Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A most unusual pair of medals ‘in memoriam’ of Captain John Barrett, Royal Navy, and his distinguished services aboard H.M.S. Africa and H.M.S. Minotaur which came to an untimely end in 1810 with his death in the shipwreck of the latter vessel; both ships had served under Nelson, Minotaur at the Nile and Trafalgar, and Africa also at Trafalgar

a. Alexander Davison’s Medal for The Nile 1798, silver, contained in a contemporary silver frame once fitted with glass lunettes and silver hinged loop suspension, rim impressed with usual inscription, the frame engraved with tribute inscription ‘Capt. John Barrett, H.M.S. Africa’

b. Matthew Boulton’s Medal for Trafalgar 1805, silver, contained in a contemporary silver frame once fitted with glass lunettes and silver fob suspension, the frame engraved with tribute inscription ‘Capt. John Barrett, H.M.S. Minotaur’, a fine original striking, both medals with light scuffs and marks, otherwise very fine and better (2) £3,000-£4,000

John Barrett a native of Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland, was made a lieutenant on 2 November 1793, and having distinguished himself in command of the store-ship Experiment at the capture of St. Lucia, in June 1795, he was, on 25 November, advanced to the rank of post-captain. Whilst Barrett took no part in either of Nelson’s memorable battles of the Nile and Trafalgar, he did later command two ships that played a significant part in the battles of the Nile and Trafalgar. It is probable that after his untimely death aboard the Minotaur in 1810, that medals commemorating the Nile and Trafalgar were acquired by his family as a form of memorial to Captain Barrett and the ships he once commanded.

Under Captain Thomas Louis H.M.S. Minotaur bore a distinguished part in the battle of the Nile on 1 August 1798, in which she was sixth in line, and the biggest ship engaged and, under Captain Charles Mansfield, Minotaur played a similarly distinguished part in the weather column at the battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

Under Captain Henry Digby H.M.S. Africa bore a conspicuous part in the battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

In October 1808, during the ‘Gunboat War’ Captain John Barrett, in command of the Africa, had the dangerous task of convoying a merchant fleet of 137 sail through the Sound, then infested by Danish gunboats. His force, quite unsuitable for the work, consisted of his own ship, Africa, of 64 guns, and a few gun-brigs; in a calm, the small heavily armed row-boats of the Danes had an enormous advantage, and in an attack on the English squadron on 20 October they inflicted a very heavy loss on the Africa. In such a contest the English gun-brigs were useless, and the Danish boats, taking a position on the Africa's bows or quarters, galled her exceedingly; twice her flag was shot away, her masts and yards badly wounded, her rigging cut to pieces, her hull shattered, and with several large shot between wind and water; nine men were killed and fifty-three wounded. The engagement lasted all the afternoon. "Had the daylight and calm continued two hours longer, the Africa must either have sunk or surrendered; as it was, her disabled state sent the ship back to Carlscrona to refit".

In 1809 Minotaur was cruising off Finland under Captain John Barrett when, in the evening of 25 July her boats took part in the hard fight with, and capture of, four Russian gunboats and a brig in the harbour of Frederickshamn, near Aspo roads. Her last service was in 1810, when, in company with the Plantagenet and Loire, she was ordered to convoy sixty sail of ships from the Baltic to Yarmouth. In a very severe storm she got separated from the others, and on the night of the 22nd December was unfortunately wrecked and lost on the Haak Sands at the mouth of the Texel. Of her ship's company three hundred and seventy lives were lost, including Captain Barrett. He is described as having acted to the last with perfect coolness and composure, "We all owe nature a debt", he is reported to have said; "let us pay it like men of honour.” A picture of the wreck was painted by Mr J. M. W. Turner, R.A., and what is believed to have been her figure-head is preserved in Sheerness Dockyard. In connection with the disaster a curious legend has arisen. A tame wolf that had become a ship's pet was on board at the time, and when the vessel went to pieces the wolf and one of the lieutenants got on to the mast together. At times they were washed off, but by each other's assistance regained their hold: exhausted by exertion and benumbed with cold, however, they sank together when within a very little distance of the shore.