HMS Highflyer

Naval Database

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Highflyer, 1851
Type: Frigate ; Armament 21
Launched : 13 Aug 1851 ; Disposal date or year : 1871
BM: 1161 tons ; Displacement: 1902 tons
Propulsion: Screw
Machinery notes: 250
Notes:

20 Dec 1848 Woolwich building (steam sloop)

22 Apr 1854 Samson, Furious, Terrible, Tiger, Retribution, Arethusa, French vessels and rocket boats attack the military works at Odessa, with the Sans Pareil and Highflyer in reserve - see p. 400-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

28 Apr 1854 allied squadrons reconnoitred Eupatoria - see p. 401 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

29 Apr 1854 off Sebastopol - see p. 401 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

Early days of May 1854 the Agamemnon, Samson, and Highflyer were detached to the eastern shores of the Black Sea - see p. 401-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

10 May 1854 Highflyer and others detained the vessel Klissova.

10 May 1854 Highflyer and others detained the vessel Ayos Joannes O'Prodomoy.

17 Oct 1854 1st Bombardment of Sebastopol - see p. 437 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

12 Nov 1854 the Tribune, Highflyer and Lynx, supported a landing-party which destroyed a martello tower at Djemetil, near Anapa - see p. 435 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

25 May 1855, Kertch and Yenikale were captured, along with thousands of tons and coal and provisions, along with factories etc., by some 60 French and British vessels, and allied troops, for which no prize money appeared to be payable, contrary to the Queen's instructions. See Hansard for more details, and approval for a Parliamentary Grant in lieu.

1855 Reclassed corvette

13 May 1857 arrived Hongkong from UK.

5 Jun 1857 Canton River.

16 Oct 1857 Hongkong.

15 Nov 1857 Canton River.

28 Dec 1857 Capture of Canton (see also report in London Gazette www.gazettes-online.co.uk of 16 and 26 Feb 1858).

27 Feb 1858 Hongkong.

15 Mar 1858 to Shanghai.

30 Mar 1858 Shanghai.

5 May 1858 Gulf of Pechelee.

23 May 1858 Shanghai.

1 Oct 1856 - 26 Jun 1858 Parliamentary Grant of �33,000, for services (in lieu of Prize Money) on the China Station to be divided between 56 Vessels

5 Jul 1859 Gulf of Pechelee.

10 Aug 1859 Shanghai.

28 Sep 1859 Japan.

15 Dec 1859 Hongkong.

28 Feb 1860 Canton River.

16 Nov 1860 Hongkong.

15 Dec 1860 Canton River.

7 Feb 1851 departed Hongkong for England.

17 Jun 1866 arrived at Zanzibar.

28 Jul 1866 detained at Kokotoni, on the NW coast of Zanzibar, a slave dhow, Name Unknown, with no papers or flag, her master remaining on shore once he saw the flag of the cruiser, which case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

21 Aug 1866 is was learnt that several large dhows had been furnished with passes for Lamoo, now on the coast of Kenya, but that this was a cover for those intending to sail through to the north, to Arabia, Muscat etc. It was also learnt that the dhows were waiting for the departure of the Highflyer when they would pick up the end of the SW Monsoon.

24 Aug 1866 departed Zanzibar and anchored off Port Durnford until the 27th.

27 Aug 1866 detained a slave dhow off Port Durnford which came through the channel, Name Unknown, with 151 slaves on board, which case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

30 Aug 1866 anchored off Brava where the state of the anchorage is described and enquiries were made regarding the presence of any shipwrecked European seamen, particularly amongst the Somalis.

1 Sep 1866 whilst proceeding along the coast looked in at Murkah during the day and anchored that night at Magadoxa, where the holding ground was good, but was open to the Western Monsoon. The interpreter was sent in to speak with the Sheik, but had to be rescued from the Somali bushmen by the traders in the town and returned on board without delivering his message.

5 Sep 1866 looked in at Ras Mabber where there was a good anchorage.

7 Sep 1866 Finding a case of small-pox amongst the slaves departed for Aden, where the 2 arrested dhows were condemned.

12 Sep 1866 departed Aden for Guardafui (Ras Asir), which was passed on the 15th, where the SW Monsoon created a heavy running sea, and so returned an anchorage a mile off Guardafui.

22 Sep 1866 following reports discovered a bilged dhow, Name Unknown, south of Guardafui, apparently being aware of the frigate's presence, the slaves being marched to Maculla. Measured and destroyed the dhow, which was fitted for 200 slaves, and sent the case for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

28 Sep 1866 whilst a Ras Haffoon chased and captured a dhow, Name Unknown, bound for Maculla, with grain for Brava, which still had 6 slaves on board, and since she was leaking badly destroyed the vessel, and sent the case for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

29 Sep 1866 whilst at anchor under Cape Guardafui saw a number of dhows becalmed and one, Name Unknown, being en route from Zanzibar to Maculla. run in shore and attempt to land her human cargo. 117 slaves were rescued, but the crew of the dhow escaped amongst the cliffs and rocks ashore with some slaves. The case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

30 Sep 1866 detained a dhow off Cape Guardafui with 150 slaves on board, bound from Zanzibar to Arabia. The dhow being in a wretched condition was destroyed and the case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

3 Oct 1866 arrested a small Soori dhow, Name Unknown, off Cape Guardafui, bound from Zanzibar to Maculla, which was detained with 118 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden. In the evening examined some dhows which all turned out to be honest traders.

5 Oct 1866 whilst examining a fleet of dhows running past Cape Guardafui detained a small dhowName Unknown, with 3 slaves on board, which was taken to Aden, where it turned out that all those on board, barring the master, were slaves, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

5 Oct 1866 also observed a dhow, Name Unknown, being run on shore with about 50 slaves on board, and a part cargo of rice : the dhow soon broke up in the surf and there was no need to destroy it, and the case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

9 Oct 1866 with signs of small-pox appearing amongst the rescued slaves, and the Monsoon declining, departed for Aden where the dhows were condemned by the Vice-Admiralty Court. 9 dhows have been destroyed over the last 6 months totalling 647 tons, and 561 slaves were rescued and subsequently emancipated, 4 having died from dysentry, 6 being landed at the Seychelles and the remainder at Aden.

29 Oct 1866 Captain Thomas Malcolm Sabine Pasley advises the Secretary of the Admiralty that he departed Aden for Makulla as requested by the Political Resident having completed coaling, victualling, and provisioning.

31 Oct 1866 arrived Makulla where, having interview the Nakub, there appeared to be no need to remain and so returned to Aden.

6 Nov 1866 departed Aden for the Seychelles and Zanzibar, calling at Magadoxa and Brava to enquire about the British captives who have been detained by the Somalies. Also gave passage to 3 Germans looking for Baron von der Decken, who have been advised that they are going to an almost certain death, but they cannot be disabused of the idea.

21 Nov 1866 at Brava.

29 Nov 1866 at the Seychelles. Writes to Commodore Hillyar on board the Octavia regarding the possibility of there being any survivors from the wreck of two vessels on the East Coast of Africa in 1855 and on the Somali Coast in Jan 1866, from enquiries made on the coast there was no hope of anyone being alive. Has concluded a Treaty with the Arab Chief on the coast with a view to looking after ship-wrecked mariners in future and sending them to Zanzibar, for which they will be compensated.

28 Dec 1866 arrived back at Zanzibar and learned that 40 dhows had departed shortly after the Highflyer on 24 Aug. The estimated profit for a dhow carrying 150 slaves to Maculla, on an outlay as follows : hire of dhow $30 ; cost of slaves per head $5 - $7 ; plus food : and the price paid for the slaves at Maculla would have been about $70 - %80 each : leaving a profit of over $9,000, with the ability to return to Zanzibar with a cargo.

Circa early Jan 1867 the launch and the cutter were sent out on patrol off the Island of Pemba.

