SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
February 26:
“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
1852: Birkenhead, this British iron paddle-driven steam-powered frigate was en route to the Buffalo River in East London with reinforcements for the Eighth Frontier War when it wrecked off Danger Point in the Western Cape.
The MUCH unit inspected the wreck of the Birkenhead (1852) in late 2023 - the dive team is seen swimming over the port side paddle wheel, with Briege on the right
It struck an uncharted rock at night in calm weather and broke up within 20 minutes. Only two lifeboats were launched, and 445 men lost their lives, with all the women and children surviving. The Lioness and Rhadamanthus assisted in rescuing survivors but only arrived there the next morning.
The Wreck of the Birkenhead by Charles Dixon (1901)
Although the unofficial ‘women and children first’ protocol had been used for many years, probably due to the high survivor rate for women and children during this wrecking event, it is commonly claimed that this protocol became a standard because of this specific event.
Interpretive signage erected at Danger Point by SAHRA's MUCH unit for the Birkenhead (1852)
The wreck had been heavily disturbed in the past before it was formerly excavated and salvaged in the 80’s under a National Monument’s Council permit. What little remains of the wreck now lies on the eponymous Birkenhead Rock off Danger Point in the Western Cape.
1858: Buffon, this French brig wrecked on the eastern side of Roman Rock in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.
1948: Douglas C-47B (registration no. 6858), this military transport aircraft crashed at the Swartkop Air Force base in Centurion, Gauteng, with the loss of one life.
Aerial photo/video service/inquiries: info@traveltonamibia.com
No comments:
Post a Comment