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White Wings Vol I. Fifty Years Of Sail In The New Zealand Trade, 1850 TO 1900

The Light Brigade

page 204

The Light Brigade.

A Handsome "Trooper"—Fine American-Built Ship.

Even the most enthusiastic of the admirers of that marvel of skill and knowledge, the modern mercantile ocean going steamer, would not care to claim beauty as one of its attributes. Impressive and efficient as the modern craft is it can never hold the same place in the affections of people as the beautiful clipper ships did in the days of sail. In the old days we used to have something very like a personal regard for the shapely ships from Home that used to come into the Gulf under a pyramid of white canvas. I was reminded of this change in the matter of the public attitude
the Light Brigade At Gravesend.

the Light Brigade At Gravesend.

towards ships when I came to look into the doings of the ship Light Brigade.

Old hands will remember how the old Queen Street wharf and Britomart and the other heights used to be crowded with people when this beautifully modelled vessel used to sail into the Waitemata. In addition to the great beauty of her model and rig, the Light Brigade was interesting from the fact that she brought out a large number of troops during the Maori War. Of 1214 tons burden, she was built in 1855 at Boston, U.S.A., by that celebrated builder D. McKay, and when she left the launching ways her name was Ocean Telegraph. Later she was sold to the Black Ball Line, and when she flew the red ensign her name was changed to that under which she was so well known for many years, the Light Brigade.

Troops for the Maori War.

She made three trips to New Zealand, her first appearance being on January 17, 1864, when she dropped anchor in Auckland Harbour after a capital run of 46 days from Rangoon, during which the weather was so fine that topsails were never once reefed. She did the run from Rangoon to the Three Kings in 41 days. On this occasion the ship brought a detachment of the 43rd Regiment with women and children from Calcutta, and a detachment of the 68th Regiment with women and children from Rangoon.

The officers who arrived on this trip and afterwards took part in the Maori War were: Major C. U. Shuttleworth, 68th Regiment, commanding; Captain Spratt; Lieutenant C. B. Tew, wife and child; Lieutenants B. H. Burke and C. C. Hood; Assistant-Surgeon O. Coddington; 211 rank and file; 33 women and 73 children. 43rd Regiment: Captain C.page 205R. Mure and E. Utterton; Lieutenant W. Swanson; Assistant-Surgeon J. Good; 47 non-commissioned officers and men, 10 women and 21 children. The total rank and file on board was 258; 43 women and 94 children; and 10 officers.

the Light Brigade was chartered by the Government to bring out further detachments from London, and returned to Auckland on December 22 of the same year, having sailed from the Downs on September 26. The passage was an uneventful and smart one of 86 days. During the run out she was in company with the Matoaka for several days, and then left her astern. the Matoaka came into Auckland on January 3, making the passage in 102 days from the Downs. On this occasion the Light Brigade brought out 435 troops, comprising all ranks, and including 33 Royal Engineers, 74 of the 12th Regiment, 45 of the 43rd Regiment, 84 of the 70th, 171 of the 50th, 18 of the Military Train, 10 of the Army Hospital Corps, and the following officers:—Major Holmes, in command; Lieutenants Molly, Rogers, Young and MacGregor, Ensigns Hobson, Bolton, Brett, Miller, Rowan, Lyons, and Assistant-Surgeon Wallace. A month before reaching Auckland one of the Royal Engineers, named Logan, was washed overboard and drowned.

Rough Weather.

the Light Brigade four years later came out to Lyttelton, bringing several saloon passengers, including Mr. G. H. Whitcombe, the founder of the firm of Whitcombe and Tombs. She also landed a large number of second and third-class passengers. Captain H. Evans (who commanded the ship on the three voyages to the Dominion) reported sailing from London on May 18, and having experienced constant northerly gales with incessant rain; passing the meridian of Greenwich on July 12. On August 9 the ship struck a gale of hurricane violence, when a heavy sea broke on board and washed the man at the wheel to the leeside of the poop, stove in the fore cabin skylight and filled the cabin with water. From this time until the 150th meridian had very bad weather and head winds until passing the Snares, on August 20, the passage, anchorage to anchorage, occupying 98 days.

After discharging the Light Brigade loaded for Home, and when rounding Cape Horn encountered terrific gales, during which seven seamen, including a brother of Mr. Simmons, of Auckland, were washed overboard and drowned.

This fine old ship, in later years, was finally condemned at Gibraltar and converted into a coal hulk.