Joseph Trewavas
Seaman, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1231 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Seaman all Seamans →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Beagle) all HMS Beagle VCs →
- Date of action
- 3 July 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 14th December 1835 at Mousehole, Cornwall
- Died
- 20th July 1905 at Mousehole, Cornwall
- Memorial / grave
- Grave in the Old School Cemetery, Paul, near Mousehole, Cornwall
- Medal held by
- Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Morrab
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
TREWAVAS, Joseph. (reg No. 1231).
Seaman. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
VC Medal's Custodian is Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Morrab Road, Penzance, Cornwall.
Born on 14th December 1835 at Mousehole, Cornwall.
Died on 20th July 1905 at Mousehole, Cornwall. Grave in the Old School Cemetery, Paul, near Mousehole, Cornwall. A new memorial was erected at Paul's Church of St Pol De Lion, Paul, Cornwall, in June 2002.
Digest of Citation reads: During the Crimean War, on 3rd July 1855, while serving aboard HMS Beagle in the Straits of Genitchi, Sea of Azov, Seaman Trawavas was sent to destroy a pontoon bridge that crossed between Genitchi and the Arabat Spit, in a gig. The shore was completely occupied by a line of Russian troops and the adjacent houses contained Riflemen. They went forward under extremely heavy fire, that was originating only 80 yards away. Seaman Trewavas, showing great heroism, cut the hawsers restraining the floating pontoon bridge. At the moment of his achievement he was wounded, but he managed to carry out his intent. The means of reinforcing the enemy had been destroyed.
Additional information:. Seaman Trawavas was the son of Joseph and Ann Trewavas of Mousehole, Cornwall. He was educated at the National School in the village of Paul, Cornwall. He also held the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. (CGM). He married Margaret, the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Harry on the 15th to January 1866 at Paul Church and had three children, Joseph born on 14th December 1866 and two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. On 15th October 1853 he joined HMS Agamemnon, serving in the Crimea from 1854-55, and taking part in the bombardment of Sebastopol on 17th October 1854.
Alf's notes on his life
A new memorial was erected at Paul's Church of St Pol De Lion, Paul, Cornwall, in June 2002. Digest of Citation reads: During the Crimean War, on 3rd July 1855, while serving aboard HMS Beagle in the Straits of Genitchi, Sea of Azov, Seaman Trawavas was sent to destroy a pontoon bridge that crossed between Genitchi and the Arabat Spit, in a gig. The shore was completely occupied by a line of Russian troops and the adjacent houses contained Riflemen. They went forward under extremely heavy fire, that was originating only 80 yards away. Seaman Trewavas, showing great heroism, cut the hawsers restraining the floating pontoon bridge. At the moment of his achievement he was wounded, but he managed to carry out his intent. The means of reinforcing the enemy had been destroyed.
Additional information
Seaman Trawavas was the son of Joseph and Ann Trewavas of Mousehole, Cornwall. He was educated at the National School in the village of Paul, Cornwall. He also held the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. (CGM). He married Margaret, the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Harry on the 15th to January 1866 at Paul Church and had three children, Joseph born on 14th December 1866 and two daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah. On 15th October 1853 he joined HMS Agamemnon, serving in the Crimea from 1854-55, and taking part in the bombardment of Sebastopol on 17th October 1854.
Road, Penzance, Cornwall.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Grave in the Old School Cemetery, Paul, near Mousehole, Cornwall
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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