- THE WAR STEAMER VICTORIA
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- "One of the finest craft in the
world"
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Australia's first real* naval
vessel -- Her Majesty's Colonial Steam Sloop Victoria -- was designed as
a blue water vessel, able to guard the coastline of the Colony of Victoria, as
well as defend Port Phillip Bay. It was during the goldrush of the 1850s that
harbour defence became urgent. In response to requests for help, the Royal Navy
could only send an outdated relic, the sailing ship HMS Electra. It was
this `insult' that made the proud colonists determined to have a warship of
their own. Designed by brilliant British naval architect Oliver Lang, the Victoria
was built at Limehouse, London, of the finest materials, and launched by
Lady Constance Talbot in 1855.
In addition to supplying a naval brigade for shore
service in the 1st Taranaki War, Victoria transported Maori Chiefs to
conferences, and British army staff officers and naval officers to and from the
seat of war. The ship in 1861 next took part in the search for lost explorers
Burke and Wills by travelling to the Gulf of Carpentaria, where the present city
of Normanton was named after Victoria's Commander, William Norman, and
the crew was reduced to living on turtles. Traces of the explorers were found,
but they had already started back to Melbourne, only to perish of starvation in
South Australia. Another rescue mission to the remote sub-Antarctic Auckland
Islands in the mid-1860s further tested the crew.
___________
* There may be debate about this.
Sydney Marine Artist Dean Claflin's plan of HMCSS VIctoria.
The launch of the Victoria in London,
1855. (Illustrated London News).
Victoria's logbook for her maiden voyage to
Melbourne. In a private collection.
A Watercolour sketch of HMCSS Victoria,
artist
unknown (probably Lt. G. A. Woods), n.d.
Possibly
late 1850s. Used here with permission
from a proud
great-grandson of Commander William
Henry Norman.
HMCSS VICTORIA IN NEW ZEALAND
1860-1861
When sailors of HMCSS Victoria served as a naval
brigade during the First Taranaki War in New Zealand, they became tthe first
Australian unit to see action in a war overseas. At first stationed at Fort
Niger in New Plymouth, the brigade later staged at Camp Waitara at the mouth
of the Waitara River. From there the brigade took part in several actions
including those at Kairau and Matarikoriko Pah. Victoria's Naval Brigade was
well equipped with breech-loading rifles, Colt revolvers and cutlasses. Their
counterparts in the Imperial Naval Brigade were by contrast poorly equipped.
HMCSS Victoria survives the bar at Manakau
Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand
I was on board this war steamer when she was nearly
swallowed up by giant waves in crossing the bar at the Manukau Heads. The
pilot on shore there gave no signal of danger, but when the steamer got out to
sea, one great wave succeeded another, rolling up from the south-west in great
masses, upon which she climbed and descended on the other side, till the
captain on the bridge called out, "hold on every body!" and suddenly
the bows disappeared with a roar in a mass of spray; fifty tons of water
rushed aft, washed some of the hands, bruised, under the guns forward, swept
those of us who were aft off our legs, I clung to the mizen rigging, whilst
the interpreter, Mr. Baker, was carried over the side on the top of the waver,
but managing to hold on at the gangway was saved. The Governor and others,
were below and escaped a wetting, the Maories were drenched to their necks,
but seemed to enjoy the excitement. If the sea had reached the fires, or the
machinery had become deranged, (at one pitch we seemed to touch the bottom) we
must have been driven upon one of the numerous sand banks, among which we
were, and miserably perished; but we were providentially preserved.
Source: Alexander, Col. Sir James E : Incidents
of the Maori War : New Zealand : in 1860-61: Richard Bentley : London :
1863 pp. 311-312
TRAGIC LOSS OF HMS ORPHEUS
ON THE MANUKAU BAR
8 February 1863
Unlike the Victoria, HMS Orpheus ran
onto the sandbar at Manukau harbour
with fatal consequences for 187 of the ship's
company of 256.
In rough seas and gusty conditions, the ship
grounded twice on the bar where
she broached shortly after 1.30 in the afternoon.
