Category Archives: Vessel Loss

Shadycombe Church, Salcombe, Devon, England

Memorial in Shadycombe Church, Salcombe, Devon commemorating John Sladen d. 1895

Location

Shadycombe Church, Salcombe, Devon, England

Transcript

'John Herbert Sladen, aged 22, lost in the ship 'Lady Lawrence' sailed from New South Wales 11 July 1895 and not since heard of. John Heath Sladen died Monte Video 1884 age 35'

Details

Position: Churchyard
Vessel: Lady Lawrence

People

Sladen, John Herbert
Age: 22
Date of Death: 7/1895
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Unknown

Extra

Recorder: P. Cove; E.R. Stage 1982
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Dean Road Cemetery, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England

Gravestone at St Oswald’s Church, Filey commemorating Frederick Arthur Chater d. 1917 in the loss of the SS ‘Lady Ann’

Location

Dean Road Cemetery, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England

Details

Vessel: SS Lady Ann

Event Category

1914-1918 First World War

People

Chater, Frederick Arthur
Age: 64
Date of Death: 16/2/1917
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: First Mate
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: 'Lady Ann' torpedoed off Scarborough 16 February 1917. Cargo ship laden with coal.
Recorder: Alex Chatwin
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Westoe Cemetery, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England

Memorial at Westoe Cemetery, South Shields commemorating James Osborne Davison d. 1861 in the loss of the ‘Queen of Freedom’

Location

Westoe Cemetery, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England

Details

Vessel: Queen of Freedom

People

Davison, James Osborne
Age: 45
Date of Death: 1861
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Master mariner
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Master mariner, lost at sea with entire crew of the barque 'Queen of Freedom' foundered 1861.
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St Candida's Church, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Devon, England

Memorial in Whitchurch Canonicorum, Devon, commemorating Admiral Sir George Somers, RN d. 1610 who died in Bermuda

Location

St Candida's Church, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Devon, England

Transcript

'ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE SOMERS KT / SHIPMATE OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH / COLONIZER OF THE BERMUDAS / BORN NEAR LYME REGIS 1554 / OWNER OF BERNE MANOR / IN WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM / DIED IN THE BERMUDAS, NOVEMBER 1610 / BURIED BENEATH THE OLD CHANTRY / UNDER THE PRESENT VESTRY JULY 4 1611 / ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION 1908'

Details

Description: The inscription within a border of foliage. Tablet in St Candida's church, Whitchurch Canonicorum dedicated to George Somers. d. 1908

Type: Tablet
Position: South wall of chancel
Materials: Brass
Date Erected: 1908
Vessel: Sea Venture

People

Somers, George
Age: 56
Date of Death: 9/11/1610
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Admiral
Organisation: Virginia Company

Extra

Notes: George Somers founded the English colony of Bermuda, also known as Somers Isles. His shipwreck in 'Sea Venture' (which he survived) is believed to have inspired Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.

Bibliography: J.D. Spinney 'Some Naval Memorials in Dorset', 'Mariner's Mirror' vol. 73, p. 191 (Greenwich,1987).
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Candie Cemetery, Upland Road, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Gravestone at Candie Cemetery, Upland Road, Guernsey commemorating John Toll d. 1879 in the loss of the ‘Lizzie’ and Walter George Toll d. 1897 in the loss of the ‘Rose of Devon’

Location

Candie Cemetery, Upland Road, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Transcript

'Sacred / to the memory of / John Toll / Lost at sea Nov 22nd 1879 / Aged 29 years. / ...and their son / Walter G.S. / Lost at sea Nov 28th 1897 / aged 22 years...'

Details

Vessel: Lizzie, Rose of Devon

People

Toll, John
Age: 29
Date of Death: 22/11/1879
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Master
Organisation:
Toll, Walter George S.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 28/11/1897
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Able Seaman
Organisation:

Extra

Bibliography: David Kreckeler 'Nineteenth Century Monumental Memorials in Guernsey and their history of nautical interest' (typescript).
Recorder: David Kreckeler 1981
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Church of St Ffraed, Llanon, Ceredigion, Wales

Gravestone at the church of St Ffraed, Llanon, Ceredigion commemorating Evan William Sweeney d. 1941 following the loss of the SS ‘Empire Endurance’

Location

Church of St Ffraed, Llanon, Ceredigion, Wales

Transcript

'Evan William, died through enemy action on the S.S. Empire Endurance May 4, 1941, aged 28 years, son of Robert and Anne Jane Sweeney of this place'

Details

Position: Churchyard
Vessel: SS Empire Endurance

People

Sweeney, Evan William
Age: 28
Date of Death: 4/5/1941
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Second Cook and baker
Organisation: Ministry of War Transport

Extra

Notes: SS 'Empire Endurance' torpedoed by 'U-73' on 20 April 1941. Some crew members not rescued until a boat was found on the 9th May. Most of the occupants had already died of exposure and of the seven picked up, three died shortly afterwards.
Recorder: Reverend William Henry Donnan, 1973
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Harbour, Gourock, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Memorial at Gourock Harbour commemorating Lieutenant William Farquhar RN d. 1864 in the loss of HMS ‘Racehorse’

Location

Harbour, Gourock, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Transcript

'To the seafaring men of Gourock AD 1871'

Details

Description: Barometer on the plinth added in 1906. Cross and anchor on the top.
Type: Memorial
Vessel: HMS Racehorse

People

Farquhar, William
Age: 24
Date of Death: 4/11/1864
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Lieutenant RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Lieutenant RN lost in HMS 'Racehorse' wrecked 4/11/1864 off Shantung, Gulf of Pechili, China.
Recorder: David Saunders 1994
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Grafton Bridge Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand, Rest of the World

