Sinking Of The Birkenhead

The Birkenhead, an iron hulled paddle steamer, was a British troopship carrying reinforcements to regiments serving in South Africa. On 26th February 1852, the ship struck a reef off Simon's Bay on the South African shark infested coast. There followed one of the most heroic displays of courage and bravery to save women and children that astonished the world. Of the 634 people on board 193 survived. Not a woman or child perished. The soldiers stood fast and silent on deck as the ship went down. With churning paddle wheels Pushing through crested waves HMS Birkenhead approaches the rock Hidden below churning sea While most on board are sleeping All but the sailors on duty watch. Sailor with rope and lead Cries out "Sounding twelve fathoms" Ship ram's the uncharted rock Shattering hull like egg shell Water flooding forward compartments Drowning more than a hundred soldiers. Surviving soldiers, three hundred souls Assembling on deck standing in ranks Many barefoot, dressed in night clothes Others naked, some with injuries sustained When clawing up from flooded quarters Each man afraid but courageously standing fast. Colonel Seaton summoning officers Telling them to keep order among the ranks Calming the frightened troopers Most young raw recruits Facing the greatest fear of dying While standing silent and determined. The ship's cutter lowered away With Ensign Russell in command Taking women and children to safety Standing off from sinking ship. He knows he can take no more survivors With cutter so heavy in the water. Horses are thrown overboard Giving them the chance to swim Three miles in shark-infested sea Neighing in terror they thrash the water As sharks come gliding in to feast No horse will make it to the shore. Captain Salmond orders boats lowered But most of the lowering equipment Fails through lack of maintenance Paint clogging mechanisms Only two cutters and a gig are launched As the soldiers stand bravely on parade. Soldiers stand fast so cutters and the gig Will not be swamped and sunk With lives of women and children lost They did not move as the ship broke in two Huge waves crashing in upon them Nor was a cry heard as they were engulfed. Ensign Russell saw a man drowning Gave up his seat in the cutter Helping the man on board Then swam towards the distant shore Shark's fin briefly glimpsed Scream heard and Russell was gone. They were the very best of British men Standing firm against death Without thought for themselves When England heard of their heroism Queen Victoria and Prince Albert wept And a proud nation mourned lost sons.