Commonwealth Graves

Story of Henry Gilbert Lovell 1853 – 1918

1/1/2019

Lying in the Commonwealth Graves in Queensferry Cemetery, is one Henry Gilbert Lovell. He was aged 64 years, the oldest of the 188 men lying there, which raises the question, how was someone of this age serving in WWI?
Henry appears to have had an ‘on’ ‘off’ relationship with the sea.
The following information (mainly researched by his Granddaughter Joan) and photographs, are reproduced here, with permission, from his family.

A photo of Henry which is inside a locket given to his youngest daughter Ivy. Photo reproduced with permission from his family.

Henry was born on 5th December 1853, in North Town, Taunton in Somerset, to Cornelius and Adelaide Lovell. He enlisted as a “Boy 2nd Class” into the Royal Navy for 10 years, aged 16, on 8th October 1869 and served on training frigate HMS Fisgard. On enlisting he is recorded as being 5ft 3 ¼“ tall with fair complexion, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He has on his left wrist the letters H and L (perhaps for Henry Lovell?)

By the 1871 census he was on board HMS Bristol, a Naval Cadet training ship. On 26th March she departed from Plymouth Sound for the South America Station and is “at anchor in Funchal Bay, Madeira” for the purpose of the census on 2nd April.

HMS Fisgard, Training ship, at Greenwich, by Artist Claude T. Stanfield Moore. Ship 1819 - 1879. Wikipedia, public domain

Henry married Mary-Jane (nee Eva) in Newport, age 22, in 1875 where his occupation is noted as “seaman”.
A Landlubber again, in the 1881 census Henry and Mary-Jane were living in Newington, Surrey. They have 2 daughters, Rhoda, baptised on 4.8.1881 and Henrietta baptised 4.9.1879. There is note of the birth of 2 other daughters, 1 baptised on same date as Rhoda in 1881, so perhaps a twin, and also 1 in 1878, but they are missing from this census so may have died. Henry’s occupation at this time was Tea Warehouseman.

Henry had returned to sea by the 1891 census in which Mary -Jane is listed as head, with Rhoda-14, Henrietta-12, Eva-8, Alice-6 and Henry Gilbert junior-2. Eva died in 1900, Henrietta married in 1899 and had 1 son, but she died in 1903.

Henry with youngest daughter Ivy, born c1893. Ivy is wearing a locket with his photo inside, which is the image of Henry at the beginning of this story. Photo reproduced with permission from the familly.

On 28th November 1898 Henry was rescued, along with the crew of 5 more men, from the Cardiff tug, the ‘Earl of Jersey’, which hit a rock and sank south of Lundy Island.
It was reported in the North Devon Journal, 1st December 1898 - "They left on Saturday night for a cruise down the Bristol Channel on the look-out for up-Channel vessels. All went well until about nine o lock on monday morning. There was a strong north-east wind blowing with a rough sea. The "Earl of Jersey" which belonged to a Cardiff firm, was off Lundy Island, when all at once she struck a sunken rock. The water rushed into the fore compartments, and the hands had just time to run on deck and jump into their boat, when the tug heeled over and went down, the crew losing all their belongings. Noticing a tug about a mile away (which proved to be the Royal Briton, of Cardiff), they rowed to her and were taken on board, being subsequently brought on to Ilfracombe, where the disaster was reported to the Custom House authorities. The crew, being thoroughly done up, were taken charge of by the Shipwreck Mariners Society and taken to the St James Boarding house. They were provided with new clothes and having partaken of a substantial meal, were only too glad to retire to rest".

Image of a tug, (not the Earl of Jersey) public domain

By the 1901 census he was back in Newington, Surrey, with 3 daughters, Alice- 16, Emily- 8, Ivy- 6 and son Henry junior- 12. His wife is listed as being in hospital, and on 31st July 1901, she died, leaving the 4 children, who were sent to relatives. At this time, Henry was a stoker in a chocolate factory.
The loss of his wife and having to send away the 4 children, unable to care for them himself, must have taken its toll on him. By the 1911 census, he was listed as a widower, aged 58, a former stoker and living as an inmate in the casual ward of the Camberwell Workhouse, London.

He appears, at some time, to have gone back to sea, as a ‘Greaser’ in the Mercantile Marines. He served as a 'Greaser' on the Kildonan Castle, which was comandeered by the Royal Navy as a hospital ship in October 1915. On 5th October 1915, he joined the Garth Castle (one of The Union Castle Line ships which travelled between England and South Africa). The ship was commandeered by the Royal Navy in 1915 and also became a hospital ship. As an existing crew member, this would appear to be how Henry was serving during WWI.

HMHS Garth Castle WW1. Image source unknown

HMHS Garth Castle, postcard Henry sent to his youngest daughter Ivy. Photo reproduced with permission fom his family.

Reverse of postcard Henry sent to daughter ivy. Reproduced with permission from his family.

Below we see some of the postcrads Between December 1916 and November 1918, the Garth Castle sailed to Scapa Flow, in the Orkneys, three times, spending 3-4 months there each time.
In January 1918 he sent a series of postcards to his youngest daughter, Ivy, then 24, saying his leg was getting on fine. We don’t know what caused the injury.

Below we see some of the images of the Garth Castle sent to daughter Ivy. Please do not reproduce these as they belong to the family who have given us permission to use them here.

On 28th October 1918 “H.G. Lovell, (Greaser) was placed off duty and admitted to the hospital ward on the ship, suffering from influenza”. On 30th November 2018, we see “This is to certify that Henry Gilbert Lovell, aged 65, (Greaser), died at 1pm this day. The cause of death was influenza, pneumonia and cardiac failure”. On 4th November 1918, “The body of Henry Gilbert Lovell, was this day interred at South Queensferry Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Church of England Minister and the usual rites being observed”, signed by the Master and the Surgeon. His Grave was eventually listed as War Grave Commission 460.
Amongst the full list of his personal effects was “correspondence tied in a red handkerchief”.
He was actually 64 years old, dying 36 days before his 65th birthday and just 12 days before the end of the war. Between 12th and 20th October 1918 more than 20 crew members of the Garth Castle died of influenza. Only 2 of these lie in Queensferry Cemetery.
Henry would have been posthumously awarded the Mercantile Marine War Medal.

©Queensferry History Group 2019

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Commonwealth Graves 1917 - 13 Men Died in 1917

1/1/2017

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Nine of the thirteen men who died in 1917, and lie in the Commonwealth Graves of Queensferry Cemetery died of illness, two had accidental deaths, one is unspecified and one was killed in action.

Trimmer Andrew Smith, No: 908166, of the Mercantile Marine Reserves, serving on HMS Teutonic, an armed Merchant Cruiser, was born c1892, Son of Andrew and Mary Smith, living in Co. Kildare, Ireland. He died of illness on 20.1.1917 , aged 25 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 652, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Petty Officer Stoker Oliver Mitchell, No: 304279, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Queen Elizabeth, a Dreadnought Battleship, was born on 2.4.1884 in Sheffield. He died of Illness on 3.2.1917 aged 32, leaving a Widow, Catherine Mitchell, of Sheffield. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 653, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star and Victory and British War Medals.

Second Mate Robert Thomson Bird, of the Mercantile Marines, serving on SS Unio, died at seaa on 29.3.1917, aged 29 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 654, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Gunner William A Sherringham, No: RMA/8620, of the Royal Marine Artillery, serving on HMS Inflexible, was born on 3.4.1880, in Essex. He died of Heart Failure, on 21.4.1917 aged 47. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 655, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Gunner William George Conway, No: 14799, of the Royal Marine Artillery, serving on HMS Renown, was born on 28.10.1898 in Hampshire, to George and Kate Conway. He died on 16.5.1917, aged 18, accidentally killed. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 643, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman George Pike Shuttle,No: 217583, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Renown, was born on 7.7.1886 in Woodford, Essex, to James and Annie Shuttle, ms Pike. He died from illness on 17.6.1917, aged 30 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 644, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 1st Class John Collins, No: 280238, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Woolwich, was born on 10.9.1870 in Stockton on Tees, Durham. He enlisted on 1.8.1895. John died from Heart Disease, on 23.6.1917 aged 46. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 455, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medal.

Able Seaman Stanley Randolph Bedford, No: J/7025, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Tiger, was born on 6.4.1894 in Hackney, London, to Raglan and Emma Bedford. He died of illness on 13.7.1917 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 456, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, and the Victory and British War Medals.

Boy 1st Class Edward Pyke No: J/37640, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Champion, was born on 12.12.1899, in Newbury, Berkshire. He was accidently killed on 20.8.1917 aged 17. He is buried in commonwealth Grave Ref: 458, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Ordinary Seaman John Rodgers, No: J/39463, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Agincourt, born 31.8.1899, in Wolverhampton, died of illness, on 2.9.1917 aged 18. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 457, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals

Stoker 1st Class William Toomer, No: J/290318, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Agincourt, was born on 27.5.1877 in Birmingham. He died of illness, on 12.9.1917 aged 40. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 459, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Sergeant John Smith, of the Royal Garrison, serving in the 136th Siege Battery, was born in 1880 in Dublin, Ireland to Philip and Ann Smith, ms Ryan. He died of tuberculosis, at home in Queensferry on 25.12.1917 aged 37. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 861 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. You can read more in the "Memorials" 1917 page.

