Awarded The Victoria Cross
Joseph Trewavas from Mousehole Seaman, Royal Navy in the Crimean War at the Age 19
Regrettable Occurrence at Mousehole, 1905
A Cornish Hero’s Sad Act.
A shocking affair occurred at Mousehole this morning when Mr. Joseph Trewavas, V.C., made a determined attempt on his life. Particulars of the regrettable occurrence are not obtainable at present, but it seems Mr. Trewavas, who can scarcely be held responsible for his own actions since a few months ago when he had an attack of seizure. About half-past eleven this morning persons in the house were alarmed by something unusual happening in the room occupied by Mr. Trewavas, to which they were unable to gain admittance. When the door was burst open he was found lying with a fearful gash in his throat which had severed his windpipe. The unfortunate man had locked himself in and had obtained possession of a table knife, by which he had attempted to put an end to himself. Dr. Jago happened to be in the village and was soon in attendance, and on the arrival of Dr. Fox the wound was stitched up, but the injuries are so serious as to leave small chance of Mr. Trewavas’ recovery. That such an end should ever take one who has served his country with distinction and obtained the highest reward possible for valour, is indeed sad.
Transcribed from Evening Tidings, Tuesday, July 18, 1905.
Death of Mr. Joseph Trewavas, V.C. 1905
THE INQUEST AND VERDICT.
The inquest on the body of Joseph Trewavas, V.C., whose sad death took place on Thursday morning, was held at the Wesleyan school-room, Paul, on Friday evening by Mr. Ed. Boase, county coroner.
THE CORONER’S OPENING STATEMENT.
The coroner, in his opening statement, said Mr. Trewavas had been found on Tuesday in the sitting-room of his residence with a wound in his throat which, apparently had been self-inflicted. The question to be considered was, what was his state of mind when he committed that act? He (Mr. Boase) had personally known the deceased and had always found him a bright, cheerful and sanguine man, and the last man one would expect to commit such an act whilst in his normal state of mind. He had served his country gallantly, and had won the highest and most coveted distinction that a member of our fighting forces could earn. He had always been highly respected by everybody. Acts like that were generally committed by persons of unsound mind, and they had not expected that Mr. Trewavas would inflict any such injuries on himself while in his normal state of mind. They would all join with him in sympathising with the family and friends of deceased, who mourned such a sad end to so gallant a career.
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Funeral of Mr. Jos. Trewavas, V.C. 1905
Some thousands of people assembled at Paul on Sunday afternoon to witness the last solemn rites in connection with the funeral of Mr. Joseph Trewavas, V.C., whose life came to a sad termination on Thursday at his residence, Mousehole, under now well-known and distressing circumstances. Numbers of people began to congregate from almost every district in West Cornwall two hours before the cortege started on its journey and the immediate roads leading to the house were crowded with sympathisers
The Funeral of Mr. Jos. Trewavas, V.C. can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader.