"Women and children first" is a code of conduct dating from 1852, whereby the lives of women and children were to be saved first in a life-threatening situation. HMS Birkenhead was wrecked on 26 February 1852, while transporting troops to Algoa Bay at Danger Point. There were not enough serviceable lifeboats for all the passengers, and the soldiers famously stood firm on board, thereby allowing the women and children to board the boats safely and escape the sinking.Only 193 of the estimated 643 people on board survived; including all women and children