The author has now written a 'faux' autobiography of William Odgers VC which follows his life from a child in Falmouth, through working on a Cornish Lugger and East Coast Collier, to joining the Royal Navy and fighting in the Baltic, China and New Zealand. His life on his return to Saltash, and Jane Stoddon, is detailed, as is his work in the Coastguard and his final voyage on the 'Rodney' to the China Station as Admiral Keppel's Coxswain.

The e-book link is https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=87BFF6A8F1E1FE91!247 . The format will allow viewing on the smaller devices such as Kindle and Kobo ereaders, but the maps included really require the larger screens of the I-Pad, notebook or laptop.

Cover of the Book Showing William Odgers VC, Taken in New Zealand 1860

Cover of the Book Showing William Odgers VC, Taken in New Zealand 1860
The Photograph of William is an Enlargement From One Assembled by W F Gordon, By Kind Permission of Museum of New Zealand, Te PaPa Tongarewa (O.013443/01)

Simplified Dunsford-Stoddon-Odgers Tree

Simplified Dunsford-Stoddon-Odgers Tree

The Ashtor House Restaurant (1901) Located at Top of Ferry Slipway

The Ashtor House Restaurant (1901) Located at Top of Ferry Slipway

Auntie Jose Family at Ashtor House

Auntie Jose Family at Ashtor House

Auntie Jose on Her 100th Birthday With Ginny

Auntie Jose on Her 100th Birthday With Ginny
She Loved Dogs

About Saltash

Saltash has been around for a thousand years or more, in one form or another. Early settlement near the beach itself, which now nestles below the Cornish end of Brunel's magnificent bridge, was inevitable; the sand and shingle here, maintained by the great Ashtor rock, was an ideal mud-free landing place. In the period of interest the town was largely defined by the activities in three streets: Fore St., Albert Rd. and Tamar St. These three streets formed an elongated 'U' with Tamar St. at its base. As its name suggests, Tamar St. ran parallel to the river, and it, with the immediate area around it, was referred to as the Waterside. This was the oldest part of the town and included (at least) three pubs, the Passage Inn (now the Boatman), the Wheatsheaf (now the Waterside), and the Union Inn, of which we shall hear more later. From time to time there was also an ale house at 13 Tamar Street, sometimes called the Tamar inn. The first three pubs , the town quay, and Mary Newman's Cottage are still there today. The rest, including many 16th century houses, is gone, victim of the 'slum' clearance program of 1957-1966.

It was to the Waterside that Drake, Hawkins and their associates brought their booty for safe storage in Trematon Castle prior to transport to London and the Tower. For me, the area retains a good deal of the history given it by these adventurers.

Tamar St. itself is really the setting for this story. Up until WWII it was known as 'Pickle Cockle Alley' for the sale of shellfish from its shop fronts. At one time there were 21 of these retailers in the one street, and my great-grandma Adelaide was one*.


Aerial Shot of Saltash Showing the Location of the Old Waterside, After its Destruction

Aerial Shot of Saltash Showing the Location of the Old Waterside, After its Destruction
With Thanks to Cyberheritage

View from the River Tamar of Old Waterside from 'Wheatsheaf' to 'Union'

View from the River Tamar of Old Waterside from 'Wheatsheaf' to 'Union'

The Old Tamar Street Towards the Bridge

The Old Tamar Street Towards the Bridge

And the Other Way

And the Other Way

My Great-Grandmother Adelaide outside 24 Tamar Street, Early 1900's

My Great-Grandmother Adelaide outside 24 Tamar Street, Early 1900's
With Thanks to Cousin, Norman Ash

James Stoddon Headstone Records Death of 42 yr Old Wife, 2 Infants, 2 Young Daughters

James Stoddon Headstone Records Death of 42 yr Old Wife, 2 Infants, 2 Young Daughters

John Dunsford 1800-1890, Patriarch of the Waterside

John Dunsford 1800-1890, Patriarch of the Waterside
With Thanks to My Aunt, Margaret Howatson nee Craven

John Dunsford Family Headstone at St Stephens

John Dunsford Family Headstone at St Stephens

A Section of the Marriage Certificate for Jane Dunsford and Isaac Stoddon

A Section of the Marriage Certificate for Jane Dunsford and Isaac Stoddon

The Matrimonial Causes Act 1857

The Matrimonial Causes Act 1857
With Thanks to Channel 4

Jane Odgers' Virtual Headstone

Jane Odgers' Virtual Headstone

Life in the Mid-Victorian Navy

Before starting on a description of our sailors' careers, it is useful to picture what life at sea was like, in general, in the mid-Victorian period.