Captain Herbert Laurence Edwards, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Calypso, was killed in action on 17.11.1917, aged 40. He was born on 25.1.1877 in Mauritius, and enlisted on 15.1.1891. Herbert is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 444, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

HMS Calypso image ©QHG

©Queensferry History Group 2017

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The Battle Of Jutland Centenary

1/6/2016

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This year sees the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, 31st May - 1st June 1916. This Sea Battle claimed 6784 British lives and 3058 German lives.

(IWM Q 64302) In the distance the British battlecruiser HMS INDEFATIGABLE sinking after being struck by shells from the German battlecruiser VON DER TANN first in "X" magazine and then once she had limped out of the line she was hit by another salvo on the foredeck, the resulting explosion then destroying her. All but two of INDEFATIGABLE's crew of 1,119 were killed in the blast.

Battleships in the Forth, Bass Rock, with permission from the artist -Jim Rae

The Battle of Jutland (known as the Battle of Skagerrak in Germany), fought between the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet (which also included ships and individual personnel from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Navy) against the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet on 31st May and 1st June 1916, was the largest surface naval battle of the metal ship era, the only major fleet action of World War 1, and the last major fleet action that the participants will ever fight.
It also played a key role in the demise of the reputation of the battlecruiser, saw the first use of a carrier based aircraft in battle and is one of the most controversial naval actions in the Royal Navy's long history.

With permission from artist - Jim Rae

The British Navy in the North Sea was based in Rosyth, Cromarty and Scapa Flow. Here it could protect the central and northern areas of the North Sea and stop the German High Seas Fleet from getting into the Atlantic where it could cause huge problems for Britain’s merchant fleet. The British believed that the Germans would not try to rush the English Channel and face the might of the British Navy based in Portsmouth and Plymouth. Therefore, it was reckoned that the German Navy could only operate in the North Sea.

HMS Warspite and Malaya during the Battle of Jutland. image courtesy of World Naval Ships Forum

In May, Scheer ordered Admiral von Hipper to sea with 40 ships to move along the Danish coast. Unfortunately for the Germans, British Naval intelligence had broken the German code and was aware of its enemy's intentions and the news of this movement reached Admiral Jellicoe in Rosyth. He saw this movement of such a large force as a provocative move and ordered the Grand Fleet to put to sea. The Battle of Jutland began on the afternoon of May 31st, 1916 and lasted well into the night.
Involving some 250 ships and 100,000 men, this battle off Denmark’s North Sea coast was the only major naval surface engagement of World War I.
The British flotilla was comprised of 151 British, Australian, and Canadian ships. The composition included 28 battleships, 9 battlecruisers, 8 armoured cruisers, 26 light cruisers, 78 destroyers, 1 minelayer, and 1 seaplane.

HMS Invincible explosion. Image courtesy of World Naval Ships Forum

When the main warships met, British Admiral John Jellicoe maneuvered his boats to take advantage of the fading daylight, scoring dozens of direct hits that eventually forced German Admiral Reinhard Scheer into retreat. Both sides claimed victory in this indecisive battle, though Britain retained control of the North Sea.
British losses amounted to approximately 6,784 men and 111,000 tons of ship, and German losses to approximately 3,058 men and 62,000 tons of ship.

© IWM (SP 2470) A huge cloud of smoke rises when HMS QUEEN MARY blows up thirty eight minutes into the battle of Jutland after being struck by a salvo from the German battlecruiser DERFFLINGER. QUEEN MARY blew up after being hit by two 12 inch shells on "A" and "B" turret and their respective magazines were detonated, 1,266 men lost their lives.

The Germans claimed that Jutland was a victory for them as they had sunk more capital ships than the British. Jellicoe claimed that the victory belonged to the British as his fleet was still a sea worthy entity whereas the German High Seas fleet was not. The British did lose more ships (14 ships) than the Germans (11 ships), but the German fleet was never again to be in a position to put to sea and challenge the British Navy in the North Sea.
The British losses of major ships were sudden and spectacular, caused by the weakness of their defensive armour that allowed German shells to pierce the British ships magazine holds resulting in massive explosions.

The side of a QUEEN ELIZABETH class battleship in dry dock showing damage caused by a German shell at the battle of Jutland, a dock worker can be seen working inside the shell hole whilst several more are stood watching. © IWM (Q 23212)

Losses at the Battle of Jutland
Britain lost: Battlecruisers - Indefatigable, Queen Mary and Invincible. Armoured Cruisers - Black Prince, Defence and Warrior, Destroyers – Ardent, Fortune, Nestor, Nomad, Shark, Sparrowhawk, Tipperary and Turbulent. Fourteen ships, with a loss of approximately 6,784 Crew.
Germany lost: Battlecruiser - Lutzow, Armoured Cruiser - Pommern, Light Cruisers - Elbing, Frauenlob, Rostock, Wiesbaden, Destroyers - , S35, V4, V27, V29, V48. Eleven ships with a loss of approximately 3,058 Crew.

British dry dock repairs completion dates: Tiger 1.7.1916, Barham 4.7.1916, Malaya 10.7.1916, Warspite 20.7.1916, Princess Royal 21.7.1916, Marlbourgh 2.8.1916, Lion 13.9.1916. Seven ships damaged.

German dry dock repairs completion dates: Heligoland 16.6.1916, Grosser and Kurfurst 16.7.1916, Markgraf 20.7.1916, Konig 21.7.1916, Ostfriesland 26.7.1916, Moltke 30.7.1916, Von der Tann 2.8.1916, Seydlitz 16.9.1916. Nine ships damaged.

Some of the casualties:-
4pm Lion very badly hit on Q turret. Major Harvey, fatally wounded, orders magazine doors closed and flooded (men inside are sacrificed) posthumus VC awarded.
4.26 pm Queen Mary struck by salvo, almost instantaneously, a terrific upheaval and a dense cloud of smoke rose high in the air. Tiger was behind her, passed through the smoke, heavy fall of debris on her decks, no sign of Queen Mary. 1266 crewmen died, eighteen survived
6.15 pm Defence and Warrior had been engaging enemy LCs crossed ahead of Lion and were exposed to heavy enemy fire. Defence blew up and sank, Warrior received severe damage but was saved when Warspite’s steering jammed and she kept turning in circles around her. Engadine took Warrior in tow but she sank before reaching harbour. Warspite badly damaged and ordered back to harbour (Rosyth).
6.34 pm Lutzow badly damaged. Hipper had to move his flag ship Seydlitz, also badly damaged and then to Molke.
Invincible at head of line badly hit, blew up and sank. Later her bow and stern were just visible, midships resting on the bottom, she had broken in two. 1026 killed, only six survived.
11.25 pm Fourth Destroyer Flotilla comes into action with a large ship, Broke hit by shells destroying her lower bridge and jamming her helm. She hits Sparrowhawk and they are then rammed by another. Five feet of her stern cut off. Tipperary was set on fire and sank (185 lives). German Elbing was abandoned and sank.
12.10 am Black Prince which had lost touch with main fleet when she closed on the rear of the First German Squadron and was sunk at point blank range.
1.48 am German Lutzow sinking.
2.06 am Leader Faulknor and three Destroyers commence attack on ships sighted by Obedient. Onslaught badly hit, Destroyers fire torpedoes and German Pommern is hit and sinks.
7.30 am Warrior abandoned, Engadine takes crew.
In the years following the battle the wrecks were slowly discovered. Invincible was found by the Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Oakley in 1919. After the Second World War some of the wrecks seem to have been commercially salvaged. For instance, the Hydrographic Office record for SMS Lützow (No.32344) shows that salvage operations were taking place on the wreck in 1960. From 2000–2001 a series of diving expeditions involving veteran shipwreck historian and archaeologist Innes McCartney located the wrecks ofDefence, Indefatigable and Nomad. It was discovered that Indefatigable too, had been ripped apart by salvors at some unknown time. In 2003 McCartney led a detailed survey of the wrecks for the Channel 4 documentary "Clash of the Dreadnoughts"The film examined the last minutes of the lost ships and revealed for the first time how both 'P' and 'Q' turrets of Invincible had been blasted out of the ship and tossed into the sea before she broke in half. On the 90th anniversary of the battle, in 2006, the UK Ministry of Defence belatedly announced that the 14 British vessels lost in the battle were being designated as protected places under the Protection of Military Remains Act.

Art.IWM ART 2781 HMS Castor, wounded being received - This scene of British wounded sailors being tended to during the Battle of Jutland is by the artist Jan Gordon. It was one of four paintings completed by Gordon on behalf of the Imperial War Museum’s Royal Navy Medical Section

German Casualties in Ships Sunk - (as is often the case numbers may vary by source, so read this as approximate)
Pommern (sunk) -844 killed
Lutzow (sunk) -115 killed 50 wounded
Wiesbaden (sunk) -589 killed
Elbing (sunk) - 4 killed, 12 wounded
Rostock (sunk) -14 killed, 6 wounded
Frauenlob (sunk) - 32- killed, 1 wounded
V48 -90 killed
V35 - 88 killed
V29 - 33 killed, 4 wounded
V27 - 3 wounded
V4 - 18 killed and 4 wounded
TOTALS - 2115 killed, 80 wounded, total 2195 casualties
...........
British Casualties in Ships Sunk - (again read this as approximate)
Queen Mary (blown up) - 1266 killed, 6 wounded, 2 prisoner
Indefatigable (blown up) - 1017 killed, 2 prisoner
Invincible (blown up) - 1026 killed, 1 prisoner
Defence (blown up)-903 killed
Black Prince (blown up) - 1026 killed, 1 wounded
Warrior - 71 killed and 36 wounded
Nestor - 6 killed, 8 wounded, 80 prisoner
Nomad - 8 killed, 4 wounded, 72 prisoner
Turbulent - 96 killed, 13 wounded
Ardent - 78 killed, 1 wounded
Fortune - 67 killed, 2 wounded
Shark - 86 killed, 3 wounded
Sparrowhawk - 6 killed
Tipperary (sunk) - 185 killed, 2 wounded, 8 prisoners
TOTALS - 5857 killed, 67 wounded, 185 taken prisoner, total 6007 casualties

Admiral Jellicoe. Image Wikimedia Commons

Admiral Beatty, image Wikimedia Commons

Admiral Scheer. Image Wikimedia commons

Admiral Von Hipper. Image IWM Q20348

Hover curser over images above to read caption.

