Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Anholt 27 March 1811 (James Brookes.) good very fine £4,000-£5,000

Cleghorn Collection, 1872; Hyde Gregg Collection, 1887; Knox Collection, Sotheby, 1921; Sang Collection, Glendining’s, January 1931; Needes Collection, Glendining’s, June 1940; Christie’s, July 1954; McLauchlan Collection, Spink, July 2008; Turl Collection, July 2010.

John Brookes (Brooks) is confirmed on the roll as a Private Royal Marines at Anholt, the island having been commissioned as one of H.M. Ships. Spelled either way, this is a unique name on the rolls and one of approximately 40 clasps issued for the defence of Anholt.

One of the most brilliant operations of the War was the defence of the Island of Anholt, in the Baltic, by Captain J. W. Maurice, R.N. with 400 Marines commanded by Major Torrens. This small party, being attacked by 1000 Danish soldiers, beat them off, and forced no less than 520 men to surrender, while the Tartar 32, Captain Baker, and the Sheldrake 16, Captain Stewart, pursued a Division of 12 Gunboats protecting their landing, and captured two and sunk a third. The Danish loss amounted to 35 killed and 23 wounded, the British only losing two killed and Major Torrens and 30 men wounded. The clasp eventually issued for the defence of Anholt is the only one which stems partially from the promotion of Royal Marine officers.