7 JULY BOAT SERVICE 1809
PHOEBE 21 DECr 1797 (Only Five Issued)
23rd JUNE 1795
1 JUNE 1794 (The Glorious 1st June)
To:
ROBERT ALLEN, BOATSWAIN & YEOMAN of THE SHEETS.
[BIOGRAPHY]
Robert Allen was born in Nottingham in c, 1774 and is first traced when he entered HMS Porcupine on 3rd March 1793, appearing on the supernumerary lists until his transfer to the crew as an Able Seaman on 22nd March 1793.
Discharged from the Porcupine on 17th June 1793, immediately entering HMS Pegasus still as an AB.
[Appointed to Quarter Gunner 1st January 1794, in Pegasus in which ship on 1st JUNE 1794 he took part in the famous defeat of the French Fleet ....”The Glorious 1st JUNE” (CLASP)]
Served on board Pegasus until 24th July 1794 when he was discharged to HMS Aquilon per the order of Rear Admiral Sir Roger Curtis. He was initially rated as AB before being appointed Midshipman on 1st September 1794, and is then seen reverting to AB on 10th August 1795, before again reverting to midshipman on 1st September 1795.
[While on the Aquilon he took part in the action with the French Fleet on 23rd June 1795.(CLASP) ]
On 18th November 1795 he was discharged to the supernumerary lists before transferring to the pay lists of HMS Phebe (PHOEBE)
which he entered on 19th November 1795, initially with the rating of Quarter Master but appearing on the musters rated as a yeoman of the sheets from 1st March 1796.
[HMS Phoebe captured the French frigate NEREIDE off the island of Scilly on 21st December 1797 (CLASP)]
Served with HMS Phoebe until 17th August 1800 when he was discharged to HMS Glenmore on promotion per order of Admiral Kingsmill. Initially ranked as Acting Boatswain, but from September 1801 he is shown in the musters as Boatswain.
He served with the Glenmore until his discharge per warrant to HMS Boadiciea on 1st January 1803, serving with the latter ship as Boatswain until he was discharged per warrant to HMS BELLEROPHON on 18th April 1806.
[HMS BELLEROPHON took part in the boat service action which involved the capture and destruction of gun boats and merchantmen at PERCOLA POINT , BARO SOUND, FINLAND on 7th July 1809 (CLASP)]
The vast vast majority of NGS medals are invariably ‘single clasp’ awards made for the latter actions like Syria, but every now and then an exceptional medal surfaces which represents an earlier action. In this respect the currently offered medal is exceptional as it carries FOUR clasps for very important early actions in 1794, 1795, 1797 and 1809.
The most important of which is that for 1 JUNE 1794
(The Glorious 1st June)
Followed by the PHOEBE 21 DECr 1797 clasp of which only FIVE examples were awarded
This magnificent four clasp medal retains its original ribbon & silver top brooch & comes with a huge binder full of in depth research and papers.
The medal is practically mint state with a lovely old time developed light patina.
Currently Researching
(SOLD ) 01342-870926 or DRAGONBRIT77@GMAIL.COM