South Africa: Emperor Alexander, Fusilier & Kakapo shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

May 25:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1835: Emperor Alexander, this wooden sailing vessel was condemned in Table Bay in the Western Cape. It had reportedly run aground at the Cape of Good Hope.

1865: Fusilier, this British sail-driven ship (rigging unknown) wrecked at the Bluff in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. It entered Durban looking for medical supplies and water as smallpox had broken out on board and claimed the lives of almost 200 people. Whilst anchored, its cables parted in a north-easterly gale and although sail was successfully made, it struck the rocks at the foot of the Bluff and wrecked. In total 20 Indian emigrants lost their lives when the ship went down. The survivors were quarantined at the Old Fort and guarded by the 99th Regiment.

1900: Kakapo, this steam-powered British freighter ran aground and wrecked at the southern end of Long Beach near Kommetjie on the southern peninsula in the Western Cape.

The Kakapo (1900) in 2023

It was on its maiden voyage, being delivered to its new owners, from England to Australia. During poor visibility in a north westerly gale, the captain reportedly mistook Chapman’s Peak for Cape Point and ran hard aground on to the beach.

The Kakapo (1900) in 2014

There was no loss of life as the crew came ashore safely. The captain refused to answer questions as to what led to the incident and did not let people on board. Several attempts were made to refloat the freighter at the time, but it proved impossible. There were rumours that someone lived on board for a few years afterwards as smoke could sometimes be seen coming from the funnel.

The Kakapo (1900) being swallowed by the sands, exact date unknown

Gradually though, winter storms pushed the vessel further inland. Later on, its steel plating was removed by the railway board after World War I and this was erected on Fish Hoek beach as a barrier to stop sand from blowing onto the railway lines. Today, the Kakapo’s structure remains visible, in situ, near where it wrecked, with the boiler and ribs a prominent sight. Locals and tourists alike can often be found posing around the remains, but caution is advised as the area is considered a high-crime area.

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South Africa: Van der Poll family of Fish Hoek

Once upon a time, in those very early days, there were no more than a handful of families in this vale of Vishoek (as Fish Hoek was first called). Of these, the Van der Polls became an integral part - a big, happy, hardworking family of five boys and two girls. One little sister died at the age of 12 and was buried in the Kirsten graveyard at the Silvermyn which belonged to the grandparents of Mrs. Van der Poll.

On the grandfather’s side there had been the huge estate of Pollsmoor - the original Van der Poll home - so no wonder the boys were toughened to farming life - no easy job in those days of no electricity, nor water - tending the lamps and wood for the big coal stoves and getting up at dawn to milk the cows and feed the horses; a hard life, but a glorious one.

In fact, the Van der Polls have memories of a never-to-be-forgotten dawn after a mid-winter’s night in August 1899 when Mr. Van der Poll senior was carrying his lantern outside to hang in the cowshed and two rough, unshaven men came staggering up the mountainside to their Brakkloof home.

These men had been shipwrecked from the Kakapo on Noordhoek beach and had seen a pin-point of light all that distance away at the Van der Poll farm-house and staggered on and on until they found refuge!

This is the grave stone of the 12 year old girl Michael referred to, "Magdalena Jacoba van der Poll".

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South Africa: John, Flamingo, Zaltbommel, Madagascar, Ispahan, Carmen and Ismore shipwrecks

SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage

December 3:

“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”

1825: John, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked at the mouth of the Great Fish River in the Eastern Cape. Very little is known about it.  

1844: Flamingo, this American wooden sailing vessel wrecked at Struisbaai/Struis Bay in the Western Cape. It is possible that it was just grounded and refloated. 

1856: Zaltbommel, this Dutch wooden sailing barque wrecked between Mouille Point and Chavonnes Battery in Table Bay in the Western Cape. 

1858: Madagascar, this steam-powered coaster wrecked at the Bira River mouth in the Eastern Cape after striking the eponymous Madagascar reef and being run aground to prevent the coaster from foundering. 

1886: Ispahan, this fully-rigged iron sailing vessel wrecked at Holbaai Point near Cape Hangklip in the Western Cape.

The 28 lives that were on board were presumed lost until they miraculously popped up at Fish Hoek, having rowed across False Bay in the lifeboat.

1895: Carmen, this steel sailing barque left Durban in KwaZulu-Natal on this day for Calcutta in India and was never heard from again.

1899: Ismore, this four masted steam-powered troop ship wrecked opposite near where today the Cape Columbine lighthouse is, in the eponymous “Soldiers Bay” on the West Coast in the Western Cape.

Loading of the SS Ismore (1899) (from the memoirs of one of the survivors, AJ Montgomery, supplied by his grandson, AD Montgomery)

All the troops and crew managed to reach the shore, but only about 20 horses survived.

The horses embarking on board the SS Ismore (1899), of which only about 20 of the 334 that were on board survived (from the memoirs of one of the survivors, AJ Montgomery, supplied by his grandson, AD Montgomery)

The bay was named Soldiers Bay because of all the soldiers that were in the water after the wrecking.

The wreck now lies at about 10-15m around the blinder which it struck. It is rare to get good visibility on this dive though.

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Cape Town: SS Kakapo wreck & Van der Polls

Once upon a time, in those very early days, there were no more than a handful of families in this vale of Vishoek (as Fish Hoek was first called). Of these, the Van der Polls became an integral part - a big, happy, hardworking family of five boys and two girls.

One little sister died at the age of 12 and was buried in the Kirsten graveyard at the Silvermyn which belonged to the grandparents of Mrs. Van der Poll.

On the grandfather’s side there had been the huge estate of Pollsmoor - the original Van der Poll home - so no wonder the boys were toughened to farming life - no easy job in those days of no electricity, nor water - tending the lamps and wood for the big coal stoves and getting up at dawn to milk the cows and feed the horses; a hard life, but a glorious one.

In fact, the Van der Polls have memories of a never-to-be-forgotten dawn after a mid-winter’s night in August 1899 when Mr Van der Poll senior was carrying his lantern outside to hang in the cowshed and two rough, unshaven men came staggering up the mountainside to their Brakkloof home.

These men had been shipwrecked from the Kakapo on Noordhoek beach and had seen a pin-point of light all that distance away at the Van der Poll farm-house and staggered on and on until they found refuge!

This is the grave stone of the 12 year old girl Michael referred to, "Magdalena Jacoba van der Poll".

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