Vital Statistics
Harold Charles Frank Pinsent: 1884 – 1968 GRO0391 (Paymaster Captain, Royal Navy)
Constance Amy Hildige Johnson: 1886 – 1964
Married: 1912: Portsea, Hampshire
Children by Constance Amy Hildige Johnson:
Joan Constance Hildige Pinsent: 1917 – 2003 (Married Martin Barnes Nettleton, Swansea, Glamorganshire, 1945)
Charles Hildige Pinsent: 1914 – 1998 (Married Ethelwyn Phillipson, Jhansi, India, 1941)
Family Branch: India
PinsentID: GRO0391
References
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Harold Frank Pinsent was the son of Charles Powell Tronson Pinsent, who was a merchant in the Madras (Chennai) in India, by his wife, Harriet (née Soden). He was born in Hampstead, near London, but spent most of his early years in India. Harold’s birth was reported in the Pall Mall Gazette (Monday 31st March 1884) – just two days before the same newspaper reported the death of his aunt, Helena Maud Pinsent (née Robins) in Madras. She was the first wife of his uncle, Frederick Henry Davison Pinsent.
The Census records show that Harold had older two sisters, and that his mother brought all three of them back to England to be educated. While in England, they lived with Harriet’s father (James Soden) who was a “Superintendent Purser” employed by the “P. & O. Co.” based in Southampton. Harriet was with her parents in 1891 and again in 1911. There must have been trips back to India as Harold later had a third sister who was born there, in 1894. The children’s paternal grandfather (Henry John Pinsent) had also worked for the “P. & O. Co.” as a “Superintendent Purser.” He retired and died in Southampton in 1894.
Harold attended “Merchant Taylors’ School” (a Public i.e. “Private” School) in Hertfordshire between 1894 and 1899 and entered the “Royal Naval College” at Dartmouth as a “cadet” in 1900. In fact, Harriet was staying at a boarding house in Devonport with Harold and her daughters Frances and Phyllis when the census was taken in 1901. Presumably she was down in Devon to see her son settled in.
Harold played cricket for “H.M.S. Britannia” (the Naval shore station) in 1900. It would have been interesting to watch its match against Totnes on Saturday 4th July 1900 (Dartmouth and South Hams Chronicle: Friday 6th July 1900) as it pitted Harold’s team against that of Robert Maye Pinsent – who came from the DEVONPORT branch of the family. Robert was the son of John Ball Pinsent, one of the Newton Abbot Brewers. Their lives are discussed elsewhere. Robert was probably the better player on that occasion but Harold had a good match when “H.M.S. Britannia” played “Plymouth College” the following year. He made 43 of his team’s total of 118 runs (Dartmouth & South Hams Chronicle: Friday 21st June 1901).
Harold took the “Civil Service” exams and succeeded in getting one of only fifteen “Assistant Clerkship” in the Royal Navy (Evening Express: 6th July 1901). Thus we find that H. C. F. Pinsent was an “Assistant Clerk” at “H.M.S. Vivid” (another Naval shore station) at Devonport a few days later (Portsmouth Evening News: Wednesday 10th July 1901). Harold he had still to graduate from the Academy, so we also find him taking part in a gymnastic display on “Dartmouth College” grounds a week or so later (Western Times: Friday 2nd August 1901).
Admiralty Records (ADM 196/171: National Archives) show that Harold served as an “Assistant Clerk” on “H.M.S. Impregnable” from 15th July to 9th September 1901 and on “H.M.S. Implacable” from then until 25th October 1901. He then transferred to “H.M.S. Royal Oak” in the Mediterranean until 17th March 1902. Harold was on “H.M.S. Naiad” from then until 22nd September 1904. In the meantime, he passed his “intermediate” exam on 22nd February 1904 and was assigned to “H.M.S. Hannibal” (a “Majestic Class” battleship) as a “Clerk” until 15th July 1905. He was promoted to “ Assistant Paymaster” in March 1905 and served on “H.M.S. New Zealand” until 17th June 1907.
