Royal Naval Biography/Jervoise, William Clarke
WILLIAM CLARKE JERVOISE, Esq.
[Captain of 1828.]
This officer entered the royal navy early in 1800, as midshipman on board the Triumph 74, Captain (afterwards Sir Eliab) Harvey; and subsequently served under Captain (now Sir Thomas) Foley, and the late Captains Joseph Baker and W. H. Ricketts Jervis, in the Elephant, Ganges, and Robust, third rates, on the Jamaica station, from whence he returned home in the summer of 1802. He then joined the Lapwing 28, Captain Andrew Skene, and was in that frigate when she captured the Henrietta, a valuable French merchantman. We next find him again serving under his old friend Captain Harvey, then commanding the Temeraire 98, in which highly distinguished ship he bore a part at the memorable battle of Trafalgar[1]. His first commission, appointing him senior lieutenant of the Curieux sloop, Captain John Sherriff, bears date Aug. 8th, 1806, and was conferred upon him as a reward for his conduct on that glorious occasion. He afterwards served under Captains Christopher Laroche and Murray Maxwell, in the Uranie and Alceste frigates, and was highly spoken of by the latter officer for bis gallantry and zeal in an action with a formidable Spanish flotilla, near Cadiz, April 4th, 1608[2]. Previous to this he had witnessed the occupation of Madeira, by the forces under Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, and Major-General Beresford. In the summer of 1808, we find him accompanying Lieutenant Allan Stewart, first of the Alceste, with a message from Captain Maxwell to the French officer commanding at the mouth of the Tiber; who, disregarding the sanctity of a flag of truce, detained him and his companion, confined them for several weeks in a dungeon, and assured them that they would be dealt with as spies. At length, they were marched to Verdun; from whence Lieutenant Jervoise escaped to the coast of Holland, where he was betrayed whilst in the act of embarking, and again ordered into confinement.
On this occasion, he appears to have been transferred to the fortress of Bitche, in Lorraine, where his treatment was somewhat similar to that experienced by Mr. (now Captain) Donat H. O’Brien, and described in p. 239 et seq of Suppl. Part IV.
In the beginning of 1814, the allies having dared to pollute the sacred territory of France, all the British captives were ordered to be removed further from the frontier, and kept within the walls of their respective prisons[3]. Many, however, contrived to escape at this period; and amongst them was Lieutenant Jervoise, who got safely to the Roompot, and from thence returned home in the Colossus 74. His promotion to the rank of commander took place on the 27th of August following.
We have stated, in p. 206 of Vol. III. Part I., that Captain Jervoise was instrumental in saving the lives of the Marquis, and Marchioness of Chandos, and their infant daughter, when the mansion in which these noble personages were residing was accidentally burnt down, Oct. 30th, 1820. “The conflagration,” says a daily journalist, “was so sudden, that the inmates had only time to escape with their lives. Captain Jervoise, who first discovered the fire, will, it is said, be a very considerable sufferer by the event; and it is rather remarkable, that this gentleman once before lost all his personal effects from a similar deplorable occurrence: his present loss, however, he supported with a coolness truly characteristic of a British seaman.”
Captain Jervoise, subsequently commanded the Dispatch sloop, on the Mediterranean station. His next appointment was, July 28th, 1825, to the Pandora 18, fitting out for the East Indies.
On the 14th of Dec. following, being then off the Canaries, the Pandora was caught in a white squall, which laid her down, and filled the waist with water. On the 19th of the same month, she was obliged to cut away two anchors, and throw several guns overboard, in a dreadful storm from S.W.; and, being heavily laden, her fate was for many hours doubtful. On the 16th of Mar. 1820, she parted from her only remaining anchor, in a S.E. gale at the Cape of Good Hope, and was again placed in imminent danger. On the 23d, June, 1827, the following letter was addressed to her commander, by Captain James John Gordon Bremer, C.B., of the Tamar 26, then at Madras.
“Sir,– Having transmitted to Rear-Admiral Gage an account of the proceedings of the detachments from this ship and the Pandora, which were landed under your command, at Burburra, on the 11th January last, I am directed by the Rear-Admiral to offer to you his thanks for your exertions and conduct on that occasion, and to request you will convey his approbation to the officers, seamen, and marines of the Pandora.
“It is with feelings of great satisfaction that I fulfil this part of my duty; and I trust I may add to those of the commander-in-chief, my own thanks for the ready attention which at all times, during our long cruise, marked the Pandora, as well as my warmest acknowledgments for the able and cordial assistance I experienced from yourself on all occasions. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“J. J. Gordon Bremer.”
