Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Trafalgar (H. Towsey, Asst. Surgeon, R.N.) fitted with silver ribbon buckle and original ribbon, nearly extremely fine and rare £8000-10000

Henry Towsey was appointed Assistant Surgeon aboard the Royal Sovereign on 14 September 1805, and served in that ship at Trafalgar. With casualties of 47 killed and 94 wounded, the Royal Soverign suffered more than most in the battle. Towsey moved to the Formidable in January 1806, and was promoted to Surgeon in December 1810. He was appointed to the Dromedary store-ship in March 1816 and placed on half-pay later that same year. In June 1824 he was appointed to the Nieman on the Cape station but was again placed on half-pay in June 1827. He was finally declared unfit for sea service in December 1839 and went to live in Devon, where he died at Lympstone on 31 March 1860. Only 18 medical officers survived to claim the medal and clasp for Trafalgar.