Map of Battle of Jutland. Image Wikimedia Commons

Admiral Jellicoe reported twenty four battleships ready for action the day following the battle.
German newspapers naturally claimed a glorious victory based on the numbers of ships sunk. It was significant, however, that the German High Seas Fleet did not put to sea again for the rest of World War I and the Royal Navy's British Grand Fleet continued to remain in command of the sea.
The most far reaching result of Jutland was that it convinced Scheer and the German Naval staff that the only way of gaining naval victory was via unrestricted submarine warfare, and not by defeating the British in battle. The Germans had fought Jutland as well or better than could be expected, whilst the British could be expected to perform better next time, and yet nothing had changed. However it was not the German submarine blockade of Britain but the British blockade of Germany, maintained under the guns of the Grand Fleet, that eventually did most to bring the war to an end.

Source of information –
Battle of Jutland – Info. from RA Harper’s 'The Truth About Jutland'
Jutland- An Analysis of the Fighting, by John Campbell (Conway Maritime Press, 1996).
http://www.battle-of-jutland.com
You can read more information about Jutland and the men who are buried in Queensferry Cemetery Commonwealth Graves further in this section, 'Commonwealth Graves'

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Remembrance Service - Armistice Day 2015

11/11/2015

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Very nice Remembrance Service by Royal Navy/Marines beside Commonwealth Graves today, led by Reverend David Cameron. School children from Rosyth attended too. Queensferry History Group were represented.

Images by Norma Brown
© Queensferry History Group 2015

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Images of Damaged Ships

1/7/2015

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1914 - MS Hermes - a Cruiser, was the first seaplane carrier in the Royal Navy. She was launched in 1898, modified as a seaplane in 1913 and commissioned on 31st August 1914. Her career was short as on 31st October she was torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine U27, in the Straits of Dover - 23 lives were lost.

German Submarine U27. Crew swimming. Courtesy of World Naval Ships Forum

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1912 - HMS Orion - was launched in 1910. In January 1912 she was damaged when HMS Revenge broke loose from her moorings, drifted across her port bows and collided with her, causing minor damage to the port side. She became part of the Grand Fleet and took part in the general battleship action at Jutland, claiming no hits and receiving none. She was paid off in April 1922 and sold to Shipbreakers Cox and Danks in December and from February 1923 she was broken up at Upno.

HMS Hermes sank 1914

HMS Indefatigable, sinking at the Battle of Jutland 1916

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1916 - HMS Indefatigable -was Launched in 1909. She sank on 31st May 1916, during the Battle of Jutland, the largest Naval Battle of the war. Shells from the German Battlecruiser 'Von der Tann' caused an explosion that ripped a hole in her hull and a second explosion hurled huge chunks of the ship high in the air. Out of her crew of 1,019, only 2 survived.

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1916 - HMS Invincible - was launched in 1907. She sank on 31st May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland. The actual clash of the two Battle Fleets at Jutland lasted only a few minutes before the heavily outnumbered German High Seas Fleet retired. During this action, HMS Invincible was the lead British. At the short range of 9,000 yards she was targeted by her enemies and just like the two other battle cruisers HMS Indefatigable and HMS Queen Mary destroyed earlier in the battle. The two German ships 'Lutzow' and 'Derfflinger' fired 3 salvos each and she blew up in a massive conflagration. The explosion engulfed the entire ship and sunk it in less than a minute, giving little chance for any of her crew to escape. 1026 officers and men were killed, including Rear-Admiral Hood. There were only six survivors.

HMS Invincible sinking at the Battle of Jutland 1916

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1916 - SS Seydlitz - was launched in 1912. The German Battlecruiser was, during the course of the Battle of Jutland 1916, hit 21 times by heavy caliber shells, twice by secondary shells and once by a torpedo. The ship suffered a loss of 98 of her crew and 55 were wounded. She herself scored approximately 10 hits, during the battle. She was scuttled at Scapa Flow 21st June 1919.

SS Seydlitz after Battle of Jutland 1916

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1918 - HMS Britannia - was launched in 1904. She was sunk in November 1918, just 2 days before the end of the War. She was torpedoed by the German Submarine UB-50. off Cape Trafalgar, (a headland in the province of Cadiz) and sank with the loss of 50 men. She held her 10 degree list for 2 1/2 hours before sinking, allowing most of the crew to be taken off. Most of the men who were lost were killed by toxic smoke from burning cordite. 50 men died and 80 were injured. In total 39 officers and 637 men were saved.

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1918 - HMS Iphigenia (launched 1891) and HMS Intrepid (launched 1891) - were scuttled in Zebrugge. By the last year of the First World War, the surviving ships were outdated, and six of this class were converted into blockships to be scuttled in the entrances to enemy-occupied ports in Belgium. The cruisers Intrepid, Iphigenia and Thetis were expended on 23 April 1918 in the raid on Zeebrugge,Intrepid and Iphigenia were,successfully scuttled at the narrowest point of the canal. Although two blockships were sunk at a narrow part of the entrance to the canal network, these were not in the correct positions, and by dismantling two piers near HMS Intrepid and HMS Iphigenia, the Germans were able to create a channel around the obstacle. The block was only effective for a couple of days, after which submarines were able to negotiate their way around the wrecked ships at high tide.

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1920 - HMS Caledon was launched in 1916 - Collided with Italian vessel SS Antares in January 1928. (She also collided with a German Pilot Boat in 1923!) She sustained major damage to forward structure in the collision in the Doro Channel, Aegean Sea. She was recommissioned in January 1929 after repairs.
"The Caledon arrived this morning looking a very sad and sorry sight. She must have hit the “Antares” an awful crack. Her stem casting is either gone or bent round to starboard: luckily her collision bulkhead held or I don’t know what would have happened. I am told that Roope was OOW and so he and the Captain are both of them for it. Anyway R. will have the melancholy satisfaction of knowing that he has had a magnificent smash to finish his career." -(an extract from the diary of Colin George Walter Donald -http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/CGWDonald.html)
HMS Caledon served in the Mediterranean Fleet during WW2 and she was eventually scrapped in Dover in 1948.

HMS Iphigenia and HMS Intrepid sccuttled at Zebrugge 1918

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1924 - HMS Lion - launched in 1910, served as flagship of the Grand Fleet's Battlecruiser's throughout WW1. She was put in to reserve in 1920 and sold for scrap in 1924 to Hughes-Bolkow. She was partially scrapped at Jarrow to reduce her draft and she was finished off at Blyth. Her otherwise excellent 13.5" guns were removed for further use, they were stored until used as shore battery guns in WW2.

Images courtesy of World Navy Ships Forum
© Queensferry History Group 2015

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Commonwealth Graves - 1919 0nwards

1/5/2015

Commonwealth Graves 1919 and onwards

Fireman and Trimmer Ali Mohamed of Mercantile Marines, serving on SS Slay, died on 10.1.1919. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 485, Queensferry Cemetery.

Able Seaman William Futcher No: J/32378 of Royal Navy serving on HMS Warspite, Battleship, born 27.4.1889, in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, son of Isaac and Charlotte Futcher, Leeds, died of illness, on 10.1.1919, aged 19. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 486, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Engineer Sub-Lieutenant Alfred Ernest Oakley of the Royal Navy Reserves, serving on HMS Sunhill, an Accommodation Ship, died of illness, on 2.6.1919. He was promoted to sub lieutenant on 12.6.1917.
He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 439, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Leading Stoker George Alfred Masters, No: 312517, of the Royal Navy , was serving on HMS Diligence, a Destroyer Depot Ship. Born on 23.2.1889 in Kingston, Devon, son of George Masters, Kingsbridge and Husband of Lilian Masters, Devonport. He died of illness on 15.2.1919 aged 29 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref; 439, Queensferry Cemetery. George was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Writer 2nd Class, Douglas Cave Adkins, No: M/15535, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Crescent, Rosyth, was born on 18.4.1894 in St Leonards, Sussex. He died of Illness, in Rosyth, on 17.2.1919 aged 25. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 488, Queensferry Cemeter, and was awarded the British War Medal.