Captain Bremer’s official report of the proceedings of the Tamar and Pandora will be found in p. 436 et seq.
On the 6th Aug. 1828, Captain Jervoise was promoted to the command of the Success 28, in which ship we find him sailing from New South Wales, on his return to Madras, Oct. 27th, 1829. For the account of his subsequent proceedings the reader is referred to pp. 446–453.
Addendum.
WILLIAM CLARKE JERVOISE, Esq.
(See p. 46.)
[Captain of 1828.]
On the 15th Jan. 1830, this officer, then in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, addressed his commander-in-Chief as follows:
“Sir,– I avail myself of the only opportunity which has occurred, by the arrival of the Norfolk, on her way to India, to have the honor of informing yon, that I quitted Port Jackson in His Majesty’s ship Success; under my command, on the 27th of October, for the purpose of proceeding to Madras, in pursuance of instructions from Rear-Admiral Gage; and as I had to take the western passage through Bass’s Strait, I deemed it of the utmost importance not to pass the new settlement of Swan River, without ascertaining whether my services might not be required; particularly as the Governor of Port Jackson remained in ignorance of its fate, and strong rumours existing of a powerful French squadron having put to sea, to effect, if possible, a settlement before us; and as Captain Montague, in the Crocodile, had not succeeded in reaching it on his passage from India, I was the more desirous of satisfying myself with the state of the new colony for your information.
“It is now, Sir, with extreme concern, I have to report to you, that in the performance of this service the ship grounded on a reef off the south end of Pulo-Carnac, on the morning of the 28th Nov., whilst making for Cockburn Sound, and was not extricated until the 3d Dec, when, after being lightened of every thing except the ballast, site was hove off and warped into Cockburn Sound, a distance of seven miles.
“The damage was found to be considerable, having broken all the pintles of the rudder, part of the main keel gone, larboard bow stove in below the water line, and part of the stem carried away, which caused the ship to leak so much, that nothing but the most unparalleled exertion on the part of the officers and crew, with the most resolute determination to save the ship, could have kept her free. It is in the full confidence of a continuance of their extraordinary zeal and enthusiasm, that I am not without hopes of heaving the ship down, and putting her in such a state of repair as to be able to proceed, in furtherance of my orders, to Madras.
“Previous to my having attempted the passage, I took the precaution of ascertaining from the master, Mr. R. W. Millroy, (who was in the ship, and said he had sounded the passage, when commanded by Captain Stirling) whether he felt himself competent to take charge of the ship; to which he replied, with the utmost confidence, that he was fully capable, and recommended Cockburn Sound, as a much better and safer anchorage than Gage’s Roads, where I had otherwise intended to have gone.
“As we had a fine leading wind, I shortened sail to the topsails, and placing an additional look-out at the jib-boom-end and mast-heads, I allowed him to proceed; keeping the leads going on both sides, and hands stationed constantly by the bower-anchors. Whilst running down, I observed to him that we were running far to leeward; when he replied, ‘We must do so. Sir, to bring the south end of the island to bear E.N.E., before we haul up.’ The ship was scarcely brought to the wind, and the tacks hauled on board, when she grounded.
“A party has been sent about 30 miles up the river cutting wood, to make good our defects: the people employed in getting the guns and stores from Carnac to Gardeu Island, and caulking the ship preparatory to being bore down, which, with the assistance of the Sulphur, I hope to be able to effect, having throughout experienced from Captain Dance, his officers, and crew, the greatest support and most zealous co-operation, which call for my strongest admiration and most cordial thanks.
“In these operations also, I have met with every assistance from Lieutenant-Governor Stirling that his very limited means would admit.
“I trust, Sir, I may be permitted to avail myself of this occasion to recommend to your notice Mr. (Edmund) Yonge, the senior lieutenant of this ship, whose conduct I cannot too strongly appreciate, or admire, for his ability and unremitting attentions, and whose great assistance and exertions in his promptness to second my efforts, exceed any encomiums I could bestow. Much of this arduous service naturally devolved on this valuable officer, who is of some standing, and well known to many of the first officers in the service, whose esteem he possesses.
"To Lieutenant (Edward) Littlehales and acting Lieutenaut (P.) Blackwood my warmest thanks are due; the former, who by hia example and exertions inspired confidence in the people at the pumps, and kept them constantly going at the most critical moment; to the latter, who though on the sick list, and in a weak state, requested to do duty, and was directed to land on Carnac Island, to superintend the debarkation of the sick, guns, shot, stores, provisions, &c., all of which he performed with unremitting attention, and ultimately with very inconsiderable loss.
