Midshipman RN 1915

[tonepad]

William Vazie Simons name does not appear on the following crewlist:

Crew list document for vessel 'ALCANTARA'
Official number: 132050
Valid dates for this crew list:16/01/1915 - 07/03/1915

https://1915crewlists.rmg.co.uk/document/109671


Tony

[GrahamSimons]

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.

[tonepad]

The wording above is suspect:

"was wounded at Gallipoli while in charge of one of the boats taking troops ashore"

Wounded - he was fit enough to start his duties on HMS Alcantara shortly after Triumph was sunk on the 25th May.
boats taking troops ashore - The role of HMS Triumph at Gallipoli was to provide gunfire to cover the landings. Other ships were involved in landing the troops.


Tony

[GrahamSimons]

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.