Single Campaign Medals 461
A rare four-clasp N.G.S. medal awarded to Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Richardson, K.C.B., Royal Navy, who as a Lieutenant distinguished himself during the battle of Camperdown on 11 October 1797, when he volunteered to ‘go in an open boat’ and capture the Dutch Fleet’s Commander-in-Chief, Admiral De Wet, before he could effect his escape from his stricken ship - Richardson presented De Wet to Admiral A. Duncan and in recognition of this was appointed as his Signal Lieutenant; he successfully commanded a division of seaman attached to the Army under Sir Ralph Abercromby in the Expedition to Holland in 1799, and was similarly employed with Abercromby in Egypt, before carrying out the same role to great effect at the investment of Flushing under his old friend and patron Sir Richard J. Strachan. Richardson had developed into somewhat of a specialist in this field and in 1815 was nominated for the C. B., having ‘For more than 26 Years, passed in active service at Sea and in co-operation with troops on Shore in every quarter of the globe’, indeed apart from his gallant and meritorious naval services, Richardson was about 140 years ahead of his time in pioneering ‘Combined Operations’.
Naval General Service 1793-1840, four clasps, 1 June 1794, Camperdown, Egypt, Basque Roads 1809 (C. Richardson, Lieutenant R.N.) good very fine
£14,000-£18,000
Confirmed on the rolls as Master’s Mate in H.M.S. Royal George 100 guns (flag ship for Sir A. Hood) at the fleet action that became known as ‘The Glorious First of June’; as Senior Lieutenant in H.M.S. Circe at the defeat of the Dutch fleet by the British Naval squadrons under Admiral Duncan, including the capture of nine ships-of-the-line and two frigates off the Dutch coast, 11 October 1797; as Lieutenant in H.M.S. Kent in co-operation with the Army on and off the coast of Egypt in 1801 and as Captain in H.M.S. Caesar during Lord Cochrane’s successful destruction of a number of French ships, including four ships-of-the-line, in the Basque Roads, off St. Nazaire, 11-12 April 1809.
Approximately 88 four clasp awards issued.
It is known from a surviving portrait that Richardson originally received, and wore, a medal with two clasps, those being the gold medal actions of 1 June 1794 and Camperdown authorised in the list published in the London Gazette of June 1847. His medal was issued in the rank of Lieutenant, reflecting the rank he held at Camperdown, and it is clear that he must have received one from the first few batches of medals issued, before the London Gazette announcement in June 1848 which authorised further clasps, including Basque Roads, to which he was entitled as Captain of the Caesar. His clasp for Basque Roads is recorded as being an ‘Additional Claim’ in the Admiralty claims list, but no rank is given, and no doubt further confusion occurred with the London Gazette announcement in February 1850 authorising the issue of the clasp for Egypt, to which he was also entitled in the rank of Lieutenant. Perhaps it was an oversight that, strictly speaking, Richardson should have been given a new medal in the rank of Captain, which rank he held at Basque Roads. He is shown in the Navy List for 1850 as being in receipt of a medal with two clasps but he would be required to submit his medal to receive the additional two clasps to which he was entitled. His death occurred later in the same year, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
Charles Richardson was born in 1769 and joined the Royal Navy as Captain’s Servant in H.M.S. Vestal (Captain R. J. Strachan), in November 1787; after accompanying an embassy to China he removed with Strachan to H.M.S. Phoenix 36 guns and ‘was present, 19 November 1791, while cruising off the Malabar coast in company with the Perseverance frigate, in an obstinate engagement (produced by a resistance on the part of the French Captain to a search being imposed by the British upon two merchant vessels under his orders) with La Résolue of 46 guns, whose colours were not struck until she had herself sustained a loss of 25 men killed and 40 wounded, and had occasioned one to the Phoenix of 6 killed and 11 wounded. While on the East India station Mr. Richardson was for several months employed in the boats in co-operating up different rivers, with the army under Sir Robert Abercromby in its operations against Tippoo Saib’.
Having attained the ranks of Midshipman and Master’s Mate and having fought with H.M.S. Royal George in Lord Howe’s actions of 29th May and 1st June 1794, Richardson was appointed Lieutenant in H.M.S. Circe (Captain P. Halkett), in August. 1794 - ‘of that frigate he was First-Lieutenant during the great mutiny at the Nore; where his exertions in preventing the crew from acquiring the ascendancy gained him, in common with his Captain and the other officers of the ship, the thanks of the Admiralty. The Circe forming one of Lord Duncan’s repeaters in the action off Camperdown, 11 October 1797, Lieutenant Richardson on that occasion achieved an important exploit. Fearing lest the Dutch Admiral, De Winter, after his own ship had been dismasted and silenced, should effect his escape on board some other, he volunteered to go in an open boat and take him out. Succeeding in his object he had the honour of presenting him in person to the British Commander-in-Chief [Admiral A. Duncan] who, in consequence, received him on promotion in January 1798 on board his flag ship the Venerable 74, and made him, 6 March following his Signal Lieutenant in the Kent 74 (Captain W. M. Hope)’.
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