NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL WITH 1 JUNE 1794 CLASP TO RALPH JOHNSON

Ralph Johnson was born on 1 Oct 1764 in Scarborough and served as Able Seaman aboard Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Hood's flagship "Royal George" during the 'Glorious First of June' in 1794.

The largest naval action between the French andd British Fleets during the French Revolutionary Wars, the British Fleet under Lord Howe was being lured away by Villaret de Joyeuse from intercepting a 117 ship convoy of grain from the United States to France to supply the Revolutionaries.

Howe defeated Villaret in open battle, with Royal George dismasting the French Republicain and the Sans Pareil, before fighting off the Entreprenant, Neptune and Pelletier.

Royal George lost her foremast and main and mizzen topmasts, with 15 of the crew killed and 23 wounded.

Ralph Johnson was buried at St. Hilda, Durham on 10 Sep 1842, aged 78 years.