28 Sep., 1912
As will be seen from the announcement in our Naval and Military Intelligence on page 7, Lieutenant Thomas J. S. Lyne, at present commanding the gunboat Ringdove in home waters, has been promoted to Commander. This is the first occasion in recent times when a seaman from the lower deck has risen in the commissioned ranks to the grade of Commander on the Active List.

Commander Lyne served during the war in South Africa from 1901 to 1902 in command of No. 60 Torpedo-boat, and was employed patrolling and despatch running on the West Coast of Cape Colony. During this period, when 30 miles from a dangerous coast, the main shaft broke, but the vessel, being put under extemporized sail, was brought eventually to a safe anchorage in Saldanha Bay. For these services he was specially mentioned and promoted to the rank of lieutenant, as well as receiving the South African medal

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