To begin with, it is easy to see why the Navy were keen to recruit young boys into the service. They could be as young as 12 or 13, were often orphans or motherless, and were soon adept at the tasks on deck or in the rigging. There is nothing like starting at an early age to develop the particular physique required for sailoring. Incidentally, these young boys were safe from violation; most of the crew disapproved of homosexuality, as did society, and the Navy punished any evidence of it with the ultimate severity, hanging. In fact, physical punishment for any misdemenour which affected the safety or smooth operation of the ship, including drunkeness, was severe and public.

The introduction of Continuous Service Engagement (CSE) allowed the Navy to plan ahead for its envisioned crew requirements and to a certain extent to dispense with the need for impressment from the merchant service when war threatened. Starting at such a young age, the crew soon became highly skilled in their work. When trained they would sign up for 10 years service and often leave with a pension in their twenties to pursue an alternative life.

At sea the essence of efficient sailing, fighting, and hygiene, was teamwork. The crew were divided into groups for watches, or messes for housekeeping activities like the preparation of food, cleaning dishes and cleaning 'heads'. The availability of food and its quality was much better than is commonly thought. In a week each sailor could expect 7lb biscuit, 7 gallons beer, 5lb beef, 3lb pork, 2lb pease, 4lb oats, 8oz butter and 12 oz cheese; they were therefore eating rather well compared to life ashore. The immediate surroundings of the ship solved the shore problem of human waste disposal, and that and the isolation from the general population for long periods greatly reduced the risk of disease. Scurvy was no longer a threat to the crew, once the efficacy of lemon juice and, later, lime juice was established. Only on certain duties was sickness a problem. The African squadrons, for example, who were often exposed to various fevers, gave the ship's surgeons something to investigate.

As we shall be able to deduce from the various ships in which our sailors served over the period 1837-1865, the Royal Navy was then in a crucial state of flux with regard to what kind of ship to build; warship, frigate, sloop etc. What kind of propulsion to include; sail, screw, paddle or a combination, or, later, of what material to construct the vessel. In fact they frequently held trials with differing designs to try to determine the most effective ship in any given set of circumstances.

Of course, the answer was complicated by the nature of the duty any ship was required to take. It was no use sending a wooden three-deck warship to intercept slave traders in the environs of the Zambesi, or to navigate the Canton river in the China wars.

For this reason we shall describe the nature of the ship in which our sailors served so that the reader can determine for himself whether they suited the particular circumstance(s).

One type of boat evolved during this period which was to have an enormous impact on the Royal Navy, and its enemies, throughout the second half of the 19th century.

The early ones were much lighter than conventional paddle sloops, for example, at 200-300 tons. They were about 100 ft in length, with a beam of 20-25 ft, and screw propelled. They initially carried 2-3 68-pounder guns! The main requirement of the design was the ability to float in only 7' of water.

None of our heroes served in one, but it was used with great success in the Crimea, the Baltic and the China second war.

It was the gunboat.



The Vulture landing Dispatches at Danzig, 1843

The Vulture landing Dispatches at Danzig, 1843
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Seamen From HMS Vulture Under Attack at Halkokari June 7 1854 - Vladimir Swertschkoff Lithograph

Seamen From HMS Vulture Under Attack at Halkokari June 7 1854 - Vladimir Swertschkoff Lithograph
http://www.port.of.kokkola.fi/historia/english/barken_koko_eng.html

English Sailors & French Soldiers. A Dance on Board HMS Vulture Aug 7 1854 (Caricature)

English Sailors & French Soldiers. A Dance on Board HMS Vulture Aug 7 1854 (Caricature)
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Distribution of Naval Vessels for Attack on Sveaborg, HMS Vulture Bottom Centre - W L Clowes

Distribution of Naval Vessels for Attack on Sveaborg, HMS Vulture Bottom Centre -  W L Clowes
http://www.pdavis.nl/Baltic9.htm

The Bombardment of Sveaborg - A Chromolithograph Based on a Drawing by M. Beerger

The Bombardment of Sveaborg - A Chromolithograph Based on a Drawing by M. Beerger
http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=25997

HMS Niger at Vera Cruz

HMS Niger at Vera Cruz
London Illustrated News

Canton and Defensive Forts Dec. 1857

Canton and Defensive Forts Dec. 1857
http://www.pdavis.nl/China2.htm

The First Taranaki War

The name given to the first battles in the Taranaki Wars, those fought around New Plymouth itself, is generally the First Taranaki War 1860-1861. The antagonists were of course the Maori, native to New Zealand, and the, mostly British, settlers. The settlers of course formed armed volunteer forces and had the assistance of imported British troops and Navy.

