Cook’s ‘Endeavour’ Cannon
Plucked from the teeth of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef during June 1770, His Majesty’s Barque ‘Endeavour’ left behind priceless relics of the incident. In freeing their shop from a coral outcrop, Endeavour’s crew hurled overboard a number of items to lighten her. These included six iron deck cannon, two of them fully loaded and ready for action. All were recovered from the sea, coral-encrusted but in excellent condition, in 1969. Endeavour’s near-disaster occurred during the first (1768-71) of three Pacific voyages by the then Lieutenant, later Captain, James Cook, NR.
A fine model of such a cannon is the nearest that any private individual can ever hope to own as a cherished and exciting reminder of Captain Cook and his remarkable era that is so cardinal to our national history. These are now available to order - full scale in cast iron, and in either cast iron or bronze quarter scale.
Their design is based on 18th century naval specifications. The solid timber carriages are provided with hand-forged and riveted iron fittings. Each gun is supplied with breeching - ropes used to secure and handle both the gun barrel and its carriage. The solid timber carriages are painted vivid red in traditional Royal Navy style of the 18th century.
All size recovered Endeavour cannons bear an embossed monogram of Britain’s King George II. The hand-painted monogram is also an attractive feature of the models. Chiselled marks, indicating the weight of each full-scale cannon model, add a further authentic touch to their appearance.
The Endeavour Cannon has been established by Mr Graham Thomson, of Melbourne, to manufacture and market models of cannon like those carried aboard the HMB Endeavour. British-born Mr Thomson is a descendant of Royal Navy and British merchant seafarers and is keenly interested in maritime history.
The models, fascinating reminders of the powder and shot sailing ship era, are Australian-made to high standards of design, iron-casting, wooden carriage manufacture and finish. These are based on skilled research of 18th-century gunmaking methods and technology. Each full-scale model bears a brass plague attesting to its significance. The barrels are individually numbered.
Endeavour Cannon models can be hired as special event attractions for lauching business premises, as store displays, for fairs, carnivals, boat races, theatrical props, advertising images and for historical commemorations. They can serve as doorway and pool guards and talk of the town conversation pieces, besides simply being good investments.
To order a Cook’s ‘Endeavour’ Cannon or for more information, please contact Graham Thomson on 0419 515 038.
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