Silver medal presented to James Clare, Coxswain, HMS ‘Bacchante’ for meritorious conduct 1812 and 1813.

On 1 September 1812, Captain Hoste in command of HMS ‘Bacchante’ captured seven Venetian timber ships, two merchant ships, a xebec and two gunboats off Rovigno. Hoste wrote in his despatch (published in the Naval Chronicle XIX) ‘I am happy to say this service has been executed without any loss on our parts, which I consider as chiefly owing to the arrangements of Lieutenant O’Brien, the gallantry and promptitude with which he led the boats to the attack, and the brave, determined support he received from those under his command’. On 6 January 1813, Hoste still in command of the ‘Bacchante’ captured five French gunboats bound for Otranto and two days later six merchant ships; the officers and crew were again commended in Hoste’s despatches.

The medal is in the form of an eight-pointed rayed star on which is a foul anchor. It is inscribed, ‘1st Sept.1812 6th Jan.1813’. On either side of the shaft is the letter B and above, ‘HMS BACCHANTE’. On a leaf scroll below is inscribed, ‘ON THE 6th JAN. Presented by Lieut. D.H.O’Brien to James Clare, Coxn for meritorious conduct more particularly 1813’.