Naturally enough, the disputes which started off the series of battles were generally about land.

Here we are really only concerned with two of the 'battles'; that at the 'L' Pah (Te Kohia) which wasn't really a battle but perhaps an attempt at extermination, and Waireka, where the men from the Niger were engaged at Kaipopo Pah. In order to make the details of the battles more readable, two maps and a drawing are given here. The first gives the locations of the battles near New Plymouth, the second a detailed sketch of the Waireka field of battle, and the drawing gives the perspective of the Kaipopo Pah relative to the river basin. These should be used with the text describing the movements of the various groups involved in the battle.

Finally, it has to be said that there is inevitably controversy surrounding the outcomes of these battles. Was it a victory or a loss? Did these terms have the same meaning for the antagonists? How many died? Did the Maori run or was that a tactic etc etc.

Surprisingly, I have found there to be little disagreement over the descriptions of the battles themselves. I have used as principal source Captain's Cracroft's Journal, written in 1862, because I happen to believe it to be a reliable account, and it generally fitted in with less detailed descriptions.

Extreme views from either side have generally subsided with the years and it is important to remember that, here, we are telling a story about an ordinary hero, not a politician or Government appointee, but a man who was simply doing his duty.

As a footnote, in its 1996 report to the Government on Taranaki land claims, the Waitangi Tribunal observed that the war was begun by the Government, which had been the aggressor and unlawful in its actions in launching an attack by its armed forces. An opinion sought by the tribunal from a senior constitutional lawyer stated that the Governor, Thomas Gore Brown and certain officers were liable for criminal and civil charges for their actions.

It is also worth noting that Captain Cracroft's journal, published in 1862, is highly critical of Colonel Gold's (the British field Commander) handling of both the initial situation with the Maori and the subsequent movements of the British troops and the volunteers.



Map of Taranaki Region Showing First Taranaki War 1860-61 Battle Sites

Map of Taranaki Region Showing First Taranaki War 1860-61 Battle Sites
'MAORI WARS', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.

Drawing of Waireka Battlefield. The Blue Jackets Approached the Pah Along the South Road to Omata

Drawing of Waireka Battlefield. The Blue Jackets Approached the Pah Along the South Road to Omata
Sketched by Murray Moorhead

Drawing of Waireka Battle from Perspective of the Jury Farmhouse Showing Elevation of Kaipopo Pah

Drawing of Waireka Battle from Perspective of the Jury Farmhouse Showing Elevation of Kaipopo Pah
Drawing by A H Messenger

William Odgers Climbing the Stockade at Kaipopo Pa - An Artist's Impression By Harry Payne (1900)

William Odgers Climbing the Stockade at Kaipopo Pa - An Artist's Impression By Harry Payne (1900)
With Thanks to Ron Lambert of Pure Ariki, Taranaki Museum

The Accountant General's Letter Admitting Error of £2-9-4 Overpayment to Odgers

The Accountant General's Letter Admitting Error of  £2-9-4 Overpayment to Odgers

William Odgers' headstone at St Stephens

William Odgers' headstone at St Stephens

Mural on the Wall of the Union Inn with William Odgers on the Right

Mural on the Wall of the Union Inn with William Odgers on the Right

Suppression of the Slave Trade

1787 was the the year the popular movement against the British slave trade suddenly took off. Although there were no slaves in Britain itself, the vast majority of its people accepted slavery in the British West Indies as perfectly normal.


At the end of the 18th century Britain dominated the trade, with more than a hundred slave ships leaving Liverpool, Bristol, and London each year as the slave-based economy of the West Indies thrived.


How did the abolitionists turn this situation around? Well we can't answer that question here, but a read of the Hugh Thomas book 'The Slave Trade - The History of the Atlantic Trade' might help.


