In 1707, the Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Cloudesley Shovell - a military prodigy who rose through the ranks from Cabin Boy was sailing his flagship back from the siege of Toulon, alongside 21 other ships.
After bad weather had driven them of course Cloudesley sailed the entire fleet onto the Western Rocks in the waters near Scilly. 4 Ships were lost completely, and many more damaged significantly. Between 1400 and 2000 men lost their lives in what was the greatest loss of life in any single moment.
This is the story of that fateful night.
