PREVIEW: ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS & MILITARIA: 14 FEBRUARY

Having begun his naval life as a servant aged nine, George Decœurdoux was to rise to the rank of Commander and serve as Flag-Lieutenant for the Mars at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Now his rare Naval General Service Medal (1793-1740), with its unique combination of clasps, including Trafalgar, is expected to sell for £18,000-22,000 in this auction.

Decœurdoux was an 18-year-old Midshipman on the Lion, a Royal Navy ship of the line, when she fought off four Spanish frigates in the Mediterranean in July 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars, capturing one of them, the Santa Dorotea, which was later became a Royal Navy ship.

Less than two years later, he was Acting-Lieutenant at the capture of the 80-gun Guillaume Tell in March 1800 after a tremendous conflict at the blockade of Malta.

Having served for upwards of 12 months as a Supernumerary of the Ville de Paris 110, flagship in the Channel of the Hon. William Cornwallis, he was confirmed to a Lieutenancy in the San Fiorenzo frigate, on 16 April 1802. A year later, on 23 March 1803, he was appointed to the Mars 74 under Captain George Duff and served as Flag-Lieutenant at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

The Mars was to suffer terribly at Trafalgar. Looking to find an opening to pass through the enemy line, she came under attack astern from the French 74, Pluton. To avoid running into the Spanish Santa Anna, she was obliged to turn her head to wind, and so exposed her stern to the fire of the Spanish Monarca and French Algésiras, which punished her severely, until the coming of Tonnant took off their attention. The French Fougeuex and Pluton inflicted further damage, a shot from the latter carrying off the head of Captain Duff.

The Mars lost 98 killed and wounded. Her main topmast and spanker boom were shot away, and all her lower masts left in a tottering state. She had several guns disabled, her rudder head injured and all her yards more or less shot. Nevertheless, on surrendering, the French Commander-in-Chief and his retinue were received on board the Mars.

Decœurdoux was again part of the action on the Mars in 1806 when, under command of Captain Robert Dudley Oliver, she was employed with Commodore Sir Samuel Hood’s squadron off Rochefort and captured the French 40-gun frigate Rhin on the 22 July. On 25 September she assisted at the capture of four French frigates.

Decœurdoux’s last appointment was to the Ordinary at Portsmouth, where he served until April 1834. He was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital on 12 July 1839, and promoted Commander on 15 June 1844, dying in Southsea in March 1850.