Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, 4 Nov 1805, Implacable 26 Augt 1808 (Thomas Colley) nearly extremely fine £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the collection formed by Captain W. A. Tinlin, M.C., late 14th London Regiment (1880-1965).

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Sold at Sotheby in November 1893 and subsequently in the collections of Gray 1920, Phillips 1925, and Hamilton-Smith 1927.

Thomas Colley served as Carpenter’s Crew on board the Revolutionnaire at Strachan’s action on 4 November 1805 (296 clasps issued), and as Caulker’s Mate on board the Implacable in her action on 26 August 1808 (41 issued).

The Implacable was originally the French line-of-battle ship Duguay Trouin, launched at Rochefort in 1797. She was present at Trafalgar and was one of the four ships that escaped, only to be brought to action and captured by Sir Richard Strachan on 4 November 1805, and taken into the Royal Navy as the Implacable. Just what part the Revolutionnaire (captured from the French in 1794) played in the capture of the Duguay Trouin on 4 November is not known but it is worth recording that all seven recipients of these two clasps had been on board that day.

In August 1808, Sir Samuel Hood in Centaur accompanied by Implacable, Captain Thomas Byam Martin, joined Rear Admiral Nauckhoff and the Swedish fleet in 0ro Roads and they all sailed from there on the 25th, in pursuit of the Russian fleet which had appeared off Sweden two days earlier. Due to their superior sailing Centaur and Implacable were soon well in advance and closing on the Russians who appeared to be in disorder.By the morning of the 26th, Implacable was able to bring the leewardmost of the enemy's line-of-battle ships, the Sewolod, 74, Captain Roodneff, to close action. After 20 minutes the enemy's colours and pendant were lowered but the approach of the whole Russian force obliged Sir Samuel to recall Captain Martin. A Russian frigate took the crippled ship in tow but when the Russian Admiral hauled his wind, Centaur and Implacable gave chase and forced the frigate to slip her tow. The enemy ships again bore down in support but instead of engaging they entered the port of Rager Vik (also known as Port Baltic or Rogerswick). When boats were sent out to try and tow her in to harbour Centaur stood in and, after driving the boats off, ran across the bow of the Sewolod just as she was entering the harbour. The Centaur then lashed the Sewolod’s bowsprit to her mizen-mast and both ships soon drifted aground. The Russians refused to strike and the battle went on until the arrival of the Implacable finally induced the Russian ship to surrender. Implacable had to heave Centaur off. However, the prize was so firmly aground that after taking out the prisoners and wounded men, Sir Samuel ordered her to be burnt.

Implacable lost six men killed and twenty-six wounded including two who did not recover and three who had limbs amputated. Centaur lost three killed and twenty-seven wounded, and the Sewolod 303 killed, wounded and missing.