Wall tablet in St Mary’s Church, Ripple, Kent commemorating Commander John Trench, RN d. 1855
Location
St Mary's Church, Ripple, Kent, England
Transcript
'SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF / JOHN TRACEY WILLIAM FRENCH ESQR / WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 1OTH FEBRUARY 1855 / AT NICE, SOUTH OF FRANCE IN THE 48TH YEAR OF HIS AGE. / HE SERVED ON BOARD THE RAMILLIES IN THE ROYAL / NAVY WHERE HE DISCHARGED HIS DUTIES WITH GREAT / CREDIT AND EFFICIENCY. ENTERED THE PORTUGUESE / SERVICE AND COMMANDED THE DOM PEDRO AND DOM JOHN, UNDER SIR CHARLES NAPIER IN DOM / PEDRO'S EXPEDITION IN WHICH HE DID GOOD AND / BRAVE SERVICE AND HAD HIS SIGHT IMPAIRED IN / CONSEQUENCE OF HIS EXERTIONS TO RESCUE HIS SHIP / WHEN IT WAS IN IMMINENT DANGER. THE ORDERS OF MERITS / AND THAT OF THE TOWER AND THE SWORD WERE AWARDED TO / HIM BY THE PORTUGUESE GOVERNMENT. HE WAS PROMOTED / TO THE RANK OF COMMANDER IN THE ROYAL NAVY AFTER / A YEAR'S SERVICE ON BOARD THE DASHER ON THE / COAST OF IRELAND DURING THE FAMINE OF 1847 & 1848 / HE THEN RETIRED TO RIPPLE VALE IN THIS PARISH / THE SEAT OF HIS LATE GRANDFATHER AND ACTED AS / JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND DEPUTY LIEUT. OF THE / COUNTY, HE WAS LED TO SEE HOW VAIN FOR STABLE / HAPPINESS AND REST IN ALL BENEATH THE SKIES, AND DIED / IN IN A CALM PEACEFUL AND GRATEFUL FRAME OF MIND / CONFIDING ALONE UPON JESUS HIS SAVIOUR HE WAS / DEEPLY AND TRULY MOURNED FOR BY HIS WIFE AND / CHILDREN AND LEFT AN UNBLEMISHED REPUTATION / HIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY HIS WIDOW AND CHILDREN / AS A TRIBUTE OF THEIR AFFECTION'
Details
Type: Wall tablet
Position: Nave
Materials: Marble
Vessel: HMS ‘Dasher'
People
Age: 47
Date of Death: 10/2/1855
Cause of Death: Unknown
Rank / Occupation: Commander RN
Organisation: Royal Navy