COMMANDER FREDERICK HILDEBRAND STEVENS RN

THE FIRST CAPTAIN OF HMS GANGES c 1866 at FALMOUTH, DISGRACED AND REMOVED FROM HIS APPOINTMENT FOR CRUELTY

Written by Godfrey Dykes

© RN Communications Branch Museum/Library

QUOTE

At this point, a brief four years, her senior officers turn-over was quite incredible.
All the references you will read throughout are taken from the Admiralty Records of the life of HMS Ganges.

NAME RANK DATES IN SHIP APPOINTED FROM APPOINTED TO REMARKS

Frank H Stevens Commander 1.1.1866 to 28.7.1866 Training Ship Wellesley Asia for re-appointment under Admiralty Memorandum 522 Paid £203-12-6d whilst in Command. Relieved by CDR Frederick Wilson.

Edwin Barnes Lieutenant 1.1.1866 to 1.8.1866 HMS Marlborough Asia Relieved by Lt Smallpiece
Jno Smallpiece Lieutenant 11.8.1866 to 20.6.1867 HMS Hector from ½ pay Asia ½ pay Relieved by Lt Smythe
William Smythe Lieutenant 22.6.1867 to 31.12.1870 - Asia Paid ship off in Devonport
Frederick W Wilson Commander 29.7.1866 to 30.4.1867 Asia ½ pay Asia ½ pay Relieved by Cdr Wilson
Joseph M Wilson Commander 1.5.1867 to 21.7.1870 Asia ½ pay Asia ½ pay Relieved by Cdr Annesley
William H Annesley Commander 22.7.1870 to 16.8.1870 Asia ½ pay Asia ½ pay to be promoted Captain Relieved by Cdr Kelly
Edward Kelly Commander 17.8.1870 to 2.11.1870 Asia ½ pay Asia ½ pay to be promoted Captain Relieved by Cdr Tinklar
Arthur R Tinklar Commander 3.11.1870 to 31.12.1870 HMS Monarch HMS Ganges for second commission n/a
Cdr Stevens brought with him from the Wellesley two of his favourite warrant officers, a Gunner and a Boatswain.
John Welch Gunner 1.1.1866 to 18.9.1866 Wellesley - The new Gunner, Mr Spalding lasted until October 1869
James Fawkes Boatswain 1.1.1866 to 4.3.1867 Wellesley - -

The ship then spent a period in Devonport dockyard where she was refitted. Her return to Falmouth was never in any doubt, but the Admiralty wanted to see better recruitment figures and improvements in the management of the ship. The second commission started on the 1st of July 1871 this time at Mylor and not back at St Just Pool - more of that later.

Her first commission, part suggested by the table above, was marred by known cruelty, investigated and found to be proven, resulting in the removal of her commanding officer and the executive lieutenant, namely Stevens and Barnes. However, even with their removal and the hoped for "new broom", her punishment returns, her death lists (men and boys) and her desertions (men and boys) were appalling. The table below representing a small part of the whole, is all telling. Note "Jno" stands for John or Jonathan !

UNQUOTE

All I want you to note at this point, is the table and the first two lines of the last paragraph, the latter, suggesting that he was a bad man which was not the case! So, more research into his career and his achievements.

Frederick Hildebrand Stevens was born in 1807 give or take a year (still with eight years of the Napoleonic War to run), and by the time he was eighteen, he had held two appointments as a midshipman firstly in the DORIS 42-Gun (Captain Sir J G Sinclair Bt) based on the South American Station, whose patronage was generously extended given Stevens pleasing and competent service, and secondly between 1825 and 1827 in the PARISIAN which was wrecked off the Australian coast! In PARISIAN, his brave services were recorded in naval annuals under "LIEUTENANT SERVICES". A mere midshipman, he had already proved his mettle and was seen as a promising naval officer with great potential.

One of the industries in Australia in the 1820-30 period was whaling and a leading whaler was a man called Jack Anderson, later to be known as Black Jack Anderson. He, and his whaling crews later decided that piracy was a more lucrative occupation and the Royal Navy were called in to combat it - a forerunner of Somali pirates! Anderson and his ships/men operated on the southern coast of West Australia, know as the "Archiplelago of the Recherche". The Royal Navy, under an operation called "Pirates in the Archipelago 1825/27" helped to destroy Anderson's endeavours in disrupting "trading vessels" and in the end, the pirates themselves murdered Anderson and the pirate system collapsed. The navy lost the PARISIAN but Stevens bravery was again recognised.

He was promoted to Mate in 1831 (Sub Lieutenant) and served at sea in various vessels and in many wars/skirmishes. These took him to Egypt, Mesopotamia (Iraq), China and Greece. He continued his outstanding service showing commitment and bravery. When in Rodney as a Mate in 1841 he showed outstanding bravery and for that he was awarded the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society for saving lives of those under his command. Take note of entry number 14 below, and note SYRIA and ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) hot spots of the world today in 2012, one hundred and seventy one (171) years later:-

QUOTE

1841

1 J. .Allen, Lieut, of Wanderer in the Yang-tseKiang, 1842; and at the attack upon the piratical towns of Slurdoo and Qualloo Batto Sumatra. 1843. While in the Revenue service, 1830-40, and in command of cutters, 1844-31, has effected the capture of several noted smugglers and smuggling vessels, and has been severely injured in the service.

