This fantastic and nicely presented “Matthew Boulton” Soho Mint Press “Battle of Trafalgar” medal is in fine fettle, with some signs of wear or patina commensurate with its age.

This particular one was awarded to Lt W.H Boyce who fought at the battle aboard HMS Mars, a 74-gun third rate ship of the line of the RN, launched on 25 October 1794 at Deptford Dockyard, and sailed as part of Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood’s lee column (third in line), during the foray.

During the battle, Mars, under the command of Captain George Duff, cut the line ahead of the Spanish ship San Juan Nepomuceno and was followed by the Pluton. She was severely damaged after taking intense crossfire from up to five different French and Spanish 74-gun ships and with her rigging shot away and becoming unmanageable, she was relieved by the arrival of HMS Tonnant, which helped draw fire away before Mars spent the rest of the battle engaging the Algeciras.

By the end of the engagement, HMS Mars suffered 29 crew members killed, including the captain and 69 wounded, which also included LT Boyce, who lost an eye.

The 9” x 7” frame displays the silvered/pewter medal, which has the officers name and rank to the reverse and is professionally mounted on red velvet. To the back of the frame is a verso detailing the officers career, which includes details of his drafts on various ships, including the Mars and subsequent shore drafts after Trafalgar, which included time spent as part of a “Press Gang” and time working on Prison Hulks in Portsmouth, he was finally put on the reserve list in 1851.

£1495

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