*Naval General Service, 1793-1840, single clasp, Off Mardoe 6 July 1812 (E. Baugh, Volr 1st Class.), contact marks and hairlines scratches both sides, suspension a touch loose, otherwise very fine. Lieutenant Edward Baugh entered the Royal Navy on 15 October 1810 as a Volunteer 1st Class. He served in this rank at the action ‘Off Mardoe’ on 6 July 1812 (also known as the Battle of Lyngor), while serving aboard the brig-sloop H.M.S. Podargus (14) under the command of Commander William Robillard. This action, taking place off the southern coast of Norway, allowed British naval forces to destroy the last remaining ships of the Danish-Norwegian fleet (in particular, the 40-gun frigate Najaden), and effectively to end Danish-Norwegian involvement in the Napoleonic Wars. Sailing into unfamiliar waters, the Podargus led the British ships but running aground, both she and H.M.S. Flamer were swiftly set upon by Danish and Norwegian gunboats & shore batteries. The two British vessels managed to regroup despite suffering damage, and rejoined the larger British ships, H.M.S. Dictactor (64) and H.M.S. Calypso (18). In a clever piece of seamanship, the Dictator, assumed to be too large to enter the Lyngor sound, made way into it and grounded itself deliberately, allowing her to deliver repeated broadsides into the unprepared Najaden, and to sink it with considerable losses. Despite capturing two gunboats, the British were forced to abandon them as they also became grounded in the shallow waters. Despite some damage to Podargus and Flamer, and a few casualties, the action was an important tactical success and ended any Danish-Norwegian hopes of breaking the blockade. Edward Baugh was serving aboard the Bellerophon in July 1815 when Napoleon surrendered to Captain Maitland, and he later passed his examination in 1817. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 25 April 1829 aboard H.M.S. Thetis, and during this time he was wrecked near Cape Frio on 5 December 1830. Continuing to serve, he joined the Coast Guard between 1837 and 1842, afterwards going on half-pay. He married Mary Minshaw on 17 November 1842, and he died on 27 February 1858 at Eastbourne, at the age of 62. 47 N.G.S. medals were issued with the ‘Off Mardoe 6 July 1812’ clasp, with just 18 currently known to the market. This example is one of just two known that were awarded to recipients who served aboard H.M.S. Podargus in this action, and is a unique name on the medal roll. Ex Douglas Morris Collection; previously ex Glendining, July 1953; Phillips Collection, Glendining, 17 June, 1925; Spink, August 1905; Debenham, August 1899
Estimate: £4000-£6000