“Although from the general ability and attention of the surgeon, Mr. (William) Leyson, the sick list at this time was small, and therefore required but little of his attendance, yet I have the greatest pleasure in stating, that his general exertions were afforded on every occasion, and in every part of the ship where he thought they could be most beneficial.
“By the usual forethought and attentions of Mr. (Frederick), Hellyer, the acting purser, all the provisions were landed in perfect order, where be secured and superintended them, together with the chronometers and ship’s books, most unremittingly; and to his care I attribute the preservation of this most essential part of the service.
“It must be a pleasing reflection to the relatives of these young gentlemen, whose names I have the honor to lay before you, to hear that they have merited my warmest praise and admiration, for their spirited end undaunted exertions in the execution of the very arduous duties they had to perform, viz. Messrs. Moorman, Lodwick, Noble, Smith, Dawes, Branch, and Harvey.
“Amongst the general good conduct of the warrant officers of this ship, I beg leave to call your attention most particularly to that of Mr. Lewis, the carpenter, whose great attention in plugging up the holes in the bows, and attending to the leaks, and who, in an almost incredibly short space of time, knocked up a temporary rudder, by which the ship was steered into Cockburn Sound.
“In concluding this letter, the conduct of the ship’s company naturally calls for some remarks. I beg to assure you. Sir, that it surpasses any praise I can bestow. When I reflect, that during our perilous situation, the little hope or prospect of safety there was at times before us, not a single instance of insubordination was observed. On the contrary, although occasionally the physical strength of the men was nearly exhausted by their unremitting labour during five days, their cheerfulness, their exertions, and their determined perseverance, at no one moment deserted them. It was to these exertions, used under the protection and guidance of Providence, our fate on this day depended, and which gave me the strongest hopes of ultimate success they have, indeed, rendered themselves worthy of their Country, and of the service to which they are attached.
“The Archdeacon Scott (who was passenger on board, on his way to England from New South Wales) was kind enough, at my request, to offer up thanks for the officers and crew, for our miraculous deliverance from our late perilous situation: this excellent man was often requested by me to ensure his safety by landing on Carnac Island: but so determined was he to link his fate with his old shipmates, that nothing could induce him to quit whilst any doubt remained of our safety.
“From the great scarcity of provisions at present prevailing in the colony, I have found it expedient to purchase some bread, beef, and pork, from the Norfolk merchant ship, and shall continue to do so, by every opportunity that may offer, as the Government here can no longer afford us the necessary supplies.
“I shall use the utmost despatch in endeavouring to make good the defects, which I fear will not be so rapid as I could have wished, being chiefly left to our own resources.
“I beg to annex a narrative of our proceedings from the commencement of our most perilous situation, in which I trust it will be found no human exertion of any individual was wanting to rescue the ship from her almost helpless fate. I have the honor to be, &c.
(Signed)“W. C. Jervoise, Captain.”
“To Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Owen, K.C.B.
&c. &c. &c.”
(enclosure).
A Narrative of the Proceedings on board His Majesty’s Ship Success, which grounded on the 28th Novemher, 1829, and was not extricated until the 3d of December, 1829, a period of five days.
“Ou the 27th of November, 1829, at p.m.. Cape Naturaliste bore east, distant three leagues; – fresh breezes from the southward. At daylight on the morning of the 28th, the land about Garden Island (Buache of the French) bore N.E.b.E. At 6, the master (Mr. R. W. Millroy) requested my decision on going into Cockburn Sound. Going on deck, and looking at the land, I asked him if he felt quite sure that he was right, to which he replied, he ‘was quite sure all was right, and that as soon as that point (pointing with his glass to the south end of Carnac Island), bore E.N.E. it would be time to haul up.’ From the great confidence he seemed to express, I permitted him to take charge; the people were ordered to their stations, the sail shortened to the topsails, steering at the time N.E.b.N., an additional look-out placed on the jib-boom end, the leads were kept going, and hands constantly by the bower-anchors. At 6-30, the north point of Garden Island bore S.S.E., and the S.E. end of Pulo-Carnac E.N.E.; altered course to E.S.E., and set the courses and driver by request of the master, the duty of the ship at this time being carried on by the senior lieutenant, Mr. Edmund Yonge, under my directions. About 6-45, in hauling up to the S.E., the sails were scarcely trimmed, when the ship took the ground; the last cast of the lead being half-three. – The best-bower was instantly let go, and almost immediately parted; the sails were furled, top-gallant yards and masts got down on deck – let go the small-bower, to which the ship swung to the wind for a short time only, as the chain parted, and she again paid round with her head to Pulo-Carnac, and was driven close in shore. Sent the master away in the second gig, to sound round the ship, and report upon the best position