Wrecks and Reputations: The tragic tales of the Schomberg and the Loch Ard

by Don Charlwood

Two shipwrecks: 20 miles apart; 23 years apart. Both with gripping stories to tell.

The Schomberg was lost on her maiden voyage to Melbourne in 1855. Despite the survival of all passengers and crew, the ship’s loss ruined the reputation of her famous captain, ‘Bully’ Forbes. The Loch Ard – its story both tragic and heroic – was lost in 1878. There were only two survivors — 18-year-old passenger Eva Carmichael and her saviour, ship’s apprentice Tom Pearce, also 18…

Don Charlwood, descendant of a Schomberg passenger, brings together the stories of the two shipwrecks and their aftermath in a compelling and highly readable account of the colonial era of immigration by sail.

Wrecks and Reputations, brings two tragic stories together in account of heartache, loss and hope. Perfect for fans of Horatio Clare and Michael Palin.

Praise for Wrecks & Reputations:
‘Good reading, well written and indexed, excellently illustrated and thoroughly researched’ - Victorian Historical Journal

‘An accurate reconstruction of a period in Australia’s history which should not be forgotten’ - The Age

‘As a maritime chronicler the author is meticulous in his fact-gathering and brings together material from many sources’ - The Australian

Don Charlwood was born in 1915 in Melbourne and spent his boyhood in Frankston. During the Great Depression, unable to obtain work, Charlwood walked through the Otways and what is now known as The Great Ocean Road to explore the region where his grandmother was shipwrecked aboard the Schomberg in 1855.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 4, 2019

Reviews

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous account of the tragic story of the Loch Ard.

[Dennis Rutzou]

This is an outstanding book with some of the most colourful descriptions of a ship in trouble in a violent storm I have ever read and this was certainly the case with both of these ships. I have previously read Don Charlwood's story of his RAAF wartime experiences as a navigator in Bomber Command in World War 2 and was very impressed with his handling of the descriptive passages that brought the account to life. This included the sheer terror of being in a Lancaster Bomber on a bombing run over a German city flying through highly accurate flak, night fighters and searchlights and then having to find your way in total darkness back to England and your home airport. Well Don Charlwood brought a scene like this to life. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us and spent most of his time after the war as a civil flight controller and did not turn his full time writing after he retired, so I am on the lookout for more of his books. This is a real sleeper and thoroughly recommended.

[Irwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Victorian Shipwrecks

This is an examination of the details concerning where and why these vessels became wrecks on the rugged coast of Australia.
Although this book has a wealth of information, it is presented in a way that fails to captivate the reader.

[Dr R Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

A straightforward account of two maritime tragedies. The Loch Ard tragedy is particularly fascinating, especially if you have ever visited the gorge and/or seen the peacock