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William HENRY Panter
Commander of HMVS Cerberus
AND HIS WIFE
ALICE SETON PANTER, née MANIFOLD.
By Shirley M. Joy.
Captain Henry Panter wearing his China medal with two clasps.
Illustrated Australian News, 20 May 1871
Henry Panter
photo courtesy of Henry Panter's great grandson, David Orr & Peg Orr.
William Henry Panter was born in Laindon, Essex, England about 1841. He was born to Frederick Downes Panter, a Clerk in Holy Orders, and his wife Fanny, née Kennedy. In later life Frederick Panter became the Rector of Thetford, Norfolk.
William Henry Panter went to sea (Royal Navy), at fourteen years of age, whereupon he embarked upon a remarkable and notable career.
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A very young Henry Panter on the 15th of October 1851
Photo courtesy of David & Peg Orr.
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Midshipman Henry Panter age 12
Original Painting held by HMAS Castlemaine Museum Ship |
He went out to China with Admiral Keppel in 1855, and served through the whole of the China War. He was in three general engagements, in two of which he volunteered for and served with the storming party. He was, on each occasion mentioned in the despatches, and for this service he received the China medal and two clasps. He was also in several boat actions, and at the age of twenty was appointed by Admiral Sir James Hope acting navigating sub-lieutenant, and to the command of a gun-boat. On that vessel being paid off, Captain Panter was complimented by the senior naval officer at Hong Kong for having brought the vessel safely out of one of the worst typhoons ever known to blow on that coast.
On this occasion he had only five men left out of a crew of thirty, the others having been disabled during the gale. On his arrival in England, he was appointed navigating sub-lieutenant of the Marlborough flagship in the Mediterranean, under Admiral Sir Robert Smart. Soon after joining that ship he was given the command of a gun-boat carrying three guns, which command he retained until he paid her off.
Captain Panter was then promoted to navigating lieutenant, being at that time the junior officer on the station. He afterwards went to England and was appointed to the Naval College for the purpose of studying steam. After this, he went on board the Excellent, gunnery ship, and, after passing his examinations, joined the Nelson and proceeded to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He remained on board the Nelson until sent home to bring out the Cerberus.
At that time he had passed the following examinations : - Seamanship, navigation and nautical astronomy, pilotage, steam, and modern heavy gunnery, for all of which he held certificates.
Captain Panter exhibited brilliant seamanship during the voyage of the Cerberus from England to Port Phillip, Australia. The Cerberus encountered tremendous weather in the Bay of Biscay, and in fact, bad weather all the way across. For 12 hours the ship was very nearly lost, it was not expected that she would get through it.
In a Gale in the Bay of Biscay. (North of Spain)
Australian Illustrated News, January 30, 1871.
A lesser man than Captain Panter may not have succeeded in bringing the Cerberus safely through to Port Phillip, arriving there on the 9th. April, 1871.
At St. John's Church, Toorak, Victoria on the 2nd. July, 1872, Captain William Henry Panter married Alice Seton Manifold who resided at "Waiora," Prahran, but was born at "Grassmere", 8 miles north of Warrnambool, Victoria. Alice Seton Manifold was the daughter of Thomas Manifold and his wife Jane Elizabeth Manifold, née Synnot.
Thomas Manifold and his two brothers, John and Peter, were the pioneers of the wealthy and important district of Camperdown, Victoria. So far back, as about the year 1838, they took up a vast area of land there for grazing purposes.
The Australasian, "Town News" reports on 14th. July, 1877 "The resignation of Captain Panter, R.N., was accepted by the Treasurer on Monday, and the command of the Cerberus was given to Commander Colebrooke Thomas Mandeville, R.N., an officer who has recently arrived in the colony, and who is on the Imperial half-pay list."
William Henry Panter and his wife Alice had seven children -
Elizabeth Frances
Violet Louisa
Grace Mary
Florence Murton
Olive Emily
Helen Kennedy
Edith May aka Jack
On the 14th. July, 1915, William Henry Panter died, aged 74 years, at Toorak Road, North Malvern, City of Malvern. The cause of death was Cerebral Haemorrhage and Respiratory Failure. He was buried in the Brighton Cemetery on the 15th. July, 1915.
Grave reference - Church of England, Compartment Y, Graves 12 and 13.
References -
The Illustrated Australian News 20th. May, 1871.
The Australasian 14th. July, 1877.
Victoria and its Metropolis published in 1888. By Alexander Sutherland M.A.
Pastoral Pioneers of Port Phillip - pages 216, 217. R.V. Billis and A.S. Kenyon.
Marriage Certificate - William Henry Panter and Alice Seton Manifold, 1872.
Death Certificate - William Henry Panter, 1915.
David Orr holding Captain Panter's Sword next to the Cerberus wheel, binacle & bell.
photographed at the Museum of HMAS Cerberus
Letter from Captain Panter to his sister, Fanny, aka Jack.
courtesy of the Museum of HMAS Cerberus.
Captain Panter's Octant
Photo courtesy of David Orr.
Interview with Captain Panter
Profile on Henry Panter by Bruce Rose
"Captain W.H. Panter who was some years ago in charge of HMVS Cerberus has been placed on the retired list of the Victorian naval services." The Argus, 22 July 1899 |
