A Naval General Service Medal for sale with Trafalgar clasp. The Naval General Service Medal awarded to John Lloyd, HMS Defiance, is offered for sale in very good to excellent condition, uncleaned, and with darkened patina.

Condition report: The rivets to the medal clasp remain perfect, similarly the suspension to the medal disc. Officially impressed with the name  'John Lloyd', the naming perfect and clear (minor edge knocks). The  Naval General Service Medal is complete with its original silk, Victorian ribbon (now showing much age and distress) and assocaited Victorian-period, leather case. An old paper with details about John Lloyd, and a photocopy from the Glendining auction catalogue, confirms this Naval General Service Medal with Trafalgar clasp was sold as Lot 132, (1993). 

Note: Two individuals with the name 'John Lloyd' are confirmed to the Roll for the 'Trafalgar' clasp. An old paper which has accompanied this particular Naval General Service Medal since it first came on the market in 1993, states the medal was awarded to John Lloyd who served on  HMS Defiance. 

The Muster Roll for the HMS Defiance confirms  John  Lloyd was born in Devon, and joined HMS Defiance in March 1805 (copies of the Muster Roll included with the medal).

The location of the Naval General Service medal awarded to John Lloyd who served on HMS Orion, the more strategically important vessel at The Battle of Trafalgar is currently unknown.

HMS Defiance & The Battle of Trafalgar: HMS Defiance joined Lord Nelson, under Captain Philip Charles Durham on October 4th 1805. She saw action in the lee column at The Battle of Trafalgar. After an initial exchange of confused shots with the the Spanish 112, allied line,  Principe de Asturias, HMS Defiance, lashed herself to - and boarded, the French 74, Aigle.

Following hand-to-hand combat, the French, who appeared subdued  and about to surrender, managed to rally themselves, and with a swift counter-attack, sent the British retreating to the Defiance. Captain Durham ordered the lashings to be cut. HMS Defiance cast-off, sailed away from the Aigle, then immediately opened 'so heavy a fire that in about twenty minutes the French ship which had very gallantly defended herself, asked for quarter, and was taken possession of [by HMS Defiance]. 'Badly damaged,' HMS Defiance tried, but failed to take the Aigle in tow after the battle.

Provenance: Glendinings 1993.

Additional note: The Naval General Service Medal with Trafalgar clasp to John Lloyd, HMS Defiance is priced competitively: an opportunity to buy an original NGSM with coveted Trafalgar clasp and paperwork.