| Our Admiral lived and served during the key years of transition in the navy. Born in 1814, he first went to sea as a college volunteer - described as a 'particular servant' - in Dec 1828 when he was 13. He was then living with his father who was the Rector of Walton on the Hill, near Liverpool. They lived at Bramshaw, near Lyndhurst in the New Forest. The records of Edmund's junior career are found in PRO ADM 36, 1840 Item 1807. At that time the navy had just begun to use steam paddle ships as tugs. Edmund's first naval experiences were all with sailing ships. While still with his first ship 'Briton' he was recommended, by Captain Shiffner to Sir William Hall-Gage C-in-C Lisbon, for praiseworthy conduct at the wreck of a Portuguese corvette off the Bar at Lisbon, saving the lives of the crew. |
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Bramshaw Church. New forest, Hampshire. |
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| By 1840, about the time he was promoted to
lieutenant, his last ship in the Mediterranean was the 'Talbot' which was
involved with the action against the Egyptians at Saint-Jean d'Acre in
Libya. By chance Edmund, promoted in January 1840, was then transferred
before the 'Talbot' was engaged at the battle of Acre on 3rd November
1840. So Edmund missed being involved in the last large Royal Navy battle of
the 19th century. Interestingly, because of light winds and shallow water,
the initial battle plan at Acre had steam paddle tugs moving the ships to their
positions. The plan changed on the day, but it presaged the future role of
steam ships. Some short time after the action
at Saint Jean d'Acre an anonymous doggerel ballad about the battle was
found. The Battle of Saint Jean d'Acre.
Later in Edmund's career, as a captain, he was in action with steam screw warships. The admiralty had decided to embrace this new technology but it took a long time before the 'old salts' could bring themselves to discard the sails completely. |
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Engraving of a steam paddle ship around 1865. |
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| From the time he had begun his career as a servant to the time he was promoted to lieutenant, he had only one 18 month break in those first eleven years. The next ten years found him still at sea with just three short breaks. During those years however, he managed to marry and sire two children. Returning to England from the Pacific as a commander he had another break from the sea, somewhat compassionate leave because it included a divorce from his wife Lucy whom he had married in Newfoundland. The long years away at sea undoubtedly contributed to events that led to the divorce, as we shall see later in the story. | |
