Our Chairman, Richard, welcomed everyone to our well-attended meeting on St David’s Day and introduced the speaker for the evening, Peter Robinson.

Peter is a member of the RNLI and has many tales to relate regarding the RNLI but tonight`s talk was on the wreck of the Ocean Monarch which lies approx 6 miles off the Welsh coast.

At the height of the potato famine in Ireland and many people who were unhappy with the state of rule in Britain, there was a mass exodus to the Americas where they thought there was a better life. Initially, the ships used for these emigrants were the current cargo ships. These ships provided very cramped accommodation and a long and hard journey and were known as the “Coffin ships of the Atlantic”. In the 1840s packet ships were run regularly, ie same date every month. At this time Liverpool was an extremely busy port and in America, the immigrants were spreading out into the plains of America and when gold was discovered in California it started a gold rush which encouraged people to travel even more.

There were 2 main shipping Lines at the time, The White Diamond Line and the Swallow Tail Line. In 1844 in Boston, America Donald McKay, a well-known shipbuilder of the time, was commissioned to build a ship for the White Diamond Line, and from this partnership came a series of fast reliable clipper ships including the Ocean Monarch. Facilities in these ships were still cramped and passengers were allotted a space of roughly a seven-foot headroom in which there would be 3 tiered bunks that would have to be shared by family or strangers. Straw mattresses were provided but the passengers would be expected to bring certain provisions to eke out the ship's stores.

Cattle were carried for slaughter on the voyage also there was a large cargo of plates from a Staffordshire pottery. These were in crates packed tightly with straw, so with cargo, passengers, and crew of which the carpenter was highly respected, Bosun and the Captain the ship was quite full. You may notice there is no mention of a Doctor on board. Apparently, if a doctor wanted to travel he would be given free passage for sorting out any medical problems during the voyage.

On Thursday the 24th of August 1848 the Ocean Monarch set sail from Liverpool with 398 people on board. About 25 miles from Liverpool and 6 miles off the Welsh coast this wooden steam-powered ship caught fire. When you consider the cargo of straw-packed pottery and all passenger beds straw-filled, it became a tinderbox. Attempts to control the fire failed and passengers panicked.

Captain Murdoch decided to drop both anchors, raise a distress flag, and send up flares for help. As chaos reigned and with only 2 boats able to be launched and passengers jumping into the sea, anything that could be used for flotation was thrown overboard for people to hang on to. Several ships came to their rescue the first of which was a yacht Queen of the Ocean which picked up as many survivors as possible and The Alfonso, a frigate of the Brazilian Navy together with the New World and the Prince of Wales a railway steamer. Despite everyone`s efforts 178 of the 398 people on board perished along with the cattle, cargo, and luggage.

On the 25th August 1848 the Ocean Monarch sank to a depth of 14 fathoms. The actual cause of the fire was never proved but pipe smoking passengers and straw packings are assumed to be the reason.

Moving on 130 years Jim Povah, a well-known and respected diver from Rhyl, asked Peter if he was interested in diving the wreck as he had been down and recognised the Ocean Monarch. Peter jumped at the chance and they had a good dive with excellent visibility (40-60ft) and were able to bring up some of the plates from the Ocean Monarch which we were able to see for ourselves.

Nowadays these sites are protected and not free to dive without special permission, so the Ocean Monarch remains just off our coast, the home to many varieties of fish including conger eels.

A great tragedy and many medals were given for acts of bravery at the scene.

Thank you Peter for a most interesting talk enjoyed by all.

Our next meeting will be on the 5th of April in the Community Centre at 7 pm and Members are reminded that the free evening parking, across the road, has now finished and a charge will be made for parking. The evening closed with delicious Bara Brith for all. Thank you, Josie.