The National Park Service preserves some of the large timbers from the wreck. This is a very popular area for backpacking, birding, and camping, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. You can read about a few Cape Town museums in this post: The 15 Best Museums in Cape Town, Thank you, Matthew, for this very interesting article on SA shipwrecks. While hugging the coastline in an attempt to avoid German U-boats, the ship was caught in heavy fog, and ended up running aground at Olifantsbos Point after the captain mistakenly assumed they were nearing Robben Island. The story The Antipolis was one of two ships (the other being the Romelia) bound for the scrap heap in Taiwan. 1938 tanker sunk by U-203 on April 9, 1942. Whilst in harbour in the Leyte area the Leeuwin had perhaps her narrowest escape. Since 1778, the Somersets remains have only surfaced twice: once in the winter of 1885-86, and again in 1973. Well, at least the crew didnt have to swim to shore. Another is in the use of the phrases Cape to Cape or the Capes in tourist promotional materials. 1900 oil tanker lost on December 1, 1927, during a heavy gale and used for target practice in 1929 by U.S. Army. Surprising, also, that these horses were not used, like hero Wolraad Woltemade did; to save 14 sailors from the wreck of the Jonge Thomas. The log of the Leeuwin has been lost, so very little is known of the voyage. It was totally manually operated until 1982 by a clockwork mechanism and kero burner, one of the last in the world. 02667. . The first known European sighting of the cape was by Bruni d'Entrecasteaux in 1791. d'Entrecasteaux thought the cape was an island, and named it "Isle St Allouarn" ("St Allouarn Island"), in honour of Captain de St Aloarn. The only part of the wreck that is visible above the surface is the engine block; the rest lies submerged beneath about eight metres of water. First option, the Straights of Magellan on the southern tip of South America, separating the island of Tierra del Fuego from the mainland. Date of wreck 1505 Interesting fact We take for granted that women and children first has always been the case during evacuations, but the sinking of the Birkenhead is actually the earliest recorded instance of that protocol. Copyright 2023. 1921 oil tanker sunk by U-71 on March 26, 1942. Its one of the few wrecks you wont need diving gear to find, as the engine block and some other bits and pieces are partially buried in the sand, close to the Kommetjie side of the beach. The hillside to the west of the lighthouse, and the land nearby is now part of Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. It has extensive heath vegetation and thick scrub which supports a very high number of plant species and also bird species that utilise this habitat. However, the land found by the Leeuwin was recorded on a 1627 map by Hessel Gerritsz: Caert van't Landt van d'Eendracht ("Chart of the Land of Eendracht"), which appears to show the coast between present-day Hamelin Bay and Point D'Entrecasteaux. [2] Cape Leeuwin itself cannot be recognised. Cape Leeuwin is often grouped with the next headland north, Cape Naturaliste, to identify the geography and ecology of the region. He dived on the wreck to recover the lead that was being carried by the ship. Twenty two ships were wrecked around Cape Leeuwin before the lighthouse was officially opened in 1896 and only one shipwreck has occurred since. The shipwreck that forever changed South Africa. The ship ran aground on the rocks near Glencairn Beach, sustaining significant damage. This podcast series examines Australias Naval history, featuring a variety of naval history experts from the Naval Studies Group and elsewhere. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. The captain, who died several days later from the effects of exposure, is buried in Truro. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Some shipwrecks are identified as being within the vicinity of Augusta, Cape Leeuwin or Hamelin Bay that might not be within visual distance of the lighthouse. In 2005, the park superintendent presented a few pieces of the Somerset to the commander and crew of the British navys modern HMS Somerset (IV). U.S. Navy Tug Keshena sunk by a mine on July 19, 1942. The lighthouse is located on Cape Leeuwin Road in Augusta. Discover this 78.6-mile point-to-point trail near Dunsborough, Western Australia. Shortly afterwards, to their surprise the circling aircraft dived and strafed them. [2], Located on headland of the cape is the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and the buildings that were used by the lighthouse-keepers. During a 1945 voyage to South America and back, the ship was almost destroyed several times, even catching fire at one point. By the time the Somerset had wrecked, Cape Codders had suffered greatly from the British blockade during the American Revolution. Where Duiker Point, near Sandy Bay (Image credit: David Parker/Alamy) By Nick Dall 14th January 2020. According to the official account of the ship's captain, George Ourry, only 21 men were lost during the wreck. The wreck has gradually been transformed into a colourful manmade reef, populated by a wide variety of sea life including squid, shysharks and cuttlefish. The ribs of the ship are stored in Plymouth at Pilgrim Hall. 22.8 C. The rest were callously abandoned as