An official document of thanks to Admiral William Cornwallis for his bravery and great judgement when confronted with a superior French fleet at the First Battle of Groix. It also acknowledges the bravery and gallantry of the officers, sera man, marines and soldiers on board the ships under Admiral Cornwallis' command.

Administrative / biographical background
First Battle of Groix was a famous naval engagement during the French Revolutionary Wars in which a British Royal Navy squadron of five ships of the line and two frigates was attacked by a much larger French Navy fleet of 12 ships of the line and 11 frigates.The action took place in the waters off the west coast of Brittany on 16th–17th June 1795. Heavily outnumbered, Cornwallis turned away from the French and attempted to escape into open water, with the French fleet in pursuit. After a full day's chase the British squadron lost speed, due to poorly loaded holds on two of their ships, and the French vanguard pulled within range on the morning of 17th June. Unwilling to abandon his rearguard, Cornwallis counter-attacked with the rest of his squadron. A fierce combat developed, culminating in Cornwallis interposing his flagship HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN between the British and French forces. Cornwallis's determined resistance, and his squadron's signals to a group of unknown ships spotted in the distance, led Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse (who led the French) to believe that the main British Channel Fleet was approaching. Villaret therefore broke off the battle on the evening of 17th June and ordered his ships to withdraw. This allowed Cornwallis to escape and he returned to port at Plymouth with his squadron battered but intact.