Extract from Naval General Service Medal Roll relating to Jane Townshend
Catalogue reference: ADM 171/1 folios 131v-2
Name of the Claimant, and his present Rank
Name of the Ship in which he served
Captain’s Name
Quality or Rating at time of the Battle
Note any checked Absent from the Ship on the Day of the Battle
Note any marked with an ®, stating the Date of Desertion
If Claim verified by Ship’s Books
Reference to Application
Observations by the board of Flag-Officers
Townshend Jane
Defiance
Philip Charles P.C.C.H. Durham
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Produced a Certificate from the Captain
The Queen in the Gazette of the 1st of June directs that all who were present in this action shall have a medal, without any reservation as to sex, and as this woman produces from the Captain of the Defiance strong and highly satisfactory certificates of her useful services during the action she is fully entitled to a medal. [initials?]
Upon further consideration this cannot be allowed-there were many women in the fleet equally useful, and it will leave the navy supposed to innumerable applications of the same nature.
[initials?]
