H.M.S. VICTORIAWilliam John's grandfather William Nicholas Coxhead born 1866 Newport Isle of Wight England, lost his life when the battleship
H.M.S. Victoria collided and sank in the Med. Sea near the shores of Tripoli Lebanon on the 22nd of June 1893 at 3.30pm. The Med. Fleet was carrying out manouvres near the African coast.
It was time to drop anchor for the day. The Fleet consisting of 14 warships was sailing in two lines of 7 ships in paralel.
The C-in-C on board the Flagship of the Fleet being HMS Victoria ordered that the lines of ships turn inside towards each other and then drop anchor.
There was a huge misjudgment by the C-in-C and HMS Camperdown another large battleship which was leading one of the groups of 7 warships
rammed HMS Victoria about 6 metres away from the stern. HMS Victoria was badly damaged.
The mighty ship and the pride of the Royal Navy sank in just 12 minutes. 358 officers and men, including the C-in-C Lord Tryon lost their lives.
William John's grandfather lost his life. He was a photographer.
He was 27 yrs of age married in Malta in 1891 and his wife Emily Frances Bartolo Coxhead was expecting her first child.
William John P. Coxhead grandson of William Nicholas Coxhead has spent many years searching for every available piece of written data and photos related to the sinking of HMS Victoria.
A book was published in 1959 by Richard Hough titled ADMIRALS IN COLLISION.
A copy of the book is held by him. Also copies of newspapers of June - July 1893. Plus other photos and letters that are connected to the 1893 event.
The Naval Inquiry and Court Marshall were held in Malta.
Click on this Link : View more photos of H.M.S. Victoria
