HMS Kingfisher

[Brie]

Hi

I am trying to find out more about a William Irwin.

He was born 1846. 1851 he was with his family. 1861 he seems to have been an apprentice engineer at Sheerness. After that he disappears from the census - presumably at sea.
However in 1890 according to a family letter he is a ship's engineer on HMS Kingfisher and has recently arrived at the Seychelles from Zanzibar. I have looked around for various HMS Kingfishers but can't find one that fits. How do I find further information about the ship or William?

Brie

[liverpool annie]

I can't tell you about your William ... but I found a picture of HMS Kingfisher !! 

HMS Kingfisher   16th December 1879   Sold 1919

[Brie]

Thanks for that

I have looked around quite a bit and found several HMS Kingfishers but never one that matched the date!

Brie

[kyt]

The Kingfisher that Annie posted seems to be the appropriate one.

Various mentions in The Times:

7th January 1890 - left Zanzibar for destination unknown.

28th Feb 1890 - Referred to as a sloop (as shown in the above picture) in an article on RN mobilization

2nd April 1890 - heading for Mozimbique

2nd September 1890 - reported arrived in Seychelles on 15 August

23 October 1890 - seems to have returned to Zanibar area, and is reported to be sailing to Lamu (which is an island off Kenya) with two other ships due to the troubles with the Sultan of Witu

If he had been on the Kingfisher on Dec 15, 1889, he would have received a part of the bounty for a dhow that was captured on that date. This was announced on 3rd Dec 1890.

I hope this helps a little

K

[Brie]

Thanks Kyt,

That's brilliant, it ties in completely with the family letter written in 1890. May I ask the source of the information so that I may reference it?

Thanks again
Brie

[Brie]

Kyt,

Sorry - in my enthusiam overlooked that you had put The Times.

Doh
Brie

[kyt]

They info is from The Times newspaper for the dates that I have indicated. This is another, dated May 25, 1891:

The Admiralty have issued instructions for the Kingfisher, composite sloop, 1,300 tonnes, 1,090 horse power, Commander Alexander M Gardiner, which was despatched from Sheerness in November 1884, to return to England from the East Indies Station upon completion of her second term of service on the East Indies Station.

It fits neatly with the ship that Annie has posted, and indicates that she was away for nearly 7 years.

K

EDIT - was typing the reply as you posted again

[liverpool annie]

I found this while I was looking for something else .... wonder if your William got one of these ??

1372

East and West Africa 1887-1900, one clasp, Witu 1890 (H. Selves, Pte. R.M., H.M.S. Kingfisher.), partially officially re-engraved, very fine Estimate £80-110

4060 Private Henry Selves, born Maidstone, Kent, 1868; enlisted Royal Marines, 1885; served in H.M.S. Kingfisher, 1888-1891; discharged 1909

Approximately 95 ‘Witu 1890’ awards to H.M.S. Kingfisher.

http://www.spink.com/auctions/pdf/7022.pdf

WITU 1890 17-27 October 1890 - for a punitive expedition against the Sultan of Witu


Annie 

[liverpool annie]

Heres a bit of background !!

http://home.comcast.net/~kenyaregiment/WituExpeditions.html

Annie