Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 3 clasps, Martinique, 29 April Boat Service 1813, 14 Dec Boat Service 1814 (Thomas Francillon, Lieut. R.N.) dark toned, extremely fine and an unique combination of clasps £8000-10000

The 29 April 1813 clasp was for the destruction of the battery, stores and vessels at Frenchtown, and cannon foundry and battery at Havre de Grace, up the Elk River, Chesapeake Bay. Another clasp, dated ‘Ap & May Boat Service 1813’ commemorates the same actions. On the original medal roll the entry of ‘29 April’ is crossed out with correction of ‘April & May’, possibly to avoid confusion with the other boat service clasp dated ‘29 April’ which was granted for a different action. Approximately 57 clasps were issued, with both engraved date varieties known.

Thomas Francillon was born on 19 September 1792, at Harwich, Essex, son of Francis Francillon, Purser, R.N., and elder brother of Lieutenant John George Francillon, R.N. These two brothers entered the Navy together on 7 November 1807, on board the Pompee 74, Captain Richard Dacres, bearing the broad pendant afterwards of Sir George Cockburn, whom they successively followed into the Belleisle, Implacable, Alfred, Grampus, Marlborough, Sceptre, and Albion.

As midshipmen in the Pompee, they were present at the reduction of Martinique in February 1809, served in the Belleisle during the ensuing expedition to Flushing; in the Grampus at the defence of Cadiz in 1812; and saw much detached service on the coast of America. In May 1814, Thomas Francillon was wounded whilst attacking an American battery at Pungoteague, on the eastern shore of Virginia, for which services he was commended in despatches by Captain Ross, of the Albion, and by Vice-Admiral Alexander Cochrane, Commander-in-Chief on the North American station. Promoted to Lieutenant as a result, Thomas Francillon joined the Ramillies 74, Captain Thomas Masterman Hardy, and on 14 December 1814, previous to the attack on New Orleans, served with the boats of that ship and of a squadron at the capture, on Lake Borgne, of five American gun-boats under Commodore Jones, which did not surrender until the British, after a desperate conflict, had suffered a loss of 17 men killed and 77 wounded.

Thomas Francillon returned to England in May 1815. In March 1820, he obtained an appointment in the Water Guard which he resigned in 1826, on being transferred to the command of the Lapwing Revenue cruizer. He left that vessel in April 1830, and was appointed Harbour Master of Gloucester on 3 April 1832. He was placed on the reserved list in July 1851, and on the list of retired Commanders on 18 October 1858. Commander Thomas Francillon died sometime in 1861. Sold with full research including copies of various despatches and recommendations.