HMS Camilla 1847 - 1860/1 World Naval Ships Forums Archive

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HMS Camilla 1847 - 1860/1 World Naval Ships Forums Archive

HMS Camilla 1847 - 1860/1

Posts 1 to 7

Just been adding a new item to the site, regarding the loss of HM Brig Camilla around 1860. We managed to include a photo of the ship from 1858, and a photo of one of the officers lost in the incident. Also included is what appears to be the obituary of the officer in command at the time, Commander G Colville. We have several sources claiming the date of the loss to be anything between September 1860 and March 1861 - if anyone could narrow this down it would be appreciated. I've copied the update below, with a link to the page on the site. [CENTER][IMG]http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/lge0136_hmscamilla.jpg[/IMG] [B]HMS Camilla, 1858.[/B][/CENTER] [LEFT]HM Brig Camilla was lost in a typhoon in the China seas on her voyage to Japan, 1860. She had left Plymouth in 1856 with the following officers on board, but never returned.[/LEFT] [CENTER][B]Commander G Colville - lost[/B], Lieutenant H Hawkes - lost, [B]Lieutenant Andrew - became Commander[/B], Surgeon Girvan - lost, [B]Master Read (or Reid) - became Master[/B], Paymaster Hooper - became Paymaster, [B]Mate Kellett - lost?[/B], Midshipman Hare - became Lieutenant, [B]Midshipman Thackeray - lost[/B], Midshipman Macdonnell - lost, [B]Nav Cad Berner - became Lieutenant[/B], Nav Cad Markham - became Lieutenant.[/CENTER] [LEFT]We know all hands were lost in this incident, so the list is confusing in that the officers here marked as lost were certainly lost with the Camilla, but it is unclear whether the officers with new ranks were no longer with the Camilla when the ship was lost, or whether they had been promoted before being lost with the ship. In the four or five years since leaving Plymouth, it is likely that at least some of the officers would have left the ship in one way or another - we know from the obituary for example that Commander Colville himself Captained HMS Niger before returning to HMS Camilla during this time.[/LEFT] [CENTER][IMG]http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/images/commandercolville.jpg[/IMG] [B]Commander H Hawkes.[/B][/CENTER] [LEFT][B]A report (or more likely an obituary) from the time on Commander Colville of HMS Camilla:[/B] [/LEFT] The distressing loss of her Majesty's ship Camilla, with all hands on board, in a typhoon off the coast of Japan, is already known to the public. No further particulars have, as yet, transpired, and probably never will. The officer commanding the sloop, Commander George Twistleton Colville R.N., was the second surviving son of Frederick Charles Aston Colville, Esq., of Barton House, Warwickshire, by his wife, Mary, sister to Chandos, late Lord Leigh, and was a scion of the ancient cavalier house of Colville, of Newton Colville. He was born in 1826, and entered the Royal Navy in 1839. He joined as a Midshipman aboard the Talbot in the spring of 1840, and in the same year was present at the bombardment of St. Jean d'Acre, for which he received two medals. After further service, he was appointed Gunnery Lieutenant on board the Rodney, from which ship he acted as its senior Lieutenant in the siege operations, and commanded a battery of the Naval Brigade before Sebastopol with great distinction, and was seized with Crimean fever, from which he was not expected to recover. He was also at the battle of Inkerman, for which he had a clasp. For his gallant conduct throughout he received an English and Turkish medal, and was created an officer of the Imperial Order of Mejidie. In the summer of 1856 he was appointed, as Commander, to the Camilla, and sailed almost directly for China; and while there, in March, 1859, he was appointed acting Captain of the Niger steam-sloop, and he immediately afterwards went on a cruising expedition, which important service he so gallantly and successfully carried out that his despatch on the occasion was published by Government, accompanied by a letter from Admiral Sir Michael Seymour urging his claims for promotion. During the latter part of 1859 and the commencement of the year following, Colville continued to be engaged in important duty in the China Seas, whence it was his sad fate never to return. Commander Colville, who was much and deservedly esteemed for his professional talents, amiable disposition, and many other qualities, is deeply regretted by his family and numerous friends. He marked for promotion to the rank of Post Captain on the 26th ult. [URL]http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/cruisers.htm[/URL] Incidentally, this is also currently the oldest known ship photo on the site :)

HI. My name is Adrian, I,m a new member and show an interest in HMS Camilla. My mother has an original letter and photo of a Charles Roache who was on board the Camilla and was promoted to Paymaster by the Admiralty about 1859. The letter he wrote explained his promotion and means to hold that rank, had to have proof of money in the family as collateral. He did not return home but was not listed among the officers who perished on board the Camilla. The letter was sent in 1859. There is also conflicting information as to where the Camilla sank, one report indicated West coast of Africa and another indicated in the Pacific near China. Not sure if any of this is of any interest. Adrian.

The CAMILLA was lost in September 1860 off the east coast of Honshu, Japan. She sailed from Hakodate on 1st September bound for Tokyo Bay but was never seen again. A tropical storm passed through the area on 9th September and she was presumed lost on or about that date. The Indian Navy sloop Berenice was ordered to conduct a search along her supposed track in late September, but could find no trace of wreckage or gain any news of her.

Were there any other Naval ships with the "Camilla" when she went down off the east coast of Honshu, Japan in Sept 1860. Adrian.

[I]Were there any other Naval ships with the "Camilla" when she went down off the east coast of Honshu, Japan in Sept 1860.[/I] ..No, she was on her own.

Just to add another detail about HMS Camilla ( although not relevant to her disappearance ), she was the 103rd vessel to be built at Pembroke Dockyard. There, I got it off my chest :)

[QUOTE=Adrian;57281]HI. My name is Adrian, I,m a new member and show an interest in HMS Camilla. My mother has an original letter and photo of a Charles Roache who was on board the Camilla and was promoted to Paymaster by the Admiralty about 1859. The letter he wrote explained his promotion and means to hold that rank, had to have proof of money in the family as collateral. He did not return home but was not listed among the officers who perished on board the Camilla. The letter was sent in 1859. There is also conflicting information as to where the Camilla sank, one report indicated West coast of Africa and another indicated in the Pacific near China. Not sure if any of this is of any interest. Adrian.[/QUOTE] I have a copy of the April 1860 Navy List which shows the following officers with dates of appointment to the ship: Commander GT Colville 8 Jul 1856 Lieutenants Almeric H Fitzroy 25 Jul 1859 and Guy CB Wither 21 May 1859 Master William H Moore 28 May 1858 Surgeon Hugh Girvan 14 Jul 1856 Paymaster James SH Hooper 10 Jul 1856 Assist Surgeon Edward M Morgan 4 Jan 1860 Assist Paymaster Charles William Roache 20 Apr 1859 (promoted to Asst Pay 9 Mar 1859)

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