Officer's Chief Cook, Vincenzo Formosa, No: 359813, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Caledon, a Light Cruiser, born 9.7.1881, in Gozo, Malta, son of Carmelo Formosa, Husband of Evangelista Cauchi Formosa of Valletta, Malta, died of Illness, on 22.3.1919 aged 36. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 489, Queensferry Cemetery and he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman, James Rose Hunter Pettigrew No: J/21842 of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Westcott, a Destroyer, was born on 4.7.1896 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, son of James and Agnes Pettigrew , he died on 23.4.1919 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 490, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Officer's Steward, Henry Alfred Bradbury No: L/6249 of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Victory, Portsmouth, was born on 3.6.1897 in Walworth, London. He died of Illness, on 24.5.1919 aged 22. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 491, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Lieutenant Commander, Arthur Falkenberg Powell of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Argus, an Aircraft Carrier, born 4.7.1884 son of the late Dr William and Mrs Powell, Cheltenham, enrolled on 15.9.1899. He died of Illness on 19.6.1919, aged 34. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 448, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Ordinary Telegraphist, Geraint Morton Evans of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Victory, Portsmouth, No: J/45719, son of David and Mary Morton Evans, Penylan, Cardiff, died of Illness on 24.8.1919 aged 19. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 492, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Deck and Lounge Steward, Leonard Edward Waites, of Mercantile Marines, serving on SS Field Marshall, son of Mrs Mary Waites of Forrest Gate, Essex, died on 8.10.1919 aged 31. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 493, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Mercantile Marine War Medal.

Able Seaman Henry Patrick Hamill, No: SS/5674 of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Revenge, Battleship, born 9.1.1895 in Glasgow, died of Illness on 30.11.1919, aged 24. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 494, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War medals.

1920

Able Seaman Sidney Glanville Smith, No: J/23246, serving on HMS Veteran, Destroyer, born 3.12.1896 in Highbury, London, died on 16.2.1920 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 495, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medal.

Lieutenant Charles Edwin Smith, No: 117947 of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Crescent, Rosyth, born 24.1.1867, in Wells, Somerset, enrolled on 24.1.1867, aged 18. Husband of Alice Smith, Portsmouth, he died of Illness, in Rosyth, on 28.7.1920, aged 53. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 447, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
*****************

Just to complete the 188 names in the Commonwealth Graves here are the WW2 names.

Sapper David Watson Wilson, No: 2122126,of the Royal Engineers, born c 1914 in Midlothian, Son of George and Janet Wilson, of Gorebridge, died on 4.5.1942, aged 29. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 353, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1939/44 War Medal and the 1939/44 Star.

Private Dorothy May Morrison, No: PW/121464, of the Auxillary Territorial Force, Daughter of James and Isabella Morrison ms Calder, of Dalmeny, died on 14.6.1942 aged 17. She is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1509, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1939/44 War Medal and 1939/44 Star.

Flying Officer Auriol Stephen Nutcombe Gould, No: 124422, of the Royal Air Force, born c1923, in London, Son of Group Captain Lionel Thomas Nutcome Gould and Barbara Harriet Gould, died on 24.1.1943 aged 20. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 436, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1939/44 War Medal and 1939/44 Star.

Private John Alexander M Grant, No: 16485465, of the Pioneer Corps, born c1910 in West Lothian, died on 30.3.1944 aged 34. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1541, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1939/44 War Medal and 1939/44 Star.

Guardsman John Ford, No: 2690454, of the Scots Guards, born c 1903 in Edinburgh, Son of Mr and Mrs James Ford of South Queensferry, died on 6.8.1944 aged 41. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:1101, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1939/44 War Medal and 1939/44 Star.

Marine Charles William Shoebridge, No: CH/20844, of the Royal Marines, serving on HMS Sparrowhawk, born 16.7.1899, Son of William Charles and Mary Jane Shoebridge, and Husband of Margaret Peaston Shoebridge, of South Queensferry, died on 25.12.1944, aged 44. His name is commemorated on Queensferry Memorial and he is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:184, Queensferry Cemetery. Charles was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British war Medals, also the 1939/44 War Medal and 1939/44 Star.

Pilot Officer Thomas Louis B Shoolbread, No: 185730, of the RAF Volunteer Reserve, born c1922, Son of James and Lucy Ann Shoolbread of South Queensferry, died on 4.1.1945 aged 23. His name is commemorated on Queensferry Memorial as is his brother James. Thomas is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1083, Queensferry Cemetery and he was awarded the 1939/44 War Medal and 1939/44 Star.
We have no record at the moment as to what happened to James.

Warrant officer Class 2 Daniel Sinclair, of the Royal Corps Signals, Son of Daniel and Henry Sinclair, of South Queensferry, died on 20.11.1946, aged 32. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1639, Queensferry Cemetery. He was mentioned in Despatches and was awarded the 1939/44 War Medal and 1939/44 Star.

Mercantile Marine War Medal

1939-45 Star

1939-45 War Medal

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Commonwealth Graves 1918 -35 Men

1/4/2015

Images courtesy of members of World Naval Ships Forum

Stoker Fred Barnett No: 8572, of the Royal Navy, was on loan to HMAS Australia when he died of illness on 5.3.1918, aged 35. Fred was born c1883 in Australia, and his Parents were Fred and Henrietta Barnett, Ealing. Sister Catherine is listed as next of kin. Fred is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 461, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Petty Officer Robert Charles Keene No: 237605, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Victory, R.N. Barracks/Base, was born on 16.1.1890 in Hornchurch, Essex. His Parents were Joshua and Cemmeshaw Jessie Keene, of Post Office, Frome, Somerset. He had 2 brothers and 3 Sisters, and his Mother died before 1901. Robert died of illness on 14.3.1918 aged 28. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 462, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Sapper William Lawson No: 423021 of the Royal Engineers, 2nd/5th Edinburgh Electric Light Co, enlisted in Edinburgh. His Parents were Alexander and Margaret Lawson ms Hunter. He died of Asphyxia, on 30.3.1918 aged 39, found in the bed of a small stream near Engineers Huts, Hound Point. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 661, Queensferry Cemetery. William was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Sick Berth Steward Eugene Makoveyeff No: 4037 of Royal Navy, serving on HMAS Australia, enlisted on 24.8.1914, aged 42. His Sister Olga, of Southend on Sea, was listed as next of kin. He was born on 18.9.1871 in London. He died of Pneumonia on 13.5.1918, aged 46, in RN Hospital, South Queensferry. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 463, Queensferry Cemetery. Eugene was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Donkeyman Thomas Fairhurst, of Mercantile Marines, serving on SS John Shaw, died on 19.5.1918. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 464, Queensferry Cemetery. (A Donkeyman was responsible for looking after a Donkey Engine, in ships engine Room).

Trimmer Jacob Mabrook, of Mercantile Marines, serving on HMS Soudan, died on 2.6.1918. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 465, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the Mercantile Marine War Medal.

Signalman Leonard Lewis Jones, of Royal Australian Navy, No:3624, serving on HMAS Australia, enlisted on 27.3.1917. He was born on 27.3.1899 in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia, to Edward and Alice Jones. He died on 18.6.1918, aged 19 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 466, Queensferry Cemetery.

THE SPANISH INFLUENZA

The pandemic lasted from approximately July 1918 to April 1919 with a major peak in the UK between September 1918 and January 1919. It can be assumed that the vast majority of illness deaths in these periods were due to the Spanish flu.

Private George William Delves, No: CH/15628, Royal Marine Light Infantry, serving on SS Wilston, enlisted in Portsmouth on 5.1.1897. He was born on 11.11.1879 in London. William died of illness on 7.7.1918 aged 38. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 467, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Lieutenant Louis Blumfeld, Royal Navy, serving on HMS Inflexible, son of Col. James Louis and Beatrice Blumfeld, of West Brompton, London, was born on 28.5.1893, and died of illness on 23.7.1918, aged 25. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 468, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Ordinary Seaman John Macdonald, No: J/7248, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Orion, was born on 10.5.1888 in South Uist, Inverness-shire, son of Angus and Bella Macdonald, of South Uist. He died by drowning on 31.7.1918, aged 30, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave, Ref: 469 Queensferry Cemetery. John was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman William George Harris, No: M28616, of Mercantile Marines, serving on SS Soudan, died on 6.8.1918 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 476, Queensferry Cemetery., and was awarded the Mercantile Marine War Medal.

Lieutenant Commander George Edwin Mathews of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Sable, born 28.8.1887, enlisted on 15.1.1904. He died on 18.10.1918 aged 31. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 446, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded 'Officer of the Military Order of Avis' conferred by the President of the Portuguese Republic-Gazette 4.2.1921 (which wears the badge of the Order on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest). For appreciation of the manner in which the escort of Portuguese transport from Lisbon and Brest was carried out. Also the Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Walter Goble, No: J/49516 of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Victory, R.N. Barracks/Base, was born on 1.5.1897, in Ditchling, Sussex, Son of Richard and Jane Goble of Hassocks, Sussex, died of illness on 23.10.1918 aged 21. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 473, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the British War Medal.

Gunner Herbert Edward Fox Gore, No: RMA/1444, of Royal Marines Artillery (Short Service), based at Kinghorn Anti- Aircraft Station, Son of Herbert Reginald and Kate Emily Gore, of Hounslow, Middlesex, born c1894, died on 25.10.1918 aged 24. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 474, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Trimmer Alfred Marshall No: 964057, of Mercantile Marine Reserve, serving on HMS Crescent, born c1895, died from illness, on 25.10.1918, aged 23. Next of Kin, Cousin, Lewis Pera, Leachmore Lane, Colombo, Ceylon, was notified. Alfred is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 472, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the British War Medal.

Chief Motor Mechanic Percy Nudds, No: MB/1120, of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, London Motor Boat Section, based at MB Reserve, H.M.L.L. ‘295’, was born on 27.4.1884, Son of John Nudds, Aldeburgh, Suffolk. He died on 26.10.1918, aged 32. Percy is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 471, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Mercantile Marine War Medal and British War Medal.

