THE
WEST COAST OF AFRICA
AS SEEN FROM
THE DECK OF A MAN-OF-WAR.
___
BY THE LATE
COMMANDER HUGH McN. DYER, R.N.,
H.M.S. “TORCH”
J. GRIFFIN & CO.
(Publishers, by Appointment, to H.R.H., the Duke of Edinburgh,)
15, COCKSPUR STREET, | AND 2, THE HARD, PALL MALL, LONDON | PORTSEA, PORTSMOUTH
SOME apology may perhaps be needed for the publication of this little volume, at a time when other interests have somewhat withdrawn public attention from the affairs of the Gold Coast; but the vast, and almost unknown African continent, must no doubt always form a subject of interest for those who believe that in the development of its resources a wide field remains yet to be opened up. To them, these pages of a Sailor’s Journal may perchance record some interesting facts, before unknown. It was not, however, as a field of Scientific research that the West Coast of Africa had a special interest for Captain Dyer. For on that coast, in the year 1851, he lost an elder brother [NOTE: John George Fiztherbert DYER]- a Sub-Lieutenant (then called, a “Mate”), of H.M.S. Niger, under the command of Captain (now Rear-Admiral) Sir Leopold Heath. Captain Dyer’s brother was killed whilst gallantly leading his boat’s crew in an attack on Lagos. The two brothers were in the same ship, and on the death of the elder, the Admiralty promoted Hugh Dyer on account of his brother’s service.
In revisiting that region Captain Dyer felt that any account of it which he could give to his friends at home would have particular interest also for them.
Hence it was that on his return to England, on his retirement from the Navy, he employed some of his spare time, and gave occupation to his active mind, in preparing these pages. He did not, however, like to undertake the risk of publishing, and his sudden and early death soon after removed him from us.
His work is, therefore, not put forth in this form as a memorial to him, and it is commended to those who knew Hugh Dyer as a friend, a genial companion, and an officer, believing that all such will esteem it, not so much on account of any particularly striking information which it may contain, as that possibly in his Journal they may find something which will bring to their remembrance the warm heart and bright and kindly face which will never greet them again.
The journal ends with the arrival of the Torch at Gibraltar, but Captain Dyer’s subsequent deeds, after joining the Flag of the Admiral Sir Hastings Yelverton, are not unknown to fame. These, however, he has modestly left unrecorded, but they may be here alluded to, as displaying in a marked manner his characteristic qualities. For without doubt his imperturbable coolness under exciting circumstances, and his happy combination of good nature and pluck, of readiness to fight, if fighting were necessary, or to fraternize if the same object could be peacefully gained, helped in no slight degree to secure that best of all results - a complete but bloodless victory.” (See Times of 14th October, 1873).
The doings of “the plucky little Torch whose modest motto ‘show the way’ was well earned at Carthagena, were described at some length by the Special Correspondent of the Times, according to whom Captain Dyer, with a face full of good humour, frankness, and plunk, the beau ideal of an English Sailor’s face, was smiling at the scowling crowd much as if he thought they were treating him to an ‘ovation’ which he did not quite understand, but still felt bound gratefully to acknowledge. The Spaniards clearly did not know what to make of him and slowly and sulkily gave way.” (See Times of 19th August, 1873.)
Soon after these events, the retirement scheme of that year was brought out, and the advantages offered in it, induced Captain Dyer to accept them. Thus ended his career in the profession to which he was most warmly devoted, and (to quote once more from the Times’ Correspondent, when alluding to the circumstance,) “the English Service lost an officer of a kind that no service can afford to lose.”
He is now, alas, lost; not only to the Service, but to his friends also, and he will long be regretted by all who “knew him as a sincere friend, a pleasant companion and a first rate officer.”
Click here to continue to the book’s contents page.
Click here to go staight to Chapter I.
[NOTE: Because of the time in which the book was written, it contains some outwardly racist, ethnocentric material. I am posting the book here not only because Hugh was my third great-grandfather, but also because it contains both historical and anthropological data.]
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