december officer royal_navy served french revolutionary napoleonic wars origins obscure joined navy rose ranks distinguished service early years french revolutionary wars particularly siege toulon saw action engagements mediterranean defeat french frigate chance promotion passed french ship escaped demonstrated qualities cutting expedition guns french shore battery time successful escaping prize promoted appointed command prize went captain small vessels period unemployment caused promotion post captain returned active service command ship distinguished number incidents west_indies capturing spanish frigate attacking french ship line helping capture island returned britain exploits ship caught gale despite best efforts driven ashore wrecked save men swept away drowned early life origins largely unknown entry navy recorded joined gun hms captain servant time flagship vice admiral commander channel_fleet appointed able july transferred gun able receiving promotion october year went serve aboard gun hms bombay castle hms passed lieutenant examination serving lord hood fleet occupation toulon early months french revolutionary wars distinguished actions hard fought defence received commission november lieutenant prizes toulon command commander shield served french mediterranean coast october engaged cutting enemy ships french sincere paid transferred gun hms captain saw action battle genoa march july commander received command gun july transferred month serve lieutenant remained southampton shield replacement captain september spent days blockading french grain convoy port genoa southampton french convoy protected frigates french finally came evening fifteenth day engaged southampton despite french possessing considerably firepower sustained engagement southampton forced strike colours escaped convoy leaving fate southampton prepared lower boats possession french ship fore mast damaged engagement went board taking advantage raised colours escaped scene victory brought promotions southampton officers including escape deprived secure triumph ensure promotion capture opportunity distinguish came june june french corvette sighted entering bay vice admiral sir commander mediterranean_fleet summoned flagship asked bring french ship recognising difficulty risk involved formal written order instead instructing bring enemy ship written order direct care king ship command promptly took ship guns batteries apparently having mistaken french neutral frigate closed pistol shot french ship demanded captain surrender captain replied broadside brought southampton alongside sent command fierce resistance took possession french ship escaped sea heavy fire french shore batteries wrote letter period near heavy battery fort laid instantly onboard head words describe entered carried minutes met spirited resistance captain fell men arms receive short conflict behaviour officers ship company southampton mean merit stating conduct praise prize gun corvette named taken service royal_navy promoted given command commission confirmed july command spent time adriatic returning britain convoy escort paid appointed command bomb vessel followed sloop hms november year served aboard north_sea promotion post captain january point superseded command commands found peace lengthened enforced retirement active service went ashore time took opportunity marry couple sons finally returned active service december appointment command gun originally gun rate sailed west_indies early august sailing company captain hms august came gun spanish frigate havana guarded shore battery trying enter harbour brisbane bore engaged came defend british frigates anchored shore battery hard fought action began lasted minutes struck colours blown sunk remaining badly damaged shore battery obliged stop firing explosion casualties aboard lost killed wounded brisbane captured subsequently taken navy remained cruising havana september sighted french gun carrying flag vice admiral storm carrying jury rig despite superiority opponent shore attempted close french vessel opened fire came fire fortifications spanish ships including gun came havana assist french unable manoeuvre favourable position coming heavy fire hauled away escape killed wounded engagement rigging badly cut killed wounded capture assigned squadron joined brisbane hms ships november vice admiral joined december decided launch attack january british ships approached early morning january anchored harbour attacked dutch brisbane boarded captured gun frigate attacked secured gun corvette brisbane led forces shore stormed fort amsterdam defended dutch troops fort carried minutes fighting smaller forts citadel entire town taken troops landed ships sailed round harbour attack fort fort surrendered noon entire island sent britain carrying despatches captured colours dramatic success small british force carrying heavily defended island rewarded brisbane captains received swords medals wreck sent britain shortly rejoined ship plymouth period assigned channel_fleet ordered support blockade brest patrolling sailed december reached december gale blowing south west decided return port poor weather came wrong trapped lee shore breakers ahead rolled heavily rough seas having retained days gun ship option anchor early morning december rising storm caused anchor cables driven shore ordered ship run beach hope saving lives possible resolved remain aboard oversee evacuation pounding surf prevented boats launched ship shore number crew swept away managed fallen main mast shore wheel encourage recorded exhausted effort organising evacuation wreck violence storm attempted leave ship distracted trying help boy washed away drowned account wreck recorded captain great wish save lives ship company employed directing time placed wheel holding exposed violence sea broke continuing situation long wishing people ship weak attempting leave ship boy way assist washed away drowned total crew lost including captain lieutenant body recovered funeral service held attended admiral sir large numbers army navy officers local dignitaries body later interred family vault surrey
Charles Lydiard