5 T. Sihbald, Mid. of Beacon, serving in her boats at Capture of 140 Greek pirates, 1832. Mate of Melville, and landed in charge of a field-piece and party of seamen at the capture of Chuenpee, and in command of a rocket boat at capture of the Bogue forts, 1841.

6 R. C. Kevern, Mate of Blenheim at the capture of Arooy and Chingbae, in 1841.

T J. M. Cooke, Vol. 1st class of Asia at Navarin. Mate of Blenheim at the Bocca Tigris, and capture of Canton. Lieut, of Nimrod, serving throughout the war.

8 S. B. Dolling, Mate of Blonde on the coast of Chitia, 1841; and Lieut, of that ship, and assisted in her boats at the destruction of the Chinese fire,rafts at Chingbae, and attack on their camp at Segabon, in 1842.

13 VV. A. R. Pearse, Mid. of Andromache, serving in her boats in action with Malay pirates, 1836. Mate of Modeste on the coast of China, and wounded at the attack upon Canton; and was present at the capture of Amoy and Chingbae, in 1841; and as Acting Lieut, of the same ship, assisted at the destruction of Chinese fire rafts at Chingbae, and attack on their camp at Segahon, in 1842.

14 F. H. Stevens, Mid. of Parisian, serving in her boats at the destruction of pirates in the Archipelago, 1825,27, and wrecked in that ship. Mate of Rodney, at Syria and Alexandria, 1841. Silver Med. Roy. Humane Society.

15 Jas. Hunt, Mid. of Stromboli, and officially mentioned as having first planted the British flag on the wall of Sidon, in 1840. Lieut, of Dido, and in command of her tender repulsed an attack of a large number of pirates on the coast of Borneo, in 1843.

16 A. G. Edye, is the inventor of several useful pieces of mechanism, and tables. Has received the silver medal from the Society of Arts fur the invention of an instrument which registers the inclination and oscillations of a ship.

17 H. A. Norman, Mate of Blenheim at the taking of Canton, Amoy, and Chingbae, in 1841.

)8 H. W, Hire, Hon. Med. Royal Humane Soc.

19 A. C. Murray, Mate of Dolphin, and dangerously wounded in ber boats at the capture of a pirate on the coast of Africa, in 1841.

24 \V. R. Rolland, Mate of Blonde at Amoy and Chingbae, in 1841, and assisted at the deStruction of the Chinese lire-rafts at the latter place, in 1842.

25 A. C. C. Denny, Mate of Blenheim on the coast of China, and served at Amoy and Cbinghae, in 1841.

26 W. H. Symonds, Mate of Blenheim, taking1 the Forts of the Bocca Tigris; and Acting Lieut, of Blonde at the attack upon Canton, in 1841.

28 J. J. Kennedy, Mate of Wellesley, and officially noticed at the capture of Amoy and Chinghae. Lieut, of Conway and wounded in both legs at the aitack on the batteries of Tamatave, Madagascar, 1845.

29 C. C. A. Kane, Mate of Conway, and officially noticed at the capture of Canton.

31 J. B. Konystra, Mid. of Prince ofWala, blockading Toulon, Basque Roads, and Brest, 1812; and o( Ajax at the siege and surrender of San Sehastian, and capture of Fr. brig Halryon, 1813. Mid. of Cintjianceia the desperate action and capture of that ship on lake Champlain, 1814. Mate of Warp at rapture of Yenzuelam piratical brig hibertador and of Brazen during the insurrection at l'ernambuco.

34 G. W. Wilkinson, Vol. First Class, in Edinburgh, at the reduction of Genoa, 1814.

35 W. T. Newenham, Vol. in Hannibal at the capture of Fr.frigate Sullane, in 1814; ofSlufira, in the operations against New Orleans, in 1815; and Mid. of Slaney during the Burmese war.

36 J. G. Robins, Senior Lieut, of Apollo during the operations on the coast of China, 1842-43. Lieut, of Firebrand in the actions off Obligado, San Lorenzo, and other operations in the Parana, 1845-46.

37 II. T. Ryves. chief officer of H. E. I. C. steamer Phtegethon during the operations in China, from the capture of Amoy till the peace of Nankin — both inclusive. Severely wounded at Amoy, and served on shore on many other occasions. Senior Lieut, of Satellite in the river Plate. 1844-7, and employed at the taking and defence of Colonia, and commanded a corvette guarding theentranoe to the Parana.

38 G. A. Ellerman, wounded when Mate of Favourite in an affray with the natives of the South Sea Islands, in 1840.

39 W. G. J. Cunningham, Lieut, of Firebrand in the action off Obligado, and subsequent operations on the coast of the Argentine Republic, 1846.

