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GLEANER
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Hired ketch
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Hired ketch armed wth 12 small carronades and carrying a crew of 30 men. |
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- Early in 1811 Lieut. Alexander Barclay BRANCH, the first lieutenant of PYLADES, was ordered by his captain to take charge of GLEANER in the Archipelago.
He was to examine all Greek vessels which were being used by the French to carry cargoes under a neutral flag.
Towards the end of an action with a polacre mounting 12 guns, Lieut. BRANCH had his right thigh shattered by a 12 pound shot.
It was five days before he was able to reach medical treatment in PYLADES at Smyrna, where his leg was amputated.
For political reasons the captured polacre was returned to its owner, an Ottoman subject, and Lieut. BRANCH had to wait until November 1811 before being awarded a pension of £200.
As soon as he was able to get about on crutches Lieut. BRANCH returned to his post in PYLADES. - 1813 Lieut. William KNIGHT, Mediterranean.
While lying nearly becalmed off Cape St. Vito in Sicily a French privateer swept towards them.
After a brief action she struck to GLEANER and proved to be the ADELAIDE of 6 guns and 46 men, five days out of Naples. - In the winter of 1813 Lieut. BRANCH was reappointed to GLEANER on the north coast of Spain under the orders of Capt. Sir George COLLIER and he was stationed off the mouth of the Adour.
During the crossing of that river by Wellington's army, GLEANER became the flagship of Rear-Ad. PENROSE and she was stationed close to the breakers over the bar while he directed the movements of the flotilla.
The admiral's dispatches were handed to Lieut. BRANCH to take to England but he remained in the bay of St. Jean de Luz to await those from Lord Wellington.
Unfortunately a gale blew up and a transport was driven on board GLEANER pushing her across the hawse of a second one.
The whole crew managed to clamber across to the second vessel, but they were only safe for a few hours; the following day she was forced to cut and run for the beach. - Lieut. BRANCH was acquitted of all blame for the loss of GLEANER and promoted to the command of SWINGER on 6 June 1814.
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