On this day in history : 23rd September 1641 – The Merchant Royal is lost at sea off of Land’s End – full of treasure! It is one of the most valuable wrecks of all time….
During a voyage across the Atlantic, with a cargo of silver and gold, bound for Europe from the New World, the Merchant Royal sprung a leak and Captain John Limbrey put in to Cadiz for repairs…. Whilst there a fire broke out on a neighbouring ship – also laden with gold, silver and jewels, on its way to Antwerp…. It was agreed that Captain Limbrey would add the cargo from the stricken vessel to his own and for a price make delivery on its behalf….
Example of a merchant ship from the 17th Century – Wenceslaus Hollar, graphic artist – Public domain
So, the Merchant Royal set off in tandem with her sister ship, the Dover Merchant…. As they approached the English Channel, in very rough stormy weather, the Merchant Royal’s pumps broke and the ship stared to take on water…. The crew launched the ship’s lifeboat, urging the Captain to go with them – but he refused, determined to stay with the treasure…. However, he soon had a change of heart and fired a canon to call the Dover Merchant for assistance – to which she responded and he was rescued….
The Merchant Royal went down some 30 miles or so off of Land’s End, near to the Isles of Scilly – with its cargo of 100,000lb of gold – which equates to over £1bn in today’s prices…. There were also 400 bars of Mexican silver, 500,000 pieces of eight (Spanish dollars) and countless jewels…. The wreck has never been found….
Pieces of Eight (Spanish dollars) – Image credit : Numismatica Pliego CC BY-SA 3.0
On this day in history : 22nd September 1914 – Three Royal Navy cruisers are sunk after being torpedoed by one single German U-Boat….
Illustration by Hans Bohrdt depicting the sinking of HMS Cressy, HMS Aboukir and HMS Hogue – Public domain
The incident was a wake up call to both the British and Germans; it had not yet been realised the full potential of the new submarines…. Some in authority had been dismissive of their usefulness – but this heralded the dawning of a new era….
U-9 – Public domain
The three Royal Navy cruisers, HMS Hogue, HMS Aboukir and HMS Cressy, were making their way across the North Sea and were a few miles off the coast of the Netherlands…. They had been sailing abreast at a distance of a couple of miles apart – no precautions against submarines, such as ‘zig-zagging’, were undertaken as the sea conditions were rough and considered as to be too unsuitable for the operation of submarines….
HMS Cressy, lead ship of the squadron – UK Government, public domain
The three cruisers had been built in the late 1800s/early 1900s and the general view was that they were unreliable and verging on becoming obsolete…. The crews were inexperienced, mostly recruited reservists and many were young, even including naval college cadets younger than 15-years-old…. They were part of a squadron who’s job was to patrol the North Sea – such was their inadequacy they were known as the ‘Livebait Squadron’…. Some high ranking authorities – admirals, commodores and even the First Lord of the Admiralty himself, Winston Churchill – had raised concerns at such an inexperienced squadron performing this role…. However, those in direct charge insisted the squadron in its current capacity remain in service and continue their duties until the time came that they could be replaced by the new Arethusa Class cruisers – which were awaiting completion…. So the events of the 22nd of September would most likely have caused considerable embarrassment to the immediate senior officers – they had completely underestimated the capabilities of the German U-Boat….
HMS Aboukir – UK Government, public domain
Kapitanleutnan Otto Weddigen was in charge of the Tyne U9 U-Boat that was to first strike at 6.30 am…. He had been patrolling these waters, on the hunt – and the three cruisers were sitting ducks…. The first torpedo struck HMS Aboukir – the captain, John Drummond, thought they had hit a mine and called the other two ships for assistance…. A massive explosion sent the Aboukir down at 6.55am – just as she was disappearing beneath the surface HMS Hogue arrived to pick up any survivors….only to be hit by a torpedo herself…. Next on the scene was HMS Cressy – to meet the same fate….
HMS Hogue – Symonds & Co, public domain
In total 1,459 men lost their lives; Britain was horrified and outraged – but such was the propaganda that the news reported that the squadron had been hit by six German U-Boats – but in truth senior officers faced reprimands…. A valuable lesson was learned….albeit a very expensive one in the respect of the unnecessary loss of lives….