The guns were discarded but
by six, the ship began to break up.
The Maori crew of the pilot boat had struggled
manfully to take off the crew
which acted with 'heroic resignation'. Commodore
Burnett was among those
drowned.
Orpheus had
approached the middle of the bar where a channel was shown in
the 1853 chart. The bar had moved considerably in a
decade. This movement
had been noted and evidence showed that an
ammendment notice had earlier
been sent to Commodore Burnett.
Other than this fatal mistake in not updating the
chart, every possible
precaution had been taken to safely take the bar.
Source: Bach, J. P. S.: The Australia
Station: NSW University Press: 1986: p. 80.
BATTLE OF MATARIKORIKO, New Zealand, 1861
By R. D. Williams
The total force of approximately 900 was at the
camp at Waitara on the 28th December 1860, and they were to leave the camp at
3 am the next day to commence the attach on the Mata-Rikoriko Pa
("Winking Eyes"), which was a short distance inland from Puke-ta-Kauer
near the Waitara river.
The Taranaki Herald of Jan 5th 1861
reported; "Sunday, December 30 A heavy fire of small arms was maintained
by both sides from 6 am yesterday morning till 2 am, this morning, the enemy
keeping close in a gully lined with rifle pits in high fern. The troops
expended 70,000 rounds of rifle ammunition. Our casualties are; 3 killed and
21 wounded". (Naval Brigade-1; Royal Artillery-2; Royal Engineers-1; 12th
Regiment-1; 40th Regiment-12; 65th Regiment-4.).
Taranaki Herald, Jan 19th 1861. "Monday, Jan.
14th, between 4 and 6 am the General (Pratt) accompanied by Colonel Carey
D.A.G. Staff, and a considerable force (1000 men consisting of the 40th, 14th,
and Naval Brigade with their 12 pounder howitzer arrived at Kairau where some
companies of the 65th and 12th joined the force". The Naval Brigade under
the command of Commodore Seymour, were engaged during the day either as
flanking guards, working the 12 pounder and 8 inch guns, or on the
works".
MENTIONS IN DESPATCHES Captain Norman and
Lieutenant Woods were both mentioned in the despatches (Woods twice), from
Major General Pratt to the War Office, London. Midshipman Horn was also
supposedly mentioned in despatches, but there is no evidence of this at this
juncture. London Gazette. April 9th 1861. P1490. A despatch and its
enclosures of which the following are copies have been received at the War
Office from Major General Pratt C. B. Headquarters, Camp Waitara, New Zealand,
31st December 1860. Sir, etc, "I have also to bring to His Royal
Highness's notice the conduct of the officers, and to name for his approbation
those in command, and at the head of departments., Commodore Seymour, assisted
by Lieutenant Battiscombe H.M.'s S. Pelorus, and lieutenant Woods, Chief
Officer H.M.'s S Colonial S. Victoria, performed their duties in the usual
gallant manner." Etc.
London Gazette.
Friday, July 26th 1861. p3037/8. A despatch of which the following is an
extract, has been received, with its enclosures, from Major General Pratt. C
B. Sir, etc "Commander Norman, Her Majesty's colonial steamsloop
Victoria, has with his ship, provided of incalculable value during this
service, and his chief officer Mr Woods, late R.N. did good service while
attached to the Naval Brigade on shore." Etc.
THE MEDAL ROLL Only those who had served in one of
the various shore parties from Victoria became entitled to receive the
"Maori War Medal" dated on the reverse 1860-1861, and the following
list of names is lodged at he Public Records Office in London under PRO.ADM.
171/16 ff. 72-73, and is headed "List of Officers Seamen & Marines
entitles to the New Zealand Medal for services in H.M. Colonial Steamer
"Victoria".
