Birkenhead survivors
Thomas Coffin
THOMAS
COFFIN joined th Birkenhead in the
winter of 1850-51. He was on duty as the man at the wheel when the troopship
struck the rock. He was coxswain of
the rescue cutter with a number of men from
the wreck including the surgeon Dr Bowen.
This is part of his account …
My
boat’s crew and myself picked up 32 in all and we pulled till daylight, when
we came across the second cutter and gig and we sighted a sail in the offing.
The ship’s doctor called for seamen to man the gig and pull toward her. Eight
of us volunteered, and we pulled out, but could not attract her attention, so we
decided not to venture any further but pulled for shore which we reached at
about 6 p.m. Fish Bay was our landing place and fortunately for us the
postmasters’ daughters of Caledon had just finished bathing and were about to
return home. They were very kind and provided us with some coffee and bread
which was very acceptable. After we had tramped to Caledon we were sent to
Simon’s Town, and then to Algoa Bay, our naval station. We were brought back
to England on the Amazon. I was one of
the witnesses at the court-martial, and was asked by the Admiral Judge-Advocate
if the court could do anything for me to which I replied
“Nothing, thank you, but to allow me to stay in the dockyard at
Portsmouth for a time” which was readily granted me. This ended my experiences
with all connected with the Birkenhead.”