An historic medal awarded to the Master of Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, sold for more than £10,000 at a Nantwich auction.
A private collector from Cheshire bought the medal for £10,575 during the sale at fine art auctioneer Peter Wilson, on Market Street.
The silver officer class Davison’s Nile Medal was awarded to Thomas Atkinson (1768-1836), who was Master HMS Victory’s helm throughout the Battle of Trafalgar.
Nelson described Atkinson as “one of the best Masters I have seen in the Royal Navy”.
He served with Nelson throughout the Napoleonic Wars and is reputed to have held him when Nelson had his arm amputated following the attack at Santa Cruz.
Nelson was godfather to Atkinson’s son, whom he named Horatio Nelson Atkinson.
Atkinson is pictured in paintings depicting the death of Nelson. He wrote a full account on the incident in the ship’s logbook before returning Nelson’s body to England on board the Victory for his state funeral.
Before the battle Nelson had promised Atkinson promotion but then was killed by a French sniper. After returning Nelson’s body to Chatham, Atkinson was honoured by being picked to attend the state funeral on January 5-9, 1806.
Atkinson’s silver Nile Medal is inscribed ” from Alexr Davison Esqr. St James’s Square, A Tribute of Regard”.
It was sold together with the Baltic Medal, 1856, engraved “W.G. Atkinson, Master’s Assistant HMS Arrogant” and a Greenwich Hospital Nautical School Medal for Science and Good Conduct engraved “H.N. Atkinson 1857”.
For details contact Chris Large at Peter Wilson on 01270 623878 or [email protected]
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