The shipwreck
Autumn 1811: The large fleet of merchant ships gathered in Hanø bay. The convoy which is to return to England also include warships in order to protect the ships from the Danish privateers. The English squadron consisted on ships of the line and brigs. Two of the ships of the line were the St. George and the Defence.
November, 9th 1811: Final departure from Hanø. November, 15th 1811: The St. George suffers damages at Rødsand during a heavy storm. Many of the merchant ships are damaged or lost. Out of 120 merchant ships there are only 76 left. November, 21st 1811: The convoy sails towards Vinga. The St. George is taken in tow by the Cressy, another of the ships of the line. December, 1st. 1811: The convoy anchors at Vinga. Vice-admiral Saumarez have serious doubts concerning the safety of letting the St. George continue. He is strongly opposed by Contre-admiral Reynolds and his captain Daniel Guion who both claim that the St. George can make the voyage. By doing so they sign their own and the crew's death sentence .December, 17th 1811: The convoy leaves Vinga. December, 19th 1811: The ships of the line, the St. George, Defence, Cressy and Bellette are forced by a storm to return. Again the St. George is taken in tow by the Cressy. Vice-admiral Saumarez continues with Victory and the rest of the convoy. They arrive in England on the 26th of December after a difficult journey and know nothing of the fate of the St. George and the Defence. December, 21st. 1811: The ships which have returned towards Vinga now lies approximately 4 miles North-east of Salö lighthouse, when the wind changes. A fatal decision is made to make another try for the Skagerak and the North Sea. This time the St. George is not taken in tow. December, 23rd 1811: The wind now changes and the ships enter into serious problems. The Cressy and the Bellette reach England safe. Commander David Atkins onboard the Defence 3 times consider also to veer, but awaits the signal from the St. George. The signal never comes and when Atkins finally decides to make the veering it is too late. The Defence runs aground and is destroyed in the breakers. Of the crew only 5 reach the shore alive. Also the St. George runs aground. December, 24th 1811: The crew on the St. George are struggling in vain to survive. December, 25th 1811: Only 12 of the crew manage to reach the coast alive. At night there are still approximately 150 people on the ship. December, 26th 1811: There is no longer any sign of life on board the St. George. |
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November, 1st. 1811: Departure from the
anchorage at Hanø, but a storm forces the convoy to
return.