Gravestone in Grafton Bridge Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand commemorating Commodore William Farquharson Burnett RN d. 1863 in the loss of HMS ‘Orpheus’

Location

Grafton Bridge Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand, Rest of the World

Transcript

'Sacred / to the Memory / of / William Farquharson Burnett, / C.B. / Commodore of H.M.S. Orpheus / Commanding Officer / Australian Naval Station, / Commodore Royal Navy. / Drowned 7th February 1863. / Aged 46 years' [Hetherington] 'Sacred to the memory of William Farquharson Burnett, Esq, CB., who perished with 22 officers and 167 men, in the total loss of H.M.S. Orpheus, on the Manukau Bar, New Zealand, on Feb.9, 1863. Erected by the officers of her Majesty's ships under his command' [ILN]

Details

Type: Gravestone
Vessel: HMS Orpheus

People

Burnett, William Farquharson
Age: 46
Date of Death: 7/2/1863
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Commodore RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Buried 23/2/1863. DOSSIER.
Bibliography: 'Illustrated London News' (5 March 1864) p. 241, 237-8; Roy M. Hetherington 'The wreck of HMS Orpheus-New Zealand's Worst sea disaster' (Auckland, 1968).
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Beauregard, Sark, Channel Islands

Obelisk at Beauregard, Sark commemorating Mansell Renouf and four of his passengers who died due to the loss of a sailing gig in 1868

Location

Beauregard, Sark, Channel Islands

Transcript

'In memory of Jeremiah Giles Pilcher Esq., J.P. D.L. Merchant of London, Agnew Giffard Esq. C. E. Walter J Giffard his brother, Dr C. S. Gatehouse and Mansell Renouf boatman who embarked in a sailing gig from the bay below this spot at 5pm on the 19th October 1868 and were all lost during a squall of wind which shortly afterwards arose, with heavy rain and thick darkness. "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of the waterspouts. All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." Psalm XLII V. 7. To the praise of Almighty God who tempereth his judgement with mercy and in humble submission to His holy will. This stone of remembrance is erected by the widow and children of the late Jeremiah Giles Pilcher, to mark their tender love for so excellent a husband and father and their deep and bitter sorrow for his loss, also to urge upon others, through the grace and mercy of God our saviour CAUTION AND WARNING. "Thy way is in the sea and Thy paths in the great waters and thy footsteps are not known." Psalm LXXVLI V. 19. This stone of remembrance was restored in 1968 by Beatrice Haigh Born 17th April 1890 died 14th March 1973 granddaughter of Jeremiah Pilcher she is remembered with affection by her cousins Nadine Bonsor, Alexandre Meynell and their mother Nadine Killearn nee Pilcher'

Details

Type: Obelisk
Materials: Granite
Artists: Blisson, W. T. Collings

People

Gatehouse, C. S.
Age: 52
Date of Death: 19/10/1868
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Passenger
Organisation:
Giffard, Agnew
Age:
Date of Death: 19/10/1868
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Passenger
Organisation:
Gifford, Walter J.
Age:
Date of Death: 19/10/1868
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Passenger
Organisation:
Pilcher, Jeremiah Giles
Age:
Date of Death: 19/10/1868
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Passenger
Organisation:
Renouf, Mansell
Age:
Date of Death: 19/10/1868
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Boatman
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Jeremiah Gile Pilcher also has a tomb in West Norwood Cemetery, London.
Bibliography: 'Guernsey Star' (14 Sept 1869); David Kreckeler 'Nineteenth Century Monumental Memorials in Guernsey and their history of nautical interest' (typescript).
Recorder: David Kreckeler 1981
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Parish Church, Castel, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Tomb at Castel, Guernsey commemorating the crew of ‘L’Europe’ wrecked in 1849

Location

Parish Church, Castel, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Transcript

[North panel] 'Ici sont repose les corps les marins' [South panel] 'Mehuet, Jean Marie, Master / Mehuet, Clothaire, Mate / Le Couet, Guillaume, seaman / Le Grand, Louis, seaman / Kermorgan, seaman / Chemise, seaman / Rosier, seaman / Megat, seaman / Vasal, Jules, seaman / Lavirin, seaman' [Not in full] [West panel] 'LES MARINS VOIENT DE DIEU / LES OEUVRES MERVEILLEUSES. / QUAND ILS SONT AU MILIEAU / DES VAGUES PERILLEUSES. / S'ILS LUI FONT EN TOUS TEMPS / PAR JESUS LEUR PRIERE. / CE GRAND MAITRE DES VENTS / SE MONTRERA LEUR PERE.', 'ALORS REMPLIE DE PAIX / AU MOMENT DU NAUFRAGE / LEUR AME POUR JAMAIS / A L'ABRI DE L'ORAGE. / IRA DU CREATEUR / ADORER LA PUISSANCE / ET DE SON REDEMPTEUR / CELEBRER LA CLEMENCE'

Details

Description: A tomb chest on a stepped base. In relief, a depiction of the wreck, and a cross on the east panel.
Type: Memorial
Position: Churchyard
Materials: Portland stone
Vessel: L'Europe

People

Chemise, Chemise
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:
Kermorgan, Kermorgan
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:
Lavirin, Lavirin
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:
Le Couet, Guillaume
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:
Le Grand, Louis
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:
Megat, Megat
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:
Mehuet, Jean Marie
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Master
Organisation:
Mehuet, Clothaire
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Mate
Organisation:
Rosier, Rosier
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:
Vasal, Jules
Age:
Date of Death: 16/11/1849
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Seaman
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Erected by public subscription.
Bibliography: David Kreckeler 'Nineteenth Century Monumental Memorials in Guernsey and their history of nautical interest' (typescript).
Recorder: David Kreckeler 1981
Photographer: B. Tomlinson
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