LAST VOYAGE: The Birkenhead started her last voyage at Portsmouth after Christmas 1851 with 3 drafts under the command of Captain Robert Salmond, Royal Navy. In late December 1851 she called at Cork in Ireland, where she took on the remaining 7 drafts. She carried a total complement of 23 officers and 469 drafted men to aid Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith in the 8 th Frontier War being waged in the Cape. Also on board were 25 wives and 31 children. Many of the soldiers were young recruits who hailed from Ireland. The Birkenhead sailed from Cork on 7 January 1852, into a terrible North Atlantic winter storm. Conditions on the very crowded ship deteriorated during the first two weeks of the voyage and the terrible weather increased the suffering of those on board. [MORE] [BACKGROUND] [HER LAST VOYAGE] [FATAL BLOW] [HUMAN ERROR] [PROCEDURE] [WOMEN & CHILDREN] [ORDER & DISCIPLINE] [SHARK ATTACK] [RESCUE]