We all know about the prominent campaigner William Wilberforce but who else was involved?

Well the ordinary heroes were the Quakers; the first religious group to protest and the providers of most of the movement's PR and financial support.

Miraculously, the Act was passed despite the many petitions against; from 1 May 1807, the trade was illegal. The penalties were also severe; £100 for each slave found on board and confiscation of the ship.

Lord Grenville, the Prime Minister, believing that Britain was 'unrivalled on the ocean' was of the opinion that the trade could swiftly be brought to an end. British arrogance and aggressive pleasure in interfering in the commercial activity of other countries eventually led the way to abolition but it was an almost impossible task without the cooperation of the other nations involved in letting the British board their vessels.

Service in the West Africa Squadron was full of risk and posed a constant threat to health from the many fevers available. The mortality rate was about five times that in home waters.

There was a significant development when new treaties allowed that circumstantial evidence of slaving on ships, chains, cells, extra storage etc, was sufficient to prove the illegal trade. This vastly improved the British success rate and, in time, led other countries, even France, to allow their ships to be searched.

However, total success in the Atlantic took nearly 60 years including 15 years of Isaac Stoddon's life.

HMS Ringdove, Sister Ship to HMS Sappho - Isaac Sailed in Both These Sloops

HMS Ringdove, Sister Ship to HMS Sappho - Isaac Sailed in Both These Sloops

HMS San Josef in Her Pomp

HMS San Josef in Her Pomp
http://www.centreboard.net/armed_forces/royal_navy/gt_falcon.htm

Captain W. H. Hall, in HMS Hecla, Towing the Penelope at Bomarsund in Baltic War

Captain W. H. Hall, in HMS Hecla, Towing the Penelope at Bomarsund in Baltic War
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Report from Commodore Jones of HMS Penelope to 2nd Secretary of Admiralty 3rd March 1845

Commodore Jones to Captain Hamilton.

"Penelope," Ascension, April 5, 1845.

I HAVE the honour to report my arrival at this island on the 2nd instant, and to resume the account of the proceedings of this ship, subsequent to my letter to you of the 1st of March.

I left the Gallinas station on the 2nd March, and proceeded in the first place to land several military officers for the garrison of Cape Coast Castle, where I arrived on the 6th, and on the following morning went on towards the Bight of Benin. Calling at Acra for information, I visited Whydah and Lagos, and successively fell in with the Cygnet and Star which vessels I completed with provisions. I had the satisfaction to find that the division under Commander Layton had recently had considerable success in the capture of slave vessels.

On the 13th I arrived at Princes Island, and took in a supply of water, which is there very good, and 13 tons of coal, which occupied two days. I then proceeded to Fernando Po, where I anchored on the 16th, and speedily experienced the superior advantages of that place for coaling and watering, In three days we took in 300 tons of coal, and 90 tons of water. During my stay at Clarence Cove, I received much useful information from Captain Beacroft the Governor. I had the satisfaction to learn from him, that no Slave Trade had recently been carried on in the Bight of Biafra.

I left Fernando Po on the 19th, and rejoined the cruizers in the Bight of Benin on the 22nd and 23rd. I left the Cygnet, Star and Sealark completely supplied with provisions, and then proceeded to Acra for a supply of cattle for this island. Having on the 25th taken on board 20 head of oxen, I came away, and during my passage to this place fell in with the Ranger which I directed to come here, having reason to believe that I should want her assistance. But the Lily arrived here the same day that I did, (the 2nd instant,) and I was enabled to send away the Ranger on the same evening, with Mr. Gabriel, to Loanda. On the next day, the Lily was sent to the northward, in quest of Lieutenant Stupart, of the Wasp who had been sent to Sierra Leone in a prize, but whose presence I considered indispensable here as a witness in the case of the piracy and murder committed on a prize crew from the Wasp and which I will detail, as fully as I can, in a separate report.

I can now venture to express my thankfulness that through Divine favour the operations in the rivers of Gallinas and Seabar, in the course of February, have had no ill effect on the health of the men employed in the boats. Every precaution was taken at the time, but the unavoidable exposure to pestilential air left me under much anxiety until the several weeks had elapsed during which the coast fever is said to be latent under similar circumstances.

On my arrival here, I was gratified to find that the affairs of the island were, upon the whole, in a satisfactory state.

