Naval Chronicle - 10 - January, 1722

Foreword
Finally having managed to push some of my shore duties to one side, the Editor is now keeping the Chronicle up-to-date once more. The end of last month and beginning of January has seen a lot of heavy fighting, and the Editor is pleased to report his presence in many of the major battles of late. Alongside, of course, many more of the esteemed Captains of the Squadron. The Squadron is as alive with spirit and action as ever, and we now are truly one of the major assets of the British Nation. Let us never forget our role in the closest fought war (last map) the Caribbean has seen.

Let us start the new year knowing that we are an integral part of the British war machine and that our Captains, ships and men have more than once been the difference between great victory and bitter defeat! Captains of St. George Squadron, I salute you and will fight alongisde you as war continues into 1722!

Enjoy!



Awards
The Senior Officers have discussed and voted in accordance with the rules of the Squadron for those medals nominated by the Squadron's Captains that are to be distributed this month. They hereby announce this month's awards :

Earl Middlemore

My Lords the Senior Officers,

I want to nominate Lord Middlemore for the highest of combat related medals, the George Cross, for his extraordinary feat during the Battle of Puerta de Plata on November 14th. As I was not there, please excuse any missing parts in the following description of the battle, as I am sure that Lord Middlemore himself will be more than happy to correct and/or fill in the blank areas.

The Battle of Puerta de Plata, the battle first believed to be the one that turned the tide of war in our favour for the remainder of the current map, was a great British victory over a heavy Spanish fleet. At one point, as the fleets clashed together at point blank range, Lord Middlemore, commanding the Superb, in a manaeuver most in keeping with the Royal Navy's strong tradition of unequalled bravery and cunning, rammed, boarded and carried a Spanish 1st-rate Ship of the Line. Yes my Lords, in a 4th-rate, traditionally having little to no chance against an enemy 1st-rate almost 300 men stronger, Lord Middlemore and his superbs managed to completely overwhelm the deck of the Spaniard and forced him to surrender. Eyewitnesses have informed me that Lord Middlemore was, indeed, the first man to set his foot upon the enemy's deck.

Lord Middlemore have already recieved his Distinguished Service Order, and I am aware that recieving the George Cross can only be the result of an act of extreme heroism. But if boarding an enemy 1st-rate of vastly superior numbers and guns, in the utter chaos and confusion of battle, the enemy having over 800 men fighting for their very home, and actually force the same enemy lineship to strike its colours, if this act of cunning and bravery, my Lords, is not extreme heroism, I can not in any way imagine what is.

I remain, my Lords, your most obedient, etc.

Sir Nathan Blatchford, 1st Bart.

Promotions
The Senior Officers convened in the end of last month to evaluate the actions and conduct of our Captains. Our Captains' rank and performance are considered and promotions are suggested by Senior Officers. They have voted on this month's promotions, in accordance with the rules governing the Squadron, and have seen fit to promote the following officers:

Robert Middlemore

James Wilmore

Jessie Ashden

James A. Clonfert

Darius Bush

Edward Southwick

Sam Sparrow

Simon Tredrea

Geoffrey Thorpe

Alexander Lias

Shaun Jervis

Recruits
The following Captains have joined our honourable Squadron. We bid them welcome and look forward to sailing alongside them into the fray of many a battle to further the interests of His Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy:

Shaun Jervis

Keith Bosandy

Jan Zwelt

Vincent Keating

Sempera Navarre

Ed Primm

Will Hewitt

William Tollemache

Jack Naseby

Davis Cole

Ships Launched
The following ships have been launched and commissioned to Captains of the St. George Squadron:

Services and businesses
Here follows a list of the major shipyards, plantations, mining industries, etc., present in the Caribbean which offer their services to the Squadron.

Fletcher Ironworks
Captain Walter Fletcher is proud to present his most excellent Ironworks. Situated in Puerto Cabezas, Fletcher Ironworks is built as the Navy Board Business Page Model.

Available to satisfy all your Iron needs.

Contact: Walter Fletcher

William's Textile Business
Benjamin William's Textile Business provides quality sailcloth and canvas for the fighting ships of His Majesty's Royal Navy. If you are in need of these wares, contact Mr. Williams directly and he will be more than happy to oblige.

Contact: Benjamin Williams

Grimm's Mining and Recruitment
Christopher Grimm's enterprise is divided into two divisions, Mining and Recruitment. The mining business is situated in Belize, while the recruitment of experts is in Bluefields. At the moment, there is a lack of experts other than Carpenters, but there may be Sailmasters for hire in the near future.

