Chapter 14, (later Rear Admiral) Henry Godsalve
For the full story of this pictured incident, turn to Chapter 14.
During the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48), the British fought the Spanish at the Battle of Toulon, off the coast of France. The British 90-gun Marlborough, shown above, was severely damaged by fire from two Spanish ships. Her captain and 45 other men were killed, and 127 lost arms or legs. During this battle Haddock descendant Captain Henry Godsalve (1716–65) of the Romney served in a division commanded by Rear Admiral Richard Lestock, who failed to engage the enemy as ordered by a superior he detested, Vice-Admiral Thomas Mathews. Both men were among those later court-martialed, and Godsalve was one of 26 witnesses who testified against Lestock. The HMS Marlborough after the fight at Toulon, 1744, artist unknown, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons (original at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)