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Armed Forces / Re: Midshipman RN 1915
« on: Friday 14 November 25 08:13 GMT (UK) »
Thank you all... the evidence is stacking up! It's quite a sad story from being an early aviator with good work done, to a rather depressing end.
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Armed Forces / Re: Midshipman RN 1915
« on: Thursday 13 November 25 08:53 GMT (UK) »
Central Hawke's Bay Press 16 August 1939:
An explanation of the timidity of Britain’s foreign policy recently was offered, at the reunion dinner of the Aegean Society in Christchurch, by Captain W. Vazie-Simons, who, as a midshipman in H.M.S. Triumph, was wounded at Gallipoli while in charge of one of the boats taking troops ashore, and who subsequently served in the Air Force. The stalling, and apparent cowardice shown by Great Britain was, he said, due to the naval position. Nine battleships- were at present laid up, being modernised, but they would be ready for service in 1940, when they would be sent to Singapore.
This doesn't quite fit with his record of being made Midshipman on 5th August 1915; Triumph was sunk 20th May 1915.
An explanation of the timidity of Britain’s foreign policy recently was offered, at the reunion dinner of the Aegean Society in Christchurch, by Captain W. Vazie-Simons, who, as a midshipman in H.M.S. Triumph, was wounded at Gallipoli while in charge of one of the boats taking troops ashore, and who subsequently served in the Air Force. The stalling, and apparent cowardice shown by Great Britain was, he said, due to the naval position. Nine battleships- were at present laid up, being modernised, but they would be ready for service in 1940, when they would be sent to Singapore.
This doesn't quite fit with his record of being made Midshipman on 5th August 1915; Triumph was sunk 20th May 1915.
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Armed Forces / Re: Midshipman RN 1915
« on: Wednesday 12 November 25 09:26 GMT (UK) »
I've worked out that he'd have been old enough to be a boy serving in Triumph (the rule was age 15 1/4 up to December 1914, 15 3/4 therafter, checked with a birth certificate). I've contacted Christ's Hospital to check his dates there, which would in turn confirm his dates in Worcester, and that would determine whether he could have joined Triumph. So the question is open for the time being - as we can't find him in the Seamen Register it seems increasingly unlikely.
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Family History Beginners Board / Re: Captain mystery
« on: Tuesday 11 November 25 15:52 GMT (UK) »
Have you found his police record? It might bridge the gap....
https://www.norfolk.police.uk/police-forces/norfolk-constabulary/areas/about-us/about-us/our-history/
https://www.norfolk.police.uk/police-forces/norfolk-constabulary/areas/about-us/about-us/our-history/
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Armed Forces / Re: Midshipman RN 1915
« on: Tuesday 11 November 25 14:42 GMT (UK) »
I don't know the answer to that. It's possible that the BoT certificate was gained while he was in Worcester as the expectation was that boys trained there would go to sea. I can't read the entry in the download very clearly - the date looks like 16-7-15 which would fit with leaving Worcester to join the RN. From the likely date it can't be Master or Mate certificate and it doesn't look like Engineer.
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Armed Forces / Re: Midshipman RN 1915
« on: Tuesday 11 November 25 13:01 GMT (UK) »
Yes indeed - but there are a few namesakes around which can be infuriatingly misleading!
I know quite a bit about him (some not v positive)
Born 1898; his father had already died. Orphaned 1909.
Christ's Hospital then 2 years at HMS Worcester then Midshipman. What I don't have are dates at Worcester.
After being sunk while with Alacantara he then joined the Fleet Air Arm and has a reasonably successful war in floatplanes then became RAF when that was formed in 1918. Left the RAF post war and had time in Ceylon, of which I know nothing. Patchy disciplinary record but appears to have been a good pilot; one report said he was "very plausible."
Went to NZ and had a pilot's licence there; spent time promoting aviation; was a salesman of one sort or another.
Joined RNZAF in WW2; disciplinary issues; resigned commission as a Flt Lt. Later he claimed to be a Wing Commander and even an Air Commodore. That among other things is why I distrust the Triumph claim.
Married and divorced three times. Died and buried in NZ, 1967, general labourer.
I know quite a bit about him (some not v positive)
Born 1898; his father had already died. Orphaned 1909.
Christ's Hospital then 2 years at HMS Worcester then Midshipman. What I don't have are dates at Worcester.
After being sunk while with Alacantara he then joined the Fleet Air Arm and has a reasonably successful war in floatplanes then became RAF when that was formed in 1918. Left the RAF post war and had time in Ceylon, of which I know nothing. Patchy disciplinary record but appears to have been a good pilot; one report said he was "very plausible."
Went to NZ and had a pilot's licence there; spent time promoting aviation; was a salesman of one sort or another.
Joined RNZAF in WW2; disciplinary issues; resigned commission as a Flt Lt. Later he claimed to be a Wing Commander and even an Air Commodore. That among other things is why I distrust the Triumph claim.
Married and divorced three times. Died and buried in NZ, 1967, general labourer.
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Armed Forces / Midshipman RN 1915
« on: Tuesday 11 November 25 11:38 GMT (UK) »
I am chasing the details of William Vazie Simons born February 1898. He was made Midshipman on 5th Aug 1915 and served in HMS Alacantara until she was sunk in 1916.
He later claimed to have served in HMS Triumph in the Dardanelles; Triumph arrived there in February 1915 and was sunk in May 1915.
I suspect that this claim is untrue - could he have been at sea in Triumph before he was made Mid? He'd have been just 17 at the time and so age wouldn't have been a bar. I've found other half-truths from him already......
He later claimed to have served in HMS Triumph in the Dardanelles; Triumph arrived there in February 1915 and was sunk in May 1915.
I suspect that this claim is untrue - could he have been at sea in Triumph before he was made Mid? He'd have been just 17 at the time and so age wouldn't have been a bar. I've found other half-truths from him already......
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The Common Room / Understatement
« on: Tuesday 11 November 25 10:06 GMT (UK) »
Found some "interesting" material in military record......the details are in other pages.
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World War Two / Re: record of Polish medal issued to british coder WWII
« on: Sunday 09 November 25 14:50 GMT (UK) »
It might be in the London Gazette - the search engine for the Gazette is a bit hit-and-miss however....
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/