The Last of the Sailing Cutters

In 1893 Walter joined the sailing cruiser Rose, a yawl of 130 tons, as Second Mate. This took him to the Hull district which stretched from […]

Walter, now a Chief Petty Officer, then moved to the east coast of Ireland and the Kingstown district where he joined the Hind, a yawl of […]

Walter was now a Chief Petty Officer and joined the Mary,  a 30 ton cutter, based at Portland. The Weymouth district covered the south coast from […]

Walter was promoted Acting Chief Quartermaster when he joined the Squirrel, a third class sailing cutter of only 40 tons, smaller than both the Fly and Victoria. […]

Walter joined the Victoria with the rank of Leading Seaman, soon being promoted to Quartermaster and then Acting Petty Chief Officer. The Victoria was a first […]

The Years at Sea cover Walter Hunkin’s early life through to the end of his coastguard career afloat in 1907. During this time he served in […]

The Fly was a 3rd class sailing cutter of 60 tons. Walter joined her as an Ordinary Seaman in the Limerick District which covered the whole […]

On the 14th of June 1880 I counted one of thirty boys drafted to HMS Valiant, a coast guard ship of that period, included in the […]

On the eighth of October 1878, with my mother’s consent and blessing, I kissed her goodbye and set out for Devonport to join the Royal Navy. […]

Early Recollections In the year 1862 I first saw the light of day, and beheld the sun, moon, and stars from my father’s home overlooking the […]

Walter Benson Hunkin was born in 1862, the son of Matthew Hunkin of Mevagissey, in Cornwall. Matthew was a Master Mariner and the son of John Hunkin, […]

Walter Benson Hunkin, originally of Mevagissey in Cornwall, joined the Royal Navy in 1874 and served aboard a variety of small vessels employed on anti-smuggling, fisheries protection […]