Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal:Battles of Barfleur and La Hogu…

Images(2)

Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea Medal:Battles of Barfleur and La Hogue

AssociatedAssociated with Lord Mountbatten of Burma (Frogmore House, Windsor, England, 1900 - 1979)

Medallist John Pinches, Medallists

DateMay 2004

Object NameMedal

MediumSterling Silver

ClassificationsMedals

Dimensions44mm

AcquisitionPresented in 2004 by Dr Joan M Burrell.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS072500.18

Keywords

About MeThe battles of Barfleur and La Hogue may be regarded as the Trafalgar of the 17th century because Louis XIV's fleet, so carefully built up by Colbert as Minister of Marine, was totally defeated.

In the years immediately succeeding the Revolution of 1688 the English had not been successful at sea. The exiled James II had invaded Ireland and the English fleet had been virtually defeated off Beachy Head by the Comte de Tourville, the most skilful tactician of the age.

But the French did not make good use of their mastery of the Channel, so that the army of 30,000 men under James II assembled at St Vaast on the Cherbourg peninsula could not invade England. In 1692 Admiral Edward Russell (later Earl of Orford) in command of a greatly superior Anglo-Dutch force of 99 ships met Tourville's fleet of 44 ships on 19th May off Cape Barfleur, the north-eastern tip of the peninsula. Tourville was unwilling to give battle because of his manifest inferiority in numbers, but the King insisted.

When the mist cleared that morning, Tourville saw a long line of ships which threatened to envelop him. To avoid this, he overstretched his line, so that Sir Cloudesley Shovell was able to cut through his centre with 25 ships. Both the French centre and rear were nearly surrounded, the flagship Soleil Royal, mounting 120 guns, being attacked by three ships. But the tide turned in favour of the French and action was broken off as the allies were swept eastward.

During the night the French made a skilful withdrawal, Tourville himself with 12 ships running south to St Vaast and Cape La Hogue. The Soleil Royal and others took refuge in Cherbourg, where they were burned. Twenty other ships negotiated the perilous Race of Alderney through the skill of a local pilot named Hervé Rielnd reached St Malo in safety.

On 24th May, Russell arrived off La Hogue, where, owing to the shallow water, he sent Admiral George Rooke, in command of the ships' boats, to destroy the enemy ships anchored under the eyes of James II, who thus witnessed his defeat by ships of the fleet which he had once commanded.

England was saved from invasion and the whole strategy of the war changed to one of commerce destruction by hardy French privateers. As Macaulay pointed out, this was 'the first great victory that the English had gained over the French since the day of Agin-court.' In thanksgiving, William and Mary founded the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich.

The Mountbatten Medallic History of Great Britain and the Sea, John Pinches Medallists Ltd.