SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
Unknown ship in Walvis Bay, Namibia
September 20:
“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
1800: Benjamin, this wooden sailing sloop wrecked in Gordon's Bay in False Bay in the Western Cape with the loss of all hands.
1837: Royal William, this wooden sailing schooner wrecked off Green Point in Table Bay in the Western Cape whilst trying to enter Table Bay at night.
1844: St. Mungo, this wooden sailing barque wrecked on the eponymous St. Mungo Point near Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape. Of the 17 strong crew, ten were lost.
1854: Charlotte, this 3-masted wooden sailing troopship wrecked on the rocks near Jetty Street in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. They attempted to enter Table Bay for provisions but due to adverse winds sailed into Algoa Bay and anchored there on the 19th of September. The cables parted in a south-easterly gale at night and although at first it seemed that they would manage to sail out the storm, more of its cables parted and after striking the rocks just below Jetty Street, the entire vessel started breaking up and sinking. The heavy seas inhibited most assistance from the shore and although some lines reached the troopship, owing to the Manby mortar, nobody noticed the wrecking event at first because of the dark. Those that survived managed to cling to the floating wreckage long enough to reach shore. Of the 227 that were on board, 117 lives were lost that day, 18 crewmen, 62 soldiers of the 27th Regiment, 11 women, and all 26 children. The wreck now lies beneath reclaimed land.
1865: Piscataqua, this wooden sailing vessel wrecked in Granger Bay in Table Bay in the Western Cape.
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