Women and Children First!

This overriding rule of the sea has governed the actions of all of those in peril upon the sea. Made famous by the "Titanic," the custom of women and children first began 60 years previously. In Britain this typically Victorian code of honor became known as the "Birkenhead Drill."

In 1852, iron hulled ships were rare but gaining acceptance. Helping to advance this acceptance was H.M Paddle Steamer "Birkenhead." In this stage of ship design, steamers still carried sail to support the paddle wheels in case the engines stopped working. The advantage of steam and iron over sail was becoming obvious, especially when the "Birkenhead" completed the normal 64 day trip to the Cape of Good Hope in only 45 days.

In January, 1852, the British Empire was engaged in yet another war in one of her far-flung colonies. The "Birkenhead" was dispatched from Southern Ireland to convey troops to the British Army governor in South Africa to help him fight the 8th Kaffir War. Some of the soldiers werwe allowed to bring their wives and children along, so there were 638 souls on board for the long journey to South Africa. After stops in Madiera and Sierra Leone, the "Birkenhead" arrived at St. Helena in the South Atlantic to pick up coal and supplies for the final leg of the voyage.

In the morning of 26 February, 1852 a compass error or unusual currant deflected the "Birkenhead's" course inward toward a place called "Danger Point." It was aptly named.

At 0200, the "Birkenhead" shuddered and stopped. Her iron hull had impaled itself on an underwater rock about 2 miles off Danger Point. Soldiers below deck in the forward berths no doubt drowned quickly as the ship began to founder. As the remaining troops formed up on deck, their commander, Lt. Col Seton instructed them to place themselves at the disposal of the ship's Master, Capt. Salmond of the Royal Navy, and obey any orders they were given. Salmond instructed 60 men to man pumps below deck and another 60 to make help launch the boats. The two largest boats were lashed upside down on top of the paddle wheel housings, one on each side of the ship amidships. Soon the ship was rolling heavily in the heavy seas and the forward part of the hull split off and sank. All knew that the "Birkenhead" had only minutes left.

As was typical of safety gear of that era, the mechanisms for launching the two largest boats were jammed from lack of maintenance and a thick layer of paint. The call went out "Women and children first!" In the end, only two cutters and a gig were able to be launched with all of the women and children. These boats stood by about 150 yards away and watched the final drama of the "Birkenhead" unfold.

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