Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Centaur 26 Augt 1808 (Wm. Nicholls.) brooch fittings removed from obverse and both edges at 3 and 9 o’clock, suspension reconstituted, therefore good fine £1,200-£1,600

Glendining’s, September 1923 and May 1965; Spink, July 2000.

Approximately 41 clasps issued for this action.
William Nicholls is confirmed on the roll as an Ordinary Seaman aboard H.M.S. Centaur on 26 August 1808. Two other men with this name are shown on the rolls, one for Gut of Gibraltar 1801 and St Domingo, the other for Syria.

Nicholls, born at Catdown [Cattedown], Plymouth, joined Centaur, from the Goerge cutter, as an Ordinary Seaman on 12 June 1802, and remained on board Centaur for the remarkably long period of 12 years and 3 months, until 15 September 1814. He joined the America on 10 October 1814, rated ‘S.K.’ (’store keeper’ and ‘ship keeper’ have been suggested but this rate so far remains unconfirmed), serving until 1 April 1816, when he joined the Union where he remained until 15 February 1830. He next served in Phoebe from 17 May 1830 until 31 July 1836, joining the San Josef as Able Seaman on the following day and serving until 15 May 1842, by which time he had amassed a total service of more than 39 years 8 months and deemed to be ‘unserviceable’.

On 26 August 1808 Centaur, in conjunction with the Implacable, captured the Russian 74-gun ship Sewolod in sight of the whole Russian fleet near Rogerswick. During a spirited attempt by the Russians to retake and row the Sewolod back into port, Sir S. Hood laid her on board and lashed her bowsprit to the mizzen rigging of the Centaur under a heavy fire of musketry. The bow of the enemy grazed the muzzles of Centaur's guns, which at the same moment were discharged, and the raking broadside tore her to pieces. The Russians made several attempts to board, but were repelled by the fire of the marines and the stern chase guns of the Centaur, and after a hot action of half an hour the Sewolod again struck her colours. In this furious conflict the Centaur lost 3 killed and 27 wounded, and the enemy 180 killed and wounded. None of Centaur’s wounded lived to claim a medal for this action.

Sold with copied pages from Centaur’s description book and record of service.