The Naval General Service medal awarded to Lieutenant James Montagu, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches for his able command of the main-deck guns of the Alceste in the action off Pelagosa in November 1811

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, 1 Nov Boat Service 1809, Pelagosa 29 Novr. 1811 (J. Montagu, Lieut. R.N.) fitted with silver ribbon brooch, good very fine £6000-7000

James Montagu was born on 10 April 1791, younger son of Admiral Sir George Montagu, G.C.B., and brother of Captain John William Montagu, R.N. He entered the Navy in 1803 as First Class Volunteer on board the Princess Royal 98, bearing the flag at Portsmouth of his father, Admiral George Montagu, under whom, from 1804 to 1806, he served in the Royal William. He then joined the Medusa 32, in which frigate he participated, as Midshipman, in all the operations, including the capture of Maldonado and the island of Gorriti, that took place in the Rio de la Plata between October 1806 and her return to England, in September 1907, with Lieutenant-General Whitelocke. After having further, in company with the Thalia 36, gone in fruitless pursuit of two French frigates to the latitude of Greenland, and endured three months of great privation on the coast of Labrador, he removed in 1808 to the Africaine 38, and sailed for the Mediterranean, where he joined the Tigre 74, Captain Benjamin Hallowell.

On the night of 31 October 1809 he served in the boats of a squadron under Lieutenant John Tailour at the capture and destruction, after a desperate struggle and a loss to the British of 15 killed and 55 wounded, of the French store-ship Lamproie of 16 guns and 116 men, bombards Victoire and Grondeur, and armed xebec Normande, with a convoy of seven merchant vessels, defended by numerous strong batteries in the Bay of Rosas. He had, a few days previously, assisted in causing the self-destruction of the French ships-of-the-line Robuste and Lion.

Montagu was confirmed a Lieutenant on 17 August 1810, in the Ville de Paris 110, Captain Richard Thomas, and the following month to the Alceste 38, Captain Murray Maxwell. In that ship he aided, in company with the Belle Poule 38, in destroying, 5 May 1811, a French national brig lying in the harbour of Parenza and defended by a galling cross fire from two batteries. He also took part, 29 November 1811, and obtained mention for the admirable manner in which he directed the main-deck guns, in an action of two hours and a half, fought with consummate gallantry, between the Alceste and Active 38 on one side, and the French 40-gun frigates Pomone and Pauline on the other, which terminated in the capture of the Pomone and escape of the Pauline, after a loss to the Alceste of 7 men killed and 13 wounded.

After a period of two years passed as Lieutenant of the Sceptre and Albion 74’s, flag-ships of Rear Admiral George Cockburn on the North American station, Montagu received a second promotal commission, 7 June 1814, and on the 23rd of the same month appointed to the command of the Thistle 12, which sloop he brought home and was paid off in September 1815. His last appointment was in April 1823, to the Rifleman 18, fitting for the Halifax station, where he remained until posted Captain on 17 July 1824. He accepted Retirement on 1 October 1846. For related family awards see Lots 406 and 407.