HMS Captain 1870         

 

Listing of Memorials (cont)
 

Up Eugenie

 

Sutton, near Sandy, Bedfordshire

This memorial not listed by David Saunders, but the information came from the web site for All Saints’ Church - www.biggleswadedeanery.org together with the church's Visitors Guide, and the writer's own visit.

Built of ironstone and cobbles between the 13th and 15th centuries, All Saints stands on a slight eminence above the village of Sutton. The interior has seen little in the way of `modernisation' (and well worth seeing for that - Ed.), the box pews (still carrying Burgoynes' nameplates) and two-decker pulpit still standing on the mellow brick and stone floor.

The Burgoyne family were Lords of the Manor for over three hundred years until 1938 when the death of Lady Burgoyne brought the association to an end. They are commemorated in the church in many places, the most notable being the splendid Renaissance monument in the area which housed the family pew.

The flag on the north aisle came from HMS Captain, commanded, of course, by Hugh Talbot Burgoyne V.C. Beneath the flag is a wooden panel with a brass ribbon which reads - 

"THE FLAG ABOVE WAS SAVED FROM THE WRECK OF HMS CAPTAIN WHICH FOUNDERED AT SEA SEPTEMBER 7TH 1870 AND WAS PLACED IN THIS CHURCH BY SIR JOHN M. BURGOYNE, BART, IN MEMORY OF HIS FRIEND & KINSMAN CAPTAIN HUGH TALBOT BURGOYNE R.N. V.C., WHO LOST HIS LIFE GALLANTLY DOING HIS DUTY TO THE LAST"

Internal showing the Burgoyne Renaissance monument

Flag from HMS Captain

(Photos by website author)

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As an interesting aside, Captain Hugh Burgoyne wasn’t the only Burgoyne battling the storm in the Bay of Biscay the night the Captain went down.

Within the church is a memorial to Sir John Montagu Burgoyne (1832-1921), possibly Hugh’s cousin. Although a distinguished soldier, he was actually sailing his yacht that night, bringing  the French Empress Eugenie and her entourage to England to escape the Franco-Prussian war. They landed in the middle of the night at Cowes on the Isle of Wight , and the story was printed coincidentally in The Times  on 10th September 1870 , right alongside the first report of the Captain being lost (read report)

The Plaque reads - "To the dear memory of Sir John Montagu Burgoyne, 10th and last Baronet of Sutton Park; Captain and Brevet Col - Grenadier Guards; Col - commanding Bedfordshire Militia. He was wounded at the Battle of Alma whilst carrying the color (sic). In 1870 he assisted the Empress of the French to escape to England by bringing her over in his yacht. Born Oct 23.1832 Died March 19.1921. Married 1st Amy, daughter of Captain Neilson Smith. 2nd Kate, daughter of John Gretton Esq of Stapleford Park. A keen soldier, a lover of the country, upright & just & greatly beloved. This tablet is dedicated by his Widow in memory of 17 happy years" 

(thanks to Mrs E A Gardner)

 

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