Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

The N.G.S. medal to Staff Commander Richard Johns, acting Master of the brig Reindeer in her epic action with the American corvette Wasp, one of the best-fought and bloodiest naval duels of the war

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, St. Sebastian (Richard Johns, Master) extremely fine and very rare £2500-3000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals relating to the American War of 1812 from the collection of William G Cheoros.

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Richard Johns was acting Master of the 18-gun brig Reindeer in the operations at St Sebastian in September 1813. He was still on board the following year when she fought what has been described as ‘one of the best-fought sloop actions of the war.’

On 28 June 1814, at daylight, the brig Reindeer, Commander William Manners, bore up before a light breeze from the north-east, in chase of the United States 18-gun corvette Wasp, Captain Johnstone Blakeley. At 3.15 p.m., being within musket shot on the starboard and weather quarter of the American corvette, the Reindeer opened fire from a 12-pounder carronade mounted on her forecastle, and about ten minutes later the Wasp luffed across the Reindeer’s bows, firing her starboard guns. The Reindeer then ranged up on the larboard beam of the enemy, and a spirited cannonade ensued, which continued until 5 p.m., when, in consequence of her unmanageable state, the Reindeer fell foul of the Wasp, her bow coming in contact with the enemy’s larboard quarter, and in this position became exposed to a destructive raking fire. Captain Manners, who had been badly wounded in the calves of the legs at the commencement of the action, continued at his station encouraging the crew by his heroic example.

Shortly afterwards a canister-shot passed through both his thighs, and he fell on his knees, but quickly sprang up again, and, although bleeding profusely, refused still to go below. By this time the grape and musketry from the Wasp had caused such havoc, that Captain Manners determined on an attempt to board his opponent, and, calling to his crew to follow him, was in the act of ascending the main rigging of the Reindeer with that design, when two musket-balls from the main-top of the Wasp penetrated his skull, and came out beneath his chin. Manners dropped lifeless on his own deck, whereupon the American crew rushed in a body on board the Reindeer, and carried her without further resistance.

Shortly afterwards a canister-shot passed through both his thighs, and he fell on his knees, but quickly sprang up again, and, although bleeding profusely, refused still to go below. By this time the grape and musketry from the Wasp had caused such havoc, that Captain Manners determined on an attempt to board his opponent, and, calling to his crew to follow him, was in the act of ascending the main rigging of the Reindeer with that design, when two musket-balls from the main-top of the Wasp penetrated his skull, and came out beneath his chin. Manners dropped lifeless on his own deck, whereupon the American crew rushed in a body on board the Reindeer, and carried her without further resistance.

The hull of the Reindeer was literally cut to pieces, and her masts were in a tottering state. Out of ninety-eight men and twenty boys with which she commenced the action, her commander, purser and 23 men were killed; her only lieutenant and 41 others wounded, amongst them Richard Johns who subsequently received a pension of £91 5s for his wounds. The crew of the Wasp numbered 173 men, and she had eleven killed and fifteen wounded. The Americans destroyed the Reindeer and arrived at L’Orient with her captives on 8 July to refit. On the 1st of July, Richard Johns, together with 1st Lieutenant Thomas Chambers and 23 ratings, all being wounded in the action with the Wasp, had been placed by that ship on board the Portuguese packet Lisbon bound for Plymouth. The surviving muster roll of these wounded officers and men was signed ‘Henry Saunders, Gunner & Surviving Commanding Officer of H.M. Sloop Reindeer’, who also certified that ‘at the time of this debarkation from the said Wasp, they were unable from their extreme weaknefs and debility to sign their parole.’

Richard Johns was promoted to Master, rated for 5th Class, on 18 September 1815, but was no longer fit for active service. Granted a pension for wounds on 29 June 1816, he remained on reserved half-pay, being promoted to Staff Commander on 11 June 1863, at which time he is shown on the out-pension list of Greenwich Hospital. His name is still listed in the Navy List for June 1869.