The HMS Birkenhead disaster occurred off the coast of South Africa in 1852.
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A British troopship sank after hitting rocks and over 600 soldiers and sailors were cast into the shark infested waters on a dark February night.
Scores were attacked and killed by Great White Sharks.

Just 193 - a third - survived.


HMS Birkenhead was transporting reinforcements to the 8th frontier War, being fought between the British and the Xhosas in the east of the Cape Colony, South Africa.

When the ship foundered, the senior British Army officer ordered all the men to stand to attention and not to rush the one lifeboat containing the women and children as it was lowered over the side.

In an incredible display of discipline and courage, they stood on the deck as the waters rose.
Over 300 men were lost.

However, all 27 women and children in that sole lifeboat survived.

It gave rise tradition in maritime disasters of “women and children first” - also known as The Birkenhead Drill.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:29 Summary
1:13 HMS Birkenhead
1:41 8th Xhosa War
2:13 Troopship
3:28 Sinking of HMS Birkenhead
4:36 Discipline & Courage
5:51 Survivor Stories
7:58 Losses
9:12 The Birkenhead Drill


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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.

History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.

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Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.

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