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Posted by Paul Howard on Saturday 25th of July 2026 17:30
At about 8.30 p.m. on 30th April 1799, the ‘Brave’ was sailing off Beachy Head when she was run down and cut in two by the ‘Eclipse, a transport ship from South Shields that was carrying part of the 35th Regiment of Foot at the time of the collision.As reported by Lieutenant John Guyon, who was commander of the lugger, the crew only just had time to scramble aboard the ‘Eclipse’ before the ‘Brave’ sunk. Guyon’s account expresses incredulity over the troopship’s manoeuvre. The ‘Eclipse’ was on the lugger’s lee-side when she suddenly turned hard to port and smashed into the smaller vessel.