When introducing myself I sometimes like to say “My mother was a Dolphin†… it causes some odd reactions! It is true – Her father was Chief Cook W. Dolphin, and his father, my great grandfather, was Leading Stoker J. Dolphin.
My great grandfather served in the survey vessel HMS Sylvia on the China Station during 1874-1880. On the voyage back to Chatham to pay off and refit, Sylvia anchored in Simons Bay, South Africa. An entry in the deck log reads – “Wednesday 11 August 1880. At Anchor, Simons Bay, S.Africa. p.m. Discharged J.Dolphin, Lead. Stoker, to Hospital†– A day or so later the ship sailed, leaving J. Dolphin, where he died in hospital.Presumably this would have been the R.N.Hospital.
With the very kind assistance of the lady curator of Simonstown Museum, We have located and have photographs of his grave. He shares a grave and Headstone with a “Kroomanâ€. But we have not been able to find out his cause of death. The hospital records could not be found in the archives in London.
I remember as a very young child , sitting on my grandfathers knee while he told me stories of the exploits of his father. One story ended with J. Dolphin being injured in a fall from aloft – but would a Leading Stoker be required to go aloft? Another story was that the ship’s steam pinnace was inshore overnight and J.Dolphin drew the short straw and was the boat keeper while the rest of the boat crew went ashore. Some thieves boarded the pinnace and there was a fight. J.D. killed one with a blow with a heavy spanner and the others fled but leaving J.D. with unspecified injuries. Either of these two incidents might have resulted in his death at some future date, or of course he could have died of one of the fevers – malaria or worse. The stories may have been just fiction to entertain a young child!
I would be grateful if anyone could help us to find his cause of death
Robert
My great grandfather served in the survey vessel HMS Sylvia on the China Station during 1874-1880. On the voyage back to Chatham to pay off and refit, Sylvia anchored in Simons Bay, South Africa. An entry in the deck log reads – “Wednesday 11 August 1880. At Anchor, Simons Bay, S.Africa. p.m. Discharged J.Dolphin, Lead. Stoker, to Hospital†– A day or so later the ship sailed, leaving J. Dolphin, where he died in hospital.Presumably this would have been the R.N.Hospital.
With the very kind assistance of the lady curator of Simonstown Museum, We have located and have photographs of his grave. He shares a grave and Headstone with a “Kroomanâ€. But we have not been able to find out his cause of death. The hospital records could not be found in the archives in London.
I remember as a very young child , sitting on my grandfathers knee while he told me stories of the exploits of his father. One story ended with J. Dolphin being injured in a fall from aloft – but would a Leading Stoker be required to go aloft? Another story was that the ship’s steam pinnace was inshore overnight and J.Dolphin drew the short straw and was the boat keeper while the rest of the boat crew went ashore. Some thieves boarded the pinnace and there was a fight. J.D. killed one with a blow with a heavy spanner and the others fled but leaving J.D. with unspecified injuries. Either of these two incidents might have resulted in his death at some future date, or of course he could have died of one of the fevers – malaria or worse. The stories may have been just fiction to entertain a young child!
I would be grateful if anyone could help us to find his cause of death
Robert
