Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Naval General Service Brooch.
The planchet of a Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840, held in an outer silver band, this engraved ‘Lieut. W. T Dance. R.N.’ with glazed lunette to reverse, the whole contained in a circular brooch mount, obverse lunette missing, otherwise very fine £200-£240

Entitled to 29 April Boat Service 1813 Clasp (one of only two recipients of this clasp, authorised because Dance himself was promoted, the other recipient of the clasp being Midshipman Gordon G. MacDonald).

William Townsend Dance entered the Navy as a Midshipman on 16 May 1806, in H.M.S. Triumph (Captain T. M. Hardy, of Trafalgar fame), with whom he continued to serve, as Master’s Mate of the Barfleur and Ramillies on the West India, Lisbon, and North American stations. He next became Acting-Lieutenant of the Orpheus, and after commanding her boats at the capture and destruction of the American letter-of-marque Whampoe of 8 guns on 29 April 1813, during which engagement Lieutenant W. M. Collins was mortally wounded, was officially promoted on 12 July of the same year. He was advanced to the rank of Commander on 23 October 1823, and was placed on half-pay in 1832. He was promoted Captain on 5 June 1834.

A hand-written note with the lot states (although this has not been verified): ‘Lieutenant W. T. Dance. R.N. The medal is his: the naming underneath the silver band (named) is original naming but it has been rubbed and silver solder has flowed into it when the silver band was applied.’