b. ? d. ?
DATE OF AM ACTION: 03/08/1879 River Volta, Africa.
Very little is known about Henry Wesley, other than he was an agent working for Messrs Miller Bros of Glasgow, who was working on the west coast of Africa at the time of the incident.
AM CITATION:
On the 3rd August, 1879, the brigantine ” Harriet,” of London, whilst on a voyage from Cape Coast .Castle to Jellah Cofiee, was wrecked on the bar of the River Volta, about five miles east of Addah. Owing to the heavy surf, the crew were unable to launch any of their small boats, as they would have been swamped, and the men once in the water would have been devoured by sharks, with which the river abounded. The perilous position of the crew was noticed from the shore, and a surf boat was launched to their assistance, but soon after starting it was capsized and had to return. The boat then put out again, being in charge of MR. HENRY WESLEY, and manned by thirteen Krooboys, but, owing to the roughness of the surf, she had to go round the vessel six times before the distressed crew could be rescued. They were at length all saved by jumping into the boat as she came under the bulwarks. The risk being so great, MR. WESLEY had great difficulty in persuading the Krooboys to man the boat.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, GREENWICH.
Acknowledgement:
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich – Image of the Wesley Albert Medal.