Lives of the First World War

During the Great War the Falkland Islands was placed on a war footing and the Falkland Islands Volunteers mobilised for service in outposts positioned around the islands. Early in the War, on 1st December 1914, eight Volunteers drowned on active service when the ferry punt overturned in the Canache (a small bay in Stanley Harbour). An official account referenced “478 per “Crown of Galacia” (4.12.14)" reads "A very sad accident resulting in the drowning of eight men occurred on the afternoon of the 1st instant. We are building quarters for men off H.M.S. 'Canoppe (sic)' on the high land to the east of Engineer Point, volunteers from the Wireless Station being detailed to carry the material from the beach to the site. A party of eight, were returning for dinner, crossing the narrow neck at the Careenage in a punt capable of carrying 3 or 4 men safely. It seems fairly certain that they must have attempted to cross all together and that the punt capsized. Nothing was known until 3 p.m. when the punt was observed bottom up. Out of the eight four were volunteers from our camp (three of whom were South Petherton men), one from Port Howard, one from Chartres and the remaining two from Port Stanley. Bodies are being recovered by divers from H.M.S. “Canopus”.“ (Source FIC Archives – D12 pg 768-769). "Crown of Galacia" was a Requisitioned Auxiliary that was cross loading stores to H.M.S. "Canopus", a pre-Dreadnought battleship, moored at Port Stanley as a defensive battery. H.M.S. Canopus' log for 1st December 1914 reads: "04.20pm: Received signal re capsizing of ferry punt. 04.25pm: 2nd steam pinnace proceeded to place indicated by signal. 05.45pm: Grapnels & oars sent as required." On the day of the majority of funerals the log for Sunday 6th December reads "02.00pm: Funeral party left ship" and "05.00pm: Royal marine firing party returned."

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