A crew member being winched from the City of Cardiff (1906) in a breeches buoy.

A crew member being winched ashore in a breeches buoy from the cargo steamer City of Cardiff (1906), which is aground almost broadside-to the cliffs in Nanjizal Bay [Mill Bay], about 2 miles south-east of Land's End. The port bow of the ship can be seen to the right of the suspended crew member, with the foaming surf behind running up the beach. The photographer was standing on the cliffs above the ship.

The City of Cardiff was on passage from Dartmouth to Barry Roads in ballast when it was forced shore in heavy weather on 21 March 1912. Despite laying anchors to prevent the ship being driven further in shore under the cliffs, the cables broke and the ship ended up broadside-to. The Times newspaper reported this on 22 March 1912: 'The steamer City of Cardiff, 3,089 tons, during the strong westerly gale yesterday afternoon went ashore at Millbay, two miles south-east of Land's End, while on a voyage from Havre to Cardiff in ballast. All lives were saved by the rocket brigade who landed 23 men and two women, the wives of the Captain and the chief officer, and the latter's little child. The ship is lying under close to the cliffs on a rocky bottom.'

Object Details

ID: G14053
Collection: Historic Photographs
Type: Glass plate negative
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Gibson & Sons of Scilly
Vessels: City of Cardiff (1906)
Date made: 21 March 1912
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Gibson's of Scilly Shipwreck Collection
Measurements: Overall: 254 mm x 304 mm
Close

Your Request

If an item is shown as “offsite”, please allow eight days for your order to be processed. For further information, please contact Archive staff:

Email:
Tel: (during Library opening hours)

Click “Continue” below to continue processing your order with the Library team.

Continue