HMS Centurion - Battleship
Country : UK Launched : 3rd August 1892
Centurion was a 14-gun twin-screw battleship, launched at Portsmouth in 1892. She was of 10,500 tons, 13,214 horse-power, and 18 knot speed. Her length, beam, and draught were 360ft., 70ft., and 25ft. In 1900 the “Centurion,” commanded by Captain John R. Jellicoe, and flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, took part in the third China War or “Boxer Riots.” Sir Edward Seymour was the senior flag-officer of the Eight Nationalities assembled in the Far East, and as such presided over their Councils. On June 9th a detachment from the “Centurion” proceeded in a Naval Brigade of mixed nationalities, 2000 strong, with 19 guns, for the relief of Peking, under Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour. This expedition went through some very severe fighting, and suffered a loss of 2 officers and 63 men killed, and 20 officers and 210 men wounded before withdrawing. Captain Beyts, R.M.A., of the “Centurion,” was killed, and Captain John. R. Jellicoe, who behaved with great gallantry, and 4 other officers of the same ship were wounded. From June 26th to July 11th, a detachment of officers and men from the “Centurion” assisted in the capture and defence of Tientsin, and during this period lost 5 killed and 14 wounded. In August the “Centurion” contributed a number of officers and men to a British Naval Brigade, which advanced to the final and satisfactory relief of Peking, with 20,100 troops under Lieutenant-General Sir Alfred Gaselee. In 1910 this “Centurion” was sold at Portsmouth for £26,200
Scrapped 12th July 1910.
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