Pandemic travel rules imposed by governments have restricted movement worldwide but a new find from the 1800s demonstrates the opposite.
Royal Navy documents provide a rare insight into life aboard ship 164 years ago – and the support received by one man serving his country.
The collection belonged to Lieutenant, later Captain, Edward Drew. It includes official stamped Foreign Office papers from 1857 from the Hon George William Frederick, Earl of Clarendon, her Majesty’s principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The document ‘requests and requires in the name of her Majesty all those it may concern’ to allow ‘British subject’ Drew, his wife, her sister and daughters ‘travelling on the continent’ to be allowed ‘to pass freely without hinderance and to afford them every assistance and protection’.
The collection also includes letters from Captain Robert Barrie who commanded HMS Dragon, among several other ships, during an illustrious naval career. Sir Robert (1774-1841) was noted for his service in the War of 1812, served in European waters from 1801 to 1811 and was mentioned in dispatches for gallant conduct. He served on the Dragon in American waters from 1813 to 1815 and made many captures. The letters provide a rare snapshot of life on HMS Dragon and the actions and shore raids that occurred.
The collection will be offered in Hansons’ first militaria sale of 2022. Further entries invited. To arrange a free medals or militaria valuation, email William Hayward: [email protected].
