Q.

When and where did the Birkenhead sink?

Ans.

The Birkenhead sank on 25th February 1851 and about 64 kilometers away
from Cape Town in South Africa.

Q2.

What kind of people were carried as passengers on the Birkenhead?

Ans. Soldiers and their families were being carried as passengers on the
Birkenhead.
Q3.
How did the Birkenhead come to be wrecked? Was any member of her crew
to blame?
Ans. The Birkenhead came to be wrecked because of its collision against a hidden
undiscovered rock Iin the sea. Not any members of her crew was blamed.
Q4.
Why was there lifeboat accommodation for only 180 people after the collision
with the rock?
Ans.

There was lifeboat accommodation for only 180 people after the collision with
the rock because most of the life boats had been damaged. Only three
lifeboats were in a useful condition and each of them were having room for
only 60 people.

Q5.
Was there enough room in the lifeboats for all the women and children on
board?
Ans.

There was enough room in the lifeboats for all the women and children on
board. The total number of women and children was 170 while the lifeboats
could carry 180 people.

Q6.

What would probably have happened had there been a panic?

Ans.

If there had been a panic on the board, not a single person would have
survived. The boats might have been overloaded and sunk into the sea.

Q7.
Describe the behavior of the soldiers while the women and children escaped
in the boats.
Ans.

The soldiers showed great discipline and heroism while the women and
children escaped in the boats.

Q8.

Were many of the men rescued who remained on the sinking ship? How did
the survivors among those left on the ship managed to save themselves?

Ans.

No, many of the men were not rescued, who remained on the ship struggled
a lot on the surface of the sea and held on to pieces of the wreckage until a
rescue ship arrived on the spot and picked them up.

Q9.
Describe one great heroic action that took place after the Birkenhead went
down.
Ans.

The great heroic action that took place after the Birkenhead went down was
that the commander of the troops was hanging on to some wreckage where

he saw two young sailors struggling in the water. Seeing them, he pushed the
wreckage towards them and all three held on to it. At once the commander
realized that the wreckage was not strong enough to support them so he
voluntarily gave up his grip and chose to sacrifice his life.
Q10. Were the troops on board the Birkenhead were experienced and used to
facing danger? How do we know that they behaved with gallantry and
discipline up to the very last?
Ans.

No, The troops on board the Birkenhead were inexperienced and were not
used to facing danger, for most of them had joined army lately. We come to
know about gallantry and discipline through the report by one of the officer
who was rescued.