Amid howling winds and churning seas, the people of Overstrand gathered once again on 26 February 2025 to remember one of the region’s most tragic maritime disasters.
The day begin with the annual memorial service at the Danger Point Lighthouse near Gansbaai, followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Birkenhead Memorial which overlooks the Birkenhead Rock where the HMS Birkenhead Troopship sank just, 5 kilometres from the shore.
The TS Birkenhead Cadets from Hawston and members of the Memorable Order of the Tin Hats (MOTHS) were also present, adding dignity and solemnity to the event.
The Birkenhead symbolises both loss and courage. 173 years ago, of the 643 passengers aboard, only 193 survived, including all the women and children. The rest – 450 brave men – either drowned, were eaten by sharks, or died from exposure to the harsh sea.
This tragedy gave rise to the Birkenhead Drill – the principle of “women and children first,” which, though never part of international maritime law, has since become standard protocol in maritime evacuations.
Overberg Tourism manager, Frieda Lloyd, reflected on the significance of the event and saluted the men who stayed behind on the sinking ship, ensuring that women and children boarded the lifeboats first, even as the vessel broke apart around them.
“This disaster is not just a tale of loss, but also a story of extraordinary courage and a testament to the enduring human spirit,” she said.
“The echoes of this tragedy prompted the construction of the Danger Point Lighthouse, 43 years after the disaster, in 1895. A beacon of hope, it stands as a sentinel, guiding mariners away from the perils that claimed the Birkenhead.
“Just as the Birkenhead adhered to a protocol of ‘women and children first’, the Gansbaai community adheres to the protocol of remembrance. This steadfast commitment to honouring the past is a reflection of the deep respect our community holds for history and the enduring values it represents. We are proud to continue this tradition, ensuring that the story of the Birkenhead and the courage displayed on that fateful night remain a vital part of our shared heritage”.
The distinguished historian and orator, former Reverend Dr. James Gray, raised the theory of compass tampering, suggesting it may have led the ship too close to the rocky shore. While the exact cause remains unclear, the loss of life that night is certain, leaving many parents without sons and highlighting the brutal cost of war.
He thanked Gansbaai Tourism and Marine Dynamics for their ongoing efforts to organise the Birkenhead Commemoration since 2002, stressing the importance of continuing this tradition.
As we remember those lost in the cold waters off Gansbaai, we are reminded of the importance of reflecting on and discussing these commemoration days, ensuring that the bravery displayed on that fateful night continues to resonate for generations to come.
“We are here to remember,” Reverend Gray said. “To honour those who sacrificed their lives so others could live. It is humbling to pause and reflect on their courage.”
The activities on Wednesday concluded with a boat trip to Birkenhead Rock where residents on board of the Slashfin and Dreamcatcher cast wreaths into the sea in remembrance of those who lost their lives.
A trip out on the cold Atlantic Ocean to commemorate the lives lost when the HMS Birkenhead sunk 173 years ago off the Gansbaai coast.
WE WILL REMEMBER: On 26 February 1852, at 02:00am the troopship HMS Birkenhead was wrecked less than 5 kms from these shores when it struck a rocky outcrop jutting out of the sea. As the ship separated from the rock with a gaping hole in its side, water filled the forward section and more than 100 troops drowned in their sleeping quarters.
About 10 minutes later, the Birkenhead smashed against the rocks a second time and her bottom section tore open.
There were 643 people on board the ship and at least 450 lives were lost in this tragic disaster.
But even this very dark cloud had a silver lining that left an indelible mark on our social conscience. The Birkenhead Drill was born. This disaster gave rise to the principle of “Women and Children first”.
We are here to remember Captain Robert Salmond, Lt Col Alexander Seton and the men who courageously stood firm on a sinking ship while women and children were given the first opportunity to leave on the limited number of life rafts.
Even the nine cavalry horses on board were freed and driven into the sea in the hope that they might be able to swim ashore, before those men left their positions to try and save themselves.
According to one witness almost everybody kept quiet, nothing was heard, except for the kicking of the horses and the orders of Salmond and Seton; all given in a clear, steady voice, without flinching. The soldiers didn’t move, even as the ship broke up, barely 20 minutes after striking the rock.
Some managed to swim to the shore, desperately hanging on to pieces of the wreck to stay afloat. However most either drowned, or died of exposure.
As a result of this heart-breaking event, the Birkenhead-drill, has now established the principle of women and children first in the event of similar incidents.
This lighthouse was erected 43 years after this tragedy in 1895 in order to warn ships of the dangerous reef. It is a working memorial for the victims and survivors of the Birkenhead disaster.
