SINGLE CAMPAIGN MEDALS
On next joining the Neptune 98, flag-ship of Hon. Sir Alexander Cochrane, he served at the taking, in February and April 1809, of the islands of Martinique and the Saintes, and of the French 74-gun ship D’Haupoult. Whilst in the Neptune he also aided in the cutting out of a schooner under a heavy fire from the batteries of St Eustatius. Being appointed, 29 June 1809, to an Acting Lieutenancy in the Vimiera brig, Captain Edward Scobell, he further contributed to the reduction of St Martin, St Eustatius and Suba, and in conjunction with the boats of the Surinam, cut out a French schooner from under the batteries of Saint Bartholomew. He removed on 5 July following to the Scorpion 18, Captains Hon. John Gore and Robert Giles, and, being confirmed Lieutenant in that vessel 17 July 1811, continued to serve in her on the Spanish Main and off the coast of Africa until March 1813. He subsequently held an appointment in the Coast Guard from 14 May 1831 until 1836, when he was placed on half-pay. He was placed on the retired list of Commanders on 1 July 1852, and died in 1863.
16
A fine 3-clasp N.G.S. awarded to William Lodwick, a Carpenter in the Royal Navy who was specially mentioned by Lord Cochrane for his services at the defence of Fort Trinidad, Spain, who went on to serve with that great naval hero at Basque Roads, and was later present at the sanguinary action which resulted in the capture of the French frigate Rivoli
NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1840, 3 clasps, 23 June 1795, Basque Roads 1809, Victorious with Rivoli (William Lodwick, Carpenter) extremely fine
£8000-10000 Ex Glendining's, May 1942 and July 1985.
The published Naval General Service Medal rolls confirm William Lodwick as a Carpenter aboard the Imperieuse for the action in Basque Roads on 11-12 April 1809, and in the same rate aboard the Victorious for her action against the Rivoli on 22 February 1812, the latter being one of just 67 clasps on the Admiralty roll.
While Message's roll further confirms Lodwick's presence in the action of 23 June 1795 ('Present and Entitled'), his name is omitted from the appropriate section in the Douglas-Morris roll, but as noted below, he was most certainly present at that action aboard the Standard, and must have received the clasp after suitable, but protracted investigation by the relevant Committee.
William Lodwick, a native of Carmarthenshire, entered the Royal Navy as a Landsman aboard the Standard in April 1795, giving his age as 21 years. Subsequently present at Admiral Bridport's action off the Isle de Groix on 23 June 1795, he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in the following year and next joined the Inflexible. Shortly afterwards he was promoted to Carpenter's Mate, although in a later appointment aboard the Guillaume Tell he was re-rated as a Caulker's Mate. Lodwick regained his former status and more, with an acting appointment as Carpenter aboard the Stromboli in September 1800, in which rate he was confirmed by 'Warrant from Lord Keith, dated 22 January 1802'.
In the Imperieuse Lodwick served under the great naval hero Lord Thomas Cochrane and distinguished himself at the defence of Fort Trinidad, Spain, in November 1808. The Imperieuse arrived in the bay of Rosas on the 24th or 25th, and joined the Lucifer and Meteor bomb-vessels. Lord Cochrane went himself to examine the state of Fort Trinidad; and, finding that the garrison, composed of 80 Spaniards, was on the point of surrendering, threw himself into the fort, with 50 seamen and 30 marines belonging to the Imperieuse. The resources of Lord Cochrane's active mind must, indeed, have astonished the Spaniards. Among other substitutes which he made use of about 1000 bags, together with barrels and palisadoes, supplied the place of walls and ditches. So that the French, when on the 30th they assaulted the castle with 1000 picked men, were repulsed with the loss of their commanding officer, their storming equipage, and all who had attempted to mount the breach.
In his autobiography Cochrane used an interesting analogy to describe the scene:
“A pretty correct idea of our relative positions may be formed if the unnautical reader will imagine our small force to be placed in the nave of Westminster Abbey, with the enemy attacking the great western tower from the summit of a cliff 100 feet higher than the tower, so that the breach in course of formation nearly corresponded to the great west window of the abbey. It will hence be clear that, in the face of a determined opposition, it would be no easy matter to scale the external wall of the tower up to the great west window, and more difficult still to overcome the impediments presently to be mentioned, so as to get down into the body of the church.”
‘The impediments which Cochrane devised were ingenious. The logbook of the Imperieuse records that on 24 November the boats were sent to Fort Trinidad and “two thirds of the ships company employed at the Fort filling up the breach made and on sundry other duties necessary for the defence of the same”. The ship’s carpenter, Mr Lodowick (sic), supervised the construction of a wooden ramp or slide which was positioned on the inside of the breach in the walls and was covered with grease from the ship’s galley. The enemy would have to use scaling ladders to climb up to the breach and when they got there they would be faced by a man trap: the pressure of men climbing up behind would cause those at the front to slide down the ramp and fall fifty feet to the floor below. Marryat described some of the other hazards: “We happened to have on board the frigate a large quantity of fish hooks: these we planted not only on the greasy boards, but in every part where the intruders were likely to place their hands or feet. The breach itself was mined, and loaded with shells and hand grenades, charged up to the muzzle with musket balls enfiladed the spot in every direction.”
‘The whole of this daring and important service was effected without any loss to the British. On the 5th of December the citadel of Rosas capitulated; and, considering further resistance in Fort Trinidad impracticable against the whole French army Lord Cochrane fired the trains for exploding the magazines, and re-embarked his men. As usual, he spoke in the highest terms of his officers; among whom he named Lieutenant Urry Johnson, Lieutenant of marines James Hore, William Burney gunner, William Lodwick carpenter, and midshipmen Houston Stewart, George Charles Stovin, and Frederick Marryat.’
Thereafter, he enjoyed an active and lengthy career, all the more notable for his presence at Basque Roads in April 1809 in the Imperieuse, and his subsequent participation in one of the finest actions commemorated by the Naval General Service Medal, namely the capture of the French 74-gun Frigate Rivoli, and the destruction of the Corvette Mercure, in the Gulf of Trieste, off Venice on 22 February 1812:
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