‘Montevideo,’ in letters of gold; motto, ‘Every bullet has its billet,’ supported by two colours on each side, half furled[1].”
Besides a widow (Catherine, daughter of the Rev. D. Evans, D.D., of Harley Street, London, chaplain to King George III., and rector of West Tilbury, co. Essex), Lieutenant-Colonel Vassall left four children to deplore his loss, the elder of whom was not eight years of age at the time of his father’s death.
Mr. Spencer L. H. Vassall entered the royal navy in May 1812, as midshipman on board the Venerable 74, Captain Sir Home Popham, and was present at the successful attack soon afterwards made upon the French troops in possession of Lequitio, on the north coast of Spain, by a squadron under the orders of that officer, aided by a body of guerillas. He subsequently witnessed the destruction of the fortifications of Bermeo and Plencia, the castle of Galea, and the batteries of Algorta, Begona, El Campillo las Quersas, and Xebiles; the reduction of Castro, the attacks upon Puerta Galletta, Guetaria, and Santander; and the capture of the castle of Ano[2].
In April 1813, Mr. Vassall followed Sir Home Popham into the Stirling Castle 74; fitting out for the conveyance of the Marquis of Hastings to India. In June 1814, he was removed into the Magnificent 74, Captain (now Sir Willoughby T.) Lake, with whom he proceeded to the West Indies. On his return from thence, in Aug. 1815, he joined the Lacedemonian frigate. Captain Samuel Jackson; and in Oct. following, sailed with that officer, in the Niger 38, for North America. After visiting Annapolis, Quebec, and Halifax[3], he was turned over to the Harrier sloop, Captain Sir Charles T. Jones.
- ↑ When Lieutenant-Colonel Vassall observed any of his men stoop or flinch, at the assault of Monte Video, he cried out as loud as possible, “Brave 38th, my brave men, don’t flinch; every bullet has its billet. Push on, follow me, 38th!” He rallied them repeatedly until he got them inside the breach.
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part II. pp. 523–527.
- ↑ See Suppl. Part I. p. 278.
