Birkenhead survivors

Gould Arthur Lucas

CAPTAIN GOULD ARTHUR LUCAS  late 73^rd Regiment  was in 1902 at the fiftieth anniversary of the wreck living at Mitton Manor  Penkridge  Staffordshire. His father was the Right Hon. Edward Lucas of Castle Shane Co. Monaghan Ireland. It was this gallant officer then Ensign Lucas, who supervised the placing of the women and children in the ship’s boat.

  After serving with the Army through the difficult years following the Birkenhead disaster he retired from his regiment after his appointment as company commander in 1859 and for many years subsequently he was a magistrate in Durban in addition to various other appointments in Natal South Africa.  During the latter part of the period he held important post of Chief Magistrate at Durban. He returned to England in 1897.

  This officer and Lieutenant Girardot of the 43^rd  were on watch together the night the Birkenhead was wrecked and heard the night orders given to the naval officer of the watch. He was always under the impression that a small grass fire high on the shore at Danger Point misled that officer who probably thought it was at Cape Agulha  lighthouse. Ensign Lucas sent home -  three weeks after the wreck - an account of his experience which is of great interest. The narrative written while the circumstances were fresh in its author’s memory gives us a vivid picture of the scene on that terrible night in February 1852.

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