Falcon

Posted by des grant on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 13:50

Bermingham, was the son of Baron of Athenry, hence the E in is surname. the 70 crew comes from an Irish 'peerage' mini biography of his death, he lost a leg in battle off Hull and died from his wounds. on his death bed he was promoted to Post Captain, as a reward for saving HMS Falcon days earlier, against a superior privateer of 22 guns and 200 crew. Am 18 hour battle, they never struck the colours and the following morning, still fighting, the HMS FOX 1740 appeared on the horizon, and the French privateer fled without its nearly had prize, Bermingham's leg was shot off above the knee. At port he was dying and he was instantly promoted Captain to the Glasgow, that was due to be launched that week in Hull having just been built. Bermingham;s defence of the Falcon, against the odds, is one of the great Royal Navy stories, 14 six pounders Vs 18 nine pounders plus 6 six pounders, 75 men Vs 200 men. fought at different glasses, the fourteen 1/2 lb swivels most likely saved the Falcon from being boarded. The ships lay-to at nightfall after the battle and recommenced in the morning, and despite losing his led, Bermingham refused to strike, the sight of Glasgow (20) coming on the horizon, must have raised some cheer from the crew of the Falcon (14), the Glasgow pulled alongside before giving chase to the pirates that were still visible on the horizon. The Falcon retuned to port safely and lived to fight again, but not its gallant commander, the 25 year old man from Galway in Ireland.

Posted by des grant on Tuesday 2nd of January 2018 13:28

she had a crew of 70 under Bermingham