The public works, under the skilful directions of Captain Frazer, had made a good progress; the catch of turtle had been this season uncommonly abundant, and the island had been well supplied with cattle. My only ground of concern was, as to the state of the water, which, for want of rain, has fallen below what I could consider a safe stock to rest upon; being, by this day's return 560 tons. We are in hopes of rain, but with last year's experience in mind, I consider it my duty to take prompt measures, during the momentary leisure which enables me to give my attention to this matter. Having other business at St. Helena, I have taken on board 100 tons of tanks, which I mean to fill at that island, and to bring back here; and I have taken on board 200 tons of casks in shakes, which I can leave in the commissariat store at St. Helens, and which can be readily set up any time, upon notice being given, and a vessel freighted to bring them on reasonable terms, under the direction of Mr. Gulliver, the Harbour Master, who I believe to be a good and honest officer. By this means, Government will not be exposed to such an infamous act of extortion as was attempted last year in the case of the schooner Eliza Scot. Their Lordships may rest assured, that I will exert myself to place that matter on a proper footing, and to do what is just and necessary, according to their directions.

With that view I shall proceed to St. Helena to-morrow morning, and I expect to return here on the 22nd. By that time I hope to find the witness in the case of the Wasp's prize collected here, and ready to proceed to England in the Rapid which vessel I have sent the Lily to relieve, and to send here forthwith.

I have, &c.
(Signed) W. JONES,
Commodore, and Senior officer commanding.


http://www.pdavis.nl/Jones_050445.htm

Richard Drake, Revelation of a Slave Smuggler, 1860.

'Last Tuesday the smallpox began to rage, and we hauled 60 corpses out of the hold.... The sights which I witness may I never look on such again. This is a dreadful trade...... I am growing sicker every day of this business of buying and selling human beings for beasts of burden... On the eighth day [out at sea] I took my round of the half deck, holding a camphor bag in my teeth; for the stench was hideous. The sick and dying were chained together. I saw pregnant women give birth to babies whilst chained to corpses, which our drunken overseers had not removed. The blacks were literally jammed between decks as if in a coffin; and a coffin that dreadful hold became to nearly one half of our cargo before we reached Bahia [in Brazil].


God forgive us.

The Gallinas River, Before and After......

Around 1830

The Gallinas river enters the Atlantic in latitude about 7 1/2 °, between Grand Cape Mount and Cape St. Ann, near one hundred miles northwest of Cape Messurado or Monrovia. The name of the river is given to the cluster of slave factories near its mouth. This place possesses no peculiar advantages for any species of commerce, and derives its importance, exclusively, from the establishment of the slave factories there. The land in the vicinity is very low and marshy,the river winds sluggishly through an alluvion of Mangrove marsh, forming innumerable small islands. The bar at its mouth is one of the most dangerous on the coast, being impassable at times in the rainy season. It is located in what is termed the Vey Country, the people of which, are distinguished for their cleanliness, intelligence, and enterprize in trade. How long Gallinas has maintained its importance as a slave mart, we are unable to say, but at the time of our first visit to Liberia in 1831, its reputation was very extended and its influences most deeply felt in the colony. It was estimated that near 10000 slaves were, about that period, annually shipped from this place alone. The business was done, mainly, through the agency of several merchants or factors established there, the principal of which, was Pedro Blanco, a Spaniard. This man's influence was unbounded among the native tribes on that section of the coast, and we fear, at one time extended to members of the colony of considerable respectability. He was a man of education, having the bearing and address of a Spanish Grandee or Don, which was his usual appellation. He lived in a semi-barbarous manner, at once, as a private gentleman and an African prince. He had at one tine a sister residing with him. He maintained several establishments, one on an island near the river's mouth which was his place of business or of trade with foreign vessels, that came to Gallinas to dispose of merchandise; on another island, more remote was his dwelling-house,where he kept his private office, his books, dined, took his siesta, slept, &c.; here, we believe, his sister also resided. On a third, was his seraglio of native wives, each in their several dwellings, after the manner of native chiefs. Independent of all these were his barracoons of slaves, of greater or less extent, as circumstances required. It may readily be supposed that with the wealth accruing from a long and successful prosecution of the slave trade, his power among the natives was equal to that of any despot; and the following incident related to us by one his partners proves that he occasionally exercised it. Having occasion one day to travel on the sea beach some distance from Gallinas, near the island of Sherbro, where he was unknown, he approached the hut of a native with a view of taking rest and refreshment. He asked the owner of the house, who was squatted in the door, to hand him fire to light his cigar. The man bluntly refused, upon which, Blanco drew back, took a carbine from one of his attendants and shot him dead upon the spot.

