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Victorian Naval Forces Muster

for the Colony of Victoria. (muster range 1853-1910)*

Profile

Last Name:Smith
First Name:Jack
Rank:Midshipman
Birth Date:
Branch:Victorian Navy

Jack Smith

Midshipman

Not generally known that Architect Jack Smith, one of the main bollards ot the Royal Yacht Club, was, many, many years ago, a midshipmlte (sic) on the old wooden man-o'-war Nelson. That old frigate of perhaps 100 guns, long now obsolete, lay off between Sandridge (now Port Melbourne) and Williamstown, the ancient Cerberus being moored close by. One day, in the course of his work aloft. Midshipman Smith saw a fisherman fall from the stern of his passing smack into shark infested Hobson's Bay. Blowing a man-overboard blast on his whistle. Jack Smith signalled to the boat's crew to man and launch a gig. Almost as soon as the keel of tbe boat touched the water. Jack, knowing he could not get down the rigging in time, threw off his coat, kicked off bis shoes, and dived down to the water, over 30 feet below. Then he swam to the gig, took the tiller, and got the boat alongside the drowning man In a few minutes. Jack still has the suitably-Inscribed piece of oak and silver presented to him by the fisherman's friends and brother toilers of the deep.

Sunday Times (Perth), 16 Septyember 1923


* 1853 is given as the commencement date for the Victorian Navy as this is the year that Commander Lockyer (RN) went to Britain to superintend the building of HMCS Victoria.
Although the Victorian Navy ended in 1901 the career of Cerbeus etc continued. In 1910 the new ships started arriving & manning levels increased.

Information & photographs of men who served in the Victorian Naval Forces is eagerly sought. Please contact the webmaster.
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