| More information : Primary Sources:
'The QUEEN transport, Carr, from Lisbon, was totally lost in Falmouth Harbour on Friday morning last, during a most violent gale of wind at SE. About 360 men, women and children (the men principally invalids of the artillery) were on board, and only 110 were saved.' (2)
'Loss of the QUEEN Transport. The QUEEN had brought home 325 sick and invalided soldiers, 63 women, and 58 children, from the British army on the continent, besides which she had on board six French officers, prisoners of war, and a crew of 21 men, making a total of 473 persons. The ship was lying in Carrick Road, Falmouth, and was well moored. At the commencement of the gale, she was observed to ride hard, and about 3 o'clock this morning (Friday week) she parted her cables and drove ashore on Trefusis Point, where, in a short time, she was beat to pieces. One hundred men and four women with great difficulty succeeded in getting ashore; all the rest perished with the ship. Thus 369 souls were hurried into eternity under the most awful circumstances. The bodies of five men, ten women, and nine children have been washed on shore near Penryn, and a great number at Flushing. The above soldiers were all artillerymen, except about 32, who belonged to the 30th Regiment of Foot.' (4)(10)(13)
14 January, QUEEN, transport.'The QUEEN transport No.332, Carr master, has been driven on Trefugis [sic] Point and beaten to pieces. She had brought home from the British army on the Continent 325 sick and invalided soldiers, 63 women and 58 children; besides whom she had on board six French officers, prisoners of war, and a crew of 21 men, making a total of 473 persons. The soldiers were all artillerymen, except about 20, who belonged to the 30th regiment. One hundred men and four women, with great difficulty, got ashore; and all the rest, 369 in number, perished with the ship.' (NC), quoted in (6).
The QUEEN was of 340 tons burthen. (Sh. Merc), quoted in (6)
The Times also printed the report and added: 'The QUEEN, from Lisbon, with 360 men, women, and children; the men mostly invalided artillerymen, went down in a hurricane at south-east.' (TT.21.01) [This emphasis is not quite correct. In fact the Times report for this day read:
'Falmouth, Jan. 14. LOSS OF THE QUEEN TRANSPORT.
'A hurricane from the SE now prevails. This day has presented to us one of the most melancholy scenes ever witnessed in this harbour. The QUEEN transport, Carr, master, from Lisbon, having on board about 360 men, women, and children, (the men principally invalided artillerymen), parted from her cables, and drove on shore on Trefusis Point, about five o'clock this morning, and went to pieces in about three-quarters of an hour. Only 60 people are saved, including the master and chief officers. The dead bodies of men, women, and children are floating in every direction. . .
[By another letter received from Falmouth, it is stated, that out of the crew of the QUEEN transport 110 were saved.] (12)
Next day the Times revised the account: 'The transport, QUEEN, No.332, Carr master, brought home 325 sick and invalid soliders, 63 women and 58 children, from the British army on the Continent; she also had on board six French officers, prisoners of war, and 21 crew, total 473 persons. The ship was lying in Carrick Roads, Falmouth, and was well moored. At the start of the gale, the ship rode hard, and about 5 o'clock on Friday morning, she parted her cables and drove ashore on Trefugis [sic] Point. 104 got ashore, 369 perished. Some bodies were picked up at Penryn and a great number at Flushing. The soldiers were nearly all artillerymen. Only 32 belonged to the 30th Regiment of Foot.
'The QUEEN went to pieces in three-quarters of an hour.' (TT.22.01), quoted in (6). In fact this is slightly paraphrased, and the text is as quoted in (4) above.
On 2 February the Times printed a revised list of the passengers; 8 officers, 185 NCOs and men, 63 women and 59 children were on board ship. Of these, 5 officers, 109 men, and 10 women and children were saved. (6) [This passenger list has not so far been traced in this issue of the Times]
'Loss of the QUEEN transport, and 300 men, women and children.
'Falmouth, Jan. 14. A hurricane from the SE this day has presented to us one of the most melancholy scenes that ever was witnessed in this harbour. The QUEEN transport, Carr, Master, No. 332, 340 tons, having on board, from Lisbon, about 360 men, women, and children (the men principally wounded artillerymen), parted from her cables, and drove on shore in Trefuses [sic] Point, about five o'clock this morning and went to pieces in about three quarters of an hour; only 60 people are saved, including the master and chief officers. The dead bodies of men, women, and children, are floating in every direction . . .
'By another letter received from Falmouth it states, that out of the crew of the QUEEN transport, 110 were saved.' (11)
Secondary Sources:
Bringing home from Lisbon and Cadiz sick and wounded troops of Lord Wellington's army, this transport vessel was carrying 325 sick and invalid soldiers, 63 women, 58 children and a number of French officer prisoners of war. At 5 o'clock on a Friday morning at the height of a gale she parted her cables and drove ashore on the point, where in a short time she beat to pieces. One hundred men and four women reached the shore, the rest died with the ship, a total of 369 in all. The troops were mostly artillerymen who belonged to the 30th Regiment of Foot. Several of the soldiers and seamen who escaped unhurt then set about plundering trunks and boxes washed out of the wreck as well as some of the corpses. (1)(3)(5)
The QUEEN, a transport vessel, left Lisbon a few days after Christmas 1813 with over 300 people on board. On reaching Falmouth on the 10th she anchored in Carrick Road, however she dragged her anchor three days later into the shallows. In less than twenty minutes after striking the rocks in a blizzard she was broken and half submerged. The entire crew apart from the bosun and cabin boy lost their lives; only 85 soldiers, nine women, a child and four prisoners escaped. The shore was strewn with bodies the next morning, they were buried in a mass grave at Mylor churchyard. (7)(8)(9)
The victims who were recovered were buried in the churchyard at Mylor, and commemorated by a headstone. (14)
Master: Carr [all sources]
Crew: 25 (1)(4); 21 (5)(10)
Crew Lost: all but 2 (7)(8)(9)
On board: 360 (11)
Passengers: 446 accounted for + French officers (1)(4); 452 (NC; TT.22.01)(10)(12); 315 (TT.02.02)(13)
Passengers Lost: 369 (1)(4)(NC, TT.22.01)(10); 191 (TT.02.02)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
Additional sources:
West Briton 21.01.1814(Fri)(R); FWL.24.01.1814(R)
Additional sources cited in Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Eras:
Naval Chronicle Vol.31, p62; Sherborne Mercury 24.01.1814; The Times 02.02.1814 [not traced]
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