Harold played cricket for the “United Services Club” in England before taking up this last appointment. Presumably he played while on leave in July 1905 (Field Saturday 1st and 8th July 1905). Most Royal Navy ships of any size arranged sporting fixtures against local teams when visiting Empire ports. It was good public relations and reminded ex-patriot Britons that the Royal Navy was still a force to be reckoned with. It also made a break from life at sea. Harold also for “H.M.S. New Zealand” when it visited Madeira in September 1905 (Field: Saturday 30th September 1905).
“Assistant Paymaster” Pinsent had expected to transfer to “H.M.S. Hyacinth” in January 1907 but that assignment was cancelled for some reason (The Globe: Saturday 19th January 1907) and he was returned to the barracks and shore station at “H.M.S. Vivid” (Portsmouth Evening News: Tuesday 4th June 1907). More cricket ensued! He played for the Royal Navy against the “Incogniti” in Keyham in Devon in August (Field: Saturday 17th August 1907). He also played for the “R.N. Barracks” in Devonport against the “2nd Somerset Light Infantry” in July 1908 (Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser: Wednesday 8th July 1908). There were other matches that year and also the next. For instance, Harold played for the barracks team against Torquay in May 1909 (Western Times: Monday 24th May 1909) and against Leamington in September that year (Leamington Spa Courier: Friday 3rd September 1909). These games largely came to an end when he was posted back to sea to “H.M.S. Hindustan” as an “Assistant or Acting Paymaster” in October 1909.
Nevertheless, Harold did not go far. When the requisite data were compiled, the 1911 Scottish Census shows that he was a “single, assistant paymaster” on board ship. The “H.M.S. Hindustan” was a relatively modern battleship, so whether it was the Clyde or at the “Home Fleet” base at “Scapa Flow” in the Orkney Islands I do not know. However, “Assistant Paymaster H. C. F. Pinsent” collected money for a “Naval Disaster Fund” from the “Hindustan’s” Officers in the ship’s Wardroom and Gunroom in March 1912 (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 15th March 1912).
He was released from the Hindustan in August 1912 and married Constance Amy, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Hildige-Johnson, in Southsea, in September 1912 (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 13th September 1912) before taking on his next assignment. According to the 1921 census, she was British, but she had been born in Montana. Harold was transferred on loan to the “Department of Naval Services” in Ottawa, in Canada. He served on “H.C.M.S. Niobe” until September 1915 and, despite health issues, stayed on as a “Staff Paymaster” for its “Patrol Service” from September 1917 until May 1919. During this assignment he spent six months on the “Patrol Depot Ship Guelph”.
While living in Ottawa, Harold received a letter from a young Canadian airman of British extraction who had received basic flight trained in New York and wanted to get to Britain to join the war effort. In his book on “The Royal Naval Air Service During the Great War”, Malcolm Smith (Google Books) describes how a “Lieutenant Commander Pinsent” suggested that he and his friends either (1) stay on in New York for more training, (2) Join the “Royal Navy” in Canada and await developments or (3) wait for the next Canadian draft going to England. He chose option three and eventually made it across to England and flew for the “Royal Navy Air Service.”
Both of Harold’s children were born while he was serving in Canada. Charles Hildige Pinsent was born in February 1914 and Joan Constance Hildige in January 1917. After the War, the family returned to England in May 1919 on “White Star Line” ship “Olympic” (U.K. Incoming Passengers: Ancestry.com). Unfortunately Harold took sick when he landed and he was sent to Peebles Hospital for an extended period. Perhaps he had succumbed to the flu epidemic that was then ravaging Europe. He did not return to active service until 7th November, that year. He did, however, recover his previous strength and ability. His 1922 evaluation shows that he was “above average, good at games; (a) fully competent and reliable officer (with a) character (that is) steady and quiet; mental average, physique very good, temperament cool, energetic and tactful, and a very good administrator (Capt. Cyril S. Townsend, H.M.S. Resolution”). He received similar plaudits other years. The final entry, in 1926, states “a very good officer and has been great assistance to me in administrating the destroyer command” (Rear Admiral (D) A. P. Addison, 2nd June 1926).
