SINGLE CAMPAIGN MEDALS
662
The N.G.S. medal to Captain John Sykes, Royal Navy, who was most
actively engaged during the War of 1812, from first contact with the
enemy in Belvidera’s celebrated escape from Commodore Rodgers’
powerful squadron in June 1812, and her prominent part in the
incredible 3-day chase of the U.S.S. Constitution in July 1812, to the
destruction of the American privateer Mars off Long Island by the
boats of the squadron under his command in March 1814
NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1840, 1 clasp, 1 June 1794 (John Sykes,
Midshipman) edge bruising and contact marks, therefore nearly very
fine £6000-8000
John Sykes was born in London in 1774 and Christened on 19 June 1774, at St. Mary's, Whitechapel, Stepney, London. His brother,
Thomas Sykes, was a Commander R.N.; his first cousin, John Sykes, a Vice Admiral whose brother-in-law was Captain Richard Byron,
C.B., R.N.
He entered the Navy on 29 January 1789, as Master's Servant, on board the Blonde 32. In the Charon, which vessel had been
converted into an hospital-ship, Sykes took part in Lord Howe's famous action on 1 June 1794, this being the only officers medal to that
ship. In the Dictator he co-operated in 1797 in the reduction of Trinidad. In the Constance he assisted at the capture of El Duides
Spanish national cutter of 8 guns and 69 men; of the privateers Venture of 2 guns and 27 men and El Cantara of 22 guns and 110 men;
and a vessel mounting 10 guns. He was frequently also, among other services, engaged in command of her boats in affording
protection to convoys in the Gut of Gibraltar. In 1809 Sykes received a silver medal from the Royal Humane Society for having jumped
overboard in the Bay of Palermo and saved the life of a man.
Sykes joined the Belvidera 36 in January 1810, employed as First-Lieutenant of that vessel until October 1814. On the 22nd of July
1810 boats from the Belvidera and Nemesis 28 chased several Danish vessels off the coast of Studtland, Norway, who then opened fire
on them. These were the Bolder and Thor, schooner-rigged, and mounting each two long 24-pounders and six 6-pounder howitzers
with a crew of 45 men. The third gun-vessel was of a smaller class, and carried one long 24-pounder with 25 men. On the morning of
the 23rd Captain Byron detached upon the service of capturing or destroying these gun-vessels, the launch, barge, and two cutters of
the Belvidera, also, the launch, pinnacle, and yawl of the Nemesis. The Danes opened a heavy fire upon the boats as they advanced,
and received in return a fire from the carronades in the bows of the launches. In a very short time the two gun-schooners hauled down
their colours and were taken possession of without the slightest loss, but the Danes had four men killed. The remaining gun-boat ran up
a creek, and was there abandoned by her crew and burnt by the British.
After visiting the latitude of Greenland and cruising on the coast of Africa, the Belvidera sailed for the North American station. On 23
June 1812, Sykes was present at the Belvidera’s celebrated retreat from a powerful squadron under Commodore Rodgers, with whom
she endured a running action which killed 2 and wounded 22 of her crew, and lasted until the enemy at length surrendered the chase.
The Belvidera thus escaped, Captain Byron being wounded, Sykes was made the bearer of his dispatches to the Commander-in-Chief,
Admiral Sawyer, at Halifax, giving the first notice of hostilities with America. Referring to Mr. Sykes’ conduct on this occasion, Captain
Byron stated: “The President [the Commodore's ship] must have suffered considerably from the excellent direction of the quarter-deck
guns by Lieut. John Sykes, First of this ship, an officer of 17 years’ standing.”
On 5 July 1812, Belvidera and Aeolus sailed from Halifax under Captain Philip Broke in Africa to cruise off the enemy coast. They
captured the American brig Nautilus of 14 guns and 106 men off Sandy Hook on the 16th, and the same evening gave chase to the
Constitution 56, which was on her way from Chesapeake Bay to New York. At daylight on the 17th both sides had to hoist out boats to
tow due to lack of wind but Constitution gained an advantage by warping herself ahead in 24 fathoms until she was about four miles
clear of the Belvidera. Captain Byron, however, copied her, working with two kedge anchors at the same time, paying the warp through
one side as it was run through the other. This brought the two ships within gunshot and they exchanged fire with bow guns and stern
chasers. The chase continued in a light breeze until daylight on the 19th when Constitution, being a clean ship, just out of port, was
able to make her escape.
Sykes contributed subsequently to the capture of a great variety of armed and other vessels. On 7 March, 1814, with the boats of the
Belvidera, Endymion, and Rattler under his orders, he destroyed, near Sandy Hook, off Long Island, the Mars privateer of 15 guns and
70 men. The entry in the ship’s log reads:
“7 March 1814. Saw a sail; made sail in chase. Saw another; exchanged signals with H.M.S. Endymion. Chase a suspicious schooner
ran on shore. Shortened sail; sent boats to baord the schooner. Boats employed bringing English and Prisoners from the American
privateer Mars. Received 12 Englishmen and 33 Americans; schooner Mars set on fire. Made sail; observed the schooner burning to the
water edge. Saw a sail; made sail in chase. Parted company with the Endymion.”
On 2 November 1814 he was promoted to the rank of Commander, and appointed to the Variable sloop; in her he served until paid off
in Aug. 1816. During that period he captured a piratical vessel and cruised with activity on the coast of Guatemala and along the
Mosquito shore, the most dangerous navigation in the West Indies. On one occasion, when the town of Port Royal, Jamaica, was nearly
destroyed by fire, he distinguished himself by his exertions in subduing the flames; and succeeded in eliciting the thanks of the
Commander-in-Chief, Rear-Admiral John Erskine Douglas. While the conflagration was raging he was directed to effect the explosion of
a storehouse outside the dockyard; and he accordingly made the necessary arrangements, but, before he could escape from the
building, he was blown out of it, and was very nearly involved in the general ruin. Since the Variable was put out of commission
Commander Sykes saw no further active employment. He was promoted to Captain on the retired list on 15 August 1851.
The medal is accompanied by the most comprehensive research, including a photographic record (on 7 discs) of the Captain’s log of
the Belvidera for the period 1 January 1811 to 20 October 1814 (lacking 3 months in 1811); a full and meticulous transcription of the
same logs for the period 1 January 1810 to 20 October 1814, but omitting the prevailing sea and weather conditions; and another disc
with copies of two paintings of the Belvidera in action with the U.S.S. President.
www.dnw.co.uk
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