A copy of a picture with the above title hangs on the wall of the Seguro Bar here in Sigri. The picture, made from an engraving, originally appeared in “The Graphic” newspaper dated 23 October 1886. The Graphic newspaper was published in London between 1869 and 1932 and included current affairs, weather reports, reviews of new novels, advertisements, extracts from novels and features on natural history and geography from around the world. It also regularly carried accounts of the activities of the then formidable (British) Royal Navy.
One such feature includes this picture and depicts a scene which took place sometime between Wednesday 15 September 1886 and Monday 27 September 1886. On the following page of the newspaper, under the heading “The Naval Evolutions at Mitylene”, the text states:-
“These evolutions of the Mediterranean Fleet under the command of the Duke of Edinburgh, took place last month off the island of Mitylene. Our illustration shows the submarine operations – the mines being in the foreground. On the right is the old fort and Turkish village and mosque of Sigri, and on the left is the island of Sigri, which is covered with the remains of a petrified forest. The trees have been transformed into agate, some of which is of exquisite quality. On the brow of the hill may be seen the tent which contains the electrical apparatus for firing the submarine mines. The north-west end of Mitylene is shown in the background. Our engraving is from a sketch and photograph by Captain F. S. Dugmore, whose schooner yacht, Australia (R.S.Y.C.), may be seen in the foreground starting to carry the mails of the fleet to Smyrna.”In the text from the newspaper, there are a few words that may need clarification. Firstly the word “evolutions”; in this context, the meaning of this word as stated in the Oxford English Dictionary is “change in disposition of troops or ships”, in other words the manoeuvring of the ships within the bay. Secondly the word “submarine”; in this context the word means “under the surface of the water”. Lastly the word “mines” refers to the explosive device in the water for destroying ships, hence “submarine mines” refers to explosive devices under the surface of the water.
The Mediterranean Fleet's home port was Malta. During the years 1886 to 1889 Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. The flagship of the fleet during this time was the Alexandra, a central battery iron clad ship displacing 9,429 tons. She was both sail and steam powered. In the original ship's log, held at the Public Records Office at Kew in London, it is recorded that the "Alexandra" left Malta on 3 August 1886 under the command of Captain John Fellowes CB with a compliment of 673 men. The voyage that led to the “Alexandra” being featured in the scene at Sigri took her via Malta, Alexandria, Port Said, Jaffa, Haifa, Beirut, Tripoli, Larnica, Limasol, Marmaris, and Smyrna (Izmir Turkey). She arrived off the coast at Sigri on15 September 1886.
The ship’s log for The Alexandra records how she proceeded into Port Sigri at 0630 hours and then describes how they anchored. The other ships of the Squadron came in and moored independently. At 0800 hours they launched small boats and a launch and laid down mines for the exercise. Two colliers (ships supplying coal) proceeded alongside two other ships of the fleet "Superb" and "Temeraire". At 1000 hours they saluted the Turkish flag with 21 guns. The Fort returned the salute, also with 21 guns. At 1140 hours another ship, “The Surprise”, arrived to join the exercise. One of Alexandra’s small ships collected from Surprise, Colour Sergeant Waters.
The Alexandra’s log provides a very detailed account of the activities on the Alexandra and of the movements of the other ships taking part in the exercise over the 12 days that she was positioned off the coast at Sigri.
It records how the supplies were regularly taken aboard, for example 520lbs (234 kilograms) of Beef, 260lbs (117 kilograms) of vegetables and 1000lbs (450 kilograms) of bread. There are regular accounts of mustering by divisions (various groups of sailor’s parading on deck and taking the salute). Training classes were a regular feature of daily life with torpedo instruction, machine gun drill and heavy gun drill. Prayers (Divine Service) were also a daily, or twice daily, occurrence. Cleaning the ship, checking life buoys, making and mending clothes, and mending sails were also regular activities. The Royal Navy was a very disciplined organisation and if anything that belonged to Queen and country was lost overboard, then this had to be recorded, for example, flags, coal bags, a boat hook, a door mat, sidecutting scissors, an anchor, and an oar. There are numerous accounts of ships bringing coal to replenish the supplies on the ship and other ships. Accounts also appear of the preparing and laying of mines.
One interesting entry on 23 September 1886 is “Gave privileged leave to both watches”. I wonder whether the sailors were allowed ashore and, if so where did they go?
On 24 September 1886 one of the ships, "Iris" proceeded out of harbour at 1400 hours, returning at 1445 hours and towing a target boat through the mining field. Other ships fired whiteheads (torpedoes) at the target. On that day, also, divers were employed picking up a steam barge's rudder. Later "Iris" weighed (anchor) and proceeded out of harbour. She returned at ten minutes past midnight, passing through the minefield. Seven explosions were observed. It is recorded that the "Polyphemus" was working an electric light.
On Sunday 26 September 1886 more beef, vegetables and bread were brought aboard, before a parade on deck and the religious service followed at noon. At 1345 hours, His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, the commander-in-chief, arrived by HMS "Surprise". He came on board The Alexandra and they hoisted the appropriate flag. Another parade and religious service followed.
On Monday 27 September 1886 at 0515 hours, fires were lit under all four of the ship’s boilers,she took on more supplies and, at 1120 hours, weighed anchor and proceeded out of harbour, with all other ships of the squadron in company in a single column.
They sailed back to the home port of Malta, calling at Thessaloniki, Siros, Argostoli (Keffalonia), Corfu finally arriving in Malta on 27 October 1886.
Andrew Price
