On this Day in 1893 former Admiral Commanding the RN Australasian Squadron, Admiral Sir George Tryon, caused his own death and that of 353 of his sailors when his Flagship HMS Victoria was rammed by HMS Camperdown off Tripoli Lebanon. He was the first Admiral to command the RN squadron in Sydney. Tryon’s political and social skills were considered important for the role, which involved negotiations with the Australian colonies for financing a fast cruiser squadron in the region.
Tryon was a fleet tactician noted for his ability to manoeuvre fleets at speed and with great precision using signal hoists and lights. Therefore when he gave the order for two lines of five battleships of the Mediterranean fleet to reverse direction by making a 180 degree inwards turn towards each other at a range of only 1200 yards using tactical, not full rudder, it was assumed by those on both ships that he knew what he doing. Admiral Markham leading the second line of five in Camperdown hesitated to execute the order until Tryon signalled the rebuke: What are you waiting for.
The result was that Camperdown with a reinforced ram bow stove in Victoria amidships below the waterline and flooded her. She had not had time to close her watertight openings and sank so quickly that her screws were seen to be still turning. One of the 350 of Victoria’s officers who were recued was then Commander John Jellicoe an officer noted as an Admiral for his prudence and careful risk analysis.
Tryon’s last words on his bridge were: “It is all my fault.” The Court Martial agreed with him but pointed out Tryon’s own standing instruction which told his subordinates that they were not required to obey any order which would endanger their ship and reprimanded Markham.
The wreck of Victoria uniquely stands upright on the sea floor bows buried in the sand, an upright underwater monument to the price of blind obedience to a dangerous order.
Pictured right: Admiral Sir George Tryon and French newspaper illustration of the collision
