"Women & Children First" - HMS Birkenhead Disaster
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Published 2024-04-08
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A British troopship sank after hitting rocks and over 600 soldiers and sailors were cast into the shark infested waters on a dark February night.
Scores were attacked and killed by Great White Sharks.
Just 193 - a third - survived.
HMS Birkenhead was transporting reinforcements to the 8th frontier War, being fought between the British and the Xhosas in the east of the Cape Colony, South Africa.
When the ship foundered, the senior British Army officer ordered all the men to stand to attention and not to rush the one lifeboat containing the women and children as it was lowered over the side.
In an incredible display of discipline and courage, they stood on the deck as the waters rose.
Over 300 men were lost.
However, all 27 women and children in that sole lifeboat survived.
It gave rise tradition in maritime disasters of “women and children first” - also known as The Birkenhead Drill.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:29 Summary
1:13 HMS Birkenhead
1:41 8th Xhosa War
2:13 Troopship
3:28 Sinking of HMS Birkenhead
4:36 Discipline & Courage
5:51 Survivor Stories
7:58 Losses
9:12 The Birkenhead Drill
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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
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Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
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All Comments (21)
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I had no idea this disaster involved sharks, it predated the Indianapolis tragedy by almost a century. I learned something new about the Birkenhead drill of women and children first. RIP to all of the victims and survivors 😢🙏vaya con Dios y en paz descansen. Well done, amigo.😊
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Kipling's response to this incident comes towards the end of his poem," Soldier an' Sailor Too". "To take your chance in the thick of a rush, with firing all about, Is nothing so bad when you've cover to 'and , an' leave an' liking to shout; But to stand an' be still to the Birken'ead drill is a damn tough bullet to chew, An they done it, the Jollies -- 'Er Majesty's Jollies -- soldier an' sailor too!"
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The waters off Hermanus are cold, even in our summer, when this tragedy occurred. Further up the coast towards Natal, the Benguela Current brings warm water down the coast from the northern part of the Indian ocean, which clashes with the cold Agulhas Current around the Cape, giving rise to the Cape of Storms. I promised I would swim in the Atlantic Ocean around Cape Town like I had in the Indian Ocean around Durban, but only put one foot in that chilly water before chickening out. 5 hours in those waters was a feat of super-human strength.
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I'd never heard of this disaster, but knew the Birkenhead Rule by name. Thank you for explaining where it came from. A truly terrifying experience in deed .
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As someone who lives right next door to Birkenhead on the Wirral, I had no idea of this event and the ship! Fascinating video as usual.
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Fascinating and inspiring as usual. Thanks Chris.
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I've heard it said that this incident contributed greatly to the death toll after the Titanic sank. Many lifeboats left at least half empty due to men who could have provided oar power or navigation skills stood back due to fear of being branded cowards.
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I left the Queens Royal Irish Hussars in 1990, our junior officers where all Cornets and I believe the Queens Royal Hussars carry this tradition on. The 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars charged at Balaclava, fought at Gwalior during the Indian mutiny and won the odd VC in both actions. A regiment well worth looking at, but then I might be a teeny weeny biased. Love your vlogs.
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One hopes that in a moment of crisis like that they would do themselves credit like Col. Seton and those British soldiers. Thanks for sharing the story Chris.
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you have such consistent quality! may i suggest something on war of the spanish succession and the battles of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during that war.
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awesome Chris thanks so much
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Thank you Chris.
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As usual, exceptionally well researched.
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Another well done video Chris!!!!
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Thank you for a great program. 👍
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Chris. thanks for another awesome tale.
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Thanks again Chris, for another fascinating story and told so well, Cheers.
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Thank you for another fantastic story, stay well.
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Brilliant storytelling as always. Thank you sir
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excellent video, keep it up