As for Kapitanleutnan Weddigen – he was hailed a national hero and awarded the Iron Cross First Class….and his crew received the Iron Cross Second Class….
On this day in history : 21st September 1915 – Stonehenge is sold at public auction….to a Mr Chubb – who bought it as a surprise gift for his wife, at a cost of £6,600….
Image credit : Momentum Dash via Flickr
It is hard to think that one of our most treasured national monuments was, only just over 100 years ago, actually put up for auction…. The then neglected stone circle was sold at Salisbury’s Palace Theatre; it featured as Lot No.15 in the sale’s published catalogue….
Image credit : thegarethwiscombe via Flickr
Cecil Chubb came from a very ordinary background; his father was a saddle and harness maker in Shrewton, a village near to Stonehenge…. Cecil was obviously a bright child, he earned a place at grammar school and later went on to Cambridge University – enabling him to eventually train as a barrister, which he was very successful at and became comfortably wealthy….
Sir Cecil Chubb, May 1926 – Bain News Service (publisher) – Public domain
It is rumoured Cecil’s wife sent him to the auction in order to purchase a set of dining chairs….and was none too impressed by her husband’s romantic gesture of bestowing upon her a pile of mouldy old stones…. However, it is more likely that Cecil was keen to see a piece of British history remain part of the Country’s heritage – his fear being that Stonehenge may be bought by purchasers from overseas…. In his words – “I thought a Salisbury man ought to buy it, and that is how it was done”…. Three years later he gifted the 4,500-year-old monument to the Nation – his condition being the public should not have to ever pay more than a shilling to visit it – and local people should have access for free….
Stonehenge is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, managed by English Heritage…. Over one million visitors visit the stones every year; an adult entrance ticket currently costs £19.50 (£17.50 if pre-booked), which is a bit more than a shilling – although some 30,000 local people are still entitled to visit for free….
On this day in history : 20th September 1967 – The 58,000 ton Cunard cruise liner, The QE2, is launched at Clydebank, Scotland by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II….
Thousands on onlookers watched as the Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip and Princess Margaret, pronounced “I name this ship Queen Elizabeth the Second. May God bless her and all who sail in her”…. She then pressed a button and a bottle of Champagne was released to shatter against the side of the ship…. The cruise liner slowly began its backward descent down its launching ramp towards the water, gradually gaining speed as it went – reaching 22mph as it entered the water, sending a two-foot high wave across the Clyde….
Picture of the famous cruise liner QE2 Queen Elizabeth 2 on its last visit to Tyneside
On this day in history : 19th September 1879 – The very first Blackpool Illuminations, called ‘Artificial Sunshine’, bathe the Promenade in light, a whole month before electricity becomes generally available in London….
Image credit : Karen Fletcher via flickr
Blackpool was already an established seaside resort and was lit by gas lamps…. The council decided to invest £5,000 in experimenting with the concept of electric street lighting…. So, on the 19th of September 1879, eight Siemen’s dynamo-electric machines powered by sixteen Robey engines were used to power eight arc lamps, spaced 320 yards apart, along the Promenade…..giving a light equivalent to that of 48,000 candles…. Between 70,000 and 100,000 people travelled from across the Country to witness it….
The first form of the modern day display came about in May 1912 with a royal visit by Princess Louise to open a new section of Promenade – an electrical engineer was employed to create a display…. About 10,000 bulbs were used and the result was so impressive that the council were persuaded to repeat the performance as an after season event in the following September…. Once again, in 1913, the lights shone – but with the outbreak of WW1 darkness reigned…. It was in 1925 that the illuminations were reinstated, this time on an even more ambitious scale and their popularity grew – continuing to do so until the Second World War…. Even after the war ended rationing prevented the lights from being switched back on again – it wasn’t until 1949, after special permission from the Government to burn so much electricity, that the lights returned in all their glory….and have entertained the crowds every autumn ever since….
Image credit : Mjobling, Wikipedia project – Public domain
Cottage Capers 