Cook Harry Everett, of Mercantile Marines, serving on SS Garth Castle, born c1853, died on 28.10.1918, during a Flu Epidemic on board ship, which killed 21 men over 10 days. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 460, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Mercantile Marine War Medal, and British War Medal.

Greaser Henry Gilbert Lovell of Mercantile Marines, serving on SS Garth Castle, born 1854, died on 31.10 1918, aged 65, during a Flu epidemic on board, which killed 21 men over 10 days. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 640, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Mercantile Marine War Medal and the British War Medal.

Lieutenant Frank Conway Peet, of Royal Navy, serving on HMS Rocket, born 30.8.1891, enlisted on 15.1.1904. He died from illness on 31.10 1918 aged 27. He is buried on Commonwealth Grave Ref: 442, Queensferry Cemetery.He was awarded 'Officer of the Military Order of Avis' conferred by the President of the Portuguese Republic,-(Gazette 4.2.1921), which wears the badge of the Order on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest. For appreciation of the manner in which the escort of Portuguese transport from Lisbon and Brest was carried out. He was also awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Officer's Steward 1st Class Frederick Garrett, No: L/2088, of Royal Navy, serving on HMS King George V, born on 26.9.1893 in Kentish Town, London, died from illness, on 1.11.1918, aged 26. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 475, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Lieutenant Norman Royston of Royal Air Force, serving with G Fleet, was a Balloon Observer on HMS Fearless. He was born on 22.6.1899. His Parents lived in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. He died on board HMS Fearless, of Pneumonia, on 5.11.1918, aged 19. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 443, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British war Medals.

Midshipman Ivor Neil Treasure, of Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, serving on HMS Tancred, drowned on 11.11.1918. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 440, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Lieutenant John Stanley Robinson, of Naval Instruction, Royal Navy, serving on HMS Royal Oak, born in 1888 in Malta, Son of Walter and Janet Robinson, died from illness, on 13.11.1918, aged 30. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 445, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Air Mechanic 3rd Class, Arthur George Billson, No: 242682, of Royal Air Force Kite Balloon Section, formerly the Royal Naval Air Service, which on April 1, 1918, RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps, to form the RAF. Born 11.2.1881, in London, Son of Sidney and Emily Billson, and Husband of Ethel Billson, London. He was employed by London County Council in the Parks Department. He died of Influenza, in Queensferry, on 16.11.1918, aged 38. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 476, Queensferry Cemetery.

Petty Officer Upton Selway, No: 227897, of The Royal Navy Aircraft Kite Balloon Section, serving on HMS Neptune, born on 3.5.1887 in Edinburgh, Son of George and Elizabeth Selway, later in Wimbourne, Dorset, died of Influenza, on 30.11.1918, aged 31. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 578, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Officers Cook 1st Class Ernest John Ferris No: 365682, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Munster, born 12.12.1890, in Ballyboggan, Meath, Ireland. He died of illness on 4.12.1918, aged 28. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 479, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Private Martin Teirney No:375245, of Depot, Royal Scots, based at Inverness, was born on 27.7.1888 in West End, Queensferry, to Patrick and Margaret Teirney. Husband of Marjory Teirney, he died of Influenzal Pneumonia at Edinburgh Infirmary on 5.12.1918 aged 30. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 359, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. (To read more about Martin, see Memorials 1918).

Able Seaman Robert Leonard Gamble No: J/30047, of Royal Navy serving on HMS Munster, born 24.11.1898 in Hackney, London, Son of Elizabeth Taylor, formerly Gamble and GF Taylor (Step Father) London, died in Butlaw Naval Hospital, of Influenzal Pneumonia on 5.12.1918 aged 20. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 481, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Lieutenant Douglas Kennedy Trollope of Royal Navy, serving on HMS Tobago, born 9.2.1897, enlisted in January 1910. Son of Mr and Mrs Henry Trollope, of Kent, he was educated at Osborne and Dartmouth Colleges. He died of illness on 11.12.1918 aged 21. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 441, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British war Medals.

Leading Signalman Horace Wall No: 220825, of Royal Navy, serving on HMS Blake, born 20.11.1886 in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, died from Influenza on 24.11.1918, aged 32. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 477, Queensferry Cemetery. Horace was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Frederick John Manning, No: MMR/ 507186, of Mercantile Marine Reserves, serving on HMS Crescent, died of illness in Rosyth, on 9.12.1918. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 480, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Private William Smith No: PO/19614 of Royal Marine Light Infantry, serving on HMS St Vincent, born 25.2.1899, enlisted on 4.9.1916. He died of illness, on 12.12.1918 aged 20. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 482, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman William McLean Weir No: J/41175 of Royal Navy, serving on HMS Malaya, born in Edinburgh in 8.10.1899, Son of James and Mary Weir, Edinburgh, died from illness, on 17.12.1918, aged 19. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 483, Queensferry Cemetery. William was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker John Rush No: V/ 457 of Royal Navy Reserves, serving on HMS Tiger, born 16.1.1867 in Liverpool, died from illness, on 23.12.1918, aged 50. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 484, Queensferry Cemetery. John was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
© Queensferry History Group 2015

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Commonwealth Graves 1917

1/3/2015

Images courtesy of members of 'World Naval Ships Forum'

Commonwealth Graves 1917 - 13 Men Died in 1917

Trimmer Andrew Smith, No: 908166, of the Mercantile Marine Reserves, serving on HMS Teutonic, an armed Merchant Cruiser, was born c1892, Son of Andrew and Mary Smith, living in Co. Kildare, Ireland. He died of illness on 20.1.1917 , aged 25 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 652, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Petty Officer Stoker Oliver Mitchell, No: 304279, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Queen Elizabeth, a Dreadnought Battleship, was born on 2.4.1884 in Sheffield. He died of Illness on 3.2.1917 aged 32, leaving a Widow, Catherine Mitchell, of Sheffield. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 653, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star and Victory and British War Medals.

Second Mate Robert Thomson Bird, of the Merantile Marines, serving on SS Unio, was born in 1888 in Gateshead, to Thomas and Margaret (Mary) Jane Bird. He died at sea on 29.3.1917, aged 29 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 654, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Gunner William A Sherringham, No: RMA/8620, of the Royal Marine Artillery, serving on HMS Inflexible, was born on 3.4.1880, in Essex. He died of Heart Failure, on 21.4.1917 aged 37. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 655, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Gunner William George Conway, No: 14799, of the Royal Marine Artillery, serving on HMS Renown, was born on 28.10.1898 in Hampshire, to George and Kate Conway. He died on 16.5.1917, aged 18, accidentally killed.  He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 643, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman George Pike Shuttle,No: 217583, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Renown, was born on 7.7.1886 in Woodford, Essex, to James and Annie Shuttle, ms Pike. He died from illness on 17.6.1917, aged 30 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 644, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 1st Class John Collins, No: 280238, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Woolwich, was born on 10.9.1870 in Stockton on Tees, Durham. He enlisted on 1.8.1895. John died from Heart Disease, on 23.6.1917 aged 46. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 455, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medal.

Able Seaman Stanley Randolph Bedford, No: J/7025, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Tiger, was born on 6.4.1894 in Hackney, London, to Raglan and Emma Bedford. He died from illness on 13.7.1917 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 456, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, and the Victory and British War Medals.

Boy 1st Class Edward Pyke No: J/37640, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Champion, was born on 12.12.1899, in Newbury, Berkshire. He was accidently killed on 20.8.1917 aged 17. He is buried in commonwealth Grave Ref: 458, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Ordinary Seaman John Rodgers, No: J/39463, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Agincourt, born 31.8.1899, in Wolverhampton, died of illness, on 2.9.1917 aged 18. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 457, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals

Stoker 1st Class William Toomer, No: J/290318, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Agincourt, was born on 27.5.1877 in Birmingham. He died of illness, on 12.9.1917 aged 40. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 459, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Sergeant John Smith, of the Royal Garrison, serving in the 136th Siege Battery, was born in 1880 in Dublin, Ireland to Philip and Ann Smith, ms Ryan. He died of tuberculosis, at home in Queensferry on 25.12.1917 aged 37. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 861 and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. You can read more in the "Memorials" 1917 page.

Captain Herbert Laurence Edwards, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Calypso, was killed in action on 17.11.1917, aged 40. He was born on 25.1.1877 in Mauritius, and enlisted on 15.1.1891. Herbert is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 444, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals. You can read more about Captain Herbert Laurence Edwards History, below.
With kind permission from Mike McDowall, Queensferry History Group.

"Captain Edwards is remembered on a gravestone in Queensferry Cemetery within the ‘Commonwealth War Graves’ area that commemorates 185 naval personnel. He is the only Captain and therefore most senior of the fifteen officers, which includes three Lieutenant-Commanders, nine Lieutenants and two Sub-Lieutenants.
Herbert Laurence was born in Port Louis, Mauritius, on 25th January 1877, the son of Charles F Edwards, Register General of Mauritius, and his wife Mary Wales. (Charles had been born in Bedfordshire, but his wife, who was 29 years younger than him, was born ‘at sea’).
Herbert had two elder brothers, John and William who had also been born in Mauritius. By 1881 their father had retired and the family had returned to live at Westfield Villa, Outram Road, Portsea, Hampshire.
Herbert followed his elder brother John (who in 1891, age 19, was a midshipman on the corvette HMS Volage) and just before his 14th birthday, passed the entrance exam for a cadetship on HMS Britannia at Dartmouth. As a sub-lieutenant he served aboard the battle-cruisers HMS Rodney and Undaunted and the corvette ‘Active’. He was promoted to Lieutenant in July 1897 and between then and 1908 served aboard a succession of cruisers, mostly of the Home Fleet, notably HMS Diadem and her sister ships Andromeda and Europa.

