This record comprises a documentary reference to a shipping casualty which has been assigned to the maritime named location CEFN SIDAN SANDS pending more information which may allow a more precise location for the loss to be assigned.

Event and Historical Information:
The AUSTRALIA (ex-WILLIAM DOUGLAS) was a fully rigged wooden barque, built in 1875 by A Roy, Maitland, Nova Scotia. Technical and configuration specifications are given as 1331gt, 1287nt; 201ft 4in length x 39ft 6in breadth x 23ft 2in depth; felt and yellow metal over iron bolts. At time of loss the vessel was owned by J Johanson and registered at Christiana, Norway. On 30 March 1901, the AUSTRALIA was carrying coal from Cardiff to Rio de Janeiro under the command of master H Jebe. It ran aground in Carmarthen Bay in a southwesterly force 8 gale, and suffered considerable damage to its sails and spars. The vessel was flying a distress signal as it passed Caldey Island, and the coastguard alerted the Tenby lifeboat, who launched a rescue boat. By this time the AUSTRALIA, was heading towards Cefn Sidan sandbanks to ran ashore finally 4 miles west of Ferryside. The Ferryside lifeboat was launched at 8.35am, under the command of coxswain Jones. Fifteen of AUSTRALIA's 17 crewmembers were rescued from the deck and rigging (2 were washed overboard). The two men drowned were Benjamin Holsen, steward, and Johannis Sandumich, sailor. The master sustained a broken arm. Five days later, the AUSTRALIA was reported to have completely broken up.

Sources include:
Bennet, T, 1992, Shipwrecks around Wales, pg13-14
Board of Trade Wreck Return 1901, Appendix C, Table 1, pg137(785)
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
Lloyds Register of British and Foreign Shipping, 1 July 1899- 30 June 1900, number 1380 in A
Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser, 5 April 1901, http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3062799/ART47

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, August 2014.