Reef at “Steenbokfontein” today where HMS Sybille ran aground on the 16th January 1901

Lamberts Bay – Propeller from the wreck of HMS Sybille

Reef at “Steenbokfontein” today where HMS Sybille ran aground on the 16th January 1901

Finally, the story of the Sybille would not be complete without referring to an incident widely touted as the only naval engagement during the Boer War. According to reports, a Royal Navy vessel which was anchored at Saldanha Bay, was fired upon by Field Cornet Thys Boonzaaier and his scouts from Manie Maritz’s Commando.

The Boers withdrew when the ship opened fire on the dunes with its heavy naval gun - there were no casualties on either side. Both the Sybille and H.M.S. Partridge have been linked to this incident, but as this incident occurred on the 10th October 1901, almost 9 months after the sinking of H.M.S. Sybille, it is obvious that the vessel involved was in fact H.M.S. Partridge.

H.M.S. Partridge

H.M.S. Partridge firing on Boers at Thys Boonzaaier (centre) with Boer Saldanha Bay scouts who fired on H.M.S. Partridge

Another report of this incident was that when H.M.S. Partridge arrived at Saldanha Bay on the 10th October 1901, they found two transports which had been off-loading their cargo when a large Boer Commando arrived resulting in some of the residents of the town seeking refuge aboard small boats for safety which the Boers then fired at. When the Boers were seen driving off cattle at about 17h50, “action” was sounded and No.1, 4,7 inch gun aboard H.M.S. Partridge opened fire with shrapnel shells. A total of 8 rounds were fired before the Boers fled leaving the stolen cattle behind.

A further report was that Corporal J.F. Smallwood (buried alongside Able Seaman W. Jones in the Lamberts Bay cemetery) was killed in the abovementioned incident. This is clearly incorrect as 6316 Corporal J.F. Smallwood of the 3rd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, died as a result of accidental injuries in Clanwilliam on the 7th March 1902.