The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters

Captain Thomas Moore, R.N., whose distinguished services with the marines of the Amphion over a period of 8 years gained him three mentions in despatches and the Brevet of Captain; he was senior officer of marines in the action off Lissa, was twice very severely wounded and twice rewarded from the Patriotic Fund

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 3 clasps, 28 Aug Boat Service 1809 [15], 28 June Boat Service 1810 [25], Lissa [124], fitted with a fourth unofficial clasp inscribed ‘Umago’ (Thomas Moore, 1st Lieut. R.M.) fitted with silver ribbon brooch (pin lacking), extremely fine £10000-12000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters.

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Provenance: Sotheby, November 1979 and June 1990.

28 Aug Boat Service 1809 [15 issued] - [real date of action 27 August] 5 known, Lieutenant Moore being the only R.M. officer to receive this clasp; David Buchanan, Yeoman of the Sheets; C. G. R. Phillott, Lieutenant R.N. (Royal Naval Museum); Charles H. Ross, Midshipman (Patiala Collection, Sheesh Mahal Museum, India); William Slaughter, Lieutenant R.N. (National Maritime Museum).

28 June Boat Service 1810 [25 issued] - 13 known, including examples in the National Maritime Museum; Royal Naval Museum (2); and the Patiala Collection (Sheesh Mahal Museum, India).

Lissa [124 issued] - including 3 Royal Marine officers: William S. Knapman, 1st Lieutenant, Volage; John Mears, 2nd Lieutenant, Active; and Thomas Moore, 1st Lieutenant, Amphion.

Umago - this unofficial, privately added clasp, commemorates Captain Moore’s part in the destruction, at the town of that name, of a 2-gun battery and the capture of 4 vessels, loaded with wine, that had been scuttled, 8 June 1813.

Thomas Moore joined the Royal Marines as a Second Lieutenant on 14 January 1801; First Lieutenant, 15 August 1805; Captain, 21 November 1810; Barrack-Master, Portsmouth Division, Royal Marines, 16 August 1827, which position he held for upwards of 30 years. Captain Moore’s distinguished and gallant services are thus concisely stated in Major Hart’s Army List for the year 1857:

‘Captain Moore served in H.M.S. Amphion from May 1803 to July 1811; was in the action with and capture of four Spanish frigates off Cape St. Mary’s; action with flotilla of gun-boats in Gibraltar Bay; cutting out a schooner in Corsica; a sever action with a French frigate, and driven on shore under the batteries in the Bay of Rosas in 1808. Served at the taking of Pessara, and capture of large convoys. Commanded the marines at the taking of Cortelazza in 1809, and taking 6 gun-boats. Commanded the marines of the squadron at the taking of Grao and large convoys laden with military stores, after a most sanguinary action with a garrison of French troops at the point of the bayonet, when the whole of the garrison were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, - for this action and previous services he was made Brevet Captain. Present also at the capture of several other towns on the coast of the Adriatic, and destruction of convoys. He was senior officer of marines in the action off Lissa, 13th March 1811. Was twice very severely wounded, and twice rewarded from the Patriotic Fund. He has been in upwards of 30 successful contests with the enemy, and frequently officially mentioned for gallantry. Has received the War Medal with three clasps.’

Mentioned in despatches London Gazette 1809, pp 479-481 (taking of Cortelazza, 27 August 1809).

Mentioned in despatches London Gazette 1810 p 319 (taking of Grao, 28 June 1810: ‘It is hard to particularise where all distinguish themselves, but the conduct of Lieutenant Moore, who commanded the Marines... is spoken of in such high terms by all, that I feel it a duty to mention him, and I do it in that confidence of his worth which his exemplary behaviour, during Five Years’ Service together, has long insured him.’).

Mentioned in despatches London Gazette 1811 pp 159, 162 (action off Lissa: ‘Captain Moore of the Royal Marines, of this ship, received a wound, but returned to his quarters immediately it was dressed.’).