A potentially interesting Davison's Nile Medal 1798, Bronze issue as awarded to ratings, but sometime later gilded to represent an award to a Petty Officer. As awarded to one James Benis, who served under the alias of James Bews, the latter alias name being inscribed on the medal. The recipient is known to have come from Custom Houses, North Shields, and is confirmed as having seen service as an Able Seaman aboard the 38 gun frigate Diana at the time of his being invalided from service in October1802. Diana however did not participate in the aciton under Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, also known as the Battle of Aboukir Bay, on 1st to 3rd August 1798, so it must be assumed he was present in this action aboard another warship. He is also known to have been transferred aboard Diana in March 1802, having been previously aboard the 14 gun sloop Vulture. Circa August 1802, the Diana, which in this period sailed to and from the Mediteranean, had arrived a Spithead with a fifteen cases of curiosities from Egypt, of various kinds and of great
value, and which were landed at the pier head, and lodged in the warehouses of Mr.
Lockyer, merchant. They were collected by order of Lord Elgin in
Egypt.
Davison's Nile Medal 1798, Bronze issue as awarded to ratings, but sometime later gilded to represent an award to Petty Officer. This with later gilding, the reverse also scratch engraved in a period manner by the recipient with his full name, and reading: ‘“JAS BEWS”’. A potentially interesting piece, details crisp - an excellent example in many ways, generally very good condition when taking into account the gilding having been rendered at a later date, possibly reflective of the recipient’s later rank.
Condition: later gilding, otherwise Nearly Extremely Fine.
James Benis, who served under the alias of James Bews, is known to have come from Custom Houses, North Shields, and is confirmed as having seen service as an Able Seaman aboard the 38 gun frigate Diana. Diana was not present under Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, also known as the Battle of Aboukir Bay, on 1st to 3rd August 1798, so it must be assumed that he was aboard another warship for this action.
He in fact appears to have been one of four seamean who were brought aboard Diana on 12th March 1802, having previously been aboard the 14 gun sloop Vulture and serving under the surname of Bews. His transfer from the Vulture would have been occasioned by the fact that this vessel was due to be sold out of the service. At the time of his joining Diana she was involved in convoy escort work amongst other roles, and sailing to and from the Mediteranean. Just prior to his discharge from her, Diana had arrived at Portsmouth with fifteen cases of curiosities from Egypt, of various kinds and of great value, and which were landed at the pier head, and lodged in the warehouses of Mr. Lockyer, merchant. They were collected by order of Lord Elgin in Egypt, and sent by the Diana to England.
