast, hoping to procure a vessel of some kind; but always without success´´; he eventually managed to procure passage back to England, and arrived at Dover 10.5.1809; on the 25th of the same month, after six years as a prisoner and evading capture, he was appointed Lieutenant in H.M.S. Arachne; he served with her as part of the Walcheren expedition, before being appointed Commander H.M.S. Dunira, 8.7.1814; he later was Officer Commanding at the Naval Yard, Deal; Captain 1837 Provenance: Glendining 1967

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