Falmouth HMS (1814)
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 12:12 pm
One of the largest and certainly well-designed commemorative stamps to appear from the British Commonwealth was issued on August 4th 1966 for the 150th anniversary of the establishment of a garrison on Tristan da Cunha. After Napoleon had been exiled on St. Helena it was feared in London that an attempt might be made by French sympathisers to set the Emperor free. As a preparatory measure against this the authorities decided to garrison the lonely islands of Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
One can appreciate Ascension being garrisoned owing to its adjacency to St. Helena. It is less understandable that Tristan da Cunha, 1,200 miles away, should be suddenly given a military force, unless it was considered Napoleon might be taken there if he was rescued. Whatever the reason H.M.S. Falmouth, an 18-gun sloop-of-war under the command of Capt. R. W. G. Festing R.N., sailed from the Cape of Good Hope for Tristan in August 1816 with an advance party of 18 naval ratings, stores and equipment
The vessel arrived at Tristan da Cunha on August 13, setting up the first base on the island. H.M.S. Falmouth returned to the Cape to pick up the Army garrison, sailing from there again on November 1 with five officers, three N.C.O.s, 35 rank and file, eight women and nine children. The garrison was under the command of Capt. A. J. Cloete, 21st Light Dragoons. Disembarkation took place on November 28 and Somerset Camp was established where the present township, now called Edinburgh Settlement, is situated. Subsequently it was decided that the cost of maintaining this garrison outweighed its advantages and it was finally withdrawn on November 17, 1817.
The soldier on the stamp, although holding a musket, is correctly depicted in the tunic colours and facings of the Royal Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars period. There were two 6-pounder guns defending Tristan, under the care of Lieut. R. S. Aitchison, R.A.. who was the deputy commandant. Behind the gunner is a distant view of the hump-backed island, with H.M.S. Falmouth in the middle distance.
This vessel was one of the smaller class of 3-masted ships, the sloop-of-war, carrying 18 small 6-pounder guns and a crew of about 130 men. This use of the term "sloop" had no connection with the older "sloop-rig" which had one mast and was not unlike a cutter.
SG96 Sea Breezes March 1967
One can appreciate Ascension being garrisoned owing to its adjacency to St. Helena. It is less understandable that Tristan da Cunha, 1,200 miles away, should be suddenly given a military force, unless it was considered Napoleon might be taken there if he was rescued. Whatever the reason H.M.S. Falmouth, an 18-gun sloop-of-war under the command of Capt. R. W. G. Festing R.N., sailed from the Cape of Good Hope for Tristan in August 1816 with an advance party of 18 naval ratings, stores and equipment
The vessel arrived at Tristan da Cunha on August 13, setting up the first base on the island. H.M.S. Falmouth returned to the Cape to pick up the Army garrison, sailing from there again on November 1 with five officers, three N.C.O.s, 35 rank and file, eight women and nine children. The garrison was under the command of Capt. A. J. Cloete, 21st Light Dragoons. Disembarkation took place on November 28 and Somerset Camp was established where the present township, now called Edinburgh Settlement, is situated. Subsequently it was decided that the cost of maintaining this garrison outweighed its advantages and it was finally withdrawn on November 17, 1817.
The soldier on the stamp, although holding a musket, is correctly depicted in the tunic colours and facings of the Royal Artillery of the Napoleonic Wars period. There were two 6-pounder guns defending Tristan, under the care of Lieut. R. S. Aitchison, R.A.. who was the deputy commandant. Behind the gunner is a distant view of the hump-backed island, with H.M.S. Falmouth in the middle distance.
This vessel was one of the smaller class of 3-masted ships, the sloop-of-war, carrying 18 small 6-pounder guns and a crew of about 130 men. This use of the term "sloop" had no connection with the older "sloop-rig" which had one mast and was not unlike a cutter.
SG96 Sea Breezes March 1967