THE FIRST V.C.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 180, 1 July 1940, Page 2

THE FIRST V.C.

MARRIED AN ADMIRAL'S DAUGHTER On his wedding day he wore the first V.G. ever pinned on a hero's coat—and he married an admiral's daughter. We find a memorial to him in Mereworth church in Kent, and we heard that he was Charles Davis Lucas, He Avas mate of a paddle steamer "The Hecla," then commanded by Sir William Hall, whom everyone knew as Nemesis Hall— one of the sternest of all admirals' in the British Navy. That was in the days of the Grif mean War, and the British were attacking the batteries at Bomarsund at Aland Island. There hard and furious fighting that June day in 1854, and the attacking parties, were being fired on at 500 yards. Almost every shot told, ajnd there came a moment of horror when a shell landed on the deck "The liecla." Every man saw it. The fuse whs burning, and it was a matter of seconds before the shell exploded. Death stared the crew in the face. One man was not paralysed wr,th fear. He was Charles Davis Lucas. Running forward, lie calmly picked up the s/hell and hurled it into the sea. It exploded before touching the water, but the damage it djid was only the smallest part of $he damage it must otherwise have done So the mate saved the stern Admiral Nemesis looked on from the bridge singling out this amazingly cool seaman for special mention. By that action Lucas Won the first V.C., and do not forget that lie married the admiral's daughter and became an admiral. You see, there is romance in real life after all.