What went wrong on the First Fleet?

Answer 1

After the First Fleet had delivered its cargo of convicts to New South Wales, the various ships suffered different fates.

• The H.M.S. Supply was also used on the Second Fleet. After this, it returned to England where it was renamed the 'Thomas & Nancy', and is believed to seems to have carried coal on the Thames until around 1806.
• Nothing is really known about the Alexander after the return journey, as it disappeared from records in 1808.
• Nothing more is known of the Borrowdale or the Fishburn after they returned to England.
• The Charlotte continued in service, running between London and Jamaica until it was sold to a Quebec merchant in 1818; it was lost off the coast of Newfoundland that same year.
• During the return voyage of the Friendship to England, the crew was affected by scurvy. There were not enough crew to man the ship, so it was scuttled in the straights of Macassar, and the survivors transferred to the Alexander.
• The Golden Grove returned to England and was used on the London to Jamacia run until it disappeared from records after 1804.
• The Lady Penrhyn also worked the London - Jamaica run following the return to England, until it was captured in the West Indies in 1811.
• The Prince of Wales continued to operate in England until 1797, after which its registration was transferred to Fort Royal, Martinique. Following this, any further records were lost.
• The Scarborough, like the Supply, sailed back to England and returned to Port Jackson as part of the Second fleet.
• The H.M.S. Sirius stayed in Port Jackson as a supply ship. It sailed to the Cape of Good Hope in October 1788 to get more food suppies for the colony, which was close to starvation. The Sirius was wrecked off Norfolk Island on 14 April 1790.

Answer 2

Nothing went wrong on the First Fleet.

• It successfully completed the eight month journey from England to Australia.
• There were fewer deaths on this fleet than on either the second or third fleets.
• Attempted escapes were thwarted.
• Necessary supplies were secured at ports along the way.