Audacious Escape of Russian Sloop, Simon's Town, South Africa
S 34° 11.576 E 018° 25.998
34H E 263478 N 6213473
This is more of a plaque than a sign, but deserves to be waymarked.
Waymark Code: WMJ93Y
Location: Western Cape, South Africa
Date Posted: 10/13/2013
Views: 5
Simon's Town is the location of the South African Navy, and holds a long history of military involvement. The Jubilee Square park on the waterfront in Simon's Town displays several monuments, static artillery and artifacts to honor this important history.
Amoung the items displayed in Jubilee Square is this memorial regarding an incident that occurred in 1809, which reads:
"Two hundred years ago the Imperial Russian Naval sloop DIANA made her audacious escape from Simon’s Bay. Commanded by Lieutenant Vasily Golovnin, DIANA had been detained by the English Fleet for twelve months.
During this time Golovnin carefully recorded conditions at the Cape and set up an observatory at The Palace (Palace Barracks as it is known to-day) in order to set the ship’s chronometers. On the night of 28 May 1809 the crew cut the anchor cables, DIANA drifted out to the open sea in total darkness, set her sails and escaped.
Erected by the Russian Government and the Naval Heritage Society of South Africa to Commemorate this event and to pay tribute to Vasily M Golovnin and the brave russian crew.
20 May 2009"
It seemed more appropriate to place this in "Signs of History" than in a memorial catagory.
Group that erected the marker: Tthe Russian Government and the Naval Heritage Society of South Africa
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: [Web Link]
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Jubilee Square
St. George's Road
Simon's Town, Western South Africa
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Visit Instructions:
Take a picture of the marker, preferably including yourself or your GPSr in the photo. A very detailed description of your visit may be substituted for a photo. In any case please provide a description of your visit. A description of only "Visited" or "Saw it while on vacation" by anyone other than the person creating the waymark may be deleted by the waymark owner or the category officers.