Birkenhead survivors
Sergeant Francis Ginn
SERGEANT
FRANCIS GINN 43rd Light Infantry
One
of the body of brave young soldiers who maintained exemplary discipline and
afterwards commended by Captain Wright was Private Francis Ginn, of the 43rd
Light Infantry, then a recruit just turned eighteen. With others he stood on the
troopship, awaiting patiently what seemed certain death, while the safety of the
women and children was secured by means of the boats. When finally the Birkenhead went down, Francis Ginn found himself battling for life on the
surface of the treacherous waters. However he was a good swimmer and by removing
his clothing he kept going by alternately striking out shoreward and clinging
for support to passing wreckage during the long weary hours of that dreadful
night and the following morning. Eventually at midday he was picked up in a
benumbed and exhausted condition by a Dutch fishing boat. He was landed by the
Dutchmen and carried on the back of one of them to the hospital, where he stayed
three months before he fully recovered. Brought ashore like this and tended back
to health and strength he always remembered with gratitude the kind treatment of
his rescuers. On rejoining his regiment he served with it in South Africa and
afterwards during the Indian Mutiny.
Born
at Sudbury, in Suffolk, Francis Ginn was a silk weaver until enlisting in the
43rd Light Infantry on November 12th 1851.
At the age of 28, holding the rank of
sergeant, he left the Army saying farewell to his comrades at Fort
St George Madras on December 14th 1861.