davidrn
10-10-2010, 22:37
WELCH. Charles Pte. R.M.
Naval General Service Medal 1793 to 1840 bar “SYRIA” (HMS STROMBOLI)
(Medal previously sold at Glendenning’s April 1953, Spinks June 1977 and Spinks Australia in Nov. 1989).
Born Britford, Salisbury, Wiltshire Aprox. 1814, Trade, Labourer
Enlisted by Serjt. A.W.Simpson 15th August 1834 on a bounty of 3 pounds
Attestation papers to serve in the Royal Marines at Portsmouth on 16th August 1834 and was read the Articles of War regarding Mutiny and Desertion he then took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity and received the sum of Ten shillings and Sixpence. The Surgeon then declared him as fit for His Majesty’s service. The commanding officer certified that he was satisfied with the correctness of the Attestation and he was entered in the Regimental Register with the number of 1157. He had joined the 85 Company of the Portsmouth Division of Royal Marines.
On the 21st March 1836 he joined HMS Vanguard (to 2nd April 1840) a 78-gun (or 80-gun) second-rate ship of the line, launched on 25 August 1835 at Pembroke Yard and commanded by Captain Thomas Fellowes (from January 1837 and April 1840) in the Mediterranean.
Vanguard had been commissioned at Portsmouth on 19 Mar 1836 and began her sea trials in July calling at Plymouth and then sailing to Cork. They returned to Plymouth to continue her trials and then on the 20th October they for Lisbon, Cadiz and then Malta. This means he would have been on board when on the morning of June 8th, all crews were mustered on decks to witness the execution of Private Thomas McSweeney, Royal Marines HMS Rodney who was hanged from Rodney’s yard-arm for an assault on Lance Sergeant James T. Allen also of Rodney which resulted in Allen’s demise soon afterwards.
They remained in the Mediterranean with the British and French Fleets until ordered home in January 1840, in February they left Malta for Portsmouth arriving 17th March and Welch left Vanguard on 2nd April.
4th September 1840 joined HMS STROMBOLI a 1st class Paddle sloop of 1839 Commanded by Commander Woodford John Williams.
Sailed for Malta on the 6th September and arrived in Gibraltar on 12th. On the 13th they sailed to join Vice Admiral Sir Robert Stopford fleet in the Levant.
On 25 Sep 1840 Stromboli was part of Napiers force detailed to take possession of Sidon.
Sidon the main Depot for the Egyption army was held by about 2700 men, it was quite well protected by a fort and other various defences. A mixed party including 750 marines landed and attacked on 26th, the fighting while fierce did not result in many casualties on either side, the British loss being 11 killed and 39 wounded. This included Stromboli’s casualties of 1 marine (Leiut C.T. Hockin) killed with 3 marines severely wounded and 1 marine slightly wounded. These appear to have been caused while storming the fortress which commanded the town.
Of the three severely wounded was Charles Welch who lost three fingers from one hand.
(Napier in his dispatch of September 29th says one marine officer and three seamen killed and two mates one boatswain and thirty seamen wounded. While a more detailed list is included in the London Gazette giving ship by ship). See www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 17 Nov 1840.
HMS Stromboli continued with the fleet off Syria including the bombardment and capture of Acre on the 3rd/4th November (if Welch was still on board is not recorded but he would have qualified for the Turkish Medal even if he had not been).
Welch’s papers state that he left Stromboli on the 3rd December 1840.
24th December 1840, A divisional board (Col. Parks C.B., Captain Mercer and Captain Evans) looking at the discharge of 1157 Charles Welch of the 85 Company Plymouth Royal Marine Division remarked that “Wounded at the storming of Sidon” for which he has received a SMART TICKET (see note). He has served afloat and on Foreign Stations for 4 years 3 months 13 days and with a total service on shore in the United Kingdom 2 years and 28 days (total 6 years, 4 months 11 days).
The Cause of his discharge is in consequence of having lost three fingers (Wounded in Action) contracted in the service and per Admiralty order dated 22nd December 1840.
The Defaulters book was examined and parole testimony from other sources heard. His conduct was found to be Very Good and he received from his senior officer Capitan Mercer a high testimony of his good conduct during the four years that he served under Capitan Mercers immediate command. Being asked if he had any claims against the service he stated none other than 13 days conduct money. The board verified that his ledger account was balanced and signed by the pay Capitan of his division then approved his discharge which was signed and dated 26th December 1840 (the report No.3437)
Discharged in 1840 as an invalid.
Note:- Smart Money – Money paid to a sailor who has a Smart Ticket (Smart Certificate), which was issued to a man who had been injured or wounded in the performance of his duty.
The smart ticket was the formal certificate signed by the ship's standing officers and the captain, 1st lieutenant, master and surgeon which attested to the wound described.
Naval General Service Medal 1793 to 1840 bar “SYRIA” (HMS STROMBOLI)
(Medal previously sold at Glendenning’s April 1953, Spinks June 1977 and Spinks Australia in Nov. 1989).
Born Britford, Salisbury, Wiltshire Aprox. 1814, Trade, Labourer
Enlisted by Serjt. A.W.Simpson 15th August 1834 on a bounty of 3 pounds
Attestation papers to serve in the Royal Marines at Portsmouth on 16th August 1834 and was read the Articles of War regarding Mutiny and Desertion he then took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity and received the sum of Ten shillings and Sixpence. The Surgeon then declared him as fit for His Majesty’s service. The commanding officer certified that he was satisfied with the correctness of the Attestation and he was entered in the Regimental Register with the number of 1157. He had joined the 85 Company of the Portsmouth Division of Royal Marines.
On the 21st March 1836 he joined HMS Vanguard (to 2nd April 1840) a 78-gun (or 80-gun) second-rate ship of the line, launched on 25 August 1835 at Pembroke Yard and commanded by Captain Thomas Fellowes (from January 1837 and April 1840) in the Mediterranean.
Vanguard had been commissioned at Portsmouth on 19 Mar 1836 and began her sea trials in July calling at Plymouth and then sailing to Cork. They returned to Plymouth to continue her trials and then on the 20th October they for Lisbon, Cadiz and then Malta. This means he would have been on board when on the morning of June 8th, all crews were mustered on decks to witness the execution of Private Thomas McSweeney, Royal Marines HMS Rodney who was hanged from Rodney’s yard-arm for an assault on Lance Sergeant James T. Allen also of Rodney which resulted in Allen’s demise soon afterwards.
They remained in the Mediterranean with the British and French Fleets until ordered home in January 1840, in February they left Malta for Portsmouth arriving 17th March and Welch left Vanguard on 2nd April.
4th September 1840 joined HMS STROMBOLI a 1st class Paddle sloop of 1839 Commanded by Commander Woodford John Williams.
Sailed for Malta on the 6th September and arrived in Gibraltar on 12th. On the 13th they sailed to join Vice Admiral Sir Robert Stopford fleet in the Levant.
On 25 Sep 1840 Stromboli was part of Napiers force detailed to take possession of Sidon.
Sidon the main Depot for the Egyption army was held by about 2700 men, it was quite well protected by a fort and other various defences. A mixed party including 750 marines landed and attacked on 26th, the fighting while fierce did not result in many casualties on either side, the British loss being 11 killed and 39 wounded. This included Stromboli’s casualties of 1 marine (Leiut C.T. Hockin) killed with 3 marines severely wounded and 1 marine slightly wounded. These appear to have been caused while storming the fortress which commanded the town.
Of the three severely wounded was Charles Welch who lost three fingers from one hand.
(Napier in his dispatch of September 29th says one marine officer and three seamen killed and two mates one boatswain and thirty seamen wounded. While a more detailed list is included in the London Gazette giving ship by ship). See www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 17 Nov 1840.
HMS Stromboli continued with the fleet off Syria including the bombardment and capture of Acre on the 3rd/4th November (if Welch was still on board is not recorded but he would have qualified for the Turkish Medal even if he had not been).
Welch’s papers state that he left Stromboli on the 3rd December 1840.
24th December 1840, A divisional board (Col. Parks C.B., Captain Mercer and Captain Evans) looking at the discharge of 1157 Charles Welch of the 85 Company Plymouth Royal Marine Division remarked that “Wounded at the storming of Sidon” for which he has received a SMART TICKET (see note). He has served afloat and on Foreign Stations for 4 years 3 months 13 days and with a total service on shore in the United Kingdom 2 years and 28 days (total 6 years, 4 months 11 days).
The Cause of his discharge is in consequence of having lost three fingers (Wounded in Action) contracted in the service and per Admiralty order dated 22nd December 1840.
The Defaulters book was examined and parole testimony from other sources heard. His conduct was found to be Very Good and he received from his senior officer Capitan Mercer a high testimony of his good conduct during the four years that he served under Capitan Mercers immediate command. Being asked if he had any claims against the service he stated none other than 13 days conduct money. The board verified that his ledger account was balanced and signed by the pay Capitan of his division then approved his discharge which was signed and dated 26th December 1840 (the report No.3437)
Discharged in 1840 as an invalid.
Note:- Smart Money – Money paid to a sailor who has a Smart Ticket (Smart Certificate), which was issued to a man who had been injured or wounded in the performance of his duty.
The smart ticket was the formal certificate signed by the ship's standing officers and the captain, 1st lieutenant, master and surgeon which attested to the wound described.