the ship began to break apart. The story Seventeen years after Bartolomeu Dias became the first European explorer to round the Cape, fleet commander Lopo Soares de Albergaria became the first to lose a ship in the Cape. This area lies within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Interesting fact The wreck was used as a backdrop for some of the scenes in the film Ryans Daughter (1970), which was actually set in Ireland. With no significant land mass separating the great capes from Antarctica, the unabated wind and swell beneath represent an inhospitable wilderness that is both terrifying and captivating in equal measures. South-east of Cape Leeuwin, the coast of Western Australia extends much further south. Download a free curriculum guide, Battle of the Atlantic: Discovering and Exploring When the War Came Home, for students in grades 6-12. Contents Some shipwrecks are identified as being within the vicinity of Augusta, Cape Leeuwin or Hamelin Bay that might not be within visual distance of the lighthouse. He had a son who is my grandfather. The Inside Guide has made every effort to ensure that the information in this post was correct at the time of publication. 1922 tanker sunk by U-552 on April 5, 1942. He braved the treacherous waves seven times, saving two sailors each time; clinging to a rope on each side of the horse. (With one soldier/sailor in the saddle and 2 hanging from a rope on either side of the horse), I was a radio tech with Marconi Marine circa 1978 1980 I remember a ship either sinking or getting into difficulty on the coast east of Capetown along the garden route area.. As far as I remember all crew were saved I am not sure if ship sank or was salvaged later. Entry to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park is free. After some delay a party proceeded ashore and the job of restoring the light began. U.S. Navy submarine that served during World War II and sank in 1956. , and some are on loan to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History in Washington DC. 1919 freighter sunk by U-432 on February 15, 1942. In Australia, the Cape is considered the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean; however most other nations and bodies consider the Southern Ocean to only exist south of 60S. Observations were drawn from Cape Leeuwin {station 009518}. Shipwrecks within sight of this location include SSPericles, an iron-screw steamer built in Belfast in Northern Ireland, which sank after hitting an uncharted rock on a clear calm day in 1910.[11][12]. Fishing, boating, paddling, snorkelling and diving, Campfires, firewood and cooking appliances, Online campsite booking terms and conditions, Campgrounds availability for non-bookable campgrounds, Park visitor guides, maps and itineraries, Back to Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. With the growing conflict, the federal government concerned itself with defending its coastlines. The English navigator Matthew Flinders named Cape Leeuwin after the first known ship to have visited the area, the Leeuwin ("Lioness"), a Dutch vessel that charted some of the nearby coastline in 1622. I am sure it performed on the day. Converted 1935 British fishing trawler sunk by U-558 on May 12, 1942. I am very interested in finding out more about my great grandfather who was supposedly shipwrecked here in Cape Town in the late 1800s Only recently I managed to get his name on a baptism certificate of his daughter. Visit our World War I webpage to learn the history, discover the shipwrecks, and visit often as new data and images are added. ran aground on the rocks at Duiker Point. A plaque near the beachfront, erected by the wife of Lieut Colonel Andrew Giels, commemorates the loss of her four eldest sons, who were returning home from visiting their father in Ceylon. I wonder what those sailors made of the place I am now stood? cape leeuwin shipwrecks 16 cape leeuwin shipwrecks. So the ocean takes and gives back and takes again. In activities of this type it will be realised that the front is fluid and whether the vessels contacted were Allied or enemy was anybodys guess. Value: Unknown. Print This Page. For more information, contact the TMNP Marine Unit (021 783 0234). You should read the important information in these notes.. Other formats Location of the wreck Long Beach, Noordhoek. Survivors The captain and crew all survived, but an estimated 212 of the 500 slaves aboard were left to drown, probably still trapped in their shackles as the ship went down. An entry fee to the grounds applies, where you can take a self-guided audio tour (well worth doing), to learn about the interesting history of the area including early settlement life and tragic shipwrecks. From the Antikythera, which held what may be the oldest computer, to a treasure-filled vessel, these shipwrecks are obscured not only by ocean waves, but by mysterious circumstances. By. The Somerset is also protected under international law, and is the sovereign property of the United Kingdom. The people aboard were able to get ashore safely, and the ship was repaired. Cape Leeuwin is not the southernmost point of Western Australia, with that distinction belonging to West Cape Howe, which is to the southeast, near Albany. The climate of Cape Leeuwin is warm-summer Mediterranean (Csb in the Kppen climate classification), with an average annual rainfall of around 954 millimetres (37.6in). Cape Naturaliste is the northernmost point of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge and separates the relatively sheltered waters of Geographe Bay from the southern Indian Ocean. discovery is unique, in that it is the only as-yet-discovered wreck of a slave ship that sunk with its prisoners aboard. 1928 tanker sunk by U-332 on March 16, 1942. King John II of Portugal later renamed it Cabo da Boa Esperana, Cape of Good Hope. 1919 freighter sunk by U-203 on April 14, 1942. One bomb landed close to the Leeuwins stern and lifted the ship literally out of the water, but to the relief of the crew she came down in one piece. From the American Revolution to present day conflicts, the story of the Somerset offers a moving lesson in cooperation between old naval foes who now work together as allies. The bay just east of Cape Leeuwin is Flinders Bay, named after Matthew Flinders, the circumnavigating explorer of the early 19th century. John in Dublin. Captain George Simpson gave the order to make for shore, incorrectly assuming that they were just off Table Bay, when in fact they had not yet passed Cape Agulhas. CALM/DOLA 1996. Where Arniston From January through July of 1942, German U-boats sank ships off the American east coast with relative impunity. 1920 freighter sunk by U-160 on April 9, 1942. Learn more Read an overview of North Carolina's maritime cultural landscape and learn more about existing laws that protect our cultural heritage. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society and the RAN Seapower Centre. Guided tours are conducted daily at the Lighthouse. Shipwrecks within sight of this location include the SS Pericles, an iron-screw steamer built in . 1918 freighter sunk by U-124 on March 18, 1942. Sea temperatures in those regions in winter are several degrees higher than against the mainland coast. 1919 freighter sunk by U-158 on March 11, 1942. Salvage of the Somersets cargo was dangerous and difficult. Interesting fact The Sao Jose Paquete Africa discovery is unique, in that it is the only as-yet-discovered wreck of a slave ship that sunk with its prisoners aboard. She was a powerful third-rate line of battle British warship that helped shape the course of American history. Survivors 193 people survived the wreck, out of 643 passengers and crew. The wreck itself lies in 30 meters of water, around 1.5km from the nearest shore. MA The ship and its crew somehow managed to reach home safely, but the vessel was no longer seaworthy and had to be scuttled. Date of the wreck 1815 Most rain falls between May and August, when around two days in three record measurable rainfall and around one in ten over 10 millimetres (0.39in). Whilst Cape Leeuwin is not the most southerly point of the Australasian continent, its exposure to the abundant swell of both the Indian and Southern Oceans is unparalleled. All hands perishing!" get to the top, Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, LeeuwinNaturaliste National Park, Cape to Cape Track, Hamelin Bay, Cape Horn, Map of Cape Leeuwin Western Australia Australia. The ship ran aground on the rocks near Glencairn Beach, sustaining significant damage. To feel the ancient Gneiss bedrock underfoot as you lean into the untamed westerly breeze. I get buffeted by a blast of salt laden air. The crew and cargo were rescued and the ship towed back to Simons Town for repairs, but attempts to restore her to working condition proved ineffective, and she was eventually scuttled. Attempts were made to recover the wreck, but it had incurred too much damage and was eventually abandoned, making for a rather expensive loss. At Manila, after having done considerable work in a bomb-damaged building erecting a navigation aid, the work party was stopped on leaving by a surprised Allied Military Policeman. This website and third-party tools use cookies for functional, analytical, and advertising purposes. It has extensive heath vegetation and thick scrub which supports a very high number of plant species and also bird species that utilise this habitat. Lightship sunk by U-140 on August 6, 1918, during World War I. The log of the Leeuwin has been lost, so very little is known of the voyage. It is believed to have occurred somewhere between Mossel Bay and Dana Bay, as shown on. Where Simons Town The wreck itself lies in 30 meters of water, around 1.5km from the nearest shore. Seventeen years after Bartolomeu Dias became the first European explorer to round the Cape, fleet commander Lopo Soares de Albergaria became the first to lose a ship in the Cape. Combined with the forces of countless "nor'easters" and its precarious location, the Cape has been the site of more than 3,000 shipwrecks in 300 years of recorded history. Jan 15, 2022 - Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse is situated at the most south-westerly point on mainland Australia, and is the spot where we can see the meeting point of two oceans - the Southern Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority makes this heritage management plan under section 341S of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) for Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. Interesting fact As with most ships of its class (dubbed Liberty Ships), The SS Thomas T Tucker was tasked with transporting troops and supplies to assist in the Allied war effort. Visit the Atlas of Living Australia for a list of species recorded within a 5km radius of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. 