for laying out an anchor; the boats were then hoisted out and lowered down; – the wind increasing made it necessary to strike the topmasts. The master returning, the kedge-anchor was laid out to the southward, for the purpose of assisting the boats in warping out the spare anchor. At this period, two boats were reported to me, coming down from the anchorage in Cockburn Sound, which proved to belong to the Sulphur, in one of which was Captain Dance and the master of that ship (Mr. John Perriam), who came to offer every assistance; and the other, under the direction of acting Lieutenant Marritt, with a stream-anchor and cable, which was most speedily laid out in the same direction as our own. The stream-cables being hove taut, the Sulphur’s yawl and one of our own pinnaces were directed to hang the spare-anchor, with a 14 ½ inch cable, between them; and, hauling themselves out, to let it go in the direction of the stream-anchors. About this time, the ship striking hard, the rudder was unshipped, all the pintles and the lower gudgeon being carried away the transom sprung by the iron tiller, and eventually cut to enable us to uhship it. In heaving on the spare anchor, which had been laid out to the southward two cables’ lengths, it parted, the cable being cut through by the rocks; the kedge and stream parting at the same time. The sheet was instantly let go, which did not hold a minute, both flues being broken off at the crown. The ship’s head was again forced to the northward, having the stem exposed and left to the mercy of a strong S.W. sea breeze, with some swell, causing the ship to strike violently, making five feet water an hour, and in this position she continued all night.
“At this critical period, thought it necessary to assemble the ship’s company, to apprise them of the perilous state of the ship, and to express my strong approbation and admiration of their great exertions from the commencement, and recommended a continuance of the same as the only means of effecting the safety of the ship: – this seemed to excite an additional degree of enthusiasm, and, amidst the loudest cheering and the strongest exertions, they returned to the pumps, swearing they would never quit her whilst she would swim. Captain Dance remained on board all night, and at day-light the following morning was directed to proceed oh board the Sulphur, to send down a bower-anchor and cable, which considering the means he possessed (from his ship being unmanned by boats away on an exploring party, which prevented his being able to move his own ship) was accomplished with the utmost despatch, the Sulphur being anchored at least seven miles off. Several guns having been fired for assistance, at 4 p.m. a boat came from the Lion, a brig lying in Gage’s Roads, with Mr. M‘Leod the master, and his supercargo, who were requested either to move the brig round, or send an anchor and cable, as at that moment we had neither, and had sustained much damage; intimating at the same time that Government would make a remuneration for any service rendered: – they left the ship, but never returned; and ultimately sailed from the place on the 30th of November. I particularly wish to mark the conduct of this man, it being so perfectly unlike the proceedings of an Englishman, In the situation in which we were placed.
“Nov. 29th. – From the peculiar situation of the ship I judged it necessary to lighten her, and commenced by landing some of the guns and other stores. At 3 p.m., the Sulphur’s yawl came alongside with a bower-anchor and cable, which was laid out to the southward, bent to one of our own hempen cables and passed through the rudder hole; brought it to the capstan and tried to heave off, when the cubic parted, and the ship forced herself toward a ledge of rocks about three feet above water. The end of the 14 ½ inch cable, parted from yesterday, was crept up, bent to, a shroud hawser, passed through the starboard stern port, and hove taut. The bolts in that part of the keel in the bread-room having started, the water began to make its way among the bread, when Mr. (Frederick) Hellyer, acting purser, with his usual forethought; and precaution for the safety of his stores, reported to me the state thereof, on which I requested him to take charge of the ship's books and accounts, together with the chronometers, and his own stores, and proceed to seek a place of safety for them on the island. During the night three planks of the larboard bow were stove in, and the cutwater completely ground away to the wood-ends against the rocks.
“Nov. 30th – At 7 a.m., crept up the end of the cable parted from yesterday, lashed both messengers to it, and hove taut through the rudder hole. Crept up the small rudder chain which had parted on the 28th, passed the end of a hempen bower-cable, with a splicing piece on it, through the starboard after-port on the half-deck, and hove it taut.
“The Lieutenant-Governor came on board, and remained all night, his offers of assistance were much felt by all on board. He was kind enough to express his approbations at the exertion and perseverance manifested by all. As the ship was again secured, and the sea-breeze continued to blow fresh, we made no attempts to heave the ship off, but lightened her as fast as possible, by getting out guns shot, ballast, provisions, and other stores; – the carpenters plugging up the holes made in the bow; – the ship at this time making eight feet water per hour. During this and the former days, the people were without interval kept at the chain-pumps and the cheerful manner in which this was performed could alone give us any hope.
