Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Copenhagen 1801 (William Booth.) minor edge bruise, nearly extremely fine £1800-2200

Provenance: Glendining’s, March 1904.

William Booth, a Private in the 49th Foot, served in H.M.S. Defiance as part of Nelson’s attack on Copenhagen, 2 April 1801. Twenty-three medals were issued to the 49th Foot for Copenhagen, together with two to the Rifles and one to the Artillery. The 49th Foot, under Colonel Brock, together with two companies of the Rifle Corps, and a detachment of Artillery, were embarked aboard various ships of the fleet, under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, with Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson as second-in-command. It was during this engagement that Nelson famously ignored Parker’s signal of recall when, with his glass to his blind eye, he said, ‘I have a right to be blind sometimes... I really do not see the signal.’
Advanced Sergeant, Booth also received a Military General Service Medal with clasp Chrystler’s Farm.

Two other men named William Booth appear on the Admiralty Claimants’ List, for a two clasp award for St. Domingo and Guadaloupe; and a single clasp award for Syria.