Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The Naval General Service medal awarded to Edward F. Brayley for his services as a Landsman on board the Swiftsure at the battle of Trafalgar

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp Trafalgar (Edward F. Brayley.) a little polished on the obverse, otherwise good very fine £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Spink, July 1971.

47 clasps for Trafalgar issued to H.M.S. Swiftsure.

The Swiftsure took part in the pursuit of the combined fleets to the West Indies and back, and was present, under command of Captain William Gordon Rutherford, in the lee column at Trafalgar. She engaged the French Achille, which, in about forty minutes, having had her mizen-mast and foreyard shot away, and having caught fire, ceased firing, and waved a Union Jack at her starboard cathead; she afterwards blew up. The Swiftsure had her own mizen-topmast shot away and mizen-mast badly damaged, and lost seventeen killed and wounded, including a midshipman. After the battle she took in tow the French 74, Redoutable, one of the prizes; but when the latter was found to be sinking, the Swiftsure cut herself loose. It was a dreadful night of wind, rain, and lightning, but she sent her boats and succeeded in saving 170 of the Redoutable's crew, but five of her own men unfortunately went down in the wreck (The Trafalgar Roll by R. H. Mackenzie refers).