Reprinted with permission from the book Hodge’s Cove by Eric Stringer, 2011
Name: STRINGER, Joseph
Service #: 1229X
Branch of Service: Newfoundland Navy
Marital Status when enlisted: Single
Duration of service: just a few months, in 1914
Medals Awarded: 1914-18 Voluntary Medal
Other noteworthy information: How reliable the information is I’m not sure, but from a number of sources I’ve heard that Dad (Joseph) was the first Newfoundlander to join the Royal Naval Reserve.
Upon arriving in England, he served at the Portsmouth barracks. After about six months of service, he was discharged and sent home because of poor eyesight.* Which seems somewhat strange because his family relates that he had excellent eyesight.
* A good friend of mine Eliab Smith told me that he has heard that Uncle Joe’s sight problem was that of color-blindness. (E.S.)
(as submitted by his son Lester)