Historical
and Commemorative Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
ACTION AT ST. CAST ROETTIER, Joseph Charles: France, 1758, Bronze, 61 mm This medal commemorates a battle between the English
and French during the period of the Seven Years War (1756-1763), which at
that time was the main conflict between all the major powers of Europe. In
1758, the English expedition, under the command of General Bligh and
Commodore Howe, attacked Cherbourg, an important seaport in northwestern
France, where they destroyed the harbor, forts and many of the French
ships. The force then proceeded south along the French coast to St. Cast,
the troops being set ashore near St. Malo, a seaport in Brittany, south of
Cherbourg. Here they met the advancing force of the Duc d'Aiguillon with
15,000 troops. At this point the English thought it expedient to
re-embark, but left behind a rear-guard of 1500 men under General Dury,
which engaged the French army. General Dury was wounded in battle and
drowned trying to swim towards his ship. The English loss in killed and
prisoners taken was nearly 1000 men while the French loss was even
greater.
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