Anyone unfamiliar with the origin of ‘Birkenhead Drill’ may be interested in the following information:
HMS Birkenhead, was one of the Royal Navy’s first iron ships built in Cammel Laird Birkenhead as a medium sized fighting unit, paddle driven.
Unfortunately, the Admiralty were reluctant to use the vessel as a frontline ship, fearing that the hull would split open at the first cannon ball!
In January 1852, under the command of Captain Robert Salmond, the Birkenhead left Portsmouth conveying troops and families to the Cape Frontier War or Kaffir War, in South Africa.
What eventually took place astounded the world with it’s discipline and bravery. Every soldier aboard was worthy of the Victoria Cross. However, there was a huge ‘cover up’ for the Captain who was responsible for the whole disaster. Examples - Sailing too close inshore on a uncharted but known dangerous seabed covered in outcrops. When holed and taking little water, the ship should have been left until daybreak, by which time the lifeboats could have been freed and one sent ashore (2 miles) for help. Under no circumstances being put ‘full astern’ thus tearing the bottom out and killing the Engineers. No Captain should have let the lowering gear be painted over and over. There should have been weekly lifeboat drill where any deficiency would have shown.
Lastly, to tell the men aboard to swim for the few boats with the women and children in, was unbelievable. Thank God the Colonel overruled him.
In my opinion, as someone who has sailed both professionally and as an amateur all his life. I believe the Captain should have been ‘Keel hauled’ had he lived.
His bad seamanship and total incompetence was responsible for the death of every man aboard.
The Loss of the Birkenhead
RIGHT on our flank the crimson sun went down,
The deep sea rolled around in dark repose,
When, like the wild shriek from some captured town,
A cry of women rose.
The stout ship Birkenhead lay hard and fast,
Caught, without hope, upon a hidden rock;
Her timbers thrilled as nerves, when through them passed
The spirit of that shock.
And ever like base cowards, who leave their ranks
In danger's hour, before the rush of steel,
Drifted away, disorderly, the planks
From underneath her keel.
Confusion spread,for, though the coast seemed near,
Sharks hovered thick along that white sea-brink.
The boats could hold? -- not all; and it was clear
She was about to sink.
"Out with those boats, and let us haste away,"
Cried one, "ere yet yon sea the bark devours."
The man thus clamoring was, I scarce need say,
No officer of ours.
We knew our duty better than to care
For such loose babblers, and made no reply,
Till our good colonel gave the word, and there
Formed us in line to die.
There rose no murmur from the ranks, no thought,
By shameful strength, unhonored life to seek;
Our post to quit we were not trained, nor taught
To trample down the weak.
So we made women with their children go,
The oars ply back again, and yet again;
Whilst, inch by inch, the drawning ship sank low,
Still under steadfast men.
What follows, why recall? The brave who died,
Died without flinching in the bloody surt;
They sleep as well, beneath that purple tide,
As others, under turf; --
They sleep as well, and, roused from thier wild grave,
Wearing their wounds like stars, shall rise again,
Joint-heirs with Christ, because they bled to save
His weak ones, not in vain.
If that day's work no clasp or medal mark,
If each proud heart no cross of bronze may press,
Nor cannon thunder loud from Tower and Park,
This feel we, none the less:
That those whom God's high grace there saved from ill --
Those also, left His martyrs in the bay --
Though not by siege, though not in battle, still
Full well had earned their pay.
Sir Francis Hastings DoyleFor the full story, click
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