HMS Comus

[styles07]

Is it possible to find details of the crew of the Comus in 1881? In 1881 UK census there was an AB James Carter aboard, either at sea or in a foreign port. I am interested to know if the ship was in Australia at that time.
Any help or ideas as to how to find this information would be great.

[denhealey]

No help I'm afraid, but I'm looking in the same direction. My grandfather served in HMS Comus at about that time and my Dad told me she was the last RN warship that was only propelled by sail.

[tomsam]

Hi Styles 07.
I am sorry to have to correct denhealey but she was steam/screw powered as well as sail.
HMS Comus a "Comus Class" Steel screw Corvette was in the company of HMS Lilly (Arab Class Composite Gun Vessel) in and around the Pellew Islands from 1881-1882. Probably working for the Royal Astronomical Society (As she often did).
The Islands are situated in the Gulf of Carpentaria and were named in 1802 by Mathew Flinders in honour of Sir Edward Pellew a fellow Naval Officer.
I do not have a picture of Comus and Lilly but have included two of thier sister ships HMS Curacoa and HMS Arab

[herakles]

Is my memory failing me again or is the name "Sir Edward Pellew" or similar used in the Hornblower books?

[tomsam]

Bright as a button "Herc" :D. He was also a real life hero of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras.

Sir Edward Pellew
British Admiral,
Viscount Exmouth,
1757-1833
Pellew joined the Royal Navy at 13 and quickly showed promise during the American War of Independence, earning promotions through his bravery and leadership. In 1793, Captaining the "Nymph", siezed the first French frigate of the revolutionary struggle, the "Cleopatre". He was Knighted for this.
One of his most courageous exploits came in 1796 and was not a naval action, but a rescue mission. It came near Plymouth when Pellew and his men bravely risked themselves to save the crew and passengers of the Dutton, a transport that had run aground in a fierce storm. In recognition for his herosim he was rewarded with a baronetcy.
Pellew's next command was the frigate Indefatigeable and against the French ship of the line Droits de l'Homme he showed his skills as a fighting captain. in 1797 Pellew's 44-gunner took on the much larger 74-gun warship and destroyed it.
His success and personal style made him a popular commander and in 1802 he became an MP.
Two years later he was made a rear-admiral and while naval chief in the East Indies he destroyed Dutch naval power in the area.
From 1808 he was closer to home and in charge of first the North Sea, then Mediterranean fleets and was promoted to admiral in 1814.
His final campaign included the famous attack on Algiers after its ruler refused to free Christians held as slaves in his lands.

[herakles]

Yet another extraordinary larger than life British navy man!

Thanks for this information. It was most interesting.

[denhealey]

Thanks for the correction, Topsam. Grandad was involved in the relief of the international community in Peking during the Boxer uprising, and in the relief of Ladysmith in the action which gave rise to the Field Gun Race, so the Comus you mentioned must have been the one he served in.

[tomsam]

Happy to oblige.
Just found a picture of the HMS Comus in dry dock in British Columbia.
During the nineteenth century Britain needed coaling stations for it's increasing fleet of coal powered vessels. Hence they developed the old Canadian naval base at "Esquimault". This in the dry dock at Esquimault.
Tomsam

[denhealey]

Thanks for the picture, Topsam. The thinking gets slower, the memory fades; could this Comus have been the last RN warship that had a full suit of sails as well as steam power?
denhealey.