Dear All,
To those of you who belong to the same Cattley tree as self (there are five of you that I
know of through this net) I did indicate that I would let you know when the book that
refers to Frances Bode Cattley is published.
It is now out but do not expect a great screed on Cattley this time. The publication:-
British Military Intelligence in the Crimean War. 1854-56 by Stephen Harris pub 1999
contained a mass of information on our Charles Cattley because he was the central person
who set up the British Intelligence for the C in C, namely Lord Raglan of the British
Forces fighting the Crimean War and thus features in some 40% of the book.
In this case, the central person is a Captain John Dale of the Horourable East India
Company who starts as a 3rd Mate and works his way up to Captaincy. Along the way (as 3rd
Mate of the HEICS "Winterton" ) is responsible for the rescue of the majority of
the crew and passengers and their safe return over 100's of miles in open lifeboats,
after the Winterton is wrecked off East Africa.
Later in his career he marries our Frances Cattley (his 2nd marriage) and this is the
connection of interest to us.
His career which spans the late 1700's and well into the early 1800's reads more
like Hornblower but unlike this character, is one of fact and not fiction.
If you like true maritime accounts of courage and stirling efforts and want to know a lot
more about how the East India Company operated their shipping between London and Madras
via the Cape of Good Hope then it is worth buying but otherwise I suggest you order it as
a Library loan out.
Details:-
Title: Marked for Misfortune. An epic tale of shipwreck, human endeavour and survival in
the age of sail.
Author: Jean Hood
Publisher: Conway Maritime Press, a division of Chrysalis Books plc
RRP (UK) £14.99p
Good reading
Regards to all Tim Cattley