Gun-boat Diplomacy in the Red Sea

[Commodore Armiger]

When I served in Jedda, Saudi Arabia, in the early 1970s as HM Vice-Consul one of my responsibilities was the Non-Muslim Cemetery, a sadly run-down haunt of pi-dogs. It contained an odd selection of graves mostly Christian but some Jewish. As I recall some of these were victims of rioting by muslims in the 1880s (?). These riots were apparently put down and the foreign community rescued by a piece of Victorian gun-boat diplomacy involving the guard ship at Aden bombarding the town. Any information on this action would be most welcome. Any or all the infor above may be inaccurate except that the bombardment certainly took place.

[The Sailor]

Firstly, welcome to this forum.

Interesting forum name Commodore. I see you are someone who bears or is entitled to bear arms ...
Perhaps you might tell us a bit more about yourself ?

[herakles]

I agree Sailor. I look forward to hearing from the Commodore again.

Welcome Commodore.

Your comment about the cemetery reminded me that many of our war cemeteries in that region are now in a terrible state.

Further, some important sites are completely neglected or gone. The wonderful statue depicting the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba has disappeared.

The battlefield of their famous charge and victory - the last cavalry charge in our history - is now a rubbish tip.

[Commodore Armiger]

In Sweden they say that your best servant is yourself. So here is the answer I found to my own question:

http://books.google.com/books?id=_CQsk8xG9CEC&pg=RA1-PA267&dq=jeddah+bombardment#PRA1-PA267,M1

So it was actually 1858 and the vessel concerned was HMS Cyclops, which further research suggests had the previous year acted as a survey vessel for a transatlantic telegraph cable under the command of Lt Cdr Joseph Dayman RN.

The Cyclops of 1858 seems to have been an aging paddle sloop:
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/prints/viewRepro.cfm?reproID=PU6172

There was a further bombardment in 1895, also relating to anti-Christian riots and a third in June 1916 in support of the Arab revolt against Turkey (Lawrence and all that). The officer commanding that operation was the future 12th Earl of Cork & Orrery.

[The Sailor]

Perhaps Commodore you might acknowledge others who politely answer your posts and join into the forum.
Incredibly interesting though old bean. What do you think Herk?

[herakles]

I don't think!

[The Sailor]

I have known you to think sometimes Herk. Remember what you thought of the Russian lady who wants to move out to Australia to live with me?

[herakles]

Maybe Sailor. But I don't think too well at 5am!

[Commodore Armiger]

If the recent exchanges between "The Sailor" and "herakles" (both moderators of this forum) are typical of the standard to be expected, I think both should be clapped in irons and introduced to the ship's cat. Come on lads! This isn't your personal chat shop. Or perhaps it is, in which case why not come clean and say so instead of calling it "World Naval Ships Forum". I could have avoided wasting time providing new topics such as yesterday's on the Royal Naval Division.

My fear in writing this is that it will generate ten times more exchanges than anything actually related to the history and traditions of the senior service. But frankly it needs to be said now before other new members are frightened off by having to wade through this fo'csle chin-wagging to get at the useful stuff.

[herakles]

Quite right Commodore.

I look forward to your responses to my responses to your most interesting threads.

[The Sailor]

Commodore, we have both welcomed and encouraged you since you joined and no one else has.
At no time have you reciprocated in any way or acknowledged that.
However it appears that you have been prompted into a reaction at last.

Herakles looks forward to a long overdue response unless you just want to continue on writing for your own enjoyment and view any one else's post as an irritation, in which case no further responses will be given.

[kc]

Just to say I have read every post on the site, and Commodore Armiger's posts are for the most part excellent - particularly those on the Naval Division, which I did find very interesting. I did not post a reply because I couldn't really add anything to what had been said, and my time is short, but I did read it all with interest.

There are many visitors who read threads, both members and guests, but for one reason or another do not post a reply. Nonetheless I'm sure all the threads and posts which have such useful, detailed and interesting information in them are read and appreciated.

[herakles]

I completely agree Kc. The Commodore's posts are always of a high standard. Well researched and written.

And so are my responses!

[kc]

And so are my responses!
Very true. I probably should have mentioned that too. Just trying to keep the peace! :)