Contact: Christopher Grimm

Bond Oak Products
Bond Oak Products provides shipwrights and Captains alike with ship-building materials.

Contacts: James Bond & J. R. Lapenotiere

Thorpes Fireworks
The newly opened Thorpes Fireworks ammunition store in Turtle Bay offers a wide asortment of supplies that you can't be without when the need shows up. The Manager, Elisabeth Thorpe is working hard at the moment to fill the stock for the new season and as peace in this area always seems fragile she belives in a BOOMING market.

Contacts: Elisabeth Thorpe & Geoffrey Thorpe

Blackbird Yards
Saluations - permit us to very fiercely recommend the Naval Stores that are manufactured by the Blackbird Yard. They are a superior purveyour of all small ships and a variety of other Naval Stores to include hull and sail patches and/or mods. They are a family owned independant shipyard here to serve discrimating Captains.

(Raw materials are a little low at the moment but as I increase my stock I will be able to complete orders fairly quickly. Presently expect 2-3 days for small/medium ships or 5 for large.)

Contacts: Shaun Jervis & William Jervis

Davis Ironworks
Manufacturer of Iron and Brass parts, Cannons and Ammunition.

Contact: Paul Davis

Treaty signed in Europe
The current situation in the Caribbean has led the political powers of Europe to sign a treaty granting our glorious Nation; Great Britain, considerable benefits in terms of tax and trade. The treaty, signed by the Regents of the European powers also returns all ports to their original owners. The East India Company is most pleased at seeing her ports returned, and greatly appreciates the new legislation now governing their trade. Open fighting is expected to break out within the next few days, however, as the Nations vie for dominance of the Caribbean once again.

The Dutch government has ranked the relative strengths of the Europeans nations, and the coalition of pirates in the Caribbean, from strongest to weakest accordingly:

Great Britain

Pirates

France

Spain

Naval Engagements
Here follows a summary of engagements, actions and battles in which our British ships have taken part during the month. For ship-to-ship duels and flotilla actions, the result column depicts the damage given to each ship. Critical damage in this column represents that the ship sank but lost a point of durability rather than being lost forever.

The red text depicting losses is also used in tables summarizing Port Battles. The black number gives the amount of ships present, and the red number in brackets gives losses.

If any Captain finds any errors in the following account, feel free to edit the erroneous details. Also, the Editor cannot sufficiently stress the appreciation of each report to reach the Admiralty. So do, if at all possible, make a note or two to add to the Chronicle, and deliver it to Captain Viscount Collister via pm, mail or in person.

January 1st
Battle of Spanish Town:

January 2nd
Battle of Vieux Fort:

January 3rd
Battle of Port de Paix:

 Battle of Nassau :

January 4th
 Battle of Jaqueme :

 Battle of West End :

January 5th
First Engagement off Matthew Town:

Second Engagement off Matthew Town:

Engagement off Port Royal:

Engagement off Fort-de-France:

 Battle of Charlestown :

 Battle of New Orleans :

 Battle of Fort de France :

January 6th
 Battle of Gibara :

January 10th
Engagement off Port-de-Paix:

January 12th
 Battle of Irish Point :

January 14th
 Battle of Matthew Town :

January 16th
 Battle of Spanish Town :

 Battle of Charlestown :

January 17th
 Battle of Jaqueme :

 Battle of Nassau :

 Battle of Port-de-Paix :

 Battle of Leogane :

January 18th
 Battle of West End :

January 19th
First Engagement off Spanish Town:

Second Engagement off Spanish Town:

January 20th
Battle of Bridgetown:

January 21st
 Battle of Turtling Bay :

 Battle of Spanish Town :

January 23rd
Battle of Cayo de Marquis:

January 24th
 Battle of Orleans :

January 25th
 Battle of West End :

 Battle of Leogane :

January 26th
 Battle of Jaqueme :

January 28th
 Battle of Puerta de Plata :

 Battle of Turtling Bay :

 Battle of Belize :

January 29th
 Battle of Cayo de Marquis :

 Battle of Nassau :

Battle of De L'isle:

January 30th
 Battle of Bluefields :

Charles Paultem falls ill
Charles Paultem, 2nd Duke of Bolton, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, is very ill. The medic officers of the region say that he won't survive to the spring.

HMS Bourford soon off the stocks
The HMS Bourford, a 3rd rate Ship of the Line of 70 guns, is ready to fit her sails. The members of Deptford DY have acknowledged she will surely be launched in July. Captain John Forbes will be the Captain. The Bourford's first mission will be to set sails for Panama and continue with the blockade.

Ships Launched in Europe
The following ships were launched in Europe this month: