Auction Catalogue

28 June 2000

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

Lot

№ 308

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28 June 2000

Hammer Price:
£6,500

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Victorious with Rivoli (J. R. Crawford, Midshipman) minor edge bruising, otherwise nearly extremely fine £2800-3200

See Colour Plate IV

James R. Crawford is confirmed on the roll as Midhipman aboard the
Victorious. Approximately 66 clasps issued for this exceptionally bloody action, for which the Naval Gold Medal was awarded to Captain John Talbot, in addition to a Knighthood.

On 22 February 1812,
Victorious engaged the French seventy-four gun ship Rivoli, off Venice, at about 4.30 a.m., in an action that lasted for over four hours. The Rivoli was heavily damaged, her mizen mast shot away, and four hundred of her crew were killed or wounded. The loss to the Victorious was twenty-seven killed and ninety-nine wounded, including her Captain. H.M.S. Weazel, cruising in consort, simultaneously fought the French brig Mercure, which eventually blew up without loss to the Weazel.