Waterloo was an old ship with unsound timbers when she sailed on her seventh voyage transporting convicts.
She left Sheerness on 1 June 1842 for Van Diemen's Land.
In addition to her crew, she was carrying 219 prisoners, 30 soldiers of the 99th Regiment, five women, and thirteen children.

The ship's surgeon, Dr Henry Kelsall, had persuaded Captain Henry Ager to put in at the Cape for fresh provisions, as many of those on board were suffering from scurvy.
Consequently, Waterloo entered Table Bay on 24 August 1842 and anchored in a position which was to prove unsafe for that time of year.
The Captain went ashore and left the ship in charge of the Chief Mate Jackson.

On 26 August, a strong northerly gale sprang up, accompanied by heavy rain.
The top-gallant masts snapped and landed on the deck.
On 27 August, the surgeon became extremely concerned, especially when the two anchors gave way at about 11pm.
He and the Second Mate lit flares to signal their desperate situation.
Early on the morning of the 28th, the wind grew to hurricane strength, and the troopship Abercrombie Robinson was driven ashore.
Fearing punishment, the First Mate refused to order the cutting away of the fallen masts.
Dr Kelsall ordered the freeing of the prisoners from their irons.
From this point on the situation rapidly deteriorated.

Waterloo, helpless before the strong wind and high seas, was driven ashore; the masts broke and the ship heeled over on her side.
Convicts leapt overboard, one of them aiding Dr Kelsall.
Within two hours the ship had been reduced to fragments.
In 1842, there were no lifeboats or rescue systems in place in Table Bay.
 Consequently, one hundred and eighty nine people died in the space of about two hours.

There were 113 survivors - 16 men of the guard, a soldier's wife (Mrs. Mulvaney), and 76 convicts.
Lieutenant Hext, who commanded the guard, was on shore at the time and made a sketch of the wrecking.
Captain Ager survived, as did Mr. Jackson, Chief Mate, Mr. Gunner, 2nd mate, Mr. Gill, 3rd mate, and fifteen of the crew.
One hundred and eighty nine people drowned, these being 143 convicts, 15 men of the 99th Regiment, together with 17 wives and children, the boatswain Mr. Chiverton, the sailmaker, the carpenter, and 11 of the crew.

On 15 October Cape Packet took 72 of Waterloo's prisoners, plus three more from Cape Town, to Hobart.
She arrived on 23 November and disembarked the prisoners.
Waterloo was an old ship with unsound timbers when she sailed on her seventh voyage transporting convicts. She left Sheerness on 1 June 1842 for Van Diemen's Land. In addition to her crew, she was carrying 219 prisoners, 30 soldiers of the 99th Regiment, five women, and thirteen children.
The ship's surgeon, Dr Henry Kelsall, had persuaded Captain Henry Ager to put in at the Cape for fresh provisions, as many of those on board were suffering from scurvy. Consequently, Waterloo entered Table Bay on 24 August 1842 and anchored in a position which was to prove unsafe for that time of year. The Captain went ashore and left the ship in charge of the Chief Mate Jackson.
On 26 August, a strong northerly gale sprang up, accompanied by heavy rain. The top-gallant masts snapped and landed on the deck. On 27 August, the surgeon became extremely concerned, especially when the two anchors gave way at about 11pm. He and the Second Mate lit flares to signal their desperate situation. Early on the morning of the 28th, the wind grew to hurricane strength, and the troopship Abercrombie Robinson was driven ashore. Fearing punishment, the First Mate refused to order the cutting away of the fallen masts. Dr Kelsall ordered the freeing of the prisoners from their irons. From this point on the situation rapidly deteriorated.
Waterloo, helpless before the strong wind and high seas, was driven ashore; the masts broke and the ship heeled over on her side. Convicts leapt overboard, one of them aiding Dr Kelsall. Within two hours the ship had been reduced to fragments. In 1842, there were no lifeboats or rescue systems in place in Table Bay.  Consequently, one hundred and eighty nine people died in the space of about two hours.
There were 113 survivors - 16 men of the guard, a soldier's wife (Mrs. Mulvaney), and 76 convicts. Lieutenant Hext, who commanded the guard, was on shore at the time and made a sketch of the wrecking. Captain Ager survived, as did Mr. Jackson, Chief Mate, Mr. Gunner, 2nd mate, Mr. Gill, 3rd mate, and fifteen of the crew. One hundred and eighty nine people drowned, these being 143 convicts, 15 men of the 99th Regiment, together with 17 wives and children, the boatswain Mr. Chiverton, the sailmaker, the carpenter, and 11 of the crew.
On 15 October Cape Packet took 72 of Waterloo's prisoners, plus three more from Cape Town, to Hobart. She arrived on 23 November and disembarked the prisoners.
Waterloo (1815 ship)