| Ma 12 November 1866 | Loss of Her Majesty’s Ship Griffon;— We regret to announce that intelligence has been received at the Admiralty that Her Majesty’s ship Griffon was lost on the evening of the 2d of October off Little Popoe, Bight of Benin; no lives lost. The Griffon is described in the Navy List as a screw gun vessel, with five guns, of 425 tons, and 80-horse power. She was launched in 1860, and was first commissioned in June, 1861, and sailed for the West Coast of Africa, commanded by Commander John L. Perry, who returned with her to England in June, 1865, and she was paid off at Sheerness at the close of the same month. After undergoing a thorough repair and refit at Sheerness dock-yard she was taken to the measured mile off Maplin Sands for the official trial of her machinery on May 15, 1866, and so far as the engines and boilers were concerned the ship was certified as being ready for sea, She was re-commissioned by Commander Duncan G. Davidson, June 12 following, passed Deal July 10, and called at Devonport en route to the West Coast of Africa. Commander Davidson, who commanded the Griffon, entered the navy in 1846, and has been employed over 15 years at sea, and has received four medals and five clasps for his valuable services. While midshipman of the Hastings he was frequently employed in boats against the Chinese pirates, and, as acting mate, commanded the pinnace conveying troops to Prome, and partook in all the subsequent services in the Irrawaddy in 1852. He was appointed mate of the Ajax, 58, at Cork, September 22, 1853, and on March 7, 1854, removed into the Prince Regent, 90, and sailed for the Baltic. On November 14 following he exchanged into the Royal Albert, 121, and was promoted to lieutenant April 20,1855. He served in the Furious, 16, on the East India and China station, from March 11, 1857, to November 18, 1859; commanded the Janus, gunboat, on the same station, from the latter date until October 25, 1861, and the Coromandel, tender to the Impérieuse, also on the same station, from October 25,1861, until promoted to commander March 25,1863. |
| Tu 13 November 1866 | The following is published at the Admiralty, Whitehall, respecting the loss of the Griffon:- "The Buzzard arrived at Devonport this (Monday) afternoon, after a lengthened passage from Barbadoes. Intelligence has been received from the West Coast of Africa of the loss of Her Majesty's gun vessel Griffon. It appears that the Griffon and Pandora, when standing into Little Popoe, in the Bight of Benin, on the evening of the 2nd of October, unfortunately came into collision, and that the Griffon ran on to the beach shortly afterwards. The Mullet and Pandora had endeavoured, without success, to get the Griffon off up to the evening of the 6th of October, and it was feared she would become a total wreck. Officers and men are all safe and well." |
