Dido, 1836
Type: Corvette - sloop ; Armament 18
Launched : 13 Jun 1836 ; Disposal date or year : 1903
BM: 734 tons
Notes:

9 Jan 1839 at Malta.

13 Jan 1839 departed Malta for Corfu.

Malta, 15 May 1839 In Port.

Sep 1939 at Smyrna.

18 Oct 1839 Beshika Bay The corvette Hazard relieves the Dido on the Smyrna station.

14 Dec 1839 Malta The Castor, Dido, Daphne, and Hazard, have lately had an experimental cruise ; they returned to Vourla Bay on the 3d of December, but (up to the date of Phoenix leaving) it was not ascertained which was the best sailer ; report says the Hazard.

14 Dec 1839 Malta Mr. Thomas M'Knight, purser of the Dido, has been appointed to the Vanguard, vice Hutten ; Mr. George P. Rickcord, additional clerk of the Vanguard, is appointed acting purser of the Dido.

11 Jan 1840 The Dido was to leave Malta shortly for Constantinople to relieve the Carysfort.

17 May 1840 was at Constantinople, and expected to remain there a month or two longer.

28 Jun 1840 was lying at Constantinople and expected to be relieved about the end of this month by the Talbot.

16 Aug 1840 The Talbot is reported to have arrived in the Dardanelles on the 14th and was wind-bound : she will relieve the Dido at Constantinople.

6 Sep 1840 sailed from Alexandria with Admiral Stopford's squadron.

9 Sep 1840 arrived Beyrout.

11 Sep 1840 attempt to take fort at Gebail - see p. 314 at at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

14 Sep 1840 Beyrout, The bombardment continued and the allied troops fortified their positions.

15 Sep 1840 Beyrout, Carysfort, Dido and Cylops sent to Gibbail in an attempt to remove enemy troops from the fortress, who repulsed the first attempt, but withdrew to Beyrout during the night.

22 Oct 1840 with the blockading squadron off Alexandria.

Aug - Nov 1840 Capture of Acre and operations on the coast of Syria. Turkish Medals awarded to the Officers and Men employed during the Campaign. 16 Oct 1844 those onboard between 9 Sep - 10 Oct 1840, and at the bombardment of St. Jean D’Acre, on the 3 Nov 1840, will be paid their respective proportions of the grant voted by Parliament for the said services.

21 Nov 1840 it is reported to have been sent to Beyrout to advise the Admiral of an accident which happened on board the Medea.

2 Dec 1840, it came on to blow, the Zebra being lost in the bay of Khaifa and the Pique and Bellerophon being nearly lost on the Syrian coast.

8 Dec 1840 had arrived in Marmorice Bay, from Beyrout.

10 Apr 1841, Master George Wright (acting), appointed to Edinburgh from Dido, vice Davis, invalided. Master J. R. Aylen, from the Wasp, appointed to the Dido, vice Knight.

3 May 1841 arrived at Smyrna from Candia to relieve the Daphne.

11 Jul 1841, Malta, arrived from the Gulf of Suda.

16 Aug 1841, arrived Spithead, from the Mediterranean, and sailed on Wednesday to the eastward, to be paid off.

11 Sep 1841, Captain Hon. Henry Keppel, appointed to the Dido.

4 Sep 1841, was commissioned at Sheerness by Captain the Hon. Henry Keppel.

2 Oct 1841, Lieutenants James A. Abbott, Henry Eden, and James Hunt ; Purser C. Bullmar ; Surgeon A. Donahoe ; Assistant Surgeon John Simpson appointed to the Dido.

9 Oct 1841, Midshipman E. D'Æth, appointed to the Dido.

12 Oct 1841, Mate W. L. Partridge, Dido, passed for Lieutenant at the Naval College.

6 Nov 1841, Midshipman C. G. Rowley, appointed to the Dido.

11 Dec 1841, Lieutenant W. Tottenham appointed to the Dido.

11 Dec 1841, Spithead, arrived from Sheerness.

24 Dec 1841, Spithead, sailed for Plymouth, en route for China.

25 Dec 1841 arrived Plymouth.

26 Dec 1841, Plymouth, will be paid advance of wages before proceeding to China.

27 Dec 1841, Mate Armytage appointed to the Dido.

31 Jan 1842 off Falmouth. John Connell died of smallpox.

21 Mar 1842 arrived Simon's Bay.

24 April 1842 arrived off Java Head.

7 May 1842 arrived Singapore. The purser J.C. Bulman died a few days previously in the Sundra Strait.

At some time during the period 1839-42 engaged in the Operations in China. Officers and Men serving on this ship during this period may be eligible for a Medal. See p. 288 at at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

