The HMS Wager

Defragged History delves into the true story of The HMS Wager, a British man-of-war that wrecked off the coast of Patagonia in southern Chile in 1741 while on a secret mission against the Spanish Empire during the War of Jenkins’ Ear. After the wreck, the surviving crew were stranded on nearby land. Their fight for survival soon descended into chaos, with some of the crew following their captain, David Cheap, who wished to continue the mission, while others plotting a route to try to go back to England.

What follows is a harrowing tale of survival as the groups split up and risk life and limb to get to safety.

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Episodes

Episode 1 – The Most Mad Seas

In 1740, Commodore George Anson and his squadron of eight British ships had embarked on a secret mission, to strike at Spain’s Empire in the Pacific in the War of Jenkins’ Ear. Disaster struck as the Naval force rounded Cape Horn and sailed through the world’s most perilous seas, while being chased by a Spanish fleet.

What began as a mission for honor, glory and the British Empire, became a harrowing tale of survival that ultimately descended into madness, mayhem, mutiny, and murder.

Episode 2 – Mission Control

In the previous episode, Commodore George Anson set out with a squadron of eight ships to the Pacific Ocean on a secret mission to destroy Spanish interests in Latin America in the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

But the journey around Cape Horn had been fraught with disaster.

The ships were taking such beatings on the most mad seas of the roaring fifties that sails ripped, rigging snapped and masts broke, the crews were dying at an alarming rate from disease, cold, and violently being tossed around in the ships, and even sick and dead Captains had been replaced.

Some believed they’d never make it out of the Drake Passage and that one mountainous wave would send them to the bottom.

Several ships had already disappeared, and now the HMS Wager lost sight of the flagship, the Centurion, and then all other ships sailed out of view.

The Wager was alone at sea.

Episode 3 – Run to the Devil

The HMS Wager had shipwrecked while on a mission against Spain in the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

The survivors had made a settlement on what they called Wager Island. They had a Barge, a Cutter and a Yawl, and were lengthening the Longboat so they could take the 100 or so survivors off the island.

But there was disagreement in the leadership on which route to take.

The Wagerians had to choose between Captain Cheap’s plan to sail 350 miles north past Chiloé to rendezvous with Commodore George Anson and continue the mission, or Gunner John Bulkeley’s plan to sail 3000 miles to Brazil through the Magellan Strait and to go home to England from there.

Things were headed for a showdown.

Episode 4 – Perish or Pull

After the HMS Wager’s castaways fixed the Longboat, the Speedwell, the question was in which direction to take her?

Should they go north and carry out the mission against the Spaniards with Captain David Cheap, or head South and try to get home to England via the Strait of Magellan with Gunner John Bulkeley?

Captain Cheap claimed he was willing to go with what the majority wanted, but when push came to shove, he demanded everyone go north with him to fight the enemy in the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

Those on Wager Island then arrested the Captain for his rash killing of Midshipman Henry Cozens.

They were going south, and the Captain refused to go with them.

Only two others, the Wager’s Surgeon Walter Elliot, and Marine Lieutenant Thomas Hamilton chose to stay behind with him.

On March 13, 1741, 81 people embarked on three boats and sailed for the Strait of Magellan.

Episode 5 – Unfortunate Adventures

The survivors of the wrecked HMS Wager had split into different groups.

Team Bulkeley had made their way through the Strait of Magellan, and what was left of them landed safely in Portuguese-held Rio Grande, Brazil.

Team Cheap had tried and failed to round the Tres Montes Cape to get to Chiloé Island, and was heading back to Wager Island to die.

While Team Morris was planning an overland trip to Buenos Aires.

And of course Commodore George Anson was still on his mission to capture that Manilla Galleon.

Let’s follow these unfortunate adventurers as each tried to make their way back to England.

Episode 6 – The Ghost of Wager Island (TBA)

All the different groups of survivors of the HMS Wager wreck were desperately trying to get back home to Great Britain, while Commodore George Anson still hoped to capture the elusive Manila Galleon in the War of Jenkins’ Ear.

After a series of unfortunate adventures and surviving a multitude of hardships, none of them were out of the woods.

Let’s delve into the stunning conclusion of the Wager disaster.