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PAPWORTH EVERARD - Capt. Edmund Williams

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Two photographs of a memorial in the churchyard of Papworth Everard. The transcription reads. "To the Glory of God in Memory of Captain Edmund Williams of the Avalanche who sank with his ship off Portland on the eleventh day of September 1877. This cross is erected by his brother Sydney H Williams".

HMS Avalanche collided with HMS Forest off Portland. Avalanche was bound for New Zealand and 106 people perished. The ship owners paid for a memorial church to be built near Portland with donations coming from Queen Victoria and New Zealand. Apparently heroic islanders rescued 12 people with row boats.


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Photographs and story Copyright © Phil Curme - 2000

29 May 2000
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