Civilian ships used to bring in Crimean reinforcements

[Swordswoman]

This is a Crimean-related question, but I'm told this is where the ship experts hang out so I hope it's appropriate to post it here.

I'm trying to decipher the names of three ships that appear in the Digest of the 34th Regiment, all of which playecd a part in bringing reinforcements to the Crimea during November and December 1854. These appear to be a sailing ship called something like 'Gomelga', a steam transport called 'Sidney', and another called either 'Beaudor' or 'Brandor', but I cannot find records of any of these ships and am afraid I may have transcribed them wrong.

Here's a picture of the extract with the names boxed in red, in case they might be recognized by anyone here. I apologize for the quality of the photograph - it was taken in the museum, ie in low light with no flash.

Extract from digest of 34th Regiment of Foot

Ship names marked weblarge.jpg (104.75 KiB) Viewed 791 times

If anyone has either come across any of these ships or can suggest alternative names I would be extremely grateful. Failing that, could anyone direct me to a good source of ships used in the Crimean theatre so I can try and find out for myself? I have found this site - http://www.pdavis.nl/MidVicShips.php?page=1 - useful in the past, but it doesn't list anything like the names here.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Louise

[crimea1854]

Louise

The navy was unable to supply sufficient troop transports to move the army to the Crimea, so merchant navy ships were hired. As with the Falklands War 30 years ago, P&O used some of their ships i.e. 'Thames' & 'Simla', so your best bet is to look at Lloyds Shipping Registers to see if you can find a match for the names you have.

Martin

[Swordswoman]

Thank you so much, Martin - that was a great suggestion. I've found a Gomelza of 514 tons in the 1854 register, and a steamship Brandon in the 1855 (built 1854), which I think is as close as I'll get.

No luck with Sidney so far - the only one listed is a brig of 266 tons, which hardly fits the bill. Perhaps she was Australian? The snag with online searches is that they keep throwing up the famous HMAS Sydney I and II from the 20th century...

Many thanks again for your help. Two out of three is pretty impressive!

[Swordswoman]

And result!!!

'Sidney' is there too, in the 1855 Register under the modern spelling of 'Sydney' - a steamship of 735 tons.

Thank you, Martin, for introducing me to a great resource.

Louise