THE WRECK OF THE HMS ORPHEUS
MANUKAU BAR, MANUKAU HARBOUR
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
SATURDAY 07 FEBRUARY 1863
On the 7 February 1863, the HMS Orpheus was wrecked on the bar at the mouth of the Manukau Harbour. The Orpheus was on its way from Sydney to Auckland bringing reinforcements from the Royal Marines for the war in Taranaki, as well as stores for the Royal Navy.
Today the Auckland International Airport is on the Manukau Harbour and many flights come directly over the area where the Orpheus was lost. From the plane windows you can see the difficulty of the area especially in storm conditions.
There were 259 officers and men on board of whom 189 lost their lives. To date, the wreck of the Orpheus has the distinction of being New Zealand's worst maritime disaster.
For further information see The Orpheus Disaster by Thayer Fairburn. (Whakatane & District Historical Society 1987.) and - The Orpheus Disaster.
The names for this roll of honour came from The Times newspaper for 6 April 1863, 13 April 1863 and 08 May 1863.
| ADAMS | Herbert | Ordinary |
| ADAMS | John H | Engineer |
| ADAMSON | William | Assistant Engineer 2nd class |
| ALLEN | Frederick | Leading Stoker |
| AMBROSE | Thomas | Captain Maintop |
| ANDERSON | George | AB |
| ANDREWS | James | Private - Royal Marines |
| AVIS | John H | Boy - 2nd Class |
| BAKER | Henry | Cooper |
| BAYLAM | Henry | Private - Royal Marines |
| BAYLISS | William E | Painter |
| BENNETT | John | Ordinary |
| BICKLE | William H | Ordinary |
| BIGNELL | Jesse | Leading Stoker |
| BINFIELD | Charles | Private - Royal Marines |
| BLACKWILL | William | Ordinary |
| BOSWORTHICK | John | Blacksmith |
| BRADY | Thomas | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| BRIDLE | William J | Boy - 1st Class |
| BROADWAY | John T | Boy - 1st Class |
| BROADWOOD | John | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| BROUGHTON | Thomas H | Midshipman |
| BROWN | Alfred | Stoker |
| BUDGE | John | Private - Royal Marines |
| BUNCE | George | Boy - 1st Class |
| BURGE | William | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| BURNETT | William Farquharson | C.B. Commodore |
| BURTON | Robert Heron | Commander |
| CALLAGHAN | Thomas | Boy - 2nd Class |
| CLARKSON | James | Assistant surgeon |
| CLEARY | John | Ordinary |
| COLE | Samuel | Ordinary |
| COLLINS | Thomas | Private - Royal Marines |
| COOKNEY | William H | Wardroom Steward |
| CORPS | Henry | Quartermasters |
| COWEN | William | AB |
| CRABB | Henry | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| CRAMP | Lewis | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| CRONIN | John | Boy - 2nd Class |
| CROW | Alfred | Ordinary |
| DAVEY (DAVY) | John | Captain Mizen-top |
| DAVIS | Charles | Stoker |
| DAVIS | Daniel | Private - Royal Marines |
| DAVIS | John | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| DAVIS | William | Boy - 2nd Class |
| DONOGHUE | Denis | Boy - 1st Class |
| DOREN | Thomas | Private - Royal Marines |
| DOREY | Andrew | Stoker |
| DREW | George | Ships Cook |
| DUFFETT | George | Boy - 1st Class |
| DURKIN | John | Private - Royal Marines |
| EARLY | Albert | Boy - 2nd Class |
| ELLIS | James | Ordinary |
| ERNEST | John E | Master at Arms |
| FINN | Edward | Ordinary |
| FLANAGHAN | Michael | Private - Royal Marines |
| FOYLE | Stephen | Private - Royal Marines |
| GANNAWAY | William | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| GARDNER | Henry | Private - Royal Marines |
| GILLHAM | William H P M | Secretary (Assistant paymaster) |
| GOLDSHMIDT | C | Captains Steward |
| GOODWIN | James | Boy - 1st Class |
| GORDON | George | Corporal - Royal Marines |
| GOSSAGE | George F | Assistant Engineer 2nd class (lent from the Miranda) |
| GOULD | Thomas | Private - Royal Marines |
| GRAY | George | Private - Royal Marines |
