[BIOGRAPHY]
John Spink was born in Great Yarmouth, Yorkshire in 1854.
He is shown right at the top of the official Trinity House List in the higher management as, "Pilot Master" .
At the outbreak of WW1 he would have been a highly experienced master mariner of 60 years of age.
We even have here his original Medals 'Warrant to Wear' certificate and it's hand notated delivery envelope. Mr Spink has written in purple in on this: 'W.M.2 Authorised 23 Oct. 1920. Board of Trade Marine Dept - - " This date (of ribbon authorisation) matches the stamp date on the warrant. During the Great War he resided at 30 Seaforth Road, Seaforth, Liverpool. The address is still extant and is only a five minute walk to what is still the main Liverpool Docks shipping office, which is right at the top north end of the dock road.
Seen here (left) is a picture of SS LUSITANIA entering the River Mersey off Waterloo Beach. John Spink was in command of the Mersey Pilots at this time and these famous ship movements would have been his full responsibility.
Amazingly, my own late Great Grandfather was at this time the Chief Inspector of Liverpool City Police (and was aware of everything and everybody that moved in Liverpool) so he would most certainly have been well acquainted with Mr Spink, who was the Chief River Mersey Pilot Master.
The pair comes with a superb three quarter "Trinity House" hatted & uniformed photograph of Mr Spink . Also present is the original registered medal envelope (1922), the issue confirmation form & medal packets and wearing instructions etc.
Also a copy of his mercantile service record card.
This is a highly important and rare "Senior Officer" pair.