11 May 1842 sailed for Hong Kong, arriving on the 30th.

5 Jun 1842 Hong Kong, sailed with the Serpent for Chusan with a convoy of transports.

14 Jun 1842 arrived Woosung and crew involved in destruction of forts.

19 Jun 1842 to attack on forts at Shanghai. See p. 300 at at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

16 Jun - 29 Aug 1842, expedition up the Yang-tse-Keang, to the end of hostilities and signing of the Treaty of Nanking. See p. 300-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow and www.gazettes-online.co.uk.

Jul 1842 sailed up the Yang-tse-Kiang to Chiang Kiang-Fu which was captured on the 19th and Nanking on the 27th.

14 Sep 1842 relieved by the Childers and she started back down river for Hong Kong, with eighty on the sick list, calling at Woosung (24 Sep), and Chusan (11 Oct), arriving 23 Nov.

6 Dec 1842 inspected by R.-Adm.Sir T. Cochrane.

20 Dec 1842 Hong Kong, sailed in company with the Endymion and Wolverine, with a convoy, for Singapore.

1842 Engaged in the Operations in China. Officers and Men serving on this ship during this period may be eligible for a Medal. See www.gazettes-online.co.uk for more detailed info on the incidents in which she was involved.

20 Dec 1842 Hong Kong, sailed in company with the Endymion and Wolverine, with a convoy, for Singapore.

30 Dec 1842 arrived Singapore. Jan - Apr ship's boats involved in anti-piracy patrols.

5 May - 28 June 1842 sailed for Borneo and with Rajah Brooke and the ship's boats, was involved in a number of attacks against piratical strongholds.

30 Jun 1842 sailed for Hong Kong, where she arrived 12 Jul.

Dec 1842 Visited the Philippines.

Jan 1843, Captain the Hon. Henry Keppel, of the Dido, became senior naval officer in the Straits Settlements and subsequently held discussions with James Brooke regards the piracy problem in that area. See p. 324 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

Mar 1843, at Pinang, received news of attacks by pirates on native vessels trading to Singapore, and departed to Singapore to refit and gain more intelligence on the problem, such as Mr James Brooke, of Sarawak.

4 May 1843, passed through the Tambelan Islands, anchoring off the mouth of the Sambas River on the 5th, deploying the ship's boats in the search for pirates.

8 May 1843, deployed the ship's boats to the Island of Marundum, with Mr. Brooke, whose knowledge, it was hoped, of the Malay language would help the boat's crews when meeting with the natives.

9 May 1843, off Tanjong Datu sighted 3 suspected pirate vessels, who escaped, returning the following day to pick up their anchor, and whilst they discovered a good supply of fresh water and oysters, the bay contained a number of rocks which were covered at all but low tide.

13 May 1843, anchored off Tamkpong Poe, and the following morning crossed the bar and entered the River Morotaba, the boats deployed on the 8th returning that evening, having experienced action with boats belonging to the Rajah of Rhio.

16 May 1843, proceeded further up the river to Sarawak.

8 Jun 1843, having put together a native force to support the Dido in an attack on Paddi.

11-13 Jun 1843, attacked and burnt Paddi, and obtained the submission of the natives in that region, on the condition that pirates in other districts would be similarly dealt with.

14 Jun 1843, having re-provisioned for a further 4 days, took the flood tide up the river to Pakoo, which was reached that evening, and the defences not yet being ready the pirates fled without firing a shot. As with Paddi the forts etc. were set on fire and lit the night sky for some hours.

15 Jun 1843, the chiefs of Pekoo came down with a flag of truce, and agreed to the terms agreed at Paddi, and preparations were made for the attack on Rembas, where 700 Linga Dyaks were landed with a view to attacking the forts from the rear, and the matter was almost over without a shot being fired, the pirates running in all directions and the Linga Dyaks taking a few trophies, which was following the following day by the flag of truce and agreement to conform to a more civilized way of life.

