Byng became Commander-in-Chief , Portsmouth , with his flag in the first-rate HMS '' Royal Anne '' , in late 1705 and then took part in the bombardment of Alicante in June 1706 . After taking part in the British defeat at the Battle of Toulon in July 1707 and , while sailing aboard his flagship HMS '' Royal Anne '' , Byng was present during the great naval disaster off the Isles of Scilly in October 1707 when Shovell and four of his ships were lost , claiming the lives of nearly 2,000 sailors
great naval disaster off the Isles of Scilly
Scilly naval disaster of 1707
George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington