Note 76 — CAMPAIGNS IN SOUTH AFRICA. 1834–5.

The “Birkenhead,” an iron steam transport, sailed from Queenstown for the Cape, with drafts of the 12th. Lancers, 2nd., 6th., 12th., 43rd., 45th., 60th., 73rd., 74th., and 91st. Regiments; the whole under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Seton of the 74th. Off Simon’s Bay, on 26th. February, 1852, she struck on a sunken rock, and shortly afterwards sank. Out of six hundred and thirty-eight souls on board, only 184 were saved. Colonel Seton and his men exhibited an example of the highest coolness and self-possession, and died at their post with the courage and resolution of British soldiers. A graceful tribute has been paid by the Queen to his memory, and that of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men who perished in the wreck. Her Majesty, desirous of recording her admiration of their heroic constancy and unbroken discipline, has caused to be placed in the colonnade at Chelsea Hospital, a tablet in commemoration of this event. When the ship struck, Colonel Seton called all the officers about him, and impressed upon them the necessity of preserving order and silence among the men, and intimated to the soldiers by his sergeant-major, that he would be the last to quit the ship. After placing the women, children, and sick, in the over-crowded boats, with his men drawn up on the deck, as if standing on parade, they all went down together with the wreck; one of the noblest examples of heroism ever recorded. As a splendid instance of heroic constancy, the late William I., Emperor of Germany, then King of Prussia, ordered the glorious story to be read on parade at the head of every regiment in his service.