In October, 1879, a Wear-built warship wrought havoc on the West African port of Onitsha in retribution for native attacks on British traders and their property.
Situated about 200 miles upriver from the Niger Delta, Onitsha had been the site of a British trading station since 1857, becoming a major exporter of palm oil.
Christian missionaries soon became established in the area, which formed part of the
Igbo Kingdom – later integrated into modern day Nigeria.
The conduct of local natives had become a serious problem for British merchants, with frequent attacks being directed towards individuals and their possessions.
Evidently, the trouble had resulted from high-handed actions by merchants and resentment against missionaries.
Although efforts were made to persuade tribal chiefs to end such outrages, the situation became so bad that traders were forced to evacuate their station.
As labourers attempted to remove goods and equipment from a factory owned by the United Africa Company, they were attacked by tribesmen.
Beleaguered traders appealed for protection to Captain SF Easton, the acting British Consul at Fernando Po, who consulted senior naval officers.
The gunboat, HMS Pioneer, which was patrolling the Niger, was immediately despatched to assist.
Launched from Sunderland's North Shore by Blumer's shipyard on October 26, 1874, the 576-ton HMS Pioneer was a 160-foot-long composite paddle vessel, armed with six 20-pounder guns.
After Pioneer's arrival at Onitsha, a party of sailors disembarked to help in the removal of £50,000-worth of trade stock and produce.
As they did so, they ran the gauntlet of further attacks, with the ship's captain receiving gunshot wounds.
Determined to teach the local population a lesson, the warship's commander ordered a party of bluejackets ashore.
Marching through the town, they opened fire on its inhabitants and set fire to mud huts and other property. Afterwards, HMS Pioneer bombarded Onitsha's beach and inland towns for three days, leaving the place in flames and almost completely devastated.
The controversial events of 1879 soured relations with the British for many years to come, with the matter also being raised in parliament.
Not unexpectedly, HMS Pioneer's actions received official sanction, but were seen as another example of the era's gunboat diplomacy, which helped sustain British rule across its Empire.
With no warship bearing the name HMS Sunderland having been commissioned into the Royal Navy since 1724, it seems that the city is still waiting for the Admiralty to deliver on an undertaking made in 1954.
Responding to a parliamentary question by then Sunderland South MP, Paul Williams, the First Lord of the Admiralty confirmed that he would arrange for the adoption of the name Sunderland to be given consideration when a suitable opportunity arose.
