Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, 23 June 1795, Egypt (B. Orchard, Carpenter.)...

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, 23 June 1795, Egypt (B. Orchard, Carpenter.) nearly extremely fine £2,400-£2,800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Needes Collection, February 1940; Colin Message Collection, August 1999. The clasp ‘23 June 1795’ was awarded for ‘Bridport's Action’ on that date when a French fleet was defeated off the Isle de Groix, Brittany by Admiral Bridport with a force including 14 sail of the line. Three sail of the line were captured but, in truth, the action was not handled with any spirit, for Villaret's fleet should have been annihilated. The clasp ‘Egypt’ (March 8th to September 2nd, 1801) was granted for naval operations in support of the Army engaged against the French ashore. Benjamin Orchard, a volunteer from Portsmouth, entered the navy rated as Able Seaman, probably because of his expertise as a carpenter, on Queen, 24 February 1793, and did not retire until 20 September 1836. His service in the warrant rank of carpenter commenced on 2 November 1793, aboard Thalia and continued for a total of 42 years 11 months (months of four weeks each) 3 weeks and 1 day: 24 years 11 months 1 week and 5 days in commission, 18 years 1 week and 3 days in ordinary (ADM 29/6 refers). A Benjamin Orchard, very likely this man, the son of Henry Orchard and Martha Salter, was baptised at St Mary's, Portsea on 1 October 1769, which would make him 23 on joining Queen. When this medal was finally sent to him, he would have been around 80 years of age. Sold with research notes and copied record of service.