Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Trafalgar (Thomas McGillwray.) suspension claw re-affixed with traces of brooch mounting to obverse, very fine £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards.

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Turl Collection, Spink, July 2010.

Thomas McGillwray (listed as ‘MacGillwray’ on Admiralty Claimants’ List) served as Private, Royal Marines in H.M.S. Revenge during 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 on 21 October 1805.

At Trafalgar, the Revenge ‘was in the lee column. In attempting to pass through the enemy’s line and secure an advantageous position athwart the hawser of the French Aigle, she fouled the latter’s jib-boom, and while the ships were interlocked delivered a couple of broadsides into the Frenchman’s bows. Then, standing on, she was in the act of hauling up on the port tack, when a tremendous fire was poured into her lee quarter by the Spanish Principe de Asturias. Three two-deckers also hemmed her in, and greatly punished her until they were driven off by the approach of other British vessels. Her injuries in the battle were in consequence severe and her losses heavy, the latter amounting to twenty-eight killed and fifty-one wounded, including her captain. Her bowsprit, three lower masts, maintop mast, and gaff, were badly injured. She received nine shots below the copper; her stern, transoms, and timbers, and several beams, knees, riders, and iron standards, were very much damaged, and so was her hull generally. She had several chain plates shot away, several of her lower deck ports destroyed, and three of her guns dismounted.’ (The Trafalgar Roll, The Officers, The Men, The Ships, by Colonel R. H. Mackenzie refers).

For the Naval General Service Medal awarded to G. H. Brison, who served in H.M.S. Revenge on and off the coast of Syria 35 years later, see Lot 24.