In June 1901, while serving aboard the cruiser HMS Galatea, he married Eleanore Barnewall O’Hea from Dublin, in Marlebone, London. She had attended Portsmouth High School for Girls. Eleanore was from a prominent Irish family, and it is interesting to note that Herbert’s service record has her surname as ‘White’.
In June 1909 while aboard the battleship ‘Cornwallis’ he was promoted to Commander. His service record shows that he was considered an ‘exceptional navigator’ with comments that included ‘implicit trust in him’, ‘iron nerve’ and ‘have a very high opinion of him’.
Further appointments included HMS Shannon and the battlecruisers ‘Indomitable’ and ‘Indefatigable’.

When the First World War started he was serving aboard HMS Lion, Vice-Admiral Beatty’s flagship. He was almost certainly present at the first battle of Helogoland in August 1914. He was at the battle of Dogger Bank which took place on 24th January 1915 (the day before his 38th birthday). After naval intelligence reported an intended raid on the British fishing fleet by the German High Seas Fleet. HMS Lion sailed from Rosyth with ‘Tiger’ and ‘Princess Royal’, HMS New Zealand and Indomitable of the second cruiser squadron and four ships of the first light cruiser squadron. They were joined by three light cruisers and 35 destroyers from Harwich.

During the battle HMS Lion was hit 14 times and was so badly damaged that she had to be towed back to port by Indomitable. The commanding officer of Lion reported that Commander Edwards “steered the ship with great coolness and forethought, keeping an accurate reckoning during the whole action in very difficult conditions owing to the large amount of water that entered the conning tower.”

In June 1915 Admiral Beatty endorsed his promotion to Captain and from December of that year until May 1917 he appears to have been based in Devonport as the King’s Harbourmaster for Plymouth Sound. He therefore missed the battle of Jutland in June 1916 when Beatty once again took HMS Lion to sea.

However, on 24th May he took command of HMS Calypso (D61), a new C-class light cruiser, launched on Tyneside in January 1917. Commissioning was completed on 21st June and she joined the 6th Light Cruiser Squadron under Rear-Admiral
Edwyn S Alexander-Sinclair CB MVO based at Rosyth.    November 1917 HMS Calypso along with her sister ship HMS Caledon were part of the force that intercepted German minesweepers and their escorts attempting to clear the British minefield off Heligoland Bight. During the battle Calypso’s bridge took a direct hit killing ten crew including Captain Edwards and causing an accidental firing of a ready torpedo. Both Caledon and HMS Cardiff suffered damage and casualties in the engagement.

Captain Herbert Laurence Edwards was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory and British War Medals. It was either the ship’s company or perhaps Admiral Beatty himself who arranged for the commemorative cross to be erected.

© Queensferry History Group 2015

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Commonwealth Graves 1916

1/2/2015

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HMS Ardent sunk during the Battle of Jutland

HMS Fortune sunk during the battle of Jutland

HMS Queen Mary sunk duringthe Battle of Jutland

HMS Warrior sunk during the Battle of Jutland

Commonwealth Graves 1916
There are 39 men in Queensferry Cemetery who died as a result of wounds received during the Battle of Jutland on or after 31.5.1916.

Battle of Jutland -31 May and 1 June 1916 -The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle fought by the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet (which also included ships and individual personnel from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Navy) against the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only full-scale clash of battleships in the war.

At 4.15pm on 31 May 1916. Petard was one of eight destroyers of the 13th flotilla, along with three destroyers of other formations, in a gun battle in hopes of blunting the enemy's torpedo attack, while striving to deliver their own. Petard fired a torpedo on a high speed setting at a group of four German destroyers, possibly achieving a hit from about 3,000 yards range, and a second at a slower speed against the German Battlecruisers from a range of about 9,000 yards. Petard then turned roughly parallel to the German Battlecruisers but slightly converging, so as to get ahead of the column before once more turning towards the enemy to fire the remaining two torpedoes.

Turning back towards the British ships, Petard passed HMS Nestor, which was also returning but at reduced speed because of damage. Proceeding, Petard approached an oil slick where HMS Laurel was picking up survivors from the Battle-cruiser HMS Queen Mary, sunk by German gunfire, and picked up one man. Approximately 20 survivors in total were rescued from the 1000 man crew. Petard then returned to her station at the head of the Battle-cruiser line.

HMS Petard Casualty list –Died -2 officers and 7 men, Wounded- 1 officer and 5 men.

Other ships involved, which have men listed here are:

HMS Warspite, HMS Onslaught, HMS Dublin, HMS Lion, HMS Princess Royal, and four which were sunk - HMS Fortune, HMS Warrior, HMS Ardent and
HMS Queen Mary.

9  Casualties served on HMS Petard

Leading Stoker William Broderick,No: 286286, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard, was born on 1.9.1877 in Cork, Ireland. He enlisted in Devonport in in October 1897 and died on 31.5.1916 aged 38, during the Battle of Jutland. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 641, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Charles Cook, No: J/639, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard, was born on 25.3.1892 in London. He enlisted on 25.3.1910 in Chatham. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 638, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Thomas James Derose, No: J/7966, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard, was born on 11.2.1893 in London. He enlisted on 11.2.1911 in Chatham. His Parents were Joseph and Martha Derose and he had 3 Brothers, one Sister and one Step Brother. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 23, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 637, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Surgeon Probationer Hugh John Dingle, of Royal Navy Voluntary Reserve, serving on HMS Petard, was born in December 1893, in Durham. His Parents were Arthur and Beatrice Dingle, and he had two Sisters and one Brother Arthur who was killed in Gallipoli in 1915. (Arthur was a School Master at Durham School and played Rugby for England). He died on 31.5.1916 aged 23 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1427, Queensferry Cemetery. He is also Commemorated in St Matthews Church- Silksworth, Newcastle Medical School, Durham School, and Eaglescliffe War Memorial, Co. Durham. He was awarded the 1914/15 star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Edward James Peagram, No: J/4194,  of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard was born on 30.5.1893 in London. His Parents were Charles, a Butcher and Mary Peagram and he had 3 Brothers and 3 Sisters. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 23 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 637, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Stephen Charles Sienesi, No: 209400, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard, was born on 2.12.1882 in Essex. His Parents were Benjamin, a Stick Dresser -(creator of artistic walking sticks), and Francis Sienesi and he was married to Gertrude Sienesi, Devon. He had 2 Brothers and 3 Sisters. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 33 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 638, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Lieutenant Charles Auriole Sperling,  0f the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard, was born on 6.5.1892. He enlisted in September 1904. He died on 31.5.1916, aged 24, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:658, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Martin James Edward Wassell No: SS/3281, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard, was born on 11.3.1892 in London. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 23, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 659, Queensferry Cemetery, He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Frederick George Wildman No: J/20072, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Petard, was born on 6.1.1895 in London. He die on 31.5.1916 aged 21 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 639, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

HMS Warspite also saw many casualties- 14 of them are in Queensferry Cemetery.

Able Seaman William George Cargill No: J/6398, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, was born in Forfar on 29.7.1893. He died on 31.5.1916, aged 22, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 639, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 19124/15 star, Victory and British War Medals.

Carpenter Crew Walter William Cordy, No: M/8940, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, was born on 15.10.1889 in Bristol. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 26 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 631, Queensferry Cemetery,. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Plumber Ernest Samuel Crocker, No: 344142, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, was born on 20.6.1880 in Plymouth. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 36 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:633, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Canteen Assistant Reginald Frederick Cressell, Admiralty Civilian, serving on HMS Warspite, (medal record says HMS Lion), died on 31.5.1916 aged 23. His father was Nathan Cressell. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 632, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker James Loveless No: S/5900, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, was born on 7.8.1895 in County Durham. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 20. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 637, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Sub-Leiutenant Frank Allan Single of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, died on 31.5.1916. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 656, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 1st Class Thomas Warren No: K/7590, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Warspite, was born on 8.2.1891 in Devonport. His Parents were Thomas and Sarah Warren. He died on 32.5.19126 aged 25, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 636, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Canteen Assistant Thomas Albert Willis, an Admiralty Civilian, serving on HMS Warspite, was husband of Lillian Beatrice Willis of Devonport. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 28. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 633, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals

Able Seaman Sidney James Avery, No: J/18396, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, was born on 21.10.1894 in Dublin, Ireland. He died on 1.6.1916 aged 21 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 638, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Wireman Charles E.L.Berghe, No: M/13338, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, was born on 10.1.1895 in London. Son of Jules and Elizabeth Berghe, he died on 2.6.1916 aged 21. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 641, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Robert Lees, No: SS/5250, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite was born on 12.8.1894 in Bolton, Lancashire. He died on 2.6.1916 aged 22 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 641. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman James Dreghorn Niven, No: Clyde Z/5436, of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, serving on HMS Warspite, was born on 18.12.1895. Son of Mrs Isabella Niven of Paisley, he died on 2.6.1916 aged 17. He is buried in Commonwealth grave Ref:639 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Boy 1st Class George Dreghorn Rennie No: T/35950, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite, was born in Aberdeen on 13.6.1898. Son of Alexander and Wilhelmina Rennie of Toronto Ontario, Canada, he died on 2.6.1916 aged 18. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1420, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

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Men from other ships, who died during the Battle of Jutland

Lieutenant Alfred Bakewell, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Onslaught, was born on 7.10.1892. He enlisted on 15.9.1905 and was killed in action on 31.5.1916 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 660, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Chief Petty officer Charles Grigg, No: 187895, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Onslaught, was born on 28.3.1894 in Selsea, Sussex, and was married to Helen Grigg of Southsea, Kent. He died on 1.6.1916 aged 38 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 632, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Lieutenant Commander Arthur Gerald Onslow, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Onslaught, was born in 13.5.1885 in India. His Parents were Gerald Charles Penrice, and Flora Francis Mary Onslow. He enlisted on 15.1.1900. Husband of Elsie Hinde Onslow, he died on 1.6.1916 aged 30 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 659, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 'Distinguished Service Cross' for Gallantry on several occasions, mentioned in Despatches, and also awarded the 1914/15 star, Victory and British War Medals.