And About 1850

The advices from Africa, published in our last number, contain the gratifying and important intelligence, that, the long blockade of Gallinas by the British cruisers, has induced the slavers at that place to break up their barracoons, deliver up their slaves to the commodore and to take passage for themselves and effects on board Her Majesty's vessels for Sierra Leone. This is the initiative step to the entire abolition of that traffic on the windward coast; the next, and not less important, is, the purchase of the territory by the Government of Liberia. That the slaves are given up, the barracoons destroyed, the slavers themselves removed and every vestige of this accursed traffic obliterated, avails nothing, unless proper and sure measures are taken to prevent a re-establishment of the business, the moment the coast guard is abandoned; and we doubt not, from the tenor of the advices above referred to, that ere this, either by purchase or conquest, Gallinas and its dependencies are a part and parcel of the commonwealth of Liberia—this measure, only, will ensure it against a reenactment of the scenes of distress and horror which have heretofore rendered that place so infamous.

From James Hall, MD, 'Abolition of the Slave Trade of Gallinas'

http://amistad.mysticseaport.org/library/misc/am.col.gallinas.1.html

HMS Queen Entering Malta Harbour

HMS Queen Entering Malta Harbour
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Crimean War - The Royal Navy in the Black Sea

The Navy's chief roles in this conflict up to and including the seige of Sebastopol were in bombarding enemy fortifications,
landing supplies and troops, landing sailors and marines (blue jackets) to assist the army, principally with gunnery, and in taking off wounded, particularly after the battle of Alma. For the latter, the British Naval Commander, Admiral Dundas, detached his whole fleet, nearly all his surgeons, and 600 seamen and Royal Marines.

The one thing the Navy was not able to do was to directly confront the Russian Navy at sea. They were safely moored in Sebastopol harbour. The one opportunity the Navy had was directly after the Alma Battle, but the allied commanders were afraid to detach the fleet from the land forces, and soon after the Russians sank seven ships across the harbour mouth rendering entry or exit impossible. In doing this the Russians also felt able to release large numbers of guns and gunners for their land forts.

At least Dundas now could feel entirely confident that the Russian fleet was now out of the action, so he concentrated the Navy's efforts in the formation of a Naval brigade to serve ashore in the batteries.

It was directed that each large ship should contribute 200 officers and men, and a contingent of lower-deck or other principal guns; and that the other war vessels should contribute in proportion.

Each ship of the line sent ashore all her Marines, except a few who remained for sentry-duty, and all her best seamen-gunners, together with deck-awnings, spare canvas, spars, and half her ammunition. In all, 2400 seamen, 2000 Royal Marines, and 50 shipwrights, with 65 officers, and about 140 guns, were landed.

On October 15th Dundas met with the other allied Naval commanders to respond to the "urgent request" of the allied land commanders for the co-operation of the fleets in the opening bombardment of Sebastopol.

Dundas was unwilling to give this co-operation. He would gladly enough have met a hostile fleet; but he was strongly of opinion that it was not the business of wooden walls to pit themselves against stone ones.

How right he was.

Shown here is a drawing* of the Sebastopol harbour with its many forts, and a detailed image of what appears to be Fort Alexander observed from the Quarantine Fort, as an example of the strength of these defences.

Dundas, mindful of his loss of guns and gunners and aware of the strength of the fortifications, could only at last be persuaded by his fellow commanders.

The plan agreed upon was for the ships to be kept in movement as the gunships at Sveaborg had been; however, the French, at the last moment, insisted on an attack at anchor.......

The disposition of the ships, which had to be lashed to a steamer to manoevre into their 'sitting duck' position, is shown here*.

All that remains to reproduce Admiral Dundas's report to the admiralty on the results of the bombardment*, and to include here the comments of a correspondent present at the bombardment.

