The latest in the occasional series of local history features by Thurrock Nub News contributor Susan Yates,

MANY years ago I was told by a local man whose family had lived in Thurrock for generations that his grandfather's birthday was never celebrated because of what happened on the Thames that fateful day, the 22^nd December 1875.

Over the years there have been many training ships moored in the Thames off Thurrock t.s. Exmouth, t.s. Cornwall, t.s. Warspite, t.s. Shaftesbury and of course the t.s. Goliath. 

The Goliath was a wooden sailing ship built for the British Navy in 1835 and converted to a steamer during the Crimean War. In 1870 she was loaned by the Admiralty to the Forest Gate School Board for use as a training ship primarily for boys from the district and the workhouse. 

Captain W.S. Bourchier, R.N. was appointed captain/superintendent and the vessel was removed from the Medway and moored off Grays in 1870. Its first crew were 58 youths who joined on 19^th October 1870 at Sheerness. The size of the crew increased to 520 boys by September 1875. Training was both physical and intellectual with exercise aloft, boating and drill etc. Education was catered for by every boy attending school daily.

The demand for these trained boys was great and by December that year was down to 485. During her five years of service as a training ship 1,645 boys passed through her books.

On the morning of the 22^nd December 1875 the training ship Goliath was destroyed by fire. 

The boys had just finished their breakfast and were cleaning the decks when at 10 minutes to eight a blaze broke out in the lamp room located on the main deck. 

A young lad, Loeber, had charge of the lamps under the supervision of an officer. Unfortunately, on his way to the lamp room he dropped one of the lamps the handle having become too hot for him to hold. This immediately started a fire. 

In his panic he threw a serge frock on the fire then sat on the flames in an effort to extinguish them.  Another boy seeing the fire ran to Chief Officer Hall who rang the fire bell and sent another lad to tell the Captain what had happened. 

Efforts to put the fire out were to no avail and the Goliath was reduced to nothing more than a smouldering ruin on the beach. The event was widely reported in the National press.

Luckily the alarm was heard in Grays and many local men got into boats and rowed out to rescue small groups of boys.

Captain W.S. Bourchier remained on the ship until the last moment.

In the final moments, and sure that everybody was off the ship, Capt. Bouchier, standing with the last cadets at the bottom of the gang way, prepared to leave the ship.

A young cadet beside him shouted to the captain to get into the row boat coming alongside, but he said firmly, but calmly: "No my boy, I am the captain and must be last off the ship."

The fire caused the death of one officer, Mr Richard Wheeler, and many boys, some who drowned trying to swim ashore. The exact number has varied from 18 to 22. Queen Victoria on hearing of the sad loss sent the following from the Local Government Board by special messenger. It was dated 29^th December and addressed to Capt. Bouchier:

'Dear Sir, l have received the Queen's commands to express to yourself, to the officers, and to the boys of the Goliath training-ship Her Majesty's great satisfaction at the admirable behaviour of all on board under the very trying circumstances when the unfortunate fire broke out, by which in a short time the ship was totally destroyed.

Faithfully yours, G. Sclater- Booth.

 A coroner's inquest was held at the Kings Arms, Grays and a verdict of accidental death was given. 

The dead boys are buried in a mass grave in the Grays Church detached cemetery in Little Thurrock, as is the captain, who died several years later.

A memorial plaque can be found in the Grays Parish Church, a Thurrock heritage plaque is mounted at the beach and a display on the many training ships that were based off Grays can be viewed in Thurrock Museum.

Capt W. Bouchier was selected for the Bramley Moore medal awarded by The Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society for saving life at sea.

Thurrock has always had great maritime history and that continues today with the Tilbury on Thames Trust, under the chairmanship of Paul Dale, making great progress in preserving and promoting the Tilbury Cruise Terminal and Riverside Station a Grade II* listed building. Watch this space for further news.