| Private George Capper, RMLI Drowns in Alexandria Harbor |
George Capper was born in Gloucester on 8
August, 1860 and enlisted on 8 July, 1879,
Capper was described as being 5ft 6-3/4
inches tall with a sallow complexion, dark
brown hair and hazel eyes.
He served at the Recruit Depot at Walmer
from 8 July, 1879 until 24 March, 1880 when
he was transferred to the Portsmouth
Division. In August of 1880 he joined the
ships company of the HMS Inconstant.
During this time his character was described
as being exemplary.
During his tenure aboard the Inconstant
Capper's exemplary character seems to have
lapsed and his name appeared 6 times in the
Company Defaulters Book. His offences
included not moving smartly enough at all
hands on deck, sleeping at his post when on
sentry, neglect of duty while on sentry,
having a bottle of grog concealed on him
which he intended to give to a prisoner over
whom he was about to placed as sentry,
dropping his valise brace into the furnace
room and leaving his work. For these
offences he served 43 days punishment with
14 of those in the cells.
The Inconstant set sail on 17 October, 1880
on a voyage of two years and one that Capper
would not return from. The Inconstant sailed
in convoy with the Cleopatra, Bacchante,
Carysfort and Tourmaline, for Vigo in Spain,
then onto Madeira, to St Vincent and down to
Monte Video. The convoy arrived at Monte
Video on 22nd December 1880 and sailed to
Stanley in the Falkland Islands and then to
the Cape of Good Hope arriving Thursday
17th February 1881. She stayed in the Cape
for two months replenishing coal stocks and
exchanging official visits with the British
Governor.
The Inconstant and the convoy set sail on
10th April 1881 for Australia. Her first stop
in Australia was at Melbourne, where on
23rd May 1881 the ship was ‘dressed’ and a
Royal salute was fired to celebrate the
birthday of HM Queen Victoria, this was
repeated on Monday 20th June to celebrate
her accession. From Melbourne they went to
Sydney.
From Sydney the Inconstant sailed to
Brisbane, then on to Fiji, Yokohama, Kobe,
Simorio, Wusury, Chausan Islands and to
Hong Kong and the Cape of Good Hope.
After a month at the Cape she sailed for St
Helena then to St Vincent, onto Gibraltar, to
Malta, Limosal in Cyprus and then to
Alexandria, Egypt arriving 20th July 1882.
August, 1860 and enlisted on 8 July, 1879,
Capper was described as being 5ft 6-3/4
inches tall with a sallow complexion, dark
brown hair and hazel eyes.
He served at the Recruit Depot at Walmer
from 8 July, 1879 until 24 March, 1880 when
he was transferred to the Portsmouth
Division. In August of 1880 he joined the
ships company of the HMS Inconstant.
During this time his character was described
as being exemplary.
During his tenure aboard the Inconstant
Capper's exemplary character seems to have
lapsed and his name appeared 6 times in the
Company Defaulters Book. His offences
included not moving smartly enough at all
hands on deck, sleeping at his post when on
sentry, neglect of duty while on sentry,
having a bottle of grog concealed on him
which he intended to give to a prisoner over
whom he was about to placed as sentry,
dropping his valise brace into the furnace
room and leaving his work. For these
offences he served 43 days punishment with
14 of those in the cells.
The Inconstant set sail on 17 October, 1880
on a voyage of two years and one that Capper
would not return from. The Inconstant sailed
in convoy with the Cleopatra, Bacchante,
Carysfort and Tourmaline, for Vigo in Spain,
then onto Madeira, to St Vincent and down to
Monte Video. The convoy arrived at Monte
Video on 22nd December 1880 and sailed to
Stanley in the Falkland Islands and then to
the Cape of Good Hope arriving Thursday
17th February 1881. She stayed in the Cape
for two months replenishing coal stocks and
exchanging official visits with the British
Governor.
The Inconstant and the convoy set sail on
10th April 1881 for Australia. Her first stop
in Australia was at Melbourne, where on
23rd May 1881 the ship was ‘dressed’ and a
Royal salute was fired to celebrate the
birthday of HM Queen Victoria, this was
repeated on Monday 20th June to celebrate
her accession. From Melbourne they went to
Sydney.
From Sydney the Inconstant sailed to
Brisbane, then on to Fiji, Yokohama, Kobe,
Simorio, Wusury, Chausan Islands and to
Hong Kong and the Cape of Good Hope.
After a month at the Cape she sailed for St
Helena then to St Vincent, onto Gibraltar, to
Malta, Limosal in Cyprus and then to
Alexandria, Egypt arriving 20th July 1882.
| The Late Private George Capper Royal Marine Light Infantry Carte de Visite Unknown Photographer Unknown Location c. 1880 |
While in Alexandria Capper was part of the British force under Admiral Seymour that was sent to quell the anti-European
riots that followed Arabi Pasha's rebellion against the Egyptian Khedive.
Although not stated in Capper's service records it would seem that the unfortunate private would have been entitled to the
Egypt Medal with the clasp "Alexandria" as well as the Khedive's Star.
The Ship's log of the HMS Inconstant states that Capper jumped overboard early in the morning of 22 September, 1882 while
in a state of delirium and was drowned. Divers recovered his body around 9:00 AM and at 9:15 the ship's company was
mustered by divisions for prayers in Capper's memory. He was buried at Alexandria. The cause of his delirium is unknown but
it may have been due to malaria.
riots that followed Arabi Pasha's rebellion against the Egyptian Khedive.
Although not stated in Capper's service records it would seem that the unfortunate private would have been entitled to the
Egypt Medal with the clasp "Alexandria" as well as the Khedive's Star.
The Ship's log of the HMS Inconstant states that Capper jumped overboard early in the morning of 22 September, 1882 while
in a state of delirium and was drowned. Divers recovered his body around 9:00 AM and at 9:15 the ship's company was
mustered by divisions for prayers in Capper's memory. He was buried at Alexandria. The cause of his delirium is unknown but
it may have been due to malaria.
Capper's ship the HMS Inconstant in a photograph
taken sometime around 1870. The Inconstant was
built by John Penn & Sons and launched on 12
November 1868 as an iron-hulled unarmored
frigate of 16 guns that displaced 5780 tons.
Commanded from her commissioning by Captain
Elphonstone D'Oyly D'Auvergne Alpin until 13
September 1870. She was later under the
command of Captain Lord Walter Talbot Kerr and
served as Vice Admiral Frederick Beauchamp
Padget Seymour's flagship in the Mediterranean.
The Inconstant survived until 1956 when her
remains were scrapped.
taken sometime around 1870. The Inconstant was
built by John Penn & Sons and launched on 12
November 1868 as an iron-hulled unarmored
frigate of 16 guns that displaced 5780 tons.
Commanded from her commissioning by Captain
Elphonstone D'Oyly D'Auvergne Alpin until 13
September 1870. She was later under the
command of Captain Lord Walter Talbot Kerr and
served as Vice Admiral Frederick Beauchamp
Padget Seymour's flagship in the Mediterranean.
The Inconstant survived until 1956 when her
remains were scrapped.
| Unmounted Photograph Modern reprint of a vintage original 5 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches (14cm x 9cm) |
