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Tristan da Cunha lifeboat disaster

The shores of Tristan da Cunha
Date	27 November 1885 (1885-11-27)
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	37°03′44″S 12°18′46″W / 37.062141°S 12.312739°W / -37.062141; -12.312739
Deaths	15

The Tristan da Cunha lifeboat disaster, which occurred on 27 November 1885, was a tragedy which saw the island of Tristan da Cunha suffer its biggest loss of life during a single event.

Event

Victims of the 1885 Lifeboat disaster:

• Joe Beetham
• Thomas & Cornelius Cotton
• Thomas Glass
• John, William & Alfred Green
• Jacob, William & Jeremiah Green
• Albert, James & William Hagan
• Samuel & Thomas Swain

On 27 November 1885, an iron barque named West Riding approached Tristan da Cunha. The vessel had originated in Bristol, England and was en route to Sydney, Australia. During this time, the island had lost regular trading opportunities which caused the majority of the able-bodied men on the island to board a lifeboat to make contact with the vessel. The lifeboat had been recently donated by the British Government, and although conditions in the South Atlantic Ocean appeared rough, the men sailed and the lifeboat was spotted sailing alongside the West Riding vessel for some time.

The lifeboat, and the men on board, never returned to the island. The ultimate fate of the men has never been proven, a number of theories have been given, such as the men drowning, to reports of them being taken to Australia to be sold as slaves. 15 men in total were lost, leaving behind a number of widows on the island. One of the victims, Thomas Green, was the son of William Glass, founder of the islands settlement Edinburgh of the Seven Seas.

Commemorations

A plaque at St. Mary's Church commemorates the lost men. On 27 November, 2015, the Royal Mail issued stamps to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the disaster.

References

1. "Tristan da Cunha Stamps: The Lifeboat Disaster". 2019-06-04. Archived from the original on 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
2. Hosegood, Nancy (1964). The Glass Island, the Story of Tristan Da Cunha. Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 978-91-30-04041-4.
3. Duyvenboden, Sandra Kornet-van (2007). A Dutchman on Tristan Da Cunha: The Quest for Peter Green. George Mann. ISBN 978-0-9552415-1-2.
4. Crawford, Allan (1982). Tristan Da Cunha and the Roaring Forties. Skilton. ISBN 978-0-284-98589-7.
5. "Tristan da Cunha Isolation & Hardship 1853 - 1942". 2021-02-27. Archived from the original on 2021-02-27. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
6. Grundy, Richard. "Tristan da Cunha Isolation & Hardship 1853 - 1942". www.tristandc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
7. Schreier (Anglist), Daniel; Lavarello-Schreier, Karen (2003). Tristan Da Cunha: History, People, Language. Battlebridge Publications. ISBN 978-1-903292-03-7.
8. Glass, Conrad (2014-01-01). Rockhopper Copper. Polperro Heritage Press. ISBN 978-0-9530012-3-1.
9. Millington, Peter. "The Lifeboat Disaster". www.tristandc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-17.

• Maritime disasters
• Tristan da Cunha
• History of Tristan da Cunha