1 May - 17 Jun 1843 operations carried out against pirates in Borneo - see p. 325 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

17 Jun 1843, Surgeon Simpson, was now laid up with a fever, and then, having slipped and fallen into the river, was so ill when recovered that he soon passed away.

24 Jun 1843, the force was now disbanded as the tribes went their various ways, with their loot, and the officers and men from the Dido returned on board, to where she was now lying, at Burong, and from thence to the mouth of the Morotaba and across the Straits to Singapore to water, and was under sail for the China coast in 24 hours.

Having arrived on the coast of China, spent some months in the Canton River, before leaving for Manila with the C-in-C, and then returning to Hongkong. In late Jan 1844 embarked a number of senior army officers for Calcutta, via Singapore, arriving 10 Feb., from whence she sailed for Penang and Calcutta aka City of Palaces, (11 Mar), arriving back at Hong Kong with treasure on 26 May, where Lt F Wade replace Lt W Horton, who had been promoted to Commander for his action in the ship's boats.

21 Jun 1844, having re-provisioned etc., departed Hongkong for Macao, and from thence, against the monsoon, down to Singapore.

18 Jul 1844, arrived back at Singapore.

25 Jul 1844, sailed for the entrance to the River Morotaba, arriving on the 29th and anchoring in the river. The Captain of the Dido transferred to the steamer Phlegethon for the passage upstream, taking with him the gig and pinnace for the last 4 miles

5 Aug 1844, departed downstream from Sarawak in the Phlegethon, to bring together the armed force to attack the Sakarran pirates, led by Seriff Sahib, and later in the day anchored in the Batang Lupar.

6 Aug 1844, departed up river with the flood tide. Sent warning to Seriff Jaffer not to give support to Seriffs, Sahib and Muller.

7 Aug 1844, set off the following morning, but was soon in sight of Patusen, and had to wait for the tide in order to pass some shoals. When the tide was right it carried the steamer and boats in front of the forts and the forts. Once the men from the boats had landed they charged the forts and as they entered the natives reputedly exited from the rear. The casualties suffered by men from the Dido, was the death of the captain of the main-top, John Ellis, whilst manning the bow gun of the Jolly Bachelor. 2 other men, not named, were badly wounded. The pirates suffered the loss of accommodation for a reputed 5000 men, some with families ; 4 forts destroyed ; several hundred boats also destroyed ; 60 brass cannon captured, and about 15 iron cannon spiked and thrown in the river, along with large quantities of arms and ammunition.

8-9 Aug 1844, spent searching for and destroying anything that the pirates might find of use in their trade.

10 Aug 1844, carried on inland up the river to where the Sakarran Dyaks were thought to be, some 15 miles above Patusen.

Aug 1844 involved in incursions into the pirate strongholds at Sakarran etc., aided by the HEIC steamer Phlegethon off Gillolo - see p. 327-> at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

14 Aug 1844 destruction of pirates in the Sakarran river, Borneo.

19 Aug 1844 destruction of pirates in the Undop river, Borneo.

4 Sep 1844, the force arrived back at Sarawak having removed the evil Macota, and Seriffs Sahib and Jaffer from positions of power.

16 Oct 1844 Singapore, sailed for England.

27 Jan 1845 Arrived Spithead.

12 Feb 1845 Paid off at Sheerness.

End of April 1847 Sailed from Singapore to NZ (Captain J.B. Maxwell)

2 July 1847 Arrived Auckland from the Indian Station. Relieves HMS Castor which sails for England on 8 July.

7 Aug 1847 The following is a list of the officers of H.M.S. Melampus and Dido, daily expected on this station. Dido, 18, Captain J. B. Maxwell ; Lieutenants-T. C. O. D. Whipple, R. B. Brale, and F. W. Gough ; Master, John Kellock ; Lieutenant of Marines, --------- ; Chaplain and Naval Instructor, Arthur Browne ; Surgeon, J. J. D. Burns ; Paymaster and Purser, D. G. Charles ; Mate, Charles Kent ; Assistant Surgeon, Matthew Burton ; Second Master, W. G. M. Stent.