“As it was necessary that some officer should be landed to direct the necessary arrangement of all the stores, and receive the sick, acting Lieutenant Blackwood was selected for this service, who merits my approbation in every way from his great wish to do duty at the time the ship grounded, although he had been in the sick list for several months before and was still in a weakly state.
“December 1st. – Landed the assistant-surgeon with the sick on Pulo-Carnac, and part of the stores. At 3 a.m., made an attempt to heave the ship off, having shifted the stern-cable to one of the larboard quarter main-deck ports. She started a few feet when the cable parted. Succeeded in clinching it again, hove taut, seized the end to the side bolts just inside the port, keeping the messenger also on it, and brought-to; – people continually employed at the pumps, clearing ship of all her stores to the ballast, thrumming a sail, and rafting the spars. As a rise of tide was anticipated we had still a hope of saving the ship.
“Dec. 2d. – Continued landing stores of every description. At 3 p.m., made an attempt to heave off by the Sulphur’s anchor, with two hempen cables an end on the larboard quarter, leading through the second after port on the main-deck; to these were hitched and seized our own two messengers, the hempen one brought to the capstan on the main-deck; the coir, with a runner on it, was bitted forward: the latter was intended to assist the former, but from having a less purchase was more of a standby: they were cut off as soon as we had end enough to bring the cable to the capstan – two round turns were taken, and luff’s used for holding on. Through the opposite port, led one of our hempen cables, shackled to the small-bower chain, the anchor of which was nearly astern; on this was clapped a runner and yard-tackle; – the stream-anchor which had been of necessity dropped among the rocks on the starboard quarter, the day before, was now turned to good account by leading its chain through the same port, and therewith guying the ship into the deepest water. Through the stern port on deck was the shroud hawser; the object in view was to keep an equal strain on the two bowers whilst heaving off; by a rally at the capstan, however, one of the cables gave way; lost no time in recovering its end and re-bending; the power at the capstan was reduced to two hands to a bar, and the falls on the main-deck (or rather the other cable better manned, and by 7 p.m. the ship was in 2 ½ fathoms water; the small bower-chain was then unshackled from the hempen cable, and passed from the starboard quarter port to the hawse hole on the same side, the larboard cable was buoyed and slipped, the shroud-hawser taken to the larboard hawse-hole, the ship swung with her head to the nothward, and moored with nearly three lengths of chain on the starboard cable.
“Dec. 3d. – At 4 a.m. hove up the small-bower. At 8; hove up the hempen bower, and commenced warping the ship towards Garden Island; left an officer with a party at Pulo-Carnac for the protection of the stores and provisions. Ship making three feet water an hour. At 7-30 p.m., anchored in Cockburn Sound, in 9 fathoms, veered to 28 fathoms, and moored ship with a kedge to the northward.
(Signed)“W. C. Jervoise, Captain.”
Nothing short of such wonderful exertions as were used by Captain Jervoise, his officers and crew, (first in extricating themselves from their perilous situation, and afterwards in heaving down and repairing their ship,) could possibly have saved the Success. On his arrival at Trincomalee, he was most highly complimented by that excellent officer and seaman, Sir Edward W. C. R. Owen, in company with whom he sailed for Bombay, in March 1831; it having been previously determined that his little frigate, supposed as she then was, to be no longer fit for the public service, should either be sold or taken to pieces. On her being docked however, the surveying officers reported, that, with the exception of her wanting a new rudder, she was perfectly fit for service.
At this period, Captain Jervoise was ordered to assume the command of the Calcutta, a new 84; but, as Sir Edward Owen had resolved that the Success should neither be sold nor broken up in India, he requested permission to stick by her as a point of honor, not wishing, as he said, to see any other officer subjected to the risk of taking home a ship which had been repaired under such peculiarly disadvantageous circumstances. His request was unhesitatingly complied with, and as an additional mark of Sir Edward’s admiration of his uncommon exertions, perseverance, and skill, the whole of his warrant officers were promoted into ships of a superior rate, and the vacancies caused by their removal given to men of his own selection. Most of the other fine fellows by whom he had been so ably and zealously assisted were then transferred to the Calcutta, and a fresh crew sent to the Success, composed of 100 soldiers belonging to H.M. 1st, or royal regiment, and a few blue jackets drafted from the different ships of the squadron. Thus manned, she arrived at Spithead on the 25th Nov. 1831, and, as was generally remarked by the naval officers’ assembled at Portsmouth, came into harbour like a perfect man-of-war: she was paid off on the 16th of the following month. We feel much pleasure in adding, that the whole of Sir Edward Owen’s appointments have since been confirmed by the Admiralty.
Agents,– Messrs. Maude and Co.