The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters

Landsman Thomas Wilson, who served in the boats of the Volontaire in two successful actions in November 1809 and May 1813

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, 1 Nov Boat Service 1809 [110], 2 May Boat Service 1813 [48] (Thos. Wilson.) together with original Admiralty transmission letter, dated 13 Decr. 1849, and accompanying envelope with Admiralty wax seal addressed to ‘Thomas Wilson, 17 Ship Alley, St Georges in the East’, minor edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine £4000-5000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters.

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Provenance: Glendining’s, March 1992.

1 Nov Boat Service 1809 [110 issued] - including 3 officers and 9 men from the Volontaire.

2 May Boat Service 1813 [48 issued] - including 4 officers and 9 men of the Volontaire, seven of whom had both clasps.

Thomas Wilson was born in London and served in Volontaire in both of these boat actions, as a Boy 2nd Class in November 1809, and as a Landsman in May 1813. The Muster-Table for the period 1 May to 30 June, 1813, states his age to have been 19 years as of February 1812. Whilst the provenance of this medal is underpinned by the presence of the original Admiralty transmission letter, it should be noted that the Admiralty Claimants’ list shows six other men with these names, only one of which has been recorded and is now in the National Maritime Museum.

As a Boy Thomas Wilson took part in the boat action on 1 November 1809, when a convoy was attacked in the bay of Roasas, anchored under the protection of the castle and several strong batteries. The boats from Captain Benjamin Hallowell’s squadron consisting of H.M. Ships Apollo, Cumberland, Philomel, Scout, Tigre, Topaze, Tuscan and Volontaire, under the orders of Lieutenant John Tailour of the Tigre, captured or destroyed a French convoy consisting of five warships and seven merchant vessels in Rosas Bay, off the north-east coast of Spain. Though the enemy outnumbered the British two to one, by daylight on 1 November, every French vessel was burnt or brought out, and the supplies for the French army in Spain taken or destroyed.

Having reached the age of 16, Thomas Wilson was rated as a Landsman and, in May 1813 once again found himself in the boats of the Volontaire. On this occasion, 2nd May, finding that some new batteries had been erected in the vicinity of Morgion, between Marseilles and Toulon, Captain Mowbray detached one hundred marines of his own ship, Repulse, with the marines of Volontaire and Undaunted under the orders of Captain M. Ennis, to attack and destroy them. At the same time, the boats of the squadron, under first Lieutenant J. Shaw, of the Volontaire, covered by the launches with caronnades, and the Redwing, were sent in to bring out some vessels that were in the harbour. The marines landed, drove a body of French troops to the heights in rear of the harbour, and kept them in check, until six laden vessels had been brought out, and the batteries were blown up and destroyed.