| GREENWOOD | John | Private - Royal Marines |
| HAGGIS | Arthur | Captains Coxwain |
| HALL | James | Ordinary |
| HALSON | William | Ordinary |
| HARTFIELD | William | Boy - 2nd Class |
| HAZLEWOOD | C B Rev | Chaplain and Naval Instructor |
| HEALY | James | Stoker |
| HEARD | John | Private - Royal Marines |
| HENTH | Charles | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| HEWITT | John | AB |
| HIGHAM | John | AB |
| HILL | Edward E | First Lieutenant - Royal Marine Artillery |
| HILL | George | Leading Seaman |
| HILLIER | William | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| HINES | Daniel | Ordinary |
| HOBBS | William | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| HOLDGATE | Augustus | Captains Cook |
| HORSFIELD | David | Private - Royal Marines |
| HOWARD | John | Corporal - Royal Marines |
| HOYLE | Sidney | Private - Royal Marines |
| HUDSON | William | Gunner |
| HUNT | William F | Boy - 1st Class |
| HUTCHINS | John | Gunners mate |
| HUTTON | William M | AB |
| HYDE | John | Gunroom Steward |
| JEKYLL | Arthur | Lieutenant |
| JENKINS | William | Boy - 1st Class |
| JENNER | Edward | AB |
| JOHNSON | Samuel | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| JOHNSTON | A D | Assistant paymaster |
| JONES | Noah | Ordinary |
| KAVE | John | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| KELLEY | Felix | Stoker |
| KELLY | Thomas | Leading Seaman |
| KEMP | Frederick | Leading Stoker |
| KING | George | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| KINGSTON | John | Boy - 1st Class |
| KNOWLDEN | John | Boy - 2nd Class |
| LADBROKE | Thomas | Private - Royal Marines |
| LANE | Thomas | Leading Stoker |
| LEE | David | Stoker |
| LETHEBY | Thomas | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| LITTLEFIELD | Thomas | Private - Royal Marines |
| LLOYD | Edwin | Captains After Guard |
| MAHONEY | Michael | Ropemaker |
| MALLOCK | Arthur R | Midshipman |
| MARDON | Samuel | Musician |
| MARK | George | AB |
| MARK | Harry | AB |
| MASTERS | John P | Private - Royal Marines |
| MAUD | John H | Stoker |
| M'CLOUD | James | AB |
| MILLER | Edward J | Assistant Engineer 2nd class |
| MILLIARD | William | Boatswains Mate |
| MITCHELL | George | Gunroom Cook |
| MOORE | John | Stoker |
| MUDGE | William T F W | Lieutenant |
| MURPHY | Jeremiah | Boy - 1st Class |
| NAYLEN | Henry N | Clerk |
| NEWMAN | Peter | Ordinary |
| NORRIS | David | Caulker |
| NORTHOVER | Joseph | AB |
| ORCHARD | William J | Boy - 1st Class |
| OSBORNE | Thomas (William Thomas - born Plymouth 1830) | Ships Corporal |
| PAFFORD | Peter | Private - Royal Marines |
| PALMER | William | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| PARKE | Thomas | AB |
| PASCOE | John | Boatswains Mate |
| PAY | John | Carpenters Crew |
| PEARIN | Henry | Private - Royal Marines |
| PELHAM | Edwin | AB |
| PHILLIPS | John | Engineers Cook |
| PLOWMAN | John | Captains After Guard |
| RANDALL | Robert | AB |
| REDMAN | George | Armourer |
| REDMAN | Henry | Sick Berth Attendant |
| ROCKETT | Jos J | AB |
| ROWE | Charles E | Carpenters Crew |
| ROWLAND | William | Ordinary |
| SCUTT | Samuel | Engineers Servant |
| SEARLE | John | Boy - 1st Class |
| SHEARGOLD | Henry | AB |
| SHEPPARD | William | Gunners mate |
| SHORTHOUSE | John | Private - Royal Marines |
| SIMMONDS | John | Boy - 1st Class |
| SMITH | Thomas | Sailmakers Crew |
| SPENCER | Samuel F | Ships Stewards Boy |
| SPRINGER | Edward | AB |
| STARKAY | Bradley | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| STARRS | Francis | Private - Royal Marines |
| STEPHENS | Samuel | Chief Engineer |
| STEPHENSON | William | AB |
| STONEHAM | Thomas | Wardroom Cook |
| STRONG | William D | Master |
| SWAIN | William | Stoker |
| TAYLOR | William J | Second Master |
| THEOBALD | Charles | Boy - 1st Class |