'As far as we could judge, it seemed that the amount of damage done to the batteries is literally and truly nothing'

Sebastopol Harbour With Fort Constantine on Left (1) and the Quarantine Fort on the Right (19)

Sebastopol Harbour With Fort Constantine on Left (1) and the Quarantine Fort on the Right (19)
http://www.countryjoe.com/nightingale/sebast.htm

View of Fort St. Nicholas, Sebastopol, Giving an Illustration of the Size and Strength of the Forts

View of Fort St. Nicholas, Sebastopol, Giving an Illustration of the Size and Strength of the Forts
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Ship Dispositions Before the Bombardment of Sebastopol

Ship Dispositions Before the Bombardment of Sebastopol
http://www.pdavis.nl/Russia2.htm

Vice-Admiral Dundas to Admiralty October 18th 1854

No. 527. Britannia, off the Katscha,
October 18, 1854.

Sir,

1. I BEG you will acquaint the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty that the siege batteries
of the Allied Armies opened fire upon the Russian
works south of Sebastapol about half past 6 o'clock
yesterday morning, with great effect, and small
loss.
2. In consequence of the most urgent request of
Lord Raglan and General Canrobert, it was agreed
by the Admirals of the Allied Fleets that the whole
of the ships should assist the land attack by engaging
the sea batteries north and south of the harbour,
on a line across the port, as shown in the
accompanying plan, but various circumstances
rendered a change in the position of the ships
necessary and unavoidable.
3. The Agamemnon, Sanspareil, Sampson, Tribune,
Terrible, Sphinx, and Lynx, and Albion,
London, and Arethusa, towed by the Firebrand,
Niger, and Triton, engaged Fort Constantine and
the batteries to the northward ; while the Queen,
Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance, Rodney, Bellerophon,
with Vesuvius, Furious, Retribution,
Highflyer, Spitfire, Spiteful and Cyclops,, lashed
on the port side of the several ships, gradually
took up their positions, as nearly as possible as
marked on the plan.
4. The action lasted from about half-past one
to half-past six, P.M., when being quite dark, the
ships hauled off.
5. The loss, sustained by the Russians, and the
damage done to Fort Constantine and Batteries
cannot, of course, as yet be correctly ascertained.
6. An action of this duration against such formidable
and well armed works, could not be
maintained without serious injury, and I have to
regret the loss of 44 killed and 266 wounded, as
detailed in the accompanying lists. The ships,
masts, yards, and rigging are more or less damaged,
principally by shell and hot shot.


The London Gazette, 5th November 1854


Timothy the Tortoise at Powderham Castle

Timothy the Tortoise at Powderham Castle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Malta Harbour, Thunderer, Howe, Ganges, Vanguard, Wasp & Impregnable

Malta Harbour, Thunderer, Howe, Ganges, Vanguard, Wasp & Impregnable
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

The Crew of the Indus March 4th 1860, Bermuda

The Crew of the Indus March 4th 1860, Bermuda
William Chase, Photographer, http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/royalnavy/archives.asp?ID=95

HMS Emerald's Ship's Log 28th August 1860

28 Aug Tue a.m
5:30 Up T Galet masts. Crossed T Galet yards.Pilot came on board
Empd receiving troops &c
Recd on board 7 officers, 226 non Commd officers and gunners R.A., 23 women & 39 children
8:00 Slipped from mooring buoy and hauled on stern hawser to swing ship
Up jib
8:15 Found the ship to have taken the ground on a rock (unknown to the pilot). 5 fms of water all round the ship. Ship touching under the funnel. Down T Galet yrds and masts. Tried to back ship off but without effect. Run all the foremost guns aft. Out all boats. Laid out a hawser on starb[oard] quarter to a buoy astern and one on starb bow to the Halftide Rock. Hove both taut. Got a hawser from a buoy on starb beam to main mast head to prevent ship falling over on her beam ends. Tide falling
11 Low water. Ship healing 4½ ° to port. Water round the ship not less than 4 fms.
Bearing when ship was on shore:
- Tower of St Annes's Church - S 40 W
- Flag staff at Fort Touraille - S 65.30 E
Ships head - east
Water had left the ship 2ft 8in in aft and 2 ft 0 in forward
p.m.
1:30 In all boats
2 Hove on hawsers
2:15 Ship went off into deep water. Slipped stbd, bow hawser - and left them behind, 9 in[ch] hawser, 1 in no., 11 inch, 1 in no.
3:10 Up jib
3:15 Pilot left the ship

http://home.planet.nl/~pdavis/Log_Emerald.htm

Postage Stamps Issued in 2001 Depicting the Grounding of HMS Emerald 28th August 1860

