A superb MGS 59th Regiment, one of the 31 survivors of the wreck of the Seahorse in Tramore Bay. Of the 303 officers and men, 33 women and 38 children aboard only the Captain, 2 crew and 28 of the 59th survived. Previously present at the storm of St. Sebastian where over 350 officers and men of the regiment were killed or wounded in the storming of the breach

Military General Service , 2 clasps, Vittoria , St. Sebastian

James Huffin, 59th Foot

B. Ilkeston, c. 1790. Enl. April, 1809 disc. late 1816 ‘Suffering from weakness of the arm, caused by a blow when shipwrecked on voyage home.’ Late pension 1864 by the a frame knitter aged 74. Died Ilkeston, 14 March, 1867

The 2/59th Regiment and the wreck of the Seahorse

The transport Sea Horse sailed from a port in England a few days ago bound for Waterford or Cork, with a large detachment of the 59th Regiment, consisting of about 16 officers, 287 men, 33 women and 31 children… On the morning of the 30th  the vessel was driven into Tramore Bay by a desperate gale from the south. The severity of the weather had compelled her to cut her mizen mast, before she came within the bay… she continued beating off with a view to get around Brownstown Head, and thus to reach the harbour in safety, but totally without effect.

At 4pm Ballycotton Island was seen at about 12 miles distance. On board the Sea Horse, the Mate, John Sullivan, who was the only person aboard with knowledge of the approaching coast, climbed the foremast to spy out the land, but he fell, breaking his legs and arms. He died three hours later in his wife’s arms; a loss of local knowledge which was to have tragic consequences for his ship….

Local knowledge was indeed essential because the treacherous bay of Tramore could easily be mistaken for the calm waters of the Waterford Estuary – which lay just east of where the Sea Horse ultimately foundered

Two anchors were thrown out but these were dragged by the violence of the storm, and rendered totally unavailing. The vessel was then driven forward, within half a mile of the shore, in presence of hundreds of people, who could give the  no aid. It was low water at the time, about one pm, which on such a beach, rendered every chance of escape almost utterly hopeless. Much of them on board then retired below, and resigned themselves to their  impending fate. The vessel struck upon the sands… and in a few minutes went entirely to pieces. There were 363 drowned and only 31 saved

Captain Gibbs was one of the few survivors and later wrote a full narrative of events. He said of his fellow passengers

There was no disturbance amongst them, most were saying prayers, women were heard encouraging husbands to die with them, and a sergeant’s wife, with three children clasped in her arms, resigned herself to her fate, between decks.

Children fared worst of all, for many had been placed in trunks by their parents in futile hope they might float to safety. One large chest was later recovered containing the bodies of 4 tots – another child was found in the arms of his father who had refused to give him up to save his own skin.

Previously served in the Peninsula and at St. Sebastian as part of  General Robinsons Brigade which stormed the breach at enormous loss.

Leading the charge out of the trenches at 11am the Forlorn Hope goes up the rocky rubble of the slope. Acting Major Scott takes 2/59th along some way in the rear of the first rush which brings down men by the score, going up as third wave they keep at the task although men are falling everywhere and General Robinson is disabled from a shot in the face, Scott is killed, his place taken by Captain Abraham Pilkington, artillery crossfire and musketry fire from the castellated secondary defensive walls force the remnants of his men to go to ground in whatever cover they can find until, in the ensuing pause the British artillery commander is permitted to allow his gunners to fire a barrage of high trajectory shot directly into the face of these battlements and their tormentors. The result is decisive, as soon as this barrage is lifted in goes Pilkington with his men, the fire of the opposition has lost its intensity and, climbing through and over hundreds of bodies the survivors of 2/59th are through the ends of the breach to take its walls. Losses in 2/59th exceed those of any other battalion present, of the 352 killed and wounded  118 are killed outright and 222 wounded including 10 of their officers  killed or died of their wounds and 10 wounded.

An MGS to Sgt. McNall  of the 59th stated to be a survivor sold DNW 12/2014 £2050.

A little bruising  but a super MGS to a documented survivor