2.7 km away. Where Camps Bay This sizeable steamship was built to ferry cargo across the ocean, yet its structure was ill-suited to its purpose. A fatal miscalculation, and one that might have been avoided if the ships chronometer had been replaced before the journey (the captain had requested a new one, but the ships owners had deemed it an unnecessary expenditure). A farmers son discovered them a few days later, and they were able to make their way back to Cape Town. At two in the morning we had 80 fathoms, and veered towards the land. . Augusta is the home of the famous Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, a tall lighthouse built from . You can even, Visitors are urged to be cautious and alert when walking this route. ???? Contact. . Artefacts recovered from the wreck will soon be on display at the. The HMS Birkenhead was sailing to Algoa Bay in 1852 with hundreds of civilians and British troops on board when it was wrecked after striking a submerged rock. Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse: Striking scenery with stories of keeper's lives and shipwrecks - See 1,625 traveller reviews, 1,412 candid photos, and great deals for Augusta, Australia, at Tripadvisor. On the night of November 20, 1872, Captain Cotton in Whittaker, with a cargo of coal, was headed from Hoboken, NJ, to Boston, MA, and went ashore on Hedgefence. Flinders landed in the bay to the east of Cape Leeuwin, todays Flinders Bay. Australian Maritime Safety Authority 2.3K subscribers Cape Leeuwin lighthouse is situated on the most southwestern point of Australia in Augusta. Acting as gateways to the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere they share a unique importance in navigational and seafaring past and present. Later investigations revealed that the compass was off by 3 degrees, which may have played a part. Another is in the use of the phrases Cape to Cape or the Capes in tourist promotional materials. Contents 1 Description June 2018 marked the start of the 100th anniversary of World War I off the North Carolina coast. Location of the wreck The rocks where the ship met its end can be seen from the Danger Point lighthouse at Gansbaai (the lighthouse itself was built 43 years after the wreck, and has a plaque commemorating the vessel). 9. 508-255-3421 Enjoy exploring and check back often as new ships are added. As a result, the use of the Brouwer route led to the unintentional discovery and limited charting of the southwest corner of Western Australia by ships such as the Leeuwin as well as contributing to the numerous shipwrecks from this era along the coastline. - See 1,638 traveler reviews, 1,415 candid photos, and great deals for Augusta, Australia, at Tripadvisor. Date of wreck 1942 The story This sizeable steamship was built to ferry cargo across the ocean, yet its structure was ill-suited to its purpose. Other European vessels passed by for the next two centuries, including the Dutch 't Gulden Zeepaert, commanded by Franois Thijssen, in 1627 and the French Gros Ventre, under Louis Aleno de St Aloarn, in 1772. The officers and crew, numbering over 400, were escorted to Boston. By 1611 the Brouwer route became mandatory for Dutch ships on route to Batavia and surrounds. Interesting fact The Commodore II was used as a set for the film Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), starring Clark Gable. They called it "Doogalup".[5]. Since 2008, NOAA and its partners, with the assistance of local divers, avocational researchers, and the fishing community, have worked to document these shipwrecks. After using the ship to plunder vessels throughout the Caribbean, Bellamy sailed the ship north, up the east coast of the United States, until the Whydah and her crew met their untimely fate and sank off the coast of Cape Cod in April of 1717 during a bad storm. Location of the wreck About 100 metres off the shoreline at Mackerel Beach, where it was grounded after being refused entry to the dry dock at Simons Town. Despite the restlessness of elemental forces around, it presents a rare solace worth seeking out: A place where all the problems of the human world are behind you. Contact Komwatch for more information. A shore base and a ship of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMASLeeuwin after the cape. Located on headland of the cape is the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse and the buildings that were used by the lighthouse keepers. While the area is well known for shipwrecks dating from the Age of North American exploration to present day, the most prominent collection of shipwrecks and time period represented is from World War II's Battle of the Atlantic. The lighthouse remains the tallest in mainland Australia, leaving no doubt to the significant navigational risk that the area posed and continues to pose to passing vessels. Unfortunately it wasnt Cape Point, it was Devils Peak. 1916 tanker sunk by U-552 on April 9, 1942. While hugging the coastline in an attempt to avoid German U-boats, the ship was caught in heavy fog, and ended up running aground at Olifantsbos Point after the captain mistakenly assumed they were nearing Robben Island.