Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The 2-clasp Naval General Service medal awarded to Lieutenant William G. Thomas, Royal Navy, Master’s Mate of the Scipion at the reduction of Batavia on the north coast of Java in 1811, and as Lieutenant in the Aetna in Sir James Gordon’s brilliant expeditions in the Potomac, including the taking of Alexandria in August 1814
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Java, The Potomac 17 Aug. 1814 (W. G. Thomas, Lieut. R.N.) small edge bruise, otherwise good very fine £8,000-£10,000

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

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Peter Dale Collection, July 2000.

Confirmed on the rolls as Midshipman of Scipion at Java, and Lieutenant of Aetna at the Potomac, for which 108 clasps were issued.
William George Thomas entered the Navy on 21 May 1805, as First-class Volunteer, on board the Atalante 16, Captain Joseph Ore Masefield, employed in cruising off Brest and Rochefort. Joining next, in August 1806, the Néréide 36, Captain Robt. Corbett, he assisted, in July of the following year, in the unsuccessful attack upon Buenos Aires, and proceeded subsequently to Bombay, from which he escorted the British Ambassador, Sir Harford Jones, to Bushehr in the Persian Gulf. On his voyage back he aided in destroying two piratical vessels which had taken, in sight of the Néréide, the Hon. East India Company.’s schooner Sylph. After participating as Midshipman in other services, in September 1809 he contributed to the conquest of the town of St. Paul’s, in the Ile de Bourbon, where a French frigate (La Caroline of 46 guns), a brig-of-war, two captured Indiamen, and other vessels fell into the hands of the British. In November, Thomas followed Captain Corbett into the frigate - whose name was changed to Bourbonnaise on her being added to the Navy - in the capacity of Master’s Mate. In the summer of 1811, being then in the Scipion 74, under the flag of Hon. Robtert Stopford, he served on shore at the reduction of Batavia. On 28 October of the same year, he was nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Java 38, Captain George Scott - and on 13 May 1812, soon after his return to England, he was officially promoted. From the following November until August 1815, Thomas was employed on the Baltic, North Sea, and North American stations in the Aetna bomb, Captains Richard Kenah, James Baynton Gardner, and Francis Fead. During that period he accompanied the Sir James Alexander Gordon in his brilliant expeditions in the Potomac - including the taking of Alexandria in August 1814 - witnessed the unsuccessful attempt upon Baltimore, and took an active part in the operations connected with the attack upon New Orleans. From leaving the Aetna, Thomas was placed on half-pay.