Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Martinique (W. Speck, Lieut. R.N.) good very fine £1200-1500

William Speck was born at Portsmouth on 14 May 1776, and joined the Navy as a Captain’s Servant aboard the Barfleur, aged 11 years, on 6 October 1787, and continued in her until June 1790 when he was ‘beached’. For the next 10 years he probably served at sea in the Merchant Navy, for when he re-joined the Navy in March 1800, he was rated as Able Seaman, thus proving at least three years experience of the ‘Trade of the Sea’. Joining H.M.S. Mercury he was quickly advanced to Master’s Mate, in May 1800, and served in the Mediterranean until April 1802. He was Mate of the Royal George at the passage of the Dardanelles in 1807, and Lieutenant of Belleisle at the taking of Martinique in 1809. Whilst in the same ship he served in the Walcheren Expedition and commanded a party of seamen on shore in the attack upon Flushing. From October 1809 until August 1814, he was actively employed in the Channel in the Scylla of 18 guns, most notably on 8 May 1811, when she took, by boarding, under the batteries of the Ile de Bas, a French brig of war, La Cannoniere, of 15 guns. On 21 October 1813, he was present, in company with the Royalist, in a spirited action which lasted one hour and 40 minutes, and terminated in the surrender, on the approach of the Rippon 74, of the French frigate Le Weser, of 44 guns and 340 men. On both of these occasions Lieutenant Speck was mentioned in despatches. He subsequently found employment in the Coast Guard and in October 1828, for the next three years, he was placed in command of the revenue cruizer Shamrock off the coast of Ireland. In December 1831 he was made a Coast Guard Chief Officer ashore in Ireland, in which post he remained until promoted to Commander and placed on half-pay in January 1843. In February 1859 he was promoted to Captain R.N. on the ‘Reserved Half Pay’ list and died in that rank circa 1865. Sold with a very detailed service history compiled by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris.