NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS - HMS ORPHEUS SINKING - 1863

THE WRECK OF THE HMS ORPHEUS
MANUKAU BAR, MANUKAU HARBOUR
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
SATURDAY 07 FEBRUARY 1863

On the 7 February 1863, the HMS Orpheus was wrecked on the bar at the mouth of the Manukau Harbour. The Orpheus was on its way from Sydney to Auckland bringing reinforcements from the Royal Marines for the war in Taranaki, as well as stores for the Royal Navy.

Today the Auckland International Airport is on the Manukau Harbour and many flights come directly over the area where the Orpheus was lost. From the plane windows you can see the difficulty of the area especially in storm conditions.

There were 259 officers and men on board of whom 189 lost their lives. To date, the wreck of the Orpheus has the distinction of being New Zealand's worst maritime disaster.

For further information see The Orpheus Disaster by Thayer Fairburn. (Whakatane & District Historical Society 1987.) and - The Orpheus Disaster.

The names for this roll of honour came from The Times newspaper for 6 April 1863, 13 April 1863 and 08 May 1863.

NAMES OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN LOST ON THE HMS ORPHEUS
ADAMS Herbert Ordinary
ADAMS John H Engineer
ADAMSON William Assistant Engineer 2nd class
ALLEN Frederick Leading Stoker
AMBROSE Thomas Captain Maintop
ANDERSON George AB
ANDREWS James Private - Royal Marines
AVIS John H Boy - 2nd Class
BAKER Henry Cooper
BAYLAM Henry Private - Royal Marines
BAYLISS William E Painter
BENNETT John Ordinary
BICKLE William H Ordinary
BIGNELL Jesse Leading Stoker
BINFIELD Charles Private - Royal Marines
BLACKWILL William Ordinary
BOSWORTHICK John Blacksmith
BRADY Thomas Gunner - Royal Marines
BRIDLE William J Boy - 1st Class
BROADWAY John T Boy - 1st Class
BROADWOOD John Gunner - Royal Marines
BROUGHTON Thomas H Midshipman
BROWN Alfred Stoker
BUDGE John Private - Royal Marines
BUNCE George Boy - 1st Class
BURGE William Gunner - Royal Marines
BURNETT William Farquharson C.B. Commodore
BURTON Robert Heron Commander
CALLAGHAN Thomas Boy - 2nd Class
CLARKSON James Assistant surgeon
CLEARY John Ordinary
COLE Samuel Ordinary
COLLINS Thomas Private - Royal Marines
COOKNEY William H Wardroom Steward
CORPS Henry Quartermasters
COWEN William AB
CRABB Henry Gunner - Royal Marines
CRAMP Lewis Gunner - Royal Marines
CRONIN John Boy - 2nd Class
CROW Alfred Ordinary
DAVEY (DAVY) John Captain Mizen-top
DAVIS Charles Stoker
DAVIS Daniel Private - Royal Marines
DAVIS John Ordinary - 2nd Class
DAVIS William Boy - 2nd Class
DONOGHUE Denis Boy - 1st Class
DOREN Thomas Private - Royal Marines
DOREY Andrew Stoker
DREW George Ships Cook
DUFFETT George Boy - 1st Class
DURKIN John Private - Royal Marines
EARLY Albert Boy - 2nd Class
ELLIS James Ordinary
ERNEST John E Master at Arms
FINN Edward Ordinary
FLANAGHAN Michael Private - Royal Marines
FOYLE Stephen Private - Royal Marines
GANNAWAY William Ordinary - 2nd Class
GARDNER Henry Private - Royal Marines
GILLHAM William H P M Secretary (Assistant paymaster)
GOLDSHMIDT C Captains Steward
GOODWIN James Boy - 1st Class
GORDON George Corporal - Royal Marines
GOSSAGE George F Assistant Engineer 2nd class (lent from the Miranda)
GOULD Thomas Private - Royal Marines
GRAY George Private - Royal Marines
GREENWOOD John Private - Royal Marines
HAGGIS Arthur Captains Coxwain
HALL James Ordinary
HALSON William Ordinary
HARTFIELD William Boy - 2nd Class
HAZLEWOOD C B Rev Chaplain and Naval Instructor
HEALY James Stoker
HEARD John Private - Royal Marines
HENTH Charles Gunner - Royal Marines
HEWITT John AB
HIGHAM John AB
HILL Edward E First Lieutenant - Royal Marine Artillery
HILL George Leading Seaman
HILLIER William Ordinary - 2nd Class
HINES Daniel Ordinary
HOBBS William Gunner - Royal Marines
HOLDGATE Augustus Captains Cook
HORSFIELD David Private - Royal Marines
HOWARD John Corporal - Royal Marines
HOYLE Sidney Private - Royal Marines
HUDSON William Gunner
HUNT William F Boy - 1st Class
HUTCHINS John Gunners mate
HUTTON William M AB
HYDE John Gunroom Steward
JEKYLL Arthur Lieutenant
JENKINS William Boy - 1st Class
JENNER Edward AB
JOHNSON Samuel Gunner - Royal Marines
JOHNSTON A D Assistant paymaster
JONES Noah Ordinary
KAVE John Gunner - Royal Marines
KELLEY Felix Stoker
KELLY Thomas Leading Seaman
KEMP Frederick Leading Stoker
KING George Gunner - Royal Marines
KINGSTON John Boy - 1st Class
KNOWLDEN John Boy - 2nd Class
LADBROKE Thomas Private - Royal Marines
LANE Thomas Leading Stoker
LEE David Stoker
LETHEBY Thomas Gunner - Royal Marines
LITTLEFIELD Thomas Private - Royal Marines
LLOYD Edwin Captains After Guard
MAHONEY Michael Ropemaker
MALLOCK Arthur R Midshipman
MARDON Samuel Musician
MARK George AB
MARK Harry AB
MASTERS John P Private - Royal Marines
MAUD John H Stoker
M'CLOUD James AB
MILLER Edward J Assistant Engineer 2nd class
MILLIARD William Boatswains Mate
MITCHELL George Gunroom Cook
MOORE John Stoker
MUDGE William T F W Lieutenant
MURPHY Jeremiah Boy - 1st Class
NAYLEN Henry N Clerk
NEWMAN Peter Ordinary
NORRIS David Caulker
NORTHOVER Joseph AB
ORCHARD William J Boy - 1st Class
OSBORNE Thomas (William Thomas - born Plymouth 1830) Ships Corporal
PAFFORD Peter Private - Royal Marines
PALMER William Ordinary - 2nd Class
PARKE Thomas AB
PASCOE John Boatswains Mate
PAY John Carpenters Crew
PEARIN Henry Private - Royal Marines
PELHAM Edwin AB
PHILLIPS John Engineers Cook
PLOWMAN John Captains After Guard
RANDALL Robert AB
REDMAN George Armourer
REDMAN Henry Sick Berth Attendant
ROCKETT Jos J AB
ROWE Charles E Carpenters Crew
ROWLAND William Ordinary
SCUTT Samuel Engineers Servant
SEARLE John Boy - 1st Class
SHEARGOLD Henry AB
SHEPPARD William Gunners mate
SHORTHOUSE John Private - Royal Marines
SIMMONDS John Boy - 1st Class
SMITH Thomas Sailmakers Crew
SPENCER Samuel F Ships Stewards Boy
SPRINGER Edward AB
STARKAY Bradley Gunner - Royal Marines
STARRS Francis Private - Royal Marines
STEPHENS Samuel Chief Engineer
STEPHENSON William AB
STONEHAM Thomas Wardroom Cook
STRONG William D Master
SWAIN William Stoker
TAYLOR William J Second Master
THEOBALD Charles Boy - 1st Class
THOMAS Henry Carpenters Crew
THOMPSON Isaiah Boy - 1st Class
TOWNSEND George Ships Steward
TOZER John J Masters Assistant
TRANTER William Sergeant - Royal Marines
TRAUTMAN John Carpenters Mate
TROTT George Private - Royal Marines
TUCKER Thomas Private - Royal Marines
VEAL Robert H Boy - 2nd Class
VERNER George H Midshipman
VICKERY John H Assistant Engineer 1st class
VINCE John Gunner - Royal Marines
VINCENT George Caulkers Mate
VOICE Abraham Coxwain Launch
WARN George Quartermasters
WARNER Edward M Boy - 1st Class
WEALORDS John Shipwright
WEATHERSTONE Henry Ordinary - 2nd Class
WELSTEAD Henry Ordinary - 2nd Class
WHETHAM Charles AB
WHITE Richard Boy - 2nd Class
WILLIAMS John Private - Royal Marines
WILLIAMS Richard Private - Royal Marines
WILSON Joseph W Captain Hold
WOODROW John Tailor
YOUNG John AB


