TRINITY HOUSE AND COASTGUARD SNIPPETS
These are general snippets of information that I have come across in my searches,
which I thought you may find interesting, I will add to them as and when I see
more. For some there are more details, denoted by a succession of dots ......
I will be happy to send the full article to anyone who asks.
29 Sept 1855 - THE FALL OF SEBASTOPOL
- On Friday 21st, the dinner given by the residents and visitors of Sandown
to the soldiers of the detachment and men of the Coastguard stationed there in
honour of the successes at Sebastopol, took place at 2oclock on the green-terrace
within the sea wall of the Battery, the present occupant of the delightful marine
residence having gladly devoted that portion of the grounds to the use of the
committee of management...... (IW Observer)
10 May 1856 - Coastguards relieved from service on board
various ships of war at Portsmouth, arrived at their respective stations in the
Isle of Wight, for permanent duty, on Thursday and Friday last, in place of the
Pensioners, who were discharged on the arrival of the ratifications of peace and
final termination of war. (IW Observer)
19 Jan 1861 .. BROOKE - A correspondent, signing
himself "an officer in the Royal Navy", writes in reference to the case
reported in the Observer of the 5th inst., recording "the loss of a brigantine,
belonging to Jersey, under the cliff near Freshwater-gate, when Donald MCLEOD,
a Coastguardsman, lost his life by a piece of the cliff falling upon his head,
while in the execution of his duty of endeavouring to assist crew of the said
vessel, leaving a widow and a large family totally unprovided for, and for whom
a subscription has been collected, chiefly through the activity and perseverance
of a lady, which all here gratefully acknowledge, I beg to mention that, among
others, a voluntary subscription of £2.10s. was made for the widow by the
Battery of the Royal Artillery stationed at Fort Victoria, Isle of Wight."
(IW Observer)
27 Apr 1861 .. SMUGGLING AT BEMBRIDGE - At the County Petty
Sessions, Commissioned Boatman Joseph HOCKADAY said he was on
duty the night of the 3rd/4th, at 1 oclock near Rock Lane and met 5 men, one had
a stick and the others were carrying tubs, he struck a blue light and he saw one
was James WYATT of Brading, who let 3 barrels fall from his back
...... (IW Observer)
26 Mar 1863 .. MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT - An
accident happened on Saturday afternoon to a preventative man from the Lake
station and his wife, in a small boat passing from Cowes to their station vessel. It appears the unfortunate couple had, as was
their custom, been to Cowes to purchase necessities and in crossing to regain home, a
sudden squall upset the boat and though both were picked up by a boat
that was near, they were dead when taken out of
the water. (IW Times)
7 May 1863 .. FOUND DROWNED - An inquest was held on the body
of a man about 20 years of age, that was picked up on the 2nd by coastguard
George BULLEY at Spring Vale ...... about 11 days before
he was picked up, coastguardsman HICKS spoke to a man answering the
deceased's description, who said he could easily swim the distance of 5 miles to
Portsmouth ...... (IW Times)
31 Dec 1864 .. ASSAULTED - At the County Petty Sessions
on Saturday, George WILLIAMS a boatman, was charged with assaulting
Thomas PITT, an officer of the coastguard at Ventnor, on the
previous Sunday at half past 12 in the day. Complainant was on duty at the
time, but he was content to treat it as a common assault, when the defendent was
fined 10shillings and costs. (IW Observer)
1 Jan 1866 .. INFANT FOUND
IN CLOSET - On Sunday morning last, the body of an infant child was found
in a closet belonging to the house of Mr WADE, coastguard,
which stands on the cliff at St Lawrence. An inquest was held at the St
Lawrence Hotel ...... Elizabeth WADE, the wife of
George WADE, coastguard, said "we live at Orchards
Bay, St Lawrence, which is used in connection with the preventative
station. It only consists of one house and no-one occupies the house but
ourselves, a girl age 14 and a boy age 12" ......(Ventnor Times)
12 Feb 1876 .. MEETING - A meeting of the Lifeboatmen took
place at the Brook Lifeboat Station ...... Mr ELLIS , officer
of Coastguards was present ...... the matter under discussion was the wreck of
the "Mignonett"...... (Ryde & Ventnor Times)
