Broke Hall on the Orwell : Captain Philip Broke

Broke Hall was the home of the Broke family and the birthplace of Philip Broke (his grandfather, father and son were all of the same name. . His father was one of the commanders of the Sea Fencibles responsible for local defence during the Napoleonic wars, the item on HMS Medusa touches upon this period.

In the unfortunate 1812 conflict between Great Britain and the United States, one of the key engagements was the capture of the USS Chesapeake, commanded by Captain Lawrence, by HMS Shannon commanded by Captain Philip Broke: the public house in nearby Bucklesham is named for the Shannon. The battle between the two ships was a result of a gentlemans challenge from Broke to Lawrence and a matter of honour to them both. The fight lasted only eleven minutes, in large part because of the training and techniques by which Broke had developed his men and ship. The serious injury that he received during the boarding of the Chesapeake ended his active naval career.

Captain Lawrence, commander of the Chesapeake, was remembered for his dying admonition to his crew of “Don’t give up the ship”, during the battle. The largest ship of the US. Lake Erie fleet was named in his honour¹Although this ship, USS Lawrence, suffered greatly in the battle against the British on the lake, the U.S. Navy prevailed through the efforts of USS Niagara. Niagara, although a replica, is now a training ship on the lake. The timbers of the Cheaspeake became the structure of Wickham Mill, in Hampshire (sadly, not Wickham Market.)

Philip Broke had a particular interest in naval gunnery, especially the Carronade (see Punchinello and Sir Anthony Deane). His innovations and ideas were incorporated into Royal Navy doctrine and he was a key influence in the establishment of the gunnery school HMS Excellent²Martin Bibbings (2016) ‘An Awkward Engine’: Captain Philip Broke’s troublesome relationship with the carronade, The Mariner’s Mirror, 102:3, 303-324, DOI:10.1080/00253359.2016.1202486 .

One of Broke’s sons was George, who also became an Admiral: his other sailor son, Philip, was at one point commander of HMS Erebus in the Mediterranean and appears to inherited his father’s passion for gunnery although was not able to prove himself in action³Erebus: The Story of a Ship: Palin, Michael .

• 1
  Although this ship, USS Lawrence, suffered greatly in the battle against the British on the lake, the U.S. Navy prevailed through the efforts of USS Niagara. Niagara, although a replica, is now a training ship on the lake
• 2
  Martin Bibbings (2016) ‘An Awkward Engine’: Captain Philip Broke’s troublesome relationship with the carronade, The Mariner’s Mirror, 102:3, 303-324, DOI:10.1080/00253359.2016.1202486
• 3
  Erebus: The Story of a Ship: Palin, Michael