Portsmouth's Worst Naval Tragedy

The Royal George in happier times

Usually (or unusually) when this topic does come into conversation, it's the loss of the Mary Rose that is the most well known and famous. However, on an August morning in 1782, a different and more tremendous calamity occurred.

HMS Royal George, Launched in 1756 and was the largest warship of its time, carrying over 100 cannon across four decks. The design and appearance would have been very similar to that of the preserved HMS Victory which can still be visited in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard.  The ship was immediately set into action, fighting the French in several key battles of the period. Then seeing much use over the following 20 years across the world, defending the colonies in the American war of independence and again further battles against the Spanish fleet in European waters, where they were attempting to recapture Gibraltar in 1780.

During the peacetime after this war, the Royal George was part of the channel fleet and it was whilst carrying out routine maintenance on the ship that the catastrophe happened.  The ship was being resupplied with barrels of rum while at the same time, the ships heavy cannons were repositioned inside the ship so that it would learn to one side and the underwater part of the hull could be repaired.  During this operation, the guns were moved too far and while they were being moved back again, water entered through the unsecured gun ports where the barrels were being loaded and flooded the ship.

Sinking of the Royal George

The Royal George listed onto its side and crushed the loading vessel, forcing it underwater which temporarily halted the instant sinking.  The ship however, continued to take on water rapidly and took with it over 900 sailors, wives and families who were visiting and a great many 'ladies of the night'.  Some 255 people managed to escape by climbing the rigging of the ship or jumping into the water, including the Captain.  Many of those who perished were washed ashore on the Isle of Wight by Ryde beach over the next days and weeks and were buried in a mass grave, now located under the esplanade there. 

Divers work on the wreck

As the wreck was full of valuable bronze and lead cannon, attempts were made to salvage them. Charles Spalding, a pioneer of diving bells was able to recover several of these and was rewarded £400 for his effort.   No further work happened on the wreck  for 52 years when in 1834, the Deane brothers attempted to recover more cannons using a new type of diving helmet that had air pumped into it.  During this operation, the Mary Rose wreck was re-discovered after fishermen told the divers to investigate another area near the wreck.

 A few years later in 1839, Colonel Charles Pasley of the Royal Engineers was asked to clear the wreck site as it was causing a nautical obstruction.  The wreck was blown up in a huge 'controlled' explosion which shattered windows for miles around.  After this, the timbers were removed, (some turned into a billiard table) and the site was declared clear.  Some of the salvaged bronze cannons were melted down to form the foundation of Nelsons Column Trafalgar Square, London.