Signalman John Walter Johnston, No: J/6110, 0f the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Onslaught, Born 18.1.1894, in Kent, son of Victor and Lucy Johnston of Kent, died on 1.6.1916 aged 22. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 631, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for services rendered in action off Hartlepool on 16th December, 1914: while serving on HMS Hardy. He was also awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medal.

Gunner Charles McCarthy, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Onslaught was born in Cork, Ireland on 4.5.1881. His Parents were Charles and Mary McCarthy, of Cork. He died of injuries, on 1.6.1916 aged 35 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1424, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/145 Star, Victory and British War Medal.

Leading Seaman Frank Herbert Crowhurst, No:J/15311, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Dublin was born on 3.7.1895 in Brighton, Sussex. He died on 31.5.1916 aged 21 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 636, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Signaller Reginald Harry Fenmore, No:J/9746, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Dublin, died on 31.5.1916 aged 22, son of George and Annie Fenmore of Oxford. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 636, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker William Muir No:2538, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Lion, was born on 18.11.1892 in West Hartlepool. He died of injuries on 3.6.1916 aged 24 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:634, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 1st Class George Henry Lovett, No: K/13800, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS, Lion was born on 14.9.1894 in London, son of Mrs A and the late George Henry Lovett of London. He died on 7.6.1916 aged 23 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1421, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Officer's Cook 3rd Class, Harry Gustave Fuller No: L/4146, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Princess Royal, was born on 16.10.1894 in Manchester. He died of injuries on 3.6.1916 aged 21 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 632, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals

Stoker 1st Class Walter Graham, No: K/22555, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Lion, was born on 7.11.1895 in Bardsley, Lancashire, Son of Mrs Margaret Graham of Aston-Under-Lyne. He died of injuries on 5.6.1916 aged 20 and is buried in Commonwealth Cemetery Ref: 1418, Queensferry Cemetery. Walter was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Mechanician William Henry Jenkins, No: 308004, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warrior which was sunk during the Battle of Jutland, was born on 20.3.1883, in Liverpool, Son of William and Emma Jenkins of Southport. He died on 1.6.1916 aged 34 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 633, Queensferry Cemetery. William was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman John Bowes No: 211518, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Ardent, which was sunk during the Battle of Jutland, was born on 9.5.1885 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Husband of Harriet Bowes of Dorset, he died on 1.6.1916 aged 31. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 634, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Midshipman Humphrey Mercer Lancelot Durrant, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Queeen Mary, which was sunk during the Battle of Jutland, was born on 16.3.1898, son of Rev C.A Durrant,York. He died of injuries on 1.6.1916 aged 18. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 657, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 1st Class Albert Edward Roberts,No: K/2444, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Fortune, was born on 21.10.1890 in London. He died on 1.6.1916 aged 25 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 636, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Officers Cook 3rd Class, Spiro Borg, No: 362569, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Pembroke, was born on 15.6.1885 in Valetta, Malta to Lorenzo and Lorenza Borg. He died on 9.6.1916 aged 27, of injuries received during the Battle of Jutland on 31.5.1916 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1422, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman James Munday, No: Z/5872, of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, Clyde Division, serving on HMS Lion, was born on 6.2.1889. He died on 23.6.1916, aged 27, of injuries received during the Battle of Jutland. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1242, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 1st Class Frederick Jeremiah White No: K/18490, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Lion, Born 12.12.1894, in Devon, died on 3.7.1916, aged 21, from injuries received during the Battle of Jutland 31.5.1916. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1419, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Other 1916 Losses
Able Seaman, John Joseph Keane,No: J/13211, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Warspite was born on 18.1.1894 in County Cork, Ireland. Son of Mary and the late John Keane of Dublin, Ireland, he died in Butlaw Royal Naval Hospital, from Meningitis on 17.7.1916 aged 22. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1428 , Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Boy 1st Class, Ignatius John Jay, No: 221674, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Princess Royal, was born in Tilsbury Wiltshire on 2.7.1899. Son of Mary Burningham (formerly Jay) and late George Jay, Bournmouth. He died from injuries received when ship in collision, on 20.1.1916 aged 16. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1369 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Leading Signalman Edward Burnell No: 221674, of the Royal Navy, served on Her Majesty's Torpedo Boat 13, which sunk in a collision, was born on 16.2.1887 in Plymouth. He died in the North Sea, from injuries, on 27.1.1916 aged 28. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:1406, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Signalman Edgar Foster No: J/9194, of the Royal Navy, serving on Her Majesty's Torpedo Boat No 13, which sunk in collision, was born on 20.8.1894 in Leeds. He died on 27.1.1916 aged 22. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1409, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Ordinary Seaman Albert Lind, No: J/26804, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Inflexible, was born on 5.3.1896 in Shoreham, Sussex. He died on 13.2.1916 aged 22 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1371, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Able Seaman Vincent Henry Valentine, No: ZP/1140, of the Royal Navy Voluntary Reserve, serving on HMS Britannia, was born on 27.10.1895 in London, Son of Ernest and Jane Vincent. He died from Illness on 13.2.1916 aged 21. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1370 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker Roy David Justice, No: 3537, of the Australian Royal Navy, serving on HMAS Australia was born on 10.3.1895 in Thoona, Victoria, Australia, to D.J. and Isabella Justice. He died on 5.3.1916, aged 20, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1410, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Boy Telegraphist Harry Arnold Searle, No: J/36358, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Nottingham, was born on 21.8.18789 in Torpoint, Cornwall, son of Harriet Hayward formerly Searle. He died from Illness on 6.3.1916 aged 36 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:1407, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Chief Stoker Charles William Allcock, No: 288696, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Africa, was born on 4.3.1879 in Norfolk. Husband of Alice, he died from Illness on 11.3.1916 aged 37 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1408, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals, also Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.

Able Seaman Thomas Lynch, No: SS/5420, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Roxburgh, was born on 3.5.1893 in Bury, Lancashire. He died from Illness on 20.3.1916 aged 21. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1423, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Officers Steward 3rd Class Herbert Southcott, No: L/6471, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Pembroke, was born on 26.8.1896 in Woodford, Essex. He died from Illness on 25.3.1916 aged 19. Herbert is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1414, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the British War Medal.

Petty Officer Stoker Albert Edward Bull, No:291175, Royal Navy, Her Majesty's Torpedo Boat No: 31, died from Illness on 29.3.1916 aged 39. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1411, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 star, Victory and British War medals.

Leading Stoker Thomas Edward Harrold, No: K/6619, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Vivid, was born in Bethnal Green, London, on 25.10.1881, and he died from Illness on 21.4.1916 aged 34. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1412, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Ordinary Seaman Thomas Edwin Seal Mann, No: J/24153, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Africa, was born on 12.1.1898 in Downham Market, Norfolk. He died on 23.4.1916 aged 18 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1413, Queensferry cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Ordinary Seaman Sydney Tom Cooley, No: 19908, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Princess Royal, was born in Valetta, Malta on 14.2.1897. He died on 26.4.1916 aged 19 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1415. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

2nd Lieutenant William Mackie, a Bank Clerk, of the 3/6th Battalion Royal Scots, was born on 22.5.1892 in Lilybank, Queensferry. His Parents were William, a Manager of Distillery, and Annie Mackie ms Bonar. He died on 29.4.1916, aged 23, in Craigleith Military Hospital, of Sarcoma of left lung and Respiratory Failure. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 694, Queensferry Cemetery. William was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. Read more in 'Memorials'- 1916.

Able Seaman Clifford Frank Owens No:3237 of the Australian Royal Navy, serving on HMAS Australia was born on 5.5.1895 Bushville, Victoria, Australia to John and Elizabeth Owens. He died of illness on 12.11.1916 aged 21. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 649, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 1st Class John Coleman No:SS/112033, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Victory, was born on 30.3.1894, in Leeds. He died of illness on 8.5.1916 aged 21. he is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1416, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 2nd Class, Nigel James Gardiner, No: K/26928, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Pembroke, was born on 15.5.1897, in London. He died from Illness on 28.5.1916 aged 19. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star,Victory and British War Medal, and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1417, Queensferry Cemetery.

Private Robert Collingwood, No: PLY/15571. of the Royal Marines, No: PLY 1557, serving on HMS Lion, was born on 28.7.1893 in Dorley, Shropshire. He died of wounds received as a result of enemy action on 4.6.1916, aged 22. Robert is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1418, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals. His brother Joseph served with the Shropshire Light Infantry and was a prisoner of war in Germany.

