Single Campaign Medals x915


Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Java (James French, Carpenter.) light marks, otherwise good very fine


£1,400-£1,800


Provenance: Spink N.C., August 1905; Glendining’s, July 1953; Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004 and June 2006


James French is confirmed as a Carpenter serving aboard H.M.S. Scipion at the capture of the island of Java.


James French joined the Navy as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Cleopatra on 2 February 1793, aged 21, his rating as A.B. indicating that he was already experienced at sea in his trade as a carpenter. Prior to his joining the Scipion on 5 March 1811, James French had served aboard the Africaine since 15 December 1808, and, as the following account shows, had seen more that his fair share of action:


In spring 1810, Africaine had returned to Plymouth from Annapolis after having delivered Mr. Jackson, the British ambassador to the United States. During this period the crew threatened mutiny when informed that Captain Robert Corbet, who had a reputation for brutality, was to take command of Africaine. The Navy quickly suppressed the incipient mutiny and Africaine sailed for the East Indies with Corbet in command. During the voyage Corbet reportedly failed to train his men in the accurate and efficient use of their cannon, preferring to maintain the order and cleanliness of his ship than exercise his gun teams.


After the Battle of Grand Port, which was a disaster for the British, Commodore Josias Rowley sent urgent messages to Madras and Cape Town requesting reinforcements. The first to arrive were Africaine and H.M.S. Ceylon, both of which were sailing alone.


Africaine was still on her way from England to Madras when, on 9 September, she stopped at the island of Rodrigues to replenish her water. There she heard of the debacle. By 11 September she had arrived off the Isle de France (now Mauritius) where she sent her boats in shore to find a passage through the reef with a view to capturing a French schooner. The boats' crews succeeded in boarding the vessel, which turned out to be French dispatch vessel No. 23, but had to abandon it in the face of fire from soldiers on shore that killed two men and wounded 16. Africaine then sailed for the Île de Bourbon, which Corbett had learned was in British hands and where Rowley was located to drop off the casualties. Africaine arrived on 12 September and then sailed that evening in pursuit of some French vessels that had been sighted.


Next day, 13 September 1810, Iphigenia and Astrée captured Africaine. She had been sailing with H.M.S. Boadicea, H.M.S. Otter, and H.M.S. Staunch trailing some distance behind. When she chased the French frigates and the brig Entreprenante early on the morning of 13 September, she outdistanced her companions, with unfortunate results. Early in the battle a shot took off Corbet's foot and his crew took him below decks. Africaine fought on under her remaining officers with First Lieutenant Joseph Crew Tullidge having taken command. After about two hours, with Tullidge having suffered four wounds, she struck.


Africaine had 295 men and boys aboard, including 25 soldiers from the 86th Regiment. In all, Africaine lost 49 men killed and 114 wounded. The French took Tullidge and about 90 survivors prisoner and conveyed them to Mauritius where they remained until the British took the island in December. The French lost nine killed and 33 wounded in Iphigénie and one killed and two wounded in Astrée.


The next day Boadicea and her two companions recaptured Africaine. Because she was dismasted and damaged the French did not try to tow her. Also, Astrée had to take Iphigénie into tow. Africaine still had 70 of her wounded and some 83 uninjured of her crew aboard, as well as a ten-man French prize crew.


By the time the British had recaptured Africaine Corbet was dead; he had died some six hours after his foot was amputated. Later, rumours circulated that he had committed suicide because of the dishonour of defeat, or that members of the crew had killed him. From the amount of shot that was still on the vessel there was also reason to suspect that the crew had stopped shotting the cannons after the first few broadsides, perhaps in protest against Corbet. Regardless, a court martial on 23 April 1811 honourably acquitted the surviving officers and crew of the Africaine for the loss of their ship. In August Tullidge received promotion to Commander.


The French also captured Ceylon, but Boadicea quickly retook her too. Rowley was able to seize Jacques Hamelin and his flagship Vénus in the action of 18 September 1810.


To get Africiane ready for sea again, Bertie appointed Lieutenant Edward Lloyd of Boadicea to supervise the repairs. To give Africiane new masts, Lloyd took a recaptured East Indiaman and salvaged her lower masts, yards and sails. On 14 December she sailed again with an ad hoc crew made up of 30 sailors, a company from the 87th Regiment instead of marines, and some 120 blacks recruited from plantations on the island. During the subsequent Invasion of Isle de France, Africaine, under Captain Charles Gordon, late of Ceylon, was Vice Admiral Bertie's flagship. She arrived in Portsmouth on 21 March with Vice Admiral Bertie.


James French next joined the Scipion, in which ship he was present at the capture of Java. He continued in the service until 7 October 1834.


Sold with copied record of service and other research.


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