This gripping book tells the story of the HMS Birkenhead, which wrecked off the coast of South Africa in 1852. The authors highlight the heroism of the soldiers who stayed on board the sinking ship, allowing women and children to board the lifeboats first. Addison and Matthews explore the myths and facts surrounding the event, painting a vivid picture of the bravery and tragedy that unfolded. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.