| THOMAS | Henry | Carpenters Crew |
| THOMPSON | Isaiah | Boy - 1st Class |
| TOWNSEND | George | Ships Steward |
| TOZER | John J | Masters Assistant |
| TRANTER | William | Sergeant - Royal Marines |
| TRAUTMAN | John | Carpenters Mate |
| TROTT | George | Private - Royal Marines |
| TUCKER | Thomas | Private - Royal Marines |
| VEAL | Robert H | Boy - 2nd Class |
| VERNER | George H | Midshipman |
| VICKERY | John H | Assistant Engineer 1st class |
| VINCE | John | Gunner - Royal Marines |
| VINCENT | George | Caulkers Mate |
| VOICE | Abraham | Coxwain Launch |
| WARN | George | Quartermasters |
| WARNER | Edward M | Boy - 1st Class |
| WEALORDS | John | Shipwright |
| WEATHERSTONE | Henry | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| WELSTEAD | Henry | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| WHETHAM | Charles | AB |
| WHITE | Richard | Boy - 2nd Class |
| WILLIAMS | John | Private - Royal Marines |
| WILLIAMS | Richard | Private - Royal Marines |
| WILSON | Joseph W | Captain Hold |
| WOODROW | John | Tailor |
| YOUNG | John | AB |
| AMPHLETT | Edward A | Paymaster |
| ANKELL (ANKELT) (ANKETT) | Alfred | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| BALL | William | Seaman |
| BANNISTER | Samuel | Seaman |
| BARKLY | H M | Midshipman |
| BEER | James | Carpenter |
| BENTLETT (BENTELL) | Henry | Boy - 1st Class |
| BOLAND | James (Joseph) | Ordinary |
| BRIGGS | Edward | Carpenters Crew |
| BROWN | Henry | Quartermaster |
| BROWN | James J | Seaman |
| BURTON | Thomas H | Boy - 1st Class |
| BUTLER | Frederick | Deserter from HMS Harrier |
| CARPENTER | Robert | Coxwain Cutter |
| CLEWS | William | Stoker |
| COCHRANE | John G | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| COOPER | W | Seaman |
| CROUSON (CROWSON) | Joseph | Drummer - Royal Marines |
| DALEY | Patrick | AB |
| FIELDING | Bernal W | Midshipman |
| FINNIS (FINNIES) | John | Captain Maintop |
| FISHER | William | AB |
| FOX | Charles | Seaman |
| GEARY | Thomas (William) | AB |
| GRAHAM | Henry J | Ordinary |
| GRAHAM | James | Ordinary |
| HERBERT | Thomas | AB |
| HERBERT | William | Boy - 2nd Class |
| HILL | Charles | Lieutenant |
| HILL (HALL) | John | AB |
| HOLMES | Henry | Seaman |
| HORRIGAN | John (William) | Commodores Servant |
| HUNT | Charles George | Midshipman |
| HURLSTONE (HURLESTONE) | George | Boy - 1st Class |
| IDESON | John D | Boy - 2nd Class |
| JOHNSON | William | Captain Mizen Top |
| JORDAN (JORDEN) | Joseph | Seaman |
| KENNEDY | James | Captain Mast |
| LANGUISH (LANGRISH) | William | Ordinary |
| MAYES | William | AB |
| MOORE (MASON) | W | Boatswain |
| MORLEY (MORBY) | John | Captain Forecastle |
| NEWMAN | Henry | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| NICHOLSON | John | Carpenters Crew |
| OLIERT (aka HILLS Alexander) | William | Signalman |
| PALIN (PASIN) | William | AB |
| PARSONS | James | Ordinary |
| PILBEAM (PILBEM) | Alfred | Ordinary |
| PORTBURY (PARTBURY) | Henry | AB |
| QUINTON | John | Captain Foretop |
| ROBERTS | George | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| ROE | Richard | Marine |
| RUSSELL | Thomas | AB |
| RUSSELL | William | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| SEALE (SEAL) | John G (George) | Ordinary |
| SNUDDEN (SMEDDEN) | Thomas | AB |
| SPARSHOTT | William (James) | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| STUPPLE (STUFFLE) | Henry | Boatswain Mate |
| SUMMERS | James | Seaman |
| TAYLOR | James | Stoker |
| TILLEY | Arthur S | Ordinary |
| TURTLE | George | Ordinary |
| WALKER | Henry J | AB |
| WALSH | Edward | Ordinary |
| WARD | George | AB |
| WEIR | Charles | Captain Mast |
| WELLS | Noah | Ordinary - 2nd Class |
| WILSON | James | Captain Foretop |
| YONGE | Duke D | Lieutenant |
| YOUNG | George | AB |
FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES