Category Archives: Uncategorised

Stowe Landscape Gardens, Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England

Column erected in honour of Admiral of the Fleet, George Anson, d. 1747 in Stowe, Buckinghamshire.

Location

Stowe Landscape Gardens, Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England

Transcript

'DIGNUM LAUDE', 'Sororis suae filio / THOMAE GRENVILLAE / Qui / Navis Praefectus Regiae, / Ducente Classem Britannicam / GEORGIO ANSON / Dum contra Gallos fortissimo pugnaret / Dilaceratae Navis ingente fragmine / Femore graviter percusso / Perire, dixit moribundus, omnino satius esse, / Quam / inertiae Reum in judicio sisti; / Columnam hanc Rostratam / Laudans & maerans posuit / COBHAM, / Insigne Virtutis, eheu! rarissimae / Exemplum habes; / Ex quo discas / Quid Virum Praefectura militari ornatum / Deceat / M.DCC.' [Translation] 'To his sister's son / THOMAS GRENVILLE / who, being a Captain of a Ship in the Royal Navy / (when George Anson commanded the British Fleet) / whilst he fough gallantly against the French, / and had a severe Stroke on his Thigh, / with a large Splinter of the shatter'd Vessel / declar'd it in his last Moments, infinitely better to perish, / than to be brought to Judgement for Cowardice: / This is alas, a rare Influence / of true English Bravery / from which let all British Officers / Learn their Duty / 1747'.

Details

Description: Rostral column with figure of Heroic Poetry by John van Nost on top (originally Neptune flourishing a splinter of a ship).
Type: Column
Position: The Elysian fields
Materials: Stone, lead
Vessel: HMS Nottingham

Event

Battle of Cape Finisterre

Event Date

1747

Event Category

1739-1748 War of the Austrian Succession

People

Grenville, Thomas
Age:
Date of Death: 3/5/1747
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Captain RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Thomas Grenville buried at Wotton, Buckinghamshire. The column was erected by his uncle, Richard Temple, Viscount Cobham. The epitaph written by George Lyttelton (1709-1773). Column moved from its original position to the north of the Temple of Concord and Victory in 1756. Statue replaced in 1763.
Bibliography: Joan Coutu 'Stowe: a Whig training ground', 'New Arcadian Journal' 43/44 (1997). Translation from Benton Seely 'A Description of the Gardens of Lord Viscount Cobham at Stowe in Buckinghamshire' (Northampton, 1749). George Clarke, Jonathan Marsden, Richard Wheeler, Michael Bevington, Tim Knox 'Stowe Landscape Gardens' (National Trust, 1997)
Photographer: Barbara Tomlinson
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Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff, Wales

Headstone at Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff commemorating William Hawke Smith d. 1896

Location

Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff, Wales

Transcript

'In loving memory of / William Hawke Smith / Master Mariner / Died July 14th 1896, Aged 45 years / Also of Suzanna his wife / Died Nov 17th 1926, aged 72 years / Also of their son-in-law / Walter John Williams / beloved husband of Hilda Elizabeth / Died April 1st 1958, Aged 78 years / And the above Hilda Elizabeth / Died dec 30th 1975 Aged 93 years.'

Details

Description: Headstone. Ivy leaf pattern down each side of stone.
Type: Gravestone
Materials: Black marble

People

Smith, William Hawke
Age: 45
Date of Death: 14/7/1896
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Master Mariner
Organisation:

Extra

Recorder: David J. Wickham
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Church of St Mary de Castro, Leicester, Leicestershire, England

Gravestone at the Church of St Mary de Castro, Leicester commemorating Lieutenant Edward William Scott RN d. 1834

Location

Church of St Mary de Castro, Leicester, Leicestershire, England

Transcript

'Sacred to the memory of / Lieut Edward Willm Scott / Royal Navy / who departed this life / the 1st day of October 1834 / in the 41st year of his age / As a tribute of sincere affection and regard / for departed excellence and regard / this stone is erected by his afflicted relict / Mary, eldest daughter of the late/Mr Jonathan Hewitt / of this place'

Details

Position: Churchyard

People

Scott, Edward William
Age: 40
Date of Death: 1/10/1834
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Lieutenant RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Recorder: Colin Harris 1994
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Hampstead Cemetery, London, England

Memorial at Hampstead Cemetery commemorating Edward Searle d. 1887, boat builder to Queen Victoria

Location

Hampstead Cemetery, London, England

Details

People

Searle, Edward
Age:
Date of Death: 1887
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Boat builder
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Boat builder to Queen Victoria, the emperors of Russia and Austria and Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Born 1809. he patented the sliding seat in 1871.
Bibliography: Hugh Meller 'London cemeteries: an illustrated guide and gazetteer' (Amersham, 1981) p. 143.
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Hong Kong Cemetery, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, China, Rest of the World

Memorial in Hong Kong Cemetery commemorating J.K. Smellie d.1891 G.B. Hance d. 1890 and J.W. Lowson d. 1892 all employed by the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Service

Location

Hong Kong Cemetery, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, China, Rest of the World

Transcript

'J.K. SMELLIE, Actg. 1st. Engineer, R.S. 'Fei Hoo', who died and was buried at sea 6.3.91., age 34. G.B. HANCE, 1st Engineer, R.S. 'Fei Hoo', who died at and was buried in Sydney, N.S.W., 27.9.90., age 32. In memoriam J.W. LOWSON 1st. Officer, R.S. 'Kai Pan' who departed this life in Hong Kong and is buried here. 25.6.92., age 47. This stone is placed here by their brother officers in the I.M. Custom Revenue Steamers'

Details

Description: Square column with urn on stepped plinth.
Type: Gravestone
Vessel: RS Kai Pan, RS Fei Hoo

People

Hance, G. B.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 27/9/1890
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: 1st Engineer
Organisation: Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs
Lowson, J.W.
Age: 47
Date of Death: 28/6/1892
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: 1st Officer
Organisation: Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs
Smellie, J. K.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 6/3/1891
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Acting 1st Engineer
Organisation:

Extra

Recorder: Christine Thomas
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East London Cemetery, London, England

Plaque at the East London Cemetery commemorating those killed as a result of the collapse of viewing platforms during the launch of HMS ‘Albion’ in 1898

Location

East London Cemetery, London, England

Details

Description: Inscribed stone plaques on beds of chippings. Memorial includes a large ship's anchor.
Type: Plaque
Vessel: HMS Albion

Extra

Notes: To the 38 people who died when viewing platforms collapsed at the launch of HMS 'Albion' in 1898.
Bibliography: Hugh Meller 'London cemeteries: an illustrated guide and gazetteer' (Amersham, 1981) p. 117.
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Green Street Cemetery, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Gravestone at St Helier Parish Church, St Helier, Jersey commemorating Captain John Chevalier d. 1861

Location

Green Street Cemetery, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Transcript

'Sacred to the memory of an affectionate husband and father Capt John Chevalier late Harbour Master of St. Helier Jersey who was drowned off Noirmont Point in the upsetting of a boat while in the discharge of his duties on the 15 May 1861 aged 67 years, body recovered on 11 June, buried 12 June 1861. Esther Elizabeth Coutanche, widow of the above who died on the 18th February 1880 aged 83 years six months' [verse]

Details

Type: Gravestone
Position: Plot 683

People

Chevalier, John
Age: 67
Date of Death: 15/5/1861
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Harbour master
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Record in Jersey archives.
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St Michael's Church, Pitt Street, Liverpool, England

Memorial at St Michael’s Church, Liverpool commemorating Nicholas Hendrick d. 1827

Location

St Michael's Church, Pitt Street, Liverpool, England

Transcript

'Nicholas Hendrick, late 2nd Officer of the Thomas Burrow of Lancaster died 3rd January 1827 age 22. This stone was placed by Capt.T. Danson of the same vessel'

Details

Vessel: Thomas Burrow

People

Hendrick, Nicholas
Age: 22
Date of Death: 3/1/1827
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: 2nd Officer
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: From a MS in Liverpool Record Office, compiled by James Gibson d. 1886, vol. 3, p. 475. The church was demolished in 1946, a new one stands on the same site.
Recorder: Captain J. P. Brand
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South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India, Rest of the World

Memorial at South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata commemorating Lieutenant John Anderson, RN, d. 1834

Location

South Park Street Cemetery, Kolkata (Calcutta), West Bengal, India, Rest of the World

Transcript

‘Sacred to the Memory of / Lieutenant John Anderson, R.N. / Commander of the Ship, 'Katherine Stewart / Forbes', died 8th September 1834 / aged 42 years.'

Details

Vessel: Katherine Stewart Forbes

People

Anderson, John
Age: 42
Date of Death: 8/9/1834
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Lieutenant RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Bibliography: 'The Bengal Obituary or a record to perpetuate the memory of departed worth' (Calcutta, 1848) p.155.
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St Peter's Parish Church, Liverpool, England

Memorial at St Peter’s Parish Church, Liverpool commemorating William Crickmay d. 1798

Location

St Peter's Parish Church, Liverpool, England

Transcript

'William Crickmay of Gt Yarmouth, mariner, died 19th August 1798 aged 44'

Details

People

Crickmay, William
Age: 44
Date of Death: 19/8/1798
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Mariner
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: From MS in Liverpool Record Office. Compiled by James Gibson d. 1886, vol. 1, p. 286.
Recorder: Captain J. P. Brand
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