Admiral Benbow

John Benbow was a legendary English naval hero best known for an engagement with the French near the West Indies in 1702 where the majority of his captains turn tail and abandoned him. Ultimately leading to the injury that caused his death. The best description of the engagement is the song brave Benbow.

Come all you seamen bold and draw near and draw near,
Come all you seamen bold and draw near.
It's of our admiral's fame and Brave Benbow was his name,
Ho he fought all on the main you shall hear, you shall hear.

Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight, for to fight,
Brave Benbow he set sail for to fight.
Brave Benbow he set sail in a fine and pleasant gale
But his captains they turned tail in a fright, in a fright.

Says Kirby unto Wade, “We shall run, we shall run,”
Says Kirby unto Wade, “We shall run,
For I value not disgrace nor the losing of my face
But the enemy I'll not face with a gun, with a gun.”

'Twas Ruby and Benbow fought the French, fought the French,
'Twas Ruby and Benbow fought the French.
They fought them up and down till the blood came trickling down,
Till the blood came trickling down where they lay, where they lay.

Brave Benbow lost his legs by chain shot, by chain shot,
Brave Benbow lost his legs by by chain shot.
Brave Benbow lost his legs and all on his stumps he begs,
“Fight on my English lads, 'tis our lot, 'tis our lot.”

The surgeon dressed his wounds, cried Benbow, cried Benbow,
The surgeon dressed his wounds, cried Benbow:
“Let a cradle now in haste on the quarterdeck be placed
That the enemy I may face till I die, till I die.”

Last Tuesday morning last Bendow died, Benbow died.
What a shocking site to see as they carried him ashore
To Kingston church they came,
There he lays, there he lays.