2-321-584 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The bombarment by the Royal Navy of the harbour of Kagoshima, Japan, 1863. The British subjected the city of Kagoshima to a naval bombardment in August 1863 after the government of the province of Satsuma refused to apologise or pay compensation after the murder the previous year of Charles Richardson, a British merchant. The city suffered considerable damage, but only 5 fatalities, the population having been evacuated in anticipation of the British attack. 13 British sailors were killed by fire from forts on the shore, including Captain Josling and Commander Wilmot of the flagship, HMS Euralyus, who were both decapitated by the same cannonball. A print from "The Illustrated London News", 7th November 1863.