Victorian Naval General Service medal awarded to midshipman William Martin, plus miniature portrait and photograph. Sworders’ image.
The medal is for sale together with a miniature portrait of the sailor who received it and a photograph of him as a proud old man. The collection is going under the hammer at Sworders’ Fine Art Auctioneers’ saleroom in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex.
The medal was awarded to midshipman William Martin who served on board HMS Minotaur during the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805. His ship played a significant part in the defense of Nelson’s HMS Victory and contributed to the fleet’s defeat of the French and Spanish ships. William Martin, who was born in Cork, Ireland, was just 15 years old when he joined the navy and 21 when he served at Trafalgar.
William Martin’s Naval General Service Medal, complete with Trafalgar clasp, comes with a miniature portrait of him in his naval uniform dating from around 1810, and a photograph of him as an elderly man wearing the medal. The set is being auctioned at a guide price of £10,000 to £15,000 ($16,000-$24,000).
“This is a fabulous snapshot of military history with three pieces so closely linked to him and his service at the Battle of Trafalgar. It is quite unusual to have pieces such as this offered for sale together and we’re hoping this single lot will ensure that the record of William Martin stays intact,” said Sworders’ Director John Black.
Sworders’ Autumn Country House Sale also includes a selection of significant paintings. An oil painting by Lucien Pissarro titled Stratford-Upon-Avon, Sunset 1906 is being sold at a guide price from £20,000. The signed painting was last exhibited in public in London in 1981.
An oil painting by the Italian artist Rubens Santoro is also being auctioned. The piece, called The Cannaregio, Venice with the Palazzo Labia, is being sold at a guide price of £20,000 to £30,000.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Victorian Naval General Service medal awarded to midshipman William Martin, plus miniature portrait and photograph. Sworders’ image. ‘Stratford-Upon-Avon, Sunset, 1906’ by French painter Lucien Pissarro. Sworders’ image. ‘The Cannaregio, Venice with the Palazzo Labia’ by Italian painter Rubens Santoro. Sworders’ image.
