Mexborough and Swinton Times April 23, 1937
The Manvers Main collieries are fortunate in having the services of a man so distinguished and capable as Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Spence Lyne, who has offered to assist in schemes for the welfare of employees. At the moment he is acting as chairman of the committee arranging the sports and Gala and those who have met him are impressed by geniality and inspiring leadership.
The Admiral is the only man to retain this exalted rank from the lower decks. He joined the Navy as an ordinary sailor boy 14 ½ years after service in a sailing merchant ship. Quickly mastering the rudiments of gunnery, torpedoes, navigation etc qualified for rapid promotion to warrant rank.
In the South African War his gallant service caused him to be mentioned in dispatches and be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
As an officer he served in various capacities in ships all over the world and he was specially selected for the rank of Command.
He was promoted the Captain in 1918 and he was the first “ranker” to attain that position for nearly a century. Since holding the high ranks he has commanded many ships at home and abroad and in the last war, he was again mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order for services in the North Sea.
One of his interesting commands was that of the training ship Impregnable, the ship he entered as a boy when there were 2000 under training.
While in command of vessels in the Chinese Sleazy was highly commended by the Admiralty and the Following Office for preventing serious massacres and calling native outbreak. The Japanese Government according their grateful thanks for saving a ship in a perilous position in the Yang Tse Kiang. His navigation survey of inland waters in China earned him further praise.
In 1935 was created a Companion of the Bath and advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral and, on the occasion of the Jubilee of HM King George V he was created a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. Since his retirement Admiral Lyne has rendered yeoman service for the benefit of ex-service officers and men.
Welfare Officer
Commander H.H.G.Begbie, R.N., who served with Adml Lyne, just been appointed as sports and welfare office of the Manvers Main Collieries and his duties will be varied and manifold. There are several schemes in hand and certain events planned which require supervision and one is the sports and gala which he is organising.
The commander will encourage and organise sports for the all of the company’s employees and he hopes to introduce welfare measures hitherto not enjoyed. He has the sincere support of the directors of the collieries and with the cooperation of the work people, healthier and happier times are in store for all.
Like the Admiral he has favourably impressed those with whom he has come into contact and his office promises to be popular and fruitful.
Commander Begbie entered the service in 1902 and during his 25 years in the Royal Navy 12 was spent as physical training officer.
Before and after the war he was actively connected with the training of boys, earning distinction for his work in this direction. The organising of naval sports and galas was part of his job and this experience admirably fits him for the position he now holds.
During the war he took part in the battles of Falkland Islands on HMS invincible, and also acted as P.T.officer to the second cruiser squadron and the fourth Battle Squadron. After the war and until his retirement in 1927 he was concerned almost entirely with physical training.
He has formed a strong affection for the miners already and shares the opinion of Admiral Lyne that sailors and miners are much of a type.