29 Apr 1876 .. INCIDENT AT RYDE - An excess of zeal was
the verdict, concerning an incident on Ryde esplanade, about action
taken by Coastguard WILTSHIRE, when well-known local resident and
fisherman, Robert HAWARD , was seen handing
some brandy to his son. (Ryde
& Ventnor Times)
6 May 1876 .. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF WRECKAGE -
William ATTRILL of Bembridge was charged; Mr
George WEEKS said he was Chief Officer of the coastguard
station, Bembridge and in the beginning of March last, a vessel laden with flour
& c. and called the "Glenaray" was wrecked at Blackgang. On
13th March he went on board a small vessel belonging to the defendant called the
"Traveller" and asked if he had any of the wrecked
flour onboard his vessel? He replied that he had 8 to 9 gallons of it,
with which they had been making puddings. He told defendant to bring him
the remainder on shore, which he had promised to do, but he failed to keep his
promise. The flour was valued at 1s. per gallon. - Defendant pleaded
guilty and threw himself on the mercy of the court. He was ordered to pay
16s. being double the value of the flour and costs of 5s. (IW
Advertiser, Ryde & Ventnor
Times) *
12 July 1877 .. PEDESTRIAN FEAT - On the forenoon of Monday,
one of the men named NEALE attached to the coastguard force at
Ventnor, proved himself a good walker, and, what we suspect was more gratifying
him still, the winner of a sovereign - this being the amount of a wager laid between
himself and a gentleman visiting the town, that he could walk to Blackgang and
back, some six and half hours each way, in two hours and a half. The
distance was performed by NEALE in two hours and a quarter, who
therefore won the wager. Who says a match will not be found for O'LEARY?
- aye even in Ventnor; (IW Advertiser, Ryde & Ventnor Times)
*
5 Apr 1879 .. BAPTISM - An unusual scene was witnessed
in St Paul's church, Sandgate on Monday morning. A coastguardsman was, at his
own desire, was baptised by immersion by the incumbent, the Rev Francis
J. Jones. A congregation, numbering about sixty persons, principally
ladies, was present. The incumbent delivered a short and suitable address, and
the Church of England form for the baptism of adults was used. At the appointed
portion of the service the candidate, who was dressed in white coastguard uniform,
was immersed in a large bath. (IW Advertiser, Ryde & Ventnor Times) *
although not on the Isle of Wight, I would be
interested to know who this was.
19 July 1879 .. DEATH IN ZULULAND - We regret
to hear that Richard OLIVER, son of Mr OLIVER who was for many years
connected with the Ventnor Coastguard Station -- has succumbed to fever whilst
serving with the Naval Brigade in the Zulu War. Deceased was
about 19 years of age and since he had been in the Navy, had borne an excellent
character. Much sympathy is felt with Mr OLIVER by those who know him,
as it is not very long since his eldest son William, who was at Mr NICHOLSON's
establishment in this town, died rather suddenly. Mr OLIVER is now the
Officer-in-Charge at Marshwood near Southampton. (IW Advertiser, Ryde &
Ventnor Times) *
17 July 1886 .. BOAT FATALITY - It will be remembered
that on the 19th last, a coastguard boat was capsized off the coast of Dorset,
when three men were drowned, amongst them being chief boatman NEWBERRY,
a native of Shorwell, IW. On Sunday last the body of the deceased chief
boatman was found on the beach near Atherfield, by a fisherman named William
COTTON, and was taken to Atherfield coastguard station. It is most
remarkable that the body of the unfortunate man, after being in the water for
three weeks, should have been carried such a distance and washed ashore on his
native Island, and in his own parish. (IW County Press)
1 Feb 1890 .. WRECK OF SAILING SHIP "IREX" - One
the the most disastrous wrecks which have occurred for many years ...... the
rocket apparatus arrived from Freshwater Bay and through the excellent
management of the officer in charge, Coastguard Mr
SPILMAN, the first rocket was fired from the inside of the Fort
at 1.10, it was a spendid shot fired by Coastguard HALLET
...... The
brilliant and skilful handling of the rocket apparatus by Mr SPILMAN and his gallant corps of coastguards
cannot be too highly praised ........ Coastguard MACHIN
went off and brought a
lad safely to shore ...... (County Press) there are four large pages to this report, with other names
mentioned.