Harold’s administrative ability was recognized after the war and he was subjected to several years of intensive high-level training. He was assigned to the “Destroyer Depot” ship “H.M.S. Dido and Veale” from 8th December 1919 to 15th August 1920. He then transferred to “H.M.S Valiant” as a “P.L.C.” (“Pay Ledger Commander”?) “to gain experience in central stock-keeping.” He was there until 28th August, 1922. After that, he moved to “H.M.S. President”, the shore station in London, for a victualing course (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 15th September 1922) and then went on to “H.M.S. Victory” (another shore station) for another victualing course a month later (Western Morning News: Saturday 21st October 1922).
In 1923, he was promoted to “Pay Commander” and assigned to “H.M.S. Diligence”, the “Destroyer Depot” ship “H.M.S. Sandhurst” (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 14th March 1924) and other ships. However, it was back to “H.M.S. Victory” for a “Secretaries Course” in July 1926 (Hampshire Times: Friday 30th July 1926), and from there to “H.M.S. President” for yet another victualing course (Hampshire Telegraph Friday 31st December 1926). Harold completed his “Code and Cypher” course in September 1926 and his “U.T.” (?) Course at “H.M.S. Victory” in February 1927. From there, Harold move to “H.M.S. Vernon”, the “Royal Navy Torpedo Branch” shore depot – on 1st March 1927 (Portsmouth Evening News: Thursday 20th January 1927).
After the Vernon, the Admiralty sent Harold to serve on the battleship “H.M.S. Barham” in the summer of 1928 (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 18th May 1928). It had just completed a refit and been recommissioned. He was probably pleased to get to sea again – although it has to be admitted that in his early days he had been “inclined to sea sickness” (Admiralty Records). From there, Harold transferred to another battleship, “H.M.S. Warspite”, (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 27th July 1928). After that, it was the battleship “H.M.S. Malaya” in 1929 (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 20th September 1929). The administration of a major capital ship in those days must have been quite a challenge. Nevertheless, he still found time for the odd game of cricket. He was a member of the “H.M.S. Malaya” team that played a match against Eastbourne in July 2930. It must have been a memorable match for him as he retired hurt after scoring a respectable 41 runs. Evidently, “he tore a muscle in his thigh when running between the wickets” and after trying to continue with a runner standing in for him, was carried from the pitch “siting on a bat held by Lieut. Colonel L. C. Stevens and Mr. H. E. Grevell and was taken in a car to the Pier head for removal to his ship” (Eastbourne Chronicle: Saturday 12th July 1930).
For his final assignment, Harold was sent to “H.M.S. Pembroke” – the shore barracks at Chatham – where he was “assistant to Pay Capt. (S) Blanchflower” until 31st October 1933. Harold Charles Frank Pinsent retired from the Royal Navy with the rank of “Paymaster Captain” in 1934 (London Gazette: 9th February 1934); however, there was little chance of him slipping into a quiet retirement. He was appointed “Secretary” to the “Navy Week Committee in Portsmouth” the following year (London Times: Saturday 26th January 1935) . “Navy Week” was a major event in those days and, in recognition of the presses help in promoting of it, he sent a massive Christmas cake (made at the “Royal Naval Barracks” at Portsmouth and (apparently) covered by three inches of icing!) to the “Press Club” in London (Daily News (London): Saturday 24th December 1938). Doubtless it was appreciated. Navy Week allowed the British Government to show off its fleet and remind the World of its capabilities. The Navy was still at the heart and soul of the Empire and “Pax Britannica” still managed to keep the world at peace – or it did until 1939.
Harold and Constance lived in Portsmouth throughout the 1930s but moved to Mumbles, near Swansea on the South Coast of Wales at the outbreak of the “Second World War”. Harold, like so many other recently retired Naval Officers, had re-joined the navy; so when the 1939 Register was being compiled he was described as being a Royal Navy “Paymaster Commander” attached to “H.M.S. Lucifer” (the home of Britain’s minesweeper trawler base). He was an experienced administrator and his services would have been invaluable. According to family sources, he was appointed “Naval Supply Officer for the Bristol Channel”. The couple spent the war years living on Skelly Park Road in Swansea, Glamorganshire. Their children were both in uniform.
After the War, Harold and Constance moved back to Portsmouth. They were living in Southsea, close to where Harold had grown up by 1949. Constance died there in 1964 and her son (Charles Hildige Pinsent) and her solicitor handled her not inconsiderable estate (Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations): 1967 – 1995). The funeral was a quiet family event. Donations were to be sent to the “Royal National Lifeboat Institute”. Harold moved to Northampton after his wife died – presumably to be close to his daughter. He died there in April 1968. Once again, it was his son, Charles Hildige Pinsent, and his solicitor who probated the estate (Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations): 1967 – 1995).
Harold’s daughter, Joan Constance Pinsent had her own talents: she won a “Grade VI silver medal for having obtained the highest distinction marks in the elocution examinations in all England, Miss Joan C. Pinsent recited a portion of John Drinkwater’s “A Night of the Trojan War.” Taught by Miss More Bremner, Miss Pinsent is a daughter of Paymaster Capt. Pinsent (General Secretary of Navy Week) and possesses exceptional powers of recitation and elocution” (Hampshire Telegraph: Friday 3rd July 1936).
Joan joined the “W.R.N.S.” (“Womens’ Royal Naval Service”) and was promoted to the rank of “Third Officer” in June 1942, and to “Second Officer” in March 1943. She met her husband-to-be (ex-Flight Lieutenant Martin Barnes Nettleton, the headmaster of “Northampton Grammar School”), while hiking in north Wales in 1945 and, after (romantically) getting engaged on an uninhabited Island off the Pembroke Coast (Northampton Mercury: Friday 7th September 1945) they married. The Herald of Wales (19th November 1945) reported on the event and provides a photograph. Whether she ever seriously claimed to be a direct descendant of the Martin Pinzon who sailed with Columbus (see introductory sections of this database) as described in the earlier Northampton Mercury article is unknown but highly unlikely!
Joan corresponded with my father (Dr. R. J. F. H. Pinsent) in the 1960s. It seems that she remembered meeting a Lady Pinsent “in the Headmaster’s drawing room at Denstone College, Staffordshire in 1940”. She was probably not my great grandmother (Lady Emily Hetty Sabine Pinsent) as she thought, although Lady Pinsent had been matron at Denstone at the turn of 20th Century. She had died in 1922 when Constance was five years old! It seems unlikely that they ever met.
The other Lady Pinsent around at the time was Lady Laura Proctor Pinsent, Sir Richard Alfred Pinsent’s wife; however, she died in 1931 when Constance was fourteen years old! It is not hard to imagine a tongue-tied young teenager being reluctant, as she claims to have been, to question her Ladyship about her husband’s antecedents. Joan must have got the date wrong though – an easy thing to do – and likely the place as well. I have no idea why she would have been at Denstone in the first place!
As a young woman, Joan seems to have far from reticent about touching base with Sir Richard Pinsent’s son, Commander Clive Pinsent and his wife and three sons during the war. She visited them on their highland estate at “Edinglassie” near Huntley in Aberdeenshire. They were a naval family which must have made the small talk easier. Joan Constance also told my father that she served with a “W.R.N.S. Third Officer” Joan Isobel Pynsent while in the navy. Apparently, to avoid confusion, the latter (being the junior officer at the time) changed her name to “Johanna Pynsent” – which is how I first came to hear of her. After the war, Joan Constance Nettleton (née Pinsent) became a “teacher” and later a junior school “headmistress”. She retired in 1977. Her brother, Charles Hildige Pinsent, served with the army in India but returned to England after the Country obtained its independence.
Family Tree
Grandparents
Grandfather: Henry John Pinsent: 1812 – 1894
Grandmother: Charlotte Best Sharpe: 1819 – 1904
Parents
Father: Charles Powell Tronson Pinsent: 1849 – 1904
Mother: Harriet Ann Soden: 1860 – 1949
Father’s Siblings (Aunts, Uncles)
William Henry Pinsent: 1845 – 1895
Charles Powell Tronson Pinsent: 1849 – 1904 ✔️
Frederick Henry Davison Pinsent: 1852 – 1902
Frances Anne Pinsent: 1853 – xxxx
Eliza Charlotte Pinsent: 1857 – xxxx
Mary Louisa Pinsent: 1859 – 1948
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