Page 21 - The Parish News May 2019
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captured ships under oath of no further service.
After two years continuously at sea the Alabama was badly in need of repair and took to harbour in Cherbourg for refitting. But, she was trapped there by the USS Kearsage who anchored six miles out and who had her own surprises, for the Kearsage was fitted with disguised armour surrounding her wooden hull. Unknown to Semmes, he decided he had no alternative but to attack despite the Alabama’s condition and with 15,000 French picnicking onlookers watching from ashore, he set off to do battle.
Inevitably the weakened Alabama lost the fight despite firing off twice as many rounds as the Kearsage and finally raised the white flag before sinking.
Semmes, the last to leave ship was rescued by a watching English steam yacht, The Deerhound, flying the colours of The Royal Mersey Yacht Club and kindly taken to England, much to the annoyance of the Union
captain.
But our surgeon from Easton Royal had his own story to tell, for despite having an injured leg, he refused to take his place on a lifeboat, deferring to others and subsequently losing his own life by drowning, aged 26 years.
But the story does not quite end there, for the Confederacy remembered the bravery of Llewellyn and the exploits of the Alabama, their most successful raider, and commissioned a plaque to the brave doctor to be placed in Easton Royal Church, for all there now to see. The history of 1864 brought near!
Roger Binney, Edington
ErLESTOKE’S NEW EMAIL INFOrMATION pLAN
The launch of the information system has been a great success and hopefully, if you have subscribed, then you will be receiving all the news of events in and around Erlestoke.
If you are from the Erlestoke area and have not been asked for your email for the Parish Information system then please email Parish Councillor james.durham@optima-group.co.uk to give your permission to have your email on the Parish Info list. For more info Call Stan Jonik Parish Council Chairman on 01380 831 191
thenewseec@gmail.com EDINGTON, ERLESTOKE & COULSTON 19
