Single Campaign Medals 415
Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Amethyst Wh. Thetis, Amethyst 5 April 1809 (John Rutter.) dark toned, minor edge bruising and first clasp facing slightly bent, otherwise about good very fine and rare
£6,000-£8,000 Provenance: Christie’s, July 1987.
John Rutter is confirmed as a Sergeant Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Amethyst for both actions. Approximately 31 clasps were issued (including 7 Royal Marines) for the capture of the French 40-gun frigate Thetis off Isle de Groix, Orient, on 10 November 1808. Approximately 26 clasps were issued (including 4 Royal Marines) for the pursuit and capture of the French 40-gun frigate Niemen in the Bay of Biscay on 5 April 1809, on which occasion Sergeant John Rutter is recorded as having been severely wounded (London Gazette April 1809 p.139). Rutter is the senior R.M. recipient for either clasp and one of only two to receive both, although it is noted that the other recipient of both clasps, Pte. John Lathan R.M., actually joined Amethyst after the first action (his 4-clasp medal is in the Patiala Collection). Rutter is also the only wounded marine to survive to claim the medal.
Capture of the Thetis, 10 November 1808
This action was fought near L’Orient, between the Amethyst, thirty-eight, Captain Michael Seymour, and the French frigate La Thetis, of about equal force, but superior in the number of her crew, and having besides a body of one hundred soldiers on board. The engagement began about nine at night, and soon after eleven the Thetis made a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to board the Amethyst. After great slaughter, the French frigate was boarded and taken, being much shattered and entirely dismasted. The captain of the Thetis and one hundred and thirty-four of her men were killed, and one hundred and two wounded, including all her officers except three. The Amethyst suffered severely, Lieutenant Kendal, of the Marines, and eighteen men being killed, and fifty-one wounded. Her mizzen mast was shot away, her other masts much injured, and she had three and a half feet of water in her hold. Just as the action ended, the Triumph, seventy-four, Captain T. M. Hardy, and the Shannon, Captain Broke, came up, and the latter ship, taking the prize in tow, brought her into Plymouth. For this action Captain Seymour received the honour of knighthood, and a sword valued at one hundred guineas from the Patriotic Fund, in addition to the Naval Gold Medal.
Capture of the Niemen, 5 April 1809
At eleven on the morning of April 5th, the thirty-eight gun frigate Amethyst, about forty-two leagues from Cordovan lighthouse, caught sight of a ship steering to the westward. The Emerald, thirty-six, Captain T. L. Maitland was in company, and both ships joined in pursuing the stranger, the French frigate Niemen, forty guns, bound for the Isle of France. The chase was continued during the day, and at seven in the evening, the Amethyst, lost sight of the Emerald and of the enemy, on which he had gained but little. Captain Seymour then altered his course to cross the probable track of the French frigate, and at twenty minutes to ten p.m. discovered her steering to the westward. Soon after eleven p.m. the ships exchanged shots from their bow and stern chasers, and about quarter past one a.m. the Amethyst closed on her opponent, and gave her her starboard broadside. From this time till half past three, a severe action continued, and shortly after, the main-top and mizzen masts of the Niemen were shot away, her main top was on fire, and her guns nearly silenced. In bringing to, to the leeward, the main-mast of the Amethyst through the damaged state of her rigging, fell over the starboard quarter, carrying with it the mizzen mast, and about the same time the main-mast of the Niemen fell. Both ships then ceased firing. A quarter of an hour later, the thirty-eight gun frigate Arethusa, Captain R. Mends, came up within gunshot, and the Niemen hoisted a light, and fired a gun at the Arethusa, and another at the Amethyst. The Arethusa returned the fire with some of her foremost guns, and the French frigate lowered her light and surrendered. Two officers and thirty-seven men of the Amethyst were absent in prizes, and of her remaining crew of two hundred and twenty-two men and boys, she had eight men killed, and three officers, and thirty-four men wounded. The Niemen with a crew of three hundred and thirty-nine men and boys, lost forty-seven men killed, and had seventy-three men wounded. The Arethusa sustained no loss whatever. The prize, a very fine new frigate, was taken in tow by the Arethusa, her hull being much damaged, and the next day, her foremast fell over the side. She was added to the Royal Navy by the same name.
There is a great similarity between this action and that of the Amethyst and Thetis, in the manner of conducting it, in the comparative force of the combatants, and also in reference to the intrusion of a third party. It is quite evident, however, that in both cases the capture was virtually effected by the Amethyst. Captain Seymour was created a baronet of the United Kingdom, and the first lieutenant, William Hill, promoted to Commander.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225
