Part of the
Acorn Archive
Hearts of Oak
Charles Lewis
Coastguard Training and
Service
1905-1923
Written 1944
I was Paid Off, and after
nearly seven weeks leave, returned to the Torpedo school, re-qualified in
torpedo work, then joined the Coastguard. Went to Portsmouth for a four month
course in Signalling. While in the Signal school, I had an amusing experience;
a party of us were sent down to “dress and man” ship on board Nelson’s old
Flagship VICTORY; she was laying out in the Stream at the time; it was in
honour of the King of Greece, who with the late King Edward were visiting
Portsmouth. My station was to stand up on the top gallant yard, and a party of
about 30 boys were stationed along the hammock netting; a ridge rope was
stretched from the fore-rigging to the main for the boys to catch hold to; Just
as the Royal Yacht got abreast of the VICTORY, everyone standing smartly to
attention, bugles sounding, Marines presenting arms, Just at that auspicious
occasion, one of the boys in the centre of the party, out of devilment, leaned
back too far, with the result that instead of the Royal Party seeing 30 boys
standing smartly to attention, they saw 30 boys hanging in mid-air struggling
and kicking in vain attempts to get their feet back in the hammock netting. I
am sure that Prince Arthur of Connaught, who was on board at that time, would
have had an apoplectic fit through laughing, and the Officer in Charge of the
Ceremony would have had one for another reason.
Charles Lewis – Coastguard
Service
[from his own Notes;
checked with his C.68 Certificates of Service]
Joined the Service 1 Jan 1906
at Tol Pedn, Penwith, Cornwall
Passed for Commissioned
Boatman 17 Jun 1907
Examined by Commander
Cartwright
Passed for Station Signalman 5
Nov 1908
Examined by Flag Lieutenant
and Signal Boatswain HMS HIBERNIA
Channel Fleet Portland.
Left Tol Pedn 16 Oct 1911; for
Lundy Island, commenced 17 Oct 1911
History Sheet TS.93 (Total
387/440)
Passed for Leading
Telegraphist at Felixstowe 21 Nov 1912
Left Lundy Island 24 Apr 1913
Joined Polhawn Cove for Rame
Head W/T 25 Apr 1913
Promoted Leading Boatman 1 Aug
1913
Passed for PO at Rame 5 April
1915
Left Rame Head 3 Dec 1915
Joined Admiralty W/T London 4
Dec 1915 to 30 Sep 1916
Passed for Acting PO Tel 15 Dec
1916 at Whitehall
President IV Whitehall 1 Oct
1916 to 19 Oct 1917
Sent out to Cullercoats from
Whitehall 20 Oct 1917 to 17 Jun 1919
Left Admiralty Whitehall 29
Aug 1920
Arrived Sheerness 30 Aug 1920
Left 28 Feb 1921
Arrived Tramore South
(Ireland) 1 Mar 1921
Arrived Dunmore 13 Aug 1921
Left and arrived Roches Point
4 Dec 1921
Left 30 Dec 1921
Arrived Renmore 31 Dec 1921
Left 15 May 1922
Arrived St Mawes (Falmouth) 16
May 1922
Promoted PO(NF) 1 Mar 1921
Passed for CO 10 Jan 1922 at
Castletown Bere
Left St Mawes and Joined
Coastguard station Croyde 3 Apr 1923
for Duty under Board of Trade.
Raymond Forward