Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Josh. McNamee Qr. Mr. H.M.S. Lord Warden) engraved naming, good very fine £140-£160

Jospeh McNamee was born in Bantry, County Cork, in September 1840 and served in the Royal Navy from December 1855 to June 1889. Of some interest is his period of service aboard H.M.S. Bulldog from September 1864 to March 1866.

The paddle sloop Bulldog, Captain Charles Wake, was a unit of the North American and West Indies Squadron in 1865. A revolution in the republic of Haiti was in progress, and the sloop was keeping watch over British interests in those waters. On October 22nd, 1865, the steamship Valorogue belonging to the rebels fired into a British Jamaica Packet in sight of Bulldog. The captain of the Haitian ship was warned that, unless he ceased firing, he would be sunk. He thereupon turned away from Cape Haytien.

The leader of the rebellion, Sylvestre Salnave, retaliated by ordering the arrest of several fugitives in the British Consulate at Cape Haytien. On the morning of the 23rd Captain Wake demanded satisfaction for this high handed action. His demand was refused and he opened fire on the shore batteries. Later he attempted to ram the Valorogue, but failed to do so and the sloop ran aground. Nevertheless she was able to maintain fire and at 9.45 a.m. sank the rebel steamer. At the same time she continued to engage the batteries.

An attempt by the U.S. warship De Soto to tow the sloop off having failed, Wake gave orders to abandon ship as nearly all his ammunition had been expended. Bulldog was set on fire and shortly afterwards blew up. Of her ship’s company of 175 there were three killed and ten wounded. The survivors were taken off by the American and other ships standing by.

Wake and his navigating officer were tried by court martial and severely reprimanded for running the sloop aground. This sentence was considered unduly harsh by public opinion, as Wake had acted in defence of British interests. He was re-employed later, and rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral. (Dictionary of Disasters at Sea refers).

McNamee received his L.S. & G.C. medal aboard the Lord Warden in June 1875 and later became a Commissioned Boatman in H.M. Coast Guard. Sold with copied record of service and other research including a report on the above action from The Illustrated London News.