SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
December 8:
“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
1844: Hamilla Mitchell, this wooden sailing brig wrecked south of Cape Voltas, between Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape.
1874: The south-westerly gale that claimed seven vessels in the Eastern Cape from the 5th to the 7th finally calmed, but on this day, a south-easterly gale sprang up in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, claiming three vessels:
• Star of Wales, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked south of the Umgeni River. Whilst anchored outside the harbour, both its anchors dragged, and the bow dipped below the waves. The cables parted and it was driven ashore in the early hours of the morning, where it shattered and was destroyed within 10 minutes. Of the crew of five that were on board, one man washed ashore after having clung to a piece of floating timber, and the other washed ashore later with no recollection of the event occurring. The other three were presumed drowned.
• Transvaal, this wooden sailing barque wrecked south of the Umgeni River, and after striking the rocks it began breaking up immediately. Onlookers watched in horror as all twelve on board perished.
• Wagrein, this sailing schooner wrecked at an unknown location along the Durban coastline with the loss of all hands.
1883: Reno, this Italian sailing barque missed its stays at night and wrecked at Mouille Point in the Western Cape.
1896: British Peer, this 3-masted iron sailing vessel wrecked at Grotto Bay off the west coast in the Western Cape with the loss of 19 of the crew of 23. Two graves were disturbed during development work in 1991 at Ganzekraal and it is believed that the two men, who were found semi-mummified, perished during the wrecking of the British Peer, and were deliberately buried in the dunes.
2017: Ellis S, this South African fishing vessel foundered off Danger Point in the Western Cape during heavy weather.
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