H.M.S. Beagle, a sloop built in 1889, served in South African waters during 1901, during the Boer War.

Can anyone please advise me how I can plot her movements between leaving UK in May 1901 and being anchored in Simonstown in October. I am researching the ship over this specific period for a novel around a crew member A.B. George Vince, who was serving on the Beagle and in Simnonstown in October signed on to Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Discovery. In March 1902 he became the only fatality of Scott's first Antarctic expedition.

Tessa Duder

The ships log, now at the National Archives, will give you the details - ref. ADM.53/12684.

The Times (of London), regularly published details of the movements of HM ships, and some outline can be traced from these -

21 May 1901 commissioned at Portsmouth by Cdr  H V W Elliott
19 July - reported to have arrived at St Helena
12 August - reported to have foiled an attempt by two Boers to escape from St Helena "...who had seized a boat. They got under sail but were discovered on Sunday morning, ten miles out and were captured by a boat belonging to HM Sloop Beagle".
24 Sep - reported as having arrived at Simonstown
3 October - reported landing a party of armed bluejackets
Oct - reported that she would visit Tristan da Cunha


hope this helps