Falmouth has one of the great natural harbours of the world and is a haven for ships in a westerly or a south westerly storm. However in an easterly gale vessels lying in Carrick Roads are exposed to the full force of the easterly winds which blow straight in between the headlands. Many a ship has dragged its anchor and ended up on the treacherous rocks of Trefusis Point, and one of these was the Government transport Queen, returning from the Peninsula War with the bulk of a British regiment, together with their families, and ten French prisoners of war.
Just after Christmas 1813, the Queen, under the command of Captain Carr, left Lisbon and joined a small convoy bound for Portsmouth. There were over 300 people on board and they had a rough passage, so it was with some considerable relief that they sighted Falmouth on Jan 10th 1814, and anchored in Carrick Roads. Despite there being a strong easterly wind and a forecast of more unsettled weather, the Captain only laid out his port anchor with a much reduced length of cable. Even so she lay happily there for three days until the afternoon of Thursday 13th, when she began to drag her anchor. The watch on deck failed to notice what was happening at first, and by the time they notified Captain Carr it was too late.
The starboard anchor had no cable secured to it, and while this was being brought up, the Queen was being rapidly blown towards the shore. When preparations were nearly complete, the port anchor gave up the fight, its rope parted and the Queen was adrift at the mercy of the winds. As she sped across the sea, the crew still valiantly struggled to get the starboard anchor ready, the passengers started to panic screaming and shouting, and the whole enterprise fetched up with a huge crash on Trefusis Point. As the Queen drove onto the Point she broached- to, and huge waves smashed over her carrying all before them and flooding the vessel from stem to stern.
In the confusion attempts were made to fire a cannon as a distress signal but the sea swamped the cannons and by now heavy snow was falling making it almost impossible for anyone to see the wreck from the shore. The Captain ordered all the masts to be cut away, and as they fell the ship gave a sickening lurch which caused guns to be cast adrift and bulkheads to break. As the hull gave way, all below were either crushed to death or drowned. In less than twenty minutes of striking Trefusis Point the Queen had been reduced to matchwood.
Some of the troops managed to scramble ashore but daylight revealed the true horror of what had happened. Scores of bodies washed about in the shallows, many entangled in the ships rigging. Others lay strewn around the rocks were the sea had thrown them. Only eighty five soldiers, nine women, one child, and four prisoners survived. Captain Carr and his entire crew except for the bosun and a cabin boy, perished in the disaster. Some two hundred and fifty bodies were eventually recovered, but not before the looters had been at them. A number of the surviving troopers were eventually court martialed for robbing the corpses.
sue kruk says
Really interesting to read this, because I didn’t find it at the time, when I was doing my research.I’ve known Trefusis Point all my life, and was horrified when I first noticed the monument above , in Mylor Churchyard. A little extra information is now available on Troze, NMM Cornwall.
Submerged Comment says
Submitted on 2013/10/01 at 1:42 pm
hazel perham (hazelrambler@hotmail.com) wrote:
This memorial came to light at the Budock Parish Council Meeting yesterday because of the year 2014 approaching fast. Visitors brought the memorial stone to our attention, many present at the meeting have walked past the stone at Budock Church many times in our lives but none of us had known the story behind it. It comes as a shock when you have known and used Trefusus Point and its beaches most of your life to know the history of all those poor souls who perished especially when having neared the end of their passage.
Submerged Comment says
Submitted on 2013/10/01 at 1:53 pm
hazel perham (hazelrambler@hotmail.com) wrote:
It would appear there are two memorial stones one at Mylor Churchyard and the other at Budock Churchyard.
sue kruk says
14th January 2014: Remembering today the Queen Transport, and all who sailed in her:- Lucy and Job Taylor, Robert Daniell’s wife Catherine and 4 children, James McCarthy, Philip, Josh & George, the little boy with the silver whistle with small bells on a light blue ribbon, and all the others. Commemorated at Mylor, Budock and St Gluvias.
M Thompson says
Is there any way information regarding the names of the surviving women and children can be obtained? I have a family tale regarding a ship sinking and a baby surviving stemming from 1814 – of shipwrecks around the uk in that year the sinking of the ss queen is the most likely one that may relate to this story. Anyone have any suggestions?
Alex says
Job Taylor was my 4th great-uncle and it is deeply touching that someone unrelated should still remember him and his wife by name.
Mike says
Would the church like this Memorial cleaned and the lettering painted so that others could see what was written! If so contact me
Diane Le Tissier says
Job Taylor was my 4th great uncle. To have lost their lives in a shipwreck rather than war…
Bob claringbold says
I think I found two cannon balls that were fired from the queen when the disaster was happening I found them in the mud wall down on the rocks opposite st just
David Carr says
Would anyone know anything about Captain Carr and his family. As you can see I have the same surname and I believe that my family came from this area.
Many thanks
John Skinner says
Reply to David Carr –
There is colloquial evidence that the Skinner family (Porthleven and Mylor) are descended from the ‘da Silva’ family who were on board. The Mum and Dad died in the shipwreck, but the baby was rescued and brought up by an uncle in Plymouth.