Name
Lewis Roland Tippen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/05/1916
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Assist Paymaster
Royal Navy
H.M.S. Invincible
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel 11.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance
Pre War
Son of Albert Edward and Harriet Ada (nee SPINNER) TIPPEN of Watford.
His parents married 1889 in the Canterbury, Kent, district. Albert died 16 January 1930 in Middlesex aged 66; Harriet died 1946 in the Watford district aged 84.
Lewis was born 29 August 1890 in either West Ham or Upton Park, Essex, and baptised 12 October 1890 at St George the Martyr, Canterbury. He attended Watford Grammar School from April 1898 to December 1899.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
On the 1891 Census, aged 7 months he lived in West Ham, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he lived in Watford, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a Royal Navy Clerk aged 20, he was serving aboard H.M.S. Kent stationed in China.
Wartime Service
He entered the service 15 July 1908 and joined H.M.S. King Edward VII until 26 March 1909.
He was passed for Clerk 15 July 1909, and joined H.M.S. Kent 30 October 1909. He passed his Intermediate Exam on 11 January 1911 and was gazetted from Clerk to the rank of Assistant Paymaster in H.M. Fleet 29 August 1911.
He served on H.M.S. Venus from 20 March until 24 September 1912; H.M.S. Shannon 24 September 1912 until December 1913; H.M.S. Exeter 1 January 1914 until 29 May 1915; finally joining H.M.S. Invincible 27 May 1915.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and Star medals, and was drowned during the Battle of Jutland when two German ships fired three salvoes each and sank Invincible in 90 seconds. At least one shell from the third salvo struck her midships ‘Q’ turret, the shell penetrated the front of ‘Q’ turret, blew off the roof and detonated the midships magazines, which blew the ship in half. 1026 officers and men were killed; there were only six survivors.
Additional Information
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“TIPPEN, LEWIS ROLAND. School period: April, 1898, to December, 1899. Assistant Paymaster, R.N. Entered Navy in July, 1908; drowned in H.M.S. "Invincible" in Battle of Jutland, 31st May, 1916.”
There are articles about Lewis in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 10 June 1916, and in the St Michael’s Church Parish Magazine dated July 1916.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