Circa 21 Sep 1847 Auckland

6 Dec 1847 letter regarding late schooner "Vanguard" and investigation of the murder of her crew.

9 Oct 1847 Sailed for Wanganui

19 Dec 1847 Naval Intelligence.- Extract of a letter from Auckland, dated 19th December:- "The Dido is about starting for the Fegee Islands, in consequence of some murders lately committed. - The Bishop goes in her to visit those islands.

24 Dec 1847 Sailed for the Feejee Islands

3 Mar 1848 Spoke with the "Maukin" off Cape Brett, on her return from the Feejee Islands

11 Mar 1848 The cargo of the Swallow had all been landed and sold at Singapore. Dr. Burns, of H.M.S. Dido, Dr. O'Sullivan, H.E.I.C., Assistant Surgeon Gallagher, of H.M.S. Bramble, and Lieutenant Downan, Royal Marines, were passengers by the Swallow from Hongkong for Sydney and in the typhoon in which she was dismasted lost everything belonging to them.

Circa 21 Mar 1848 At Auckland

19 May 1848 Departed Auckland for Sydney

5 Jun 1848 Arrived Sydney from Auckland

17 Jun 1848 Preserved meats, 6000 lbs. Taken by H.M.S. Dido at 6d. per lb. At Sydney

20 Jun 1848 Sailed from Sydney for Auckland.

Circa 30 Jun 1848 Arrived Auckland, as the Lousa left for Sydney.

17 Aug 1848 Sailed to Wellington, with despatches for the Governor-in-Chief, from thence she would proceed to the Feejee Islands.

24 Aug 1848 Arrived at Wellington from Auckland.

20 Sep 1848 Reported by the "Despatch" to be at Port Nicholson

30 Sep 1848 At Port Nicholson. Crew of Dido assist captain of barque Raymond to bring the vessel into port, his crew being in a state of mutiny.

4 Nov 1848 H.M.S. Dido sailed for England direct

5 Dec 1848 Left Fort William (East Falkland)

14 Dec 1848 Spoken to at lat. 21° 18' S long. 22° 55' W, by Sir Robert Peel

23 Jan 1849 Arrived Portsmouth. 81 days from New Zealand, being the quickest passage on record.

2 Feb 1849 Captain Keppel is reputed to have sent the Dido round to Sheerness under the command of the Master in order that he might see his wife at Droxford, and then take her cross-country to meet the ship - see p. 328-9 at www.archive.org/details/royalnavyhistory06clow

May/June 1852 Reported to be lying at Tahiti.

21 May 1854 Arrived at Mazatlan, having onboard Capt Springer, of the Petrita and Messrs Gillam, Kelly and Bryan who were transferred to the US Revenue Cutter Wm. L. Marcy, to be conveyed to San Fransico - per Placer?

12 May 1855, the Barracouta met the French frigate Alceste, which was going to form a part of an allied squadron forming up off Kamschatka. The President was reported to be in the area with R.-Adm. Bruce on board, and the Dido was to the north searching for a privateer, and on the following day the Brisk hove in sight.

27 May 1855, the southern coast of Kamschatka became visible.

31 May 1855, the following vessels Pique, Dido, Brisk, Alceste, Encounter, Barracouta, and the American store ship Nile rendezvoused off Petropalovski.

1 Jun 1855, the squadron entered the harbour of Petropalovski, but discovered that despite appearing to have reinforced the fortifications the Russians had departed for the River Amur.

7 Jun 1855, destroyed the batteries and magazines at Petropalovski.

9 Jun 1855, watched the volcano of Koselskoi erupt, the sky over the mountain being tinged with red as night fell, the following morning the sea being covered with ashes, and a slight shock of an earthquake was experienced.

12 June 1855, the squadron put to sea, but having met with the Amphitrite, and FNS Eurydice, returned to Petropalovski, but appear to have gone their various ways afterwards, as directed by the Flag Officer.

30 Nov 1855 News received at Sydney that the Juno and Dido are reported to be at Opolu, the former was about to proceed to Vavou, and the latter to Tahiti.

1860 Coal (hulk) Depot, Sheerness

1870 Coal Depot, Sheerness

1879 Coal Depot, Sheerness

1890 Coal Depot, Sheerness