Name HMS Boreas Laid down June 1805 Construction started June 1805 Builder Great Yarmouth | Ordered 30 January 1805 Fate Wrecked November 1807 Launched 2 June 1806 | |
Completed 16 November 1806 at Chatham Dockyard Class and type 22-gun Laurel-class sixth-rate post ship | ||
HMS Boreas was a Laurel-class 22-gun post ship launched in 1806. She wrecked off the coast of Guernsey on 28 November 1807 with the loss of most of her crew of 154 men.
Contents
Service
The Royal Navy commissioned her under the command of Captain Robert Scott. On 2 October 1807 she captured, after a four-hour chase, the French privateer schooner Victoire. The privateer had a crew of 28 men and was armed with swivel guns and small arms. She had sailed from Morlaix the day before and had already captured an American brig, which Boreas recaptured. On 8 October Boreas and Brilliant captured the Danish ships St Hans and Montreal.
Wreck
Boreas sailed from Saint Peter Port to the rescue of a pilot cutter that was in difficulty in bad weather. sailing back around Guernsey with the boat in tow, she struck the Requiers rock. An expert pilot was on board, who had ordered the ship to put about, however the officer of the watch refused to act without permission from the Captain, resulting in the loss of the ship in the confusion. After efforts to save her failed, Scott ordered the crew to abandon ship. He sent some men ahead in boats that landed at Hanois Point, but strong seas, and the desertion of many of the men prevented the boats from going back to rescue the remaining men. Boreas eventually sank, with only her rigging remaining above water.
Next morning boats dispatched by Admiral James Saumarez, commander of the Royal Navy Channel Islands squadron and himself a Guernsey native, rescued thirty men. In all, 120 persons drowned, including Scott. Twenty-six of the survivors took advantage of the situation to desert.
The normal Court Martial was held with the Captain, officers and crew being praised for their "standing an good conduct".
Post script
The sinking added greatly to the call to construct a lighthouse, which resulted in Les Hanois Lighthouse being erected in 1860-62.
Fort Grey on Guernsey is now a shipwreck museum and holds one of the cannon from Boreas that points towards the reef where she sank.