8 Jan 1867 Lieut. Fellowes, at Port George, in charge of the launch, detained a deserted dhow, Name Unknown, which showed unmistakable signs that slaves had been on board recently, along with a pass that was only valid for 1866. According to local reports the slaves had been taken some miles inland and so the dhow was destroyed having no papers, and the case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

9 Jan 1867 Lieut. Fellowes, at Port Cockburn, in charge of the launch, detained a dhow, Name Unknown, with 2 slaves on board which was destroyed, no one admitted to being in command - with no papers or colours it was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

8 Jan 1867 Lieut. Fellowes, at Port Cockburn, in charge of the launch, detained a dhow Name Unknown, with 2 slaves on board, with no papers or colours, which was destroyed, no one admitting to command her.

8 Jan 1867 Lieut. Fellowes, at Port George, in charge of the launch, detained a deserted dhow, Name Unknown, with no papers or colours, which showed unmistakable signs that slaves had been on board recently, along with a pass that was only valid for 1866. According to local reports the slaves had been taken some miles inland and so the dhow was destroyed.

19 Jan 1867 at Zanzibar.

21 Mar 1867 the ship's cutter detained a dhow, Name Unknown, 4� miles W.S.W. of Kivinga with 2 slaves on board, and fitted out for the slave trade. It was discovered that the vessel was bound for Quilon where a cargo of slaves had already been purchased to take to Maculla. The crew were landed and not having sufficient men for a prize crew destroyed the dhow, the case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

26 Mar 1867 off Choomby Islands.

31 Mar 1867 the ship's boats were sent to cruise the coastal waters in the vicinity of Fort Durnford.

1 Apr 1867 whilst the boats were cruizing in the creeks in the area a dhow, Name Unknown, was seen pulling in shore. The crew had scuttled the vessel and left the scene by the time the boats arrived and it was observed that the vessel was fitted out for the slave trade, and having no colours or papers she was hauled into deeper water and again scuttled and sunk. The case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

5 Apr 1867 one of the ship's boats, 20 miles to the north of Mombas (sic), chased a dhow, Name Unknown, up the Quilife River, despite being fired at by the boat gun. The dhow's crew managed to land and disappeared inland with their human cargo of 40 slaves. The vessel proved to be a Lodie Beden, and was fully equipped for the slave trade : having taken her measurements she was burnt and the case sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

7 Apr 1867 whilst running past Ras Tomany the cutter was detached to board a dhow at anchor. Mr. Drake returned shortly stating that his force was too small to deal with the large crew of the dhow. The Arabs were told to depart they vessel but didn't move and responded with muskets when the dhow was shelled, but was soon abandoned by the crew and some 26 slaves. The vessel, Name Unknown, being too big to handle, was destroyed and the case sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

18 Apr 1867 in Lat. 6� 41' S., long. 49� 46' E., detained an Arab Baghalah dhow from Zanzibar, bound to Maculla with grain, partially fitted out for the slave trade and with 7 slaves on board. The dhow, Name Unknown, being found unseaworthy was destroyed and the crew transferred to a legal dhow she had in company, whilst the slaves were kept on board with a view to landing them at the next British colony where they could be emancipated, and the case sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

1 May 1867 at Seychelles.

11 May 1867 at sea in one of the ship's boats, observed a dhow at anchor 20 miles to the north of Mombas (sic). On our nearing her the vessel weighed and ran up the Quilife River, despite being fired at by the boat gun, and the crew managed to land and disappeared inland with their human cargo of 40 slaves. The vessel, Name Unknown, proved to be a Lodie Beden, and was fully equipped for the slave trade : having taken her measurements she was burnt and the case sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

4 Aug 1867 when between Mikindany and Mungullu, Lieut. Fellowes in the 1st cutter saw a small vessel run on shore and land her crew and cargo of 38 slaves. The boat, Name Unknown, was destroyed by scuttling and the case was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

9 Aug 1867 at Zanzibar.

22 Oct 1867 detained off Cape Hoffom the Arab slave dhow El Hatheia, with 10 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

22 Oct 1867 detained off Cape Hoffom the Arab slave dhow Fatal Hem, with 5 slaves on board, which was sent for adjudication to the Vice-Admiralty Court at Aden.

1870 Portsmouth, Corvette