43 H. J. Giles, Mid. of Genoa, at Navarin.

UNQUOTE

For his outstanding performance he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant to date 28th July 1841. His career blossomed often going ahead of his peer group. He saw much action and was considered to be a brave and fearless officer, but a man of compassion and positive leadership. In those days, with a huge navy but a naval list of officers many times more than could be meaningfully employed resulting in ever long retirement lists and reserve lists on half pay, the chances of an "active navy" job were only guaranteed for the 'cut and thrust' officer of the tough sailing navy. Stevens was one of these guys. The 'rat race' and proven ability meant showing the ability to take and dish-out tough and harsh discipline. Only the strongest survived and they "sold their souls" to stay on the ladder of promotion.

By 1849, he had made the rank of 'lieutenant O8' (over eight years seniority), a rank, relatively new, of two and a half stripes (lieutenant commander). Most surprisingly, but in keeping with his record, Stevens took only five more years to make the rank of Commander which took place on the 10th January 1854. At this time a new war was brewing and in the period 1855/56 the Crimean War developed and was fought to the bitter end. It greatly used the navy, involving the services on Frederick H Stevens. However, many in that war with commands outshone their peer group and in this case, Frederick wasn't a leading star. After that war, no more "wars" were fought, just "skirmishes" and bit by bit, hitherto "front-of-house" performing officers, were side-lined. It wasn't until the first of the Boer War (1880) that the navy were re-challenged!

BY THE TIME F H STEVENS HAD BEEN APPOINTED THE FIRST CO OF HMS GANGES AS A BOYS' TRAINING SHIP, he had mixed feelings. First off he had been a commander for twelve long years, so was way out of zone for his fourth stripe to become a captain. He was, as we say, "old and bold" and in "gong zone", today, usually an OBE to say goodbye and thank you. However, during the stories covered by these paragraphs, Stevens had been awarded a Naval Silver Medal for outstanding service and so he had campaign medals (China Opium War etc) plus a Silver Naval Medal (Syria) and a Silver Royal Humane Society Medal, all in all well decorated and rewarded for his years of service. (See 4th para below "In October 1866 less that three months after leaving HMS GANGES........")

So, here we have a dedicated officer, molded by his time and experiences, all in the war-fleet of the sailing navy, motivating men at action stations to perform well to destroy the enemy, given command of a cannibalised man of war (from 84 guns to 20 guns) full of boys, and a training crew who could not match and therefore not fully understand his so-called management techniques. His appointment was a smack-in-the-face, and a poor reward for his service, yet to be expected for a past-over officer never going to go further than a commander. Difficult for him (and others) to accept. His rule of authority was therefore probably inappropriate, and this is borne out by reading between the lines of Admiralty Memorandum 522. In the zoning system (considering all officers promoted to the same rank on the same day or the same year) of those promoted only one (MIGHT) reach the top (admiral of whatever rank) , a few would make captain, half (when no longer required) would be sacked (made retired) and the rest put into the reserve on half pay but never again employed.

Stevens clearly ran a taught-ship, but wanted only the best from his command. HMS Ganges was a minnow as HMS Impregnable (the base-ship of the Inspector General of Naval Boys' Training at Devonport) was a great white shark, with other training ships in between! His intentions were for the best reasons but the material he was given was poor and utterly unresponsive, making him out to be a task-master, even a bully or a cruel commanding officer. However, at Falmouth Stevens was a very popular man and much courted by the traders, suppliers and chandlers eager to secure contracts to meet the needs of the 'new' ship in port. By all accounts he was also very civil and sociable.

Memorandum 522 could have sacked him there and then but it didn't. It mitigated his command and personal leadership and "closed him down" for a few months rest. He was now coming up to the age of sixty (an old man in the mid 19th century) and had been in the navy for forty two years.

In October 1866, less than three months after leaving HMS Ganges, he was appointed to Malta, as the Governor of the Malta Naval Prison, a fitting appointment for a man who spent his whole life obeying orders and expected that all under his command did the same.

There are no adverse reports of his time in Command of Corradino, and he himself called "stumps" on the 1st January 1867 when he was placed on the retired list.

A man of the sail navy, who on entering the steam navy (the introduction of the Iron Clads from 1860 onwards) didn't like or understand the massive change of the navy's modus operandi and effectively chucked his hand in, taking his pension graciously.

So please, when you see his name, don't just pass it by. He was the very first CO and the navy, the ship's company of HMS Ganges and the trainees (the boys') let him down badly.

I for one applaud you Frederick Hildebrand STEVENS - two Silver Medals and several campaign medals - a master mariner of the old school.

The following data shows various aspects of Stevens' life by date.

Look at 1837.

Note Commanders Retired and F H Stevens years as a Commander and his appointment on retiring. Note also the name of Charles Maxwell Luckraft Governor of Lewes Naval Prison.

Note date of appointment as the Governor of Malta Naval Prison.

POSTSCRIPT

Today, 15 July 2022, I received the following from Henry Vivian-Neal, Trustee, The Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery which shows the final resting place of Commander Frederick Hildebrand Stevens. Thank you Henry.