The sinking ship was breaking up about them, yet the soldiers stood firmly ranked on board - "Stand fast!" "Stand Fast!", the order was barked, harshly and clearly, their commander's voice rising above the sounds of crashing waves, frantic neighing of horses and the desperate screams of women reaching out to their beloved husbands left behind on the doomed ship. The proud ship Birkenhead was anguishing in her final death throes. The soldiers never moved for fear of endangering the lives of the 23 women and 6 children in the lifeboats. "The order and regularity that prevailed on board ... far exceeded anything that I thought could be effected ..." (Captain Wright, 91st Regiment -- one of the surviving officers) [BACKGROUND] [HER LAST VOYAGE] [FATAL BLOW] [HUMAN ERROR] [PROCEDURE] [WOMEN & CHILDREN] [ORDER & DISCIPLINE] [SHARK ATTACK] [RESCUE]