Beschreibung:

NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 1793-1840, single clasp, St Vincent (William Larke, Midshipman.); officially impressed. Dark and slightly uneven tone, a few light obverse marks and hairline scratches in places, good very fine. Commander William Larke, believed to be of Yarmouth, Norfolk, joined the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman on the 10th of January, 1796, on board HMS Hebe. Through determined effort and spirited conduct he rose through the ranks to achieve the Rank of Commander upon retirement in 1834. As reported in significant detail, presumably by his late wife, many specifics concerning his career (many of which are newly discovered and not mentioned in O’Byrne) were printed in the Norfolk News, Saturday 15th June, 1850: “Death of Captain Larke, R.N. - In our obituary this week will be found the death of our worthy and excellent fellow-townsman Captain William Larke, RN, who though of humble origin received the benefit of a useful education, which he turned to good account up to the latest period of his life. The spirit which prevailed this country during the French revolutionary war, led Captain Larke at an early age to enter the navy, and it was not long before he joined the British Fleet under the command of Sir John Jarvis (afterwards Earl St. Vincent), at that time blockading Cadiz. At the great battle of Cape St Vincent, the subject of our notice was present, and has since received a medal for it. In that action he was one of the party which carried, by boarding, the Salvador del Mondo (sic), a Spanish ship of the line of 112 guns. In taking possession of the vessel his duty led him into the chapel (a usual appendage to all large Spanish vessels of those days) where he found a huge waxen candle burning before the altar, and this he bore away as his trophy of the day, and for many years after, on every anniversary of the engagement, the gallant Captain was in the habit of lighting this candle, and pledging a toast to ‘Lord St Vincent, and the wooden walls of old England.’ This relic is now in the possession of the deceased gentleman’s friend Francis Worship esq. The good conduct and steadiness of Captain Larke were not long before they attracted the favourable notice of his Admiral, and, indeed, so unremitting were his services, that they soon secured for him the friendship of Lord St Vincent, and this friendship was maintained by constant correspondence which terminated only with his Lordship’s life. Captain Larke particularly distinguished himself in boat actions, which always full of danger, required the greatest coolness and courage; and his comrades in those trying scenes presented him with a costly sword, as an acknowledgement of his services which always led them to success. He became Lieutenant in 1802, and Lord St Vincent (then First Lord of the Admiralty) appointed him Governor of the Naval Hospital at Yarmouth, at that time a post of much responsibility, considering the state of the continent, especially that part nearest to our shore. He became Retired Commander under the order of Council of 1816. He was one of the first Aldermen and Magistrates appointed under the Municipal Act, but he resigned the former office in 1839. He was twice married, first to Miss Hawes, and secondly to Elizabeth, widow of John Worship esq.; and he survived his second wife only a short period. His strong good sense, gentle manners, and stern integrity, endeared him to a large circle of friends, by whom his death will long be lamented.” (© The British Library Board) Sold with copy ‘Last Will and Testament’, copy printed account as mentioned above in the Norfolk News, and confirmation on the NGS roll.