8 Feb 1890 .. COASTGUARD HONOURED - Mr
SPILMAN of the coastguard at Freshwater,
is a native of Bembridge and his many friends here are pleased to hear
of the honour bestowed upon him ...... (County Press)
5 Apr 1890 .. SANDOWN IMPROVEMENT ? - A letter from the
Lords of the Admiralty was read, stating that they had no objection to the strip
of waste land immediately opposite the Coastguard Station being let to the
Board, with a view to the forming of an ornamental recreation ground,
the land to be let to the Board on a yearly tenancy, at a nominal rent of
1shilling per annum.
30 Apr 1892 .. FIRE AT FRESHWATER - When
fire broke out at 1.30 am, at the old cottage occupied by William KELLEWAY
a gardener, the Coastguards were amongst willing hands on the spot, who endeavoured
to subdue the flames. (County Press)
11 Oct 1892 .. MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTION - Charles
REYNOLDS Chief Boatman in charge of HM Coastguards died age 48.
Deeply missed by his widow and five children. Buried with Naval Honours
at St Helens on the 13th Oct. (See County Press report Jan 1893)
30 Mar 1895 .. INSPECTION - Admiral
CULME-SEYMOUR made his triennial of the Sandown Coastguard
station last Tuesday afternoon. He was accompanied by Commander
BURT and expressed satisfaction with the inspection.
(County Press)
29 Aug 1896 .. STRUCK BY LIGHTENING - During
a sharp thunderstorm that passed over the Island on Wednesday, the Atherfield
Coastguard Station was struck by lightening. The chimney of the house of
Chief Boatman in charge, Mr MCCARTHY, was destroyed and much
other damage done to the masonry and woodwork. The lightening fired the
telephonic communication with Mr MCCARTHY's bedroom and set on
fire the woodwork of the instrument. Mr MCCARTHY who
was at the time receiving a communication and Jesse WOLLVEN the watchman on duty, were thrown violently through the doorway
for some yards, but they fortunately escaped without serious injury.
(County Press)
15 June 1901 .. CLEVER CAPTURE BY COASTGUARD -
James CONNELL a coastguard stationed at Newtown coastguard station
and the stratagem displayed by him, resulting in the re-capture of 2 escaped convicts
from Parkhurst Prison, is deserving of the highest praise .CONNELL
is an old sailor and has seen a good deal of service...... (County Press)
29 June 1901 .. CAPTURING CONVICTS - The reward of 10pounds
has been paid by the Prison Authorities for the recent capture at Newtown, of
the two escaped convicts from Parkhurst, who were found by Coastguard CONNELL
of that district. (County Press)
2 May 1908 .. NAVAL DISASTER OFF YARMOUTH - During a blizzard
the 2nd class cruiser "Gladiator" was rammed by the American liner
"St Paul" ...... the Yarmouth Coastguard who were early aquainted with
the accident, lost no time in getting a boat out. They made immediately for
the sinking "Gladiator", but on reaching it, were despached to the
"St Paul", where they took off three of the "Gladiator's" crew
who had boarded the liner during the collision ...... (County
Press)
there are four large
pages to this report with many names mentioned
3 Sept 1910 .. REUNION - An enjoyable concert was held at
the Ship & Launch on Saturday, the occasion being a social gathering of the
Coastguards and Trinity House employees who took part in the East Cowes
regatta. An excellent programme of songs was contributed by members of
both services. Mr F. WILSON was the pianoforte
accompanist, assisted by Coastguard SAINSBURY (guitar).
Coastguard ARNOLD occupied the chair. Mr F.
FOWLER spoke on behalf of the Trinity Service,
expressing gratification at the cordial feeling existing between the men of both
services ...... (County Press)
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