Victor was born on 14th June 1893, in Chatham, Kent.
He began Navy training as a Boy Artificer on 16th July 1909, for a year, aboard the training ship HMS Tenedos (the former HMS Triumph, renamed Tenedos in 1904) and moved to HMS Indus shore establishment on 16th July 1910 until 2nd January 1914. A note in his records stated he was to be “put back 6 months for inadequate progress” while still stationed at Indus.
He was 5'3" tall with brown hair and blue eyes and signed for 12 years service, growing to 5’5 by his 18th Birthday and after spending a brief month at HMS Vivid II he embarking to HMS Vanguard on 5th February 1914 and was aboard the ship during the Battle of Jutland. He was granted his Stokehold Certificate on 11th September 1915 and Engine Room Stokehold Certificate on 25th April 1917. While serving on the Vanguard Victor also joined the Freemasons at the Kings Navy Lodge in Gillingham. Initiating in March 1915, he joined with fellow crewman Herbert Stonebridge.
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Sources:
1911 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 - FreeBMD
United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Membership Registers: Country AA 2674-2810 to Country BB 2811-2927; Reel Number: 53
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 1020
CWGC Register
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece 010 (1914 - 1919)
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/10; Scan Number: 0664
With thanks to Victor’s Great Niece Caroline Fahey for his photograph