NAMES OF THE SURVIVORS FROM THE WRECK OF THE HMS ORPHEUS
AMPHLETT Edward A Paymaster
ANKELL (ANKELT) (ANKETT) Alfred Ordinary - 2nd Class
BALL William Seaman
BANNISTER Samuel Seaman
BARKLY H M Midshipman
BEER James Carpenter
BENTLETT (BENTELL) Henry Boy - 1st Class
BOLAND James (Joseph) Ordinary
BRIGGS Edward Carpenters Crew
BROWN Henry Quartermaster
BROWN James J Seaman
BURTON Thomas H Boy - 1st Class
BUTLER Frederick Deserter from HMS Harrier
CARPENTER Robert Coxwain Cutter
CLEWS William Stoker
COCHRANE John G Ordinary - 2nd Class
COOPER W Seaman
CROUSON (CROWSON) Joseph Drummer - Royal Marines
DALEY Patrick AB
FIELDING Bernal W Midshipman
FINNIS (FINNIES) John Captain Maintop
FISHER William AB
FOX Charles Seaman
GEARY Thomas (William) AB
GRAHAM Henry J Ordinary
GRAHAM James Ordinary
HERBERT Thomas AB
HERBERT William Boy - 2nd Class
HILL Charles Lieutenant
HILL (HALL) John AB
HOLMES Henry Seaman
HORRIGAN John (William) Commodores Servant
HUNT Charles George Midshipman
HURLSTONE (HURLESTONE) George Boy - 1st Class
IDESON John D Boy - 2nd Class
JOHNSON William Captain Mizen Top
JORDAN (JORDEN) Joseph Seaman
KENNEDY James Captain Mast
LANGUISH (LANGRISH) William Ordinary
MAYES William AB
MOORE (MASON) W Boatswain
MORLEY (MORBY) John Captain Forecastle
NEWMAN Henry Ordinary - 2nd Class
NICHOLSON John Carpenters Crew
OLIERT (aka HILLS Alexander) William Signalman
PALIN (PASIN) William AB
PARSONS James Ordinary
PILBEAM (PILBEM) Alfred Ordinary
PORTBURY (PARTBURY) Henry AB
QUINTON John Captain Foretop
ROBERTS George Ordinary - 2nd Class
ROE Richard Marine
RUSSELL Thomas AB
RUSSELL William Ordinary - 2nd Class
SEALE (SEAL) John G (George) Ordinary
SNUDDEN (SMEDDEN) Thomas AB
SPARSHOTT William (James) Ordinary - 2nd Class
STUPPLE (STUFFLE) Henry Boatswain Mate
SUMMERS James Seaman
TAYLOR James Stoker
TILLEY Arthur S Ordinary
TURTLE George Ordinary
WALKER Henry J AB
WALSH Edward Ordinary
WARD George AB
WEIR Charles Captain Mast
WELLS Noah Ordinary - 2nd Class
WILSON James Captain Foretop
YONGE Duke D Lieutenant
YOUNG George AB


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