H.M.S. SHAH.

Subject: H.M.S. SHAH. Sun Mar 07, 2010 5:17 pm

Captain. Richards, F.W. (See H.M.S. Boadicea. )

Captain. Bradshaw, R. While on passage home from the Pacific, on hearing at St. Helena of the disaster at Isandlwana, immediately sailed for the Cape with all the available troops. His decisive action on this occasion received the approval of Parliament and the Admiralty, and gave occasion for an address of thanks from the Town Council of Natal. (C.B.)

Commander. Brackenbury, J. Commanded the Shah’s Naval Brigade during the war. Formed part of the advance guard of the Eshowe Relief Column; had charge of Gatling guns at the battle of Gingindlovu; afterwards joined Crealock’s Div. and advanced to Port Durnford. (Mentioned in despatches. C.M.G.)

Extracts from Mackinnon & Shadbolt's South Africa Campaign of 1879.

Posts : 96 Join date : 2010-03-28 Location : England

Here's a few pictures to go along with this thread.

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For inscription on the memorial & more info' see here : H.M.S. Shah

Guest

SirDCC,

Great pictures of the Shah and its naval brigade. I really like the collage. I recognise most of the pictures. Going clockwise, the top sketch is the Shah naval brigade at Gingindlovu; the second is a gatling gun crew sweeping the deck of the Peruvian ironclad, Huascar, at the battle of Pacocha in May, 1877; third shows men of the Shah marching with Lord Chelmsford's Eshowe Relief Column; fourth is the Shah. I am not familiar with the last sketch though.

Thanks,

Petty Officer Tom

Posts : 96 Join date : 2010-03-28 Location : England

Petty Officer Tom wrote:: SirDCC,

Great pictures of the Shah and its naval brigade. I really like the collage. I recognise most of the pictures. Going clockwise, the top sketch is the Shah naval brigade at Gingindlovu; the second is a gatling gun crew sweeping the deck of the Peruvian ironclad, Huascar, at the battle of Pacocha in May, 1877; third shows men of the Shah marching with Lord Chelmsford's Eshowe Relief Column; fourth is the Shah. I am not familiar with the last sketch though.

Thanks,

Petty Officer Tom

The site I got if from I can no longer find but it said it was naval soldiers defending at Gingindiovu.
After a image search today I find that it is in fact Seaman William Odgers winning the Victoria Cross for his leading role in an assault on Maori positions at Waireka, New Zealand. 1860 Rolling Eyes

So it has no right being there.
On the up side I did find a nice picture of the type of torpedo that the Shah would have used so every cloud ... Wink

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Posts : 600 Join date : 2010-01-07 Location : UK

hi
heres a few images of the HMS Shah and her crew...

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the memorial to the Shah

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some more information on the Shah

The first HMS Shah was a 19th century unarmoured iron hulled, wooden sheathed frigate of Britain's Royal Navy designed by Sir Edward Reed. She was originally to be named HMS Blonde but was renamed following the visit of the Shah of Persia in 1873.

HMS Shah-

Builder- Portsmouth Dockyard
Engine maker- Ravenhill
Laid Down- 7 March 1870
Launch-10 Sep 1873
Completed- 14 Aug 1876
Cost of hull- £177,912
Machinery- £57,333
Total (excluding armarment)- £235,245

Her complement was 469 officers and men, 46 boys and 87 marines

She was only in service for three years, as the flagship of the British Pacific Station under Admiral de Horsey. She fought an action, the Battle of Pacocha, in company with the corvette HMS Amethyst on 29 May 1877 with the Peruvian armoured turret ship Huáscar which had been taken over by rebels opposed to the Peruvian Government and, it was feared, could be used to attack British shipping.

The armoured Huáscar proved virtually impenetrable to the British guns, but the two unarmoured British ships the Shah and the Amethyst had to keep clear of the Huáscar’s turret guns. In the course of the action the Shah fired the first torpedo to be used in anger, although it missed – being outrun by Huáscar.

During her time as flagship she also visited Pitcairn Island. On her voyage home she was diverted to South Africa to assist in the Anglo-Zulu War.

In December 1904 the ship was converted to a coal storage hulk and renamed C.470. The hulk was sold on 19 September 1919, and subsequently wrecked in 1926 at Bermuda.[5]

There is a monument to the ship's crew men in Victoria Park, Portsmouth.

thanks joe

Posts : 1 Join date : 2013-08-03

the family story is that my Maternal Gr Grandfather Alfred George Wilton served on the HMS SHAH and believe he was on board when the ship served in Victoria and Vancouver area of BC Canada in 1877. also served on HMS Triumph. He also served in India at some point.

he was in the Royal Marines and played in the Band. After discharge worked at Ticehusrt Private Hospital as band conductor for 40 years.

His Florence daughter lived in Vancouver after WW1 with her husband and children

Subject: H.M.S. Shah Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:27 am

Hi kbbc.
Thought I'd check the Medal Roll for ' The South African War Medal 1877-78-79 ' to see if he's listed , unfortunately , he isnt on the Roll . Salute

Cheers 90th.

Guest

kbbc,

I checked the National Archives Online Records but could not find a Royal Marine named Alfred Wilton.

You said he was on HMS Shah in 1877 and later on HMS Triumph. In 1878 HMS Triumph was sent to the Pacific to replace HMS Shah as the Flagship of the Pacific Squadron. The ships met in late 1878 and the officers and men of “Shah” who were not returning to England transferred to “Triumph.” HMS Shah left in December on the voyage back to England, but diverted to South Africa to participate in the Zulu War.

There is no Alfred Wilton listed on the South Africa Medal Roll of HMS Shah either as a marine or sailor, so it appears he was one of those who transferred to “Triumph.”

When I checked the 1881 census I found an Alfred Wilton, born in Staffordshire, Musician, Royal Navy, on HMS Triumph. A check of the Royal Navy Service Records at National Archives shows an Alfred Wilton, Official Number 97826, place of birth Stafford, date of birth 23 July 1848.

If you want to check his service record you can purchase it online at the following link:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D6628242

Petty Officer Tom

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