- Type of Memorial
- Board / Plaque / Tablet
- WMR Reference Number
- 16466
- Description
- Two ornate nowy-headed brass plaques with inscriptions in black lettering. Inscriptions flanked by two columns with ornate design in relief which are supporting an entablature.
Anchor within a wreath flanked by two lions at the top centre of each plaque. Smaller anchor flanked by dolphins at the bottm center of the plaques. Cherub heads are at the base of the columns. Both plaques set in wood frames.
- Inscription
- Plaque, right: TO THE OFFICERS AND SHIPS COMPANY OF HER MAJESTY'S GUNBOAT / "WASP" / WHO PERISHED WITH THEIR SHIP IN THE CHINA SEAS / OCTOBER 1887 / (NAMES) / IN TENDER REGARD FOR THE MEMORY OF THE ABOVE / THESE TABLETS WERE ERECTED BY MEMBERS OF ALL RANKS IN THE NAVAL SERVICE AND BY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS / AS A TOKEN OF THEIR DEEP SORROW / SEP. 14 1890
Plaque, left: HER MAJESTY'S COMPOSITE SCREW GUNBOAT/ "WASP"/ 6 GUNS: 670 TONS: 1000 HORSE-POWER: LENGTH 165FT:BREADTH 29FT/ WAS LAID DOWN AT THE YARD OF SIR WILLIAM ARMSTRONG AND COMPANY/ NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE ON THE 17TH OF AUGUST 1885 AND LAUNCHED ON THE 13TH OF SEPTR 1886/ SHE WAS COMMISSIONED AT SHEERNESS ON THE 21ST APRIL 1887 TO RELIEVE H.M.S. "ZEPHYR"/ ON THE CHINA STATION, AND SAILED FROM THIS PORT ON THE 19TH OF MAY THE SAME YEAR/ WITH A COMPLIMENT OF SEVEN OFFICERS, FIFTY-FIVE MEN, THREE BOYS AND EIGHT MARINES,/ UNDER THE COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT BRYAN JOHN HUTHWAITE ADAMSON/ THE RECORD OF HER VOYAGE IS AS FOLLOWS/ ARRIVING AT PORTSMOUTH SHE LEFT ENGLAND ON THE 31ST OF MAY 1887 AND REACHED/ GIBRALTAR ON THE 5TH OF JUNE, TOUCHING AT MALTA ON THE 14TH OF JUNE, PORT SAID ON/ THE 25TH OF THE SAME MONTH, AND CALLING AT JEDDAH, SUAKIN AND MASSOWAH, SHE /ARRIVED AT ADEN ON THE 17TH JULY, SAILING THENCE, SHE REACHED SINGAPORE/ AFTER TOUCHING AT COLUMBO ON THE 19TH OF AUGUST, LEFT FOR HONG KONG ON THE 10TH/ OF SEPTEMBER 1887, AND WAS NEVER HEARD OF AGAIN./ IT WAS SUPPOSED THAT SHE PERISHED, WITH ALL ON BOARD, IN A TYPHOON IN THE CHINA SEAS/ DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 1887./ IN ADDITION TO HER COMPLIMENT ABOVE, SHE HAD ONE OFFICER AND SIX MEN/ TAKING PASSAGE. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES BEING EIGHTY:/ WHOSE NAMES ARE INSCRIBED ON THE TABLET OPPOSITE.