Unit/ Formation: His Majesty's Marine Forces
Location: Off Sint Eustatius
Period/ Conflict: Seven Years' War
Year: 1758
Date/s: 3rd November 1758
The Buckingham of 64 guns, captain Tyrrel, accompanied by the Weazle sloop, being near Guadaloupe, discovered a fleet of nineteen sail, under convoy of the french 74-gun ship Florissant and two frigates.
After a running fight, in which the Buckingham was annoyed by the frigates, captain Tyrrel closed with the Florissant, and the action was maintained with great determination on both sides. Captain Tyrrel received a wound which compelled him to resign the command to lieutenant, Marshall, who fell gloriously, and the second-lieutenant continued the engagement until the french colours were hauled down.
The Florissant had 180 men killed, and 300 wounded; whilst the Buckingham had only 7 killed, and 17 dangerously wounded. The British ship was so much disabled in her masts and rigging, that the Florissant escaped during the night.
Captain Tyrrel thus speaks of the conduct of the marines:
" Captain Troy, at the head of the marines, performed the service of a brave and gallant officer, cleared the poop and quarter-deck of the enemy, and drove her men like sheep down the main-deck."
(Volume 1 Historical Records of the Royal Marine Forces by Paul Harris Nicolas Lieut. Royal Marines.)
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