Why did the HMS Sirius sink?

Why did the HMS Sirius sink?

The Supply’s captain, Henry Lidgard Ball, tried to warn Hunter that both ships were coming dangerous close to the reef. Just as both ships sailed off, the wind changed direction which spelled disaster for the Sirius.

Did any ships sink in the First Fleet?

At midday on 19 March 1790 HMS Sirius, flagship of the First Fleet, was wrecked on the coral reef off Slaughter Bay. She had led the fleet of eleven ships that set out from England in 1787 carrying the people who would start a new Nation on the other side of the world. In a sense, the Sirius is Australia’s Mayflower.

How many convicts did HMS Sirius?

The flagship of the First Fleet, HMS Sirius was fitted out as an armed storeship with 20 guns. It was required to carry personnel for the penal settlement, embarking some 136 seamen, marines and officers, as well as her share of provisions and stores for Botany Bay.

What did the convicts do in their spare time?

Convicts played cards or games like chess or draughts that required different sorts of tokens, many of which were handmade. These might have been carved from animal bones (perhaps saved from dinner) or pieces of ceramic and wood they found, or cast in lead.

How many female convicts were on the HMS Sirius?

65 female convicts
There were 65 female convicts aboard HMS Sirius for the voyage to Norfolk Island (number of list is according to the Muster …

Why was the Second Fleet called the death fleet?

It’s no surprise the Second Fleet was known as ‘The Death Fleet. Of 928 male convicts on Neptune, Scarborough and Surprize, 26 per cent died on the voyage and nearly 40 per cent were dead within months of their arrival in the colony. This shocking mortality rate was nearly ten times that of the First Fleet voyage.

Who was the youngest girl on the First Fleet?

Elizabeth Hayward
Elizabeth Hayward. was the youngest female convict, at 13, on the First Fleet. She received seven years transportation at the Old Bailey in January 1787, for being accused of stealing clothes from the clog maker she was working for.

What happened HMS Formidable?

She was laid down at their Belfast shipyard on 17 June 1937 as yard number 1007 and launched on 17 August 1939. Just before the launch ceremony was to begin, the wooden cradle supporting the ship collapsed, and the ship slid down the slipway while workmen were still underneath and around the ship.

What happened to the Sirius ship?

On 19 March 1790, Sirius was wrecked on a reef at Norfolk Island while landing stores. Among those who witnessed the ship’s demise from shore was Thomas Jamison, the surgeon for the penal settlement. Jamison would eventually become Surgeon-General of New South Wales.

Who was the youngest girl convict on the First Fleet?

Mary Wade (17 December 1775 – 17 December 1859) was a British woman who was only 13 years old when transported to Australia. She was the youngest convict aboard Lady Juliana, part of the Second Fleet….

What happened to the HMS Sirius?

HMS Sirius, a Dido Class Light Cruiser, was built at Portsmouth Dockyard and was launched 18 September 1940. The completion of the ship was delayed by heavy bombing of the area. She was completed in May 1942 and joined the Home Fleet. Until August when she headed for the Mediterranean to take part in Operation Pedestal.

What happened to the First Fleet’s Flagship Sirius?

HMS Sirius was the flagship of the First Fleet, which set out from Portsmouth, England, in 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales, Australia. In 1790, the ship was wrecked on the reef, south east of Kingston Pier, in Slaughter Bay, Norfolk Island . Sirius had been converted from the merchantman Berwick.

What happened to the settlement of Sirius?

Ship left Wrecked off Norfolk Island in 1790. In March 1790 the settlement was desperately low in food and HMS Sirius and Supply were sent to Norfolk Island. In April the hopes of the settlement were shattered when only Supply returned with the news that Sirius had been wrecked off Norfolk Island.

Where are the memorials to HMS Sirius?

Bas-relief memorials to the ship were erected in the Sydney suburb of Mosman, Norfolk Island and Ryde, Isle of Wight in 1989, 1990 and 1991 respectively. The scientific name of the tiny crustacean Mallacoota sirius recalls HMS Sirius.