Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Off Mardoe 6 July 1812 (Thos. L. Crooke.) minor edge bruising, otherwise good very fine £4,000-£5,000

Dix Noonan Webb, June 2002.

Approximately 47 clasps issued for this action.

Thomas Ledlie Crooke entered the Royal Navy on 10 December 1806 as First Class Volunteer on board La Fleche, Captain Thomas White, whom he subsequently followed, as Midshipman, into the Ariel, St George, and Ruby, on the Channel and Baltic stations. In February 1811 he joined the Vanguard and then the Dictator. Whilst in this latter ship he commanded a boat at the cutting out of a schooner and other vessels from under a heavy fire in the Baltic. On 6 July 1812, the Dictator, in company with the Calypso and two gun-brigs, was present at the capture and destruction, off Mardoe on the Norwegian coast, of a whole Danish squadron, consisting of the Nayaden of 48 guns, the Laland, Samsoe and Kiel sloops, and several gun-boats, after a long contest. He subsequently served in the Prince Regent on Lake Ontario in 1814, and took part in many active operations. He received his commission as Lieutenant on 13 March 1815, but was immediately placed on Reserved Half-pay.