Postage Stamps Issued in 2001 Depicting the Grounding of HMS Emerald 28th August 1860
http://home.planet.nl/~pdavis/Stamp.htm

HM Steam Frigate Gorgon (Lying in Hamoaze, Plymouth)

HM Steam Frigate Gorgon (Lying in Hamoaze, Plymouth)
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

Commander Wilson of HMS Gorgon Almost Dies Helping Dr Livingstone

A few days before the “Pioneer” reached Shupanga, Captain Wilson, seeing the hopeless state of affairs, generously resolved to hasten with the Mission ladies up to those who, we thought, were anxiously awaiting their arrival, and therefore started in his gig for the Ruo, taking Miss Mackenzie, Mrs. Burrup, and his surgeon, Dr. Ramsay. They were accompanied by Dr. Kirk and Mr. Sewell, paymaster of the “Gorgon,” in the whale-boat of the “Lady Nyassa.” As our slow-paced-launch, “Ma Robert,” had formerly gone up to the foot of the cataracts in nine days’ steaming, it was supposed that the boats might easily reach the expected meeting-place at the Ruo in a week; but the Shire was now in flood, and in its most rapid state; and they were longer in getting up about half the distance, than it was hoped they would be in the whole navigable part of the river. They could hear nothing of the Bishop from the chief of the island, Malo, at the mouth of the Ruo. “No white man had ever come to his village,” he said. They proceeded on to Chibisa’s, suffering terribly from mosquitoes at night. Their toil in stemming the rapid current made them estimate the distance, by the windings, as nearer 300 than 200 miles. The Makololo who had remained at Chibisa’s told them the sad news of the death of the good Bishop and of Mr. Burrup. Other information received there awakened fresh anxiety on behalf of the survivors; so, leaving the ladies with Dr. Ramsay and the Makololo, Captain Wilson and Dr. Kirk went up the hills, in hopes of being able to render assistance, and on the way they met some of the Mission party at Soche’s. The excessive fatigue that our friends had undergone in the voyage up to Chibisa’s in no wise deterred them from this further attempt for the benefit of their countrymen, but the fresh labour, with diminished rations, was too much for their strength. They were reduced to a diet of native beans and an occasional fowl. Both became very ill of fever, Captain Wilson so dangerously that his fellow-sufferer lost all hopes of his recovery. His strong able-bodied coxswain did good service in cheerfully carrying his much-loved Commander, and they managed to return to the boat, and brought the two bereaved and sorrow-stricken ladies back to the “Pioneer.”


From Chapter 11 of 'A Popular Account of Dr Livingstone's Expedition to the Zambesi and Its Tributaries'

John Dunsford Jnr's Crimea Medal With Sebastopol Clasp

John Dunsford Jnr's Crimea Medal With Sebastopol Clasp
With Thanks to Margaret Howatson (Craven)

John Dunsford Jnr. On HMS Queen Roll for Crimea Medal With Sebastopol Clasp

John Dunsford Jnr. On HMS Queen Roll for Crimea Medal With Sebastopol Clasp

John Dunsford Jnr's Memorial Card

John Dunsford Jnr's Memorial Card
With Thanks to Margaret Howatson (Craven)

Adelaide With My Grandfather's Children By Elizabeth Craven Nee Blackmore 1914

Adelaide With My Grandfather's Children By Elizabeth Craven Nee Blackmore 1914

My Grandmother, Elizabeth Craven's Headstone in St. Stephen's.

My Grandmother, Elizabeth Craven's Headstone in St. Stephen's.
I placed a few pinks at the grave on May 12th 2011, one hundred years after her burial

George Odgers With Kuno in Fore St. About 1930

George Odgers With Kuno in Fore St. About  1930

Aunt Jane Odgers With Emmie in the Backyard of No. 9 Fore St. Around 1920

Aunt Jane Odgers With Emmie in the Backyard of No. 9 Fore St. Around 1920

George and Jane Odgers Virtual Headstone

George and Jane Odgers Virtual Headstone

Emmie Odgers Delivering the Papers

Emmie Odgers Delivering the Papers

Emma Jane Odgers Grave

Emma Jane Odgers Grave