Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Amethyst Wh. Thetis, Amethyst 5 April 1809 (John Rutter.) dark toned, minor edge bruising and first clasp facing slightly bent, otherwise about good very fine and rare £6,000-£8,000

Provenance: Christie’s, July 1987.

John Rutter is confirmed as a Sergeant Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Amethyst for both actions. Approximately 31 clasps were issued (including 7 Royal Marines) for the capture of the French 40-gun frigate Thetis off Isle de Groix, Orient, on 10 November 1808. Approximately 26 clasps were issued (including 4 Royal Marines) for the pursuit and capture of the French 40-gun frigate Niemen in the Bay of Biscay on 5 April 1809, on which occasion Sergeant John Rutter is recorded as having been severely wounded (London Gazette April 1809 p.139). Rutter is the senior R.M. recipient for either clasp and one of only two to receive both, although it is noted that the other recipient of both clasps, Pte. John Lathan R.M., actually joined Amethyst after the first action (his 4-clasp medal is in the Patiala Collection). Rutter is also the only wounded marine to survive to claim the medal.

Capture of the Thetis, 10 November 1808

This action was fought near L’Orient, between the Amethyst, thirty-eight, Captain Michael Seymour, and the French frigate La Thetis, of about equal force, but superior in the number of her crew, and having besides a body of one hundred soldiers on board. The engagement began about nine at night, and soon after eleven the Thetis made a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to board the Amethyst. After great slaughter, the French frigate was boarded and taken, being much shattered and entirely dismasted. The captain of the Thetis and one hundred and thirty-four of her men were killed, and one hundred and two wounded, including all her officers except three. The Amethyst suffered severely, Lieutenant Kendal, of the Marines, and eighteen men being killed, and fifty-one wounded. Her mizzen mast was shot away, her other masts much injured, and she had three and a half feet of water in her hold. Just as the action ended, the Triumph, seventy-four, Captain T. M. Hardy, and the Shannon, Captain Broke, came up, and the latter ship, taking the prize in tow, brought her into Plymouth. For this action Captain Seymour received the honour of knighthood, and a sword valued at one hundred guineas from the Patriotic Fund, in addition to the Naval Gold Medal.

Capture of the Niemen, 5 April 1809

At eleven on the morning of April 5th, the thirty-eight gun frigate Amethyst, about forty-two leagues from Cordovan lighthouse, caught sight of a ship steering to the westward. The Emerald, thirty-six, Captain T. L. Maitland was in company, and both ships joined in pursuing the stranger, the French frigate Niemen, forty guns, bound for the Isle of France. The chase was continued during the day, and at seven in the evening, the Amethyst, lost sight of the Emerald and of the enemy, on which he had gained but little. Captain Seymour then altered his course to cross the probable track of the French frigate, and at twenty minutes to ten p.m. discovered her steering to the westward. Soon after eleven p.m. the ships exchanged shots from their bow and stern chasers, and about quarter past one a.m. the Amethyst closed on her opponent, and gave her her starboard broadside. From this time till half past three, a severe action continued, and shortly after, the main-top and mizzen masts of the Niemen were shot away, her main top was on fire, and her guns nearly silenced. In bringing to, to the leeward, the main-mast of the Amethyst through the damaged state of her rigging, fell over the starboard quarter, carrying with it the mizzen mast, and about the same time the main-mast of the Niemen fell. Both ships then ceased firing. A quarter of an hour later, the thirty-eight gun frigate Arethusa, Captain R. Mends, came up within gunshot, and the Niemen hoisted a light, and fired a gun at the Arethusa, and another at the Amethyst. The Arethusa returned the fire with some of her foremost guns, and the French frigate lowered her light and surrendered. Two officers and thirty-seven men of the Amethyst were absent in prizes, and of her remaining crew of two hundred and twenty-two men and boys, she had eight men killed, and three officers, and thirty-four men wounded. The Niemen with a crew of three hundred and thirty-nine men and boys, lost forty-seven men killed, and had seventy-three men wounded. The Arethusa sustained no loss whatever. The prize, a very fine new frigate, was taken in tow by the Arethusa, her hull being much damaged, and the next day, her foremast fell over the side. She was added to the Royal Navy by the same name.

There is a great similarity between this action and that of the Amethyst and Thetis, in the manner of conducting it, in the comparative force of the combatants, and also in reference to the intrusion of a third party. It is quite evident, however, that in both cases the capture was virtually effected by the Amethyst. Captain Seymour was created a baronet of the United Kingdom, and the first lieutenant, William Hill, promoted to Commander.