HMS Boadicea

Hi All,

Does anyone have any data on the captains of this vessel


barry

Hello Barry

The best man to give you advice on this would be P.O. Tom, he seems to have some very good info on the Royal Navy.

Regards

Martin.

barry,

During the Zulu War the, Captain of “Boadicea” was Commodore Frederick William Richards.

If you are looking for biographical information on him, see this post by “littlehand.”

http://1879zuluwar.forumotion.com/t2850-admiral-of-the-fleet-sir-frederick-william-richards-gcb?highlight=richards

If you are looking for information on everyone who served as her captain, then I will have to do a little research.

Here is a quick list of “Boadicea’s” captains.

1878 Captain James E. Erskine during commissioning
1878 – 82 Commodore Frederick W. Richards
1882 – 85 Captain Edmund Church (Flag ship of Rear-Admiral Nowell Salmon)
1885 – 88 The ship was being re-fitted
1888 – 92 Captain Hon. Asshton G. Curzon-Howe (Flag ship of Rear-Admiral Freemantle)
1892 - 94 Captain George A. Giffard (Flag ship of Vice-Admiral William Kennedy)
1894 “Boadicea” was replaced


Tom

Hi Tom,
Thanks.
Do you have anything on Captn Richards. I suspect he is the officer who surveyed the Zulaland coast at some time.


barry

Hi Barry

Please do not take this the wrong way, but if you use the Search on the forum, using the name Richards, you will find loads on Captain Richards.

Thanks 79graves

barry

barry,

Frederick William Richards,

30 Nov 1833 Born in County Wexford, Ireland, son of Captain Edwin Richards RN, and his wife, Mary Anne

Educated at the Naval School, New Cross

Jan 1848 Entered the Royal Navy as Cadet

Feb 1848 Appointed to HMS Bellerophon (Portsmouth)

8 Jan 1854 promoted acting mate while serving HMS Fantome (Sloop, Australia Station)

31 Oct 1855 Promoted to Lieutenant

1856 Placed on half pay

29 Jun 1857 Lieutenant on HMS Ganges (Flagship, Pacific)

1859 Appointed Flag Lieutenant on “Ganges”

9 Feb 1860 Promoted to Commander on HMS Vixen (Paddle Sloop, China Station)

8 Mar 1862 Commander on HMS Dart (Gunboat, West Coast of Africa)

6 Feb 1866 Promoted to Captain and placed on half pay

1866 he married Lucy Fayle

6 Jun 1870 Captain on HMS Jumna (Troopship)

3 Oct 1873 Captain on HMS Devastation (Battleship, Mediterranean)

1874 Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (F.R.G.S.)

1 Jan 1878 Captain on HMS Pembroke (Flagship of the Admiral Superintendent, Chatham)

31 Oct 1878 Commodore on HMS Boadicea (Corvette, Flagship of Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa). Served during the Zulu War; C.B. 27 Nov 1879, South Africa Medal with “1879” clasp; Served in the 1st Boer War where he was present at Laings Nek, promoted K.C.B. 24 May 1881

Jun 1879 Appointed A.D.C. to Her Majesty Queen Victoria (Jun 1879 to Jun 1882)

1880 His wife, Lucy, died at Simonstown

30 Mar 1882 Captain on HMS Thalia (Corvette, Particular Service) returning to England after the exchange of crews with “Boadicea”

9 Jun 1882 Promoted to Rear-Admiral and appointed Junior Naval Lord at the Admiralty

May 1885 Rear Admiral on HMS Bacchante (Flagship, East Indies Station) during the Burma War

25 Oct 1888 Promoted to Vice-Admiral

29 Nov 1890 Vice-Admiral on HMS Imperieuse (Flagship, China Station)

June 1892, Selected as Second Naval Lord at the Admiralty

1 Sep 1893 Promoted to Admiral

Nov 1893 Selected as First Naval Lord at the Admiralty

28 Jun 1895 Appointed G.C.B.

29 Nov 1898 Promoted to Admiral of the Fleet

1899 Retired

28 Sep 1912 Died at his residence, Horton Court, Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire


Tom

barry,

The surveying of the coast of Zululand in 1879 was conducted originally by Commodore Sullivan (Richards’ predecessor) in HMS Active, along with HMS Tenedos.

After “Tenedos” was grounded on a reef, Sullivan ordered HMS Forester from the West Coast of Africa to Natal to take over the surveying duties. “Forester” was a smaller ship, and more suited for getting in close to the shore. Her main task was to find a landing place which was eventually Port Durnford.

Commodore Richards sent Captain Bradshaw (HMS Shah) to go in HMS Forester "to make a more particular survey of the locality, as the Lieutenant-General commanding had in the meantime written to request I would cause an examination of the coast to be made for this purpose. Captain Bradshaw returned this morning, and his opinion being that there is a practicable landing place for fine weather at the mouth of the Emlalazi, I have communicated his report to the military authorities, and it is probable than when a military post is established, and the necessary surf boats and appliances can be obtained, an attempt will be made to land stores there. If successful, this will be a matter of very great importance to No. 1 column.” (Source: Letter of Commodore Richards to the Secretary of the Admiralty, dated May 2, 1879)

To sum it all up, the surveying of the coast was done under the direction of Commodore Richards, though not by him personally.

I hope this answers your question regarding him being the officer who surveyed the Zululand coast.


Tom

Hi PO Tom,

Thanks for a very useful and comprehensive answer.
Yet again and Irish officer in command of a ship of the RN, and who later became, amongst many others, an Irish admiral in the RN.
My questioning really stems from an interest in the survey of the mHlatuze lagoon (Richards Bay).
I may come back shortly with another specific question on this.

regards


barry

Barry,

Just to come in here on Tom's answer.

Richard's Bay was indeed named after Frederick Richards. The name was given to it be Sub-Lieutenant J.H.W. Theed of the Forester. The name first appeared on Admiralty Chart No. 2089 published in December 1879.

There's a memorial plaque to Richards in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

kwaJimu1879

Hi Kwajimu1879

Thanks for that about St Pauls, London. I have had the recent pleasure of seeing that memorial along with Nelson's and many other OBE's and notables. That place is positively steeped in history.

thanks
barry

PS ; as an aside, General Lukin's memorial is in the Anglican cathedral in Bloemfontein.