Although 40 were obviously entitled, only 10
received the medal. One can only assume that they had to actually apply to
receive the medal, hence the late issue in 1905. Of the 10 issued medals, one
is known with the dated reverse 1860-61 to Harold Ford AB, and is in a private
collection in Sydney. The medal issued to George Marey is known to exist, it
came from an auction in London circa 1930, and apparently went to a collector
in the U.S.A., present whereabouts unknown. One is known to William Jones AB
and has the undated reverse, as have all late issues of the Maori War Medal,
this is now in the Australian War Memorial at Canberra, where it forms the
nucleus of a "Colonial" collection being put together at the War
Memorial. The medal sent to Samuel Smith c/o Department of Defence, Melbourne
in 1905, is apparently lost.
With the knowledge of the known medals, it is safe
to assume that of the 10 issued, 7 were issued with the dated reverse 1860-61,
and three were issued with the undated reverse.
The name W.H. Norman (Ship's Captain), appears on
the medal roll and it is regrettable that he died in the year that the medal
was sanctioned (1st March 1869). It is odd that his name should appear, as the
requirement for the Navy was to have participated in a coastal barrage from
the ship, or served ashore with the Naval Brigade at one of the actions. It is
difficult to understand why all the shore party entitled did not send for or
receive the medal, distance from Melbourne has no bearing as two of the medals
were sent to the recipients in New Zealand in 1888.
Name Ratings No. on Ship's book When delivered or
sent. Remarks etc. Page 72:
ASHWELL, Edw'r , Trimmer. 2426.
BRETT, Geo., A.B. 2427.
BONFIELD, Patrick, A.B. 2428.
COLLINGWOOD, Jo's., A.B. 2429.
CROMARTY, Jas., A.B. 2430.
DUNN. A., A.B. 2431.
DUDLEY, Tho's., A.B. 2432.
DAVIS, Mark, Trimmer. 2433.
EDMONDS, R., A.B. 2434.
FORD, Harry, A.B. 2435. Sent 18th July 1872.
GRAHAM, Cuthbert, Drummer. 2436. Sent to party
14/11/72.
HORN. Wm., Mate. 2437. Sent 13 Jan'y 71
HORSELEY, Wm., Boy 1st Class. 2438.
HOAD, Peter, A.B. 2439.
HAWKINS, Ja's., A.B. 2440.
HAY, John, A.B. 2441. Agent General for New Zealand
29.3.88 Ic 621/1888.
JONES, Wm., A.B. 2421. Agent General for New
Zealand 12.6.88. Ic 234/1888
JONES, Wm., Cook's Mate. 2443.
KENSINGTON, Ambrose, Capt. Fore Top. 2444.
LUTHER, Moses, Gunn's mate. 2445.
LONG. Saml., 2n Master. 2446. Sent 18th July 1872.
LINTON. Robt. 2n Master. 2447.
LOCKE. E.J. A.B. 2448.
LAWSON. Alexr. A.B. 2449.
MAREY [Morey], Geo., Stoker 2450. Sent 26 Aug'st
1872.
McINTYRE, Tho's. Trimmer 2451.
McMYRM, John. Trimmer 2452.
NORMAN, W.H. - 2453.
OVENDEN, Jas., Capt. Fore top. 2454. Sent 5th Dec'r
1872
PARKES, Rob't. Trimmer 2455.
REES, Benj. Stoker 2456.
SCHRADER, John. A.B. 2457.
SMITH, David. A.B. 2458.
STEWARD, Jas. A.B. 2459.
SIBBOND, Wm. A.B. 2460.
STROUD, A., A.B. 2461.
SMITH, Saml., Boy 2nd. -. Secretary, Dept of
Defence, Melbourne. 13.4.1905. Page 73.
WOODS, G. Lieut. -. Sent 22 July 71.
WHITE, John, A.B. 2463.
TAYLOR, John, Ld Seaman. 2464.
Source: R. D. Williams : Victoria's Victory : in
journal of the Numismatic Association of Australia : Vol. 1 : July 1985 :
pp.38-48.
1st Taranaki War, New Zealand, 1860-1861. Victoria's
Naval Brigade distinguished itself at
Matarikoriko
Crew of the Victoria, feted upon their
return in 1861
from the Taranaki War.
Swivel-link from HMCSS Victoria at
Queenscliff, Victoria