Leading Stoker James Quinn No: K3927, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Tiger, Born 7.2.1890 in Fife, he died on 5.7.1916, aged 26, in Butlaw Royal Naval Hospital, from Gangrene, as a result of an accident received on 1st July. His Mother lived in Dundee. James is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1426, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker 2nd Class John Joseph Chiddle,No: K/23472, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Gunner, was born on 21.9.1894 in Emsworth, Sussex. He died from Illness on 8.7.1916 aged 22 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1429, Queensferry Cemetery. John was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Leading Seaman Harry Hudson Bird, No: 92464, of the Royal Navy, serving in Royal Navy War Signal Station Seacliffe, Scotland, was born on 9.5.1860 in Cheltenham. He first enlisted in Portsmouth in 1878 for 10 years then again in 1898 for another 10 years. He married Letitia Bendy in 1902, in Portsmouth. He served on several Ships and was discharged in 1910 due to his age. He became Leading seaman on HMS Victory 1, in Sept 1914 and was based in Seacliffe, Scotland from Oct 1914-1916. He died from Heart Disease on 20.7.1916 aged 56. He was awarded the British War Medal.

Chief Sick Berth Steward William Charles Bond No: 359523, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Plassy, was born on 11.8.1875 in Southsea, Hampshire to Benjamin and Sarah Bond. He died from Illness on 26.8.1916 aged 35. William is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 647, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Petty Officer Stoker Alfred Vanstone No: 277434, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Vivid was born on 22.7.1874 in Hartland, Devon. He was married to Bessie Vanstone, Devon. He died from Illness, on 28.10.1916 aged 42 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 642, Queensferry Cemetery. Alfred was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medal.

Able Seaman George Stonehouse No: SS/4242, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Queen Elizabeth was born on 9.3.1895 in Coventry, Warwickshire and he died from illness on 29.10.1916 aged 21, son of George and Lizzy Stonehouse, Coventry. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 648, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medal.

Able Seaman Clifford Frank Owens No: 3237, of the Royal Australian Navy No:3237, serving on HMAS Australia, was born on 5.5.1895 in Bushfield, Victoria, Australia, to James and Elizabeth Owens. He died on 12.11.1916 aged 21 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 694, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Cullen No: 127004, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Victory, was born on 9.9.1868, in Elsmington, Kent. He died from Illness on 27.11.1916 aged 49. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 650, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Boy 1st Class Ronald Rothsey Wright No: 4459, of the Royal Australian Navy, serving on HMAS Australia, No:4459, was born on 2.9.1900 in Peterhead, South Australia. His Mother was Mrs Charlotte Wright , of Millicent, South Australia. He died of a Fractured Skull and drowning, on 21.12.1916, aged 16. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 651, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 star, Victory and British war Medals.

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© Queensferry History Group 2015

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January 1st, 2015

1/1/2015

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Commonwealth Graves 1915

1/1/2015

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HMS Tiger

There are 42 names for Commonwealth Graves 1915, here we have a little information on them all.
Images courtesy of members of 'Naval Warship Forum'

-Battle of Dogger Bank, North Sea, 24th January 1915.

Three men in Queensferry Cemetery, on HMS Tiger, died during the Battle of Dogger Bank, 24th January 1915.
A German force of 4 Battle Cruisers , 4 Light Cruisers and 22 Destroyers left their German port to attack targets on the English Coastline. On the same day a Royal Navy fleet of 6 Battle Cruisers, 8 Light Cruisers and 28 Destroyers had left Scapa Flow to patrol the North Sea.
The Naval Battle which ensued lasted three hours with the German losing the Battle Cruiser Blucher which was sunk by Gun fire and torpedo hits. The British Flag ship HMS Lion was hit in the engine room and was halted. Many of the ships that took part received damage, but the casualties to the Germans were 1,000 killed and 300 wounded compared to the British losses of 6 killed and 22 wounded.
HMS Tiger was so badly damaged at the battle of Dogger Bank in January 1915 that she was reported sunk by German propaganda.

Memorial by Officers and Men of HMS Tiger to 5 men buried at sea, 2 men buried at home and the three men buried here.

Stoker 1st Class, Benjamin Hambrey, No: 230224, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Tiger, died on 24.1.1915 aged 28. He was killed in action during the Battle of Dogger Bank. He was born in 1887 in Stourbridge, Worcester. Benjamin is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 559 in South Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Boy 1st Class Patrick O'Mahoney - 24.1.1915 aged 16

Boy 1st Class, Patrick O'Mahoney, No: J/29248, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Tiger, a Labourer, born in 1898 in Clodagh, Cork, Ireland, was killed in action on 24.1.1915 during the Battle of Dogger Bank, in the North Sea. Patrick was buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 577 in South Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.
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Stoker 1st Class William Manfield (Mansfield on stone) - 24.1.1915 aged 23

Stoker 1st Class William Manfield, No: K/7847, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Tiger, was killed in action on 24.1. 1915, aged 23, during the Battle of Dogger Bank, in the North Sea. He was born in 1892 in Cardiff, Wales. His parents were William T Manfield, a Haulier and Elizabeth Manfield. William is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 561 in South Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Others in 1915

Engine Room Artificer George Edward Parry - 3.1.1915 aged 38

Engine Room Artificer, George Edward Parry, No:270118, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Sentinel, was born in 1877 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. His Parents were John Parry, Farm Bailiff, and Mary Ann Parry. He died from illness on 3.1.1915, aged 38. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 562 in South Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Major Francis Arthur Nelson - 13.2.1915 aged 40

Major Francis Arthur Nelson, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Serving on HMS Hibernia, was born in 1875 in Rangoon, Burma. His Parents were William Nelson, a Major of the Royal Artillery and Helen Nelson. In 1902 Francis married Edith Ellen. He had an extensive naval career, first enlisting in 1894. He died on 13.2.1915 aged 40, on board Hospital Ship 'Rewa' whilst on active service. Francis is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 565 in South Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Bronze Medal and Certificate from the Royal Humane Society in 1895 for attempting to save a Private who sank while bathing, and the South African Medal and Clasp 1902, for Orange Free State, Transvaal and Natal, and Kings South African Medal and clasps “S. Africa 1901” and “S. Africa 1902”. Francis was also awarded the 1914/15 Star and the Victory and British War Medals.
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Able Seaman William Scott Smith - 13.2.1915 aged 23

Able Seaman William Scott Smith No:SS/3194, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Antrim, was born on 16.7.1891 in Liverpool and his Parents were George and Sarah Ann Smith. He died from illness on 13.2.1915 aged 23. William is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref 571, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Sick Berth Steward John William Fryer, No:350655, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Roxburgh, was born in Camberwell, London on 9.8.1877, only son of Enos, a Railway Goods Inspector and Suzanna Fryer. He died from illness on 17.2.1915 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 589, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals
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Stoj=ker 1st Class Stephen Herbert Merret - 22.2.1915 aged 40

Stoker 1st Class Stephen Herbert Merret, No:280417, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Vivid, was born on 25.11.1874 in Devizes, Wiltshire. His Parents were James and Maria Merrett. James worked for the Wiltshire Friendly Society (Pension). He died of Cellulitis on 22.2.1915 aged 40. Stephen was buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:585, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals
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Ordinary Seaman Francis Burnard - 23.2.1915

Ordinary Seaman Francis Burnard No:J/20524, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS New Zealand, died from illness on 23.2.1915. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 587 Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Stoker Thomas O'Grady - 3.3.1915

Stoker Thomas O'Grady, No:4211, of Royal Navy Reserve, serving on HMS New Zealand, died from illness on 3.3.1915. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 579 Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Ordinary Seaman William Kenneth Buck - 10.3.1915 aged 17

Ordinary Seaman William Kenneth Buck, No:2127, of the Royal Australian Navy, serving on HMS Australia, was born on 28.4.1897 in Devonport, West Tasmania and his Father was William Henry Buck of Tasmania. He died of Pneumonia in Linlithgow on 10.3.1915, aged 17. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 575, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Able Seaman Conrad de Courcey Stretton - 12.3.1915 aged 24

Able Seaman Conrad de Courcey Stretton, No:2955, of the Royal Australian Navy, serving on HMS Australia, enlisted on 8.9.1913. He was born on 15.5.1889 in Gosport, England, son of Capt. and Mrs W S de Coursey Stretton, Devon. He died of Congestion of the Lungs, in Hospital, South Queensferry, on 12.3.1915, aged 24 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 573, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.

Stoker Albert Victor Ison - 16.3.1915 aged 19

Stoker Albert Victor Ison, No:3472, of the Royal Australian Navy, serving on HMS Australia, enlisted in Australia. He was born on 7.5.1894 in Bristol. His Mother was Ada Ware, formerly Ison. He died of Epilepsy, in Rosyth, on 16.3.1915 aged 19 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:569, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/125 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Ordinary Seaman Oscar Nixon - 25.3.1915 aged 17

Ordinary Seaman Oscar Nixon No:2250, of the Royal Australian Navy, serving on HMAS Australia, enlisted in Sydney on 2.10.1912. He was born on 19.12.1897 in Warialda, New South Wales, Australia, to Richard and Jessie Nixon, NSW Australia. He died of Pneumonia, in Rosyth, on 25.3.1915 aged 17. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 567, Queensferry Cemetery.
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Stoker 1st Class John William Gilbert - 26.3.1915 aged 23

Stoker 1st Class John William Gilbert, No:SS/113191, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Cordelia, was born on 16.10.1892 in Birmingham. He died on 26.3.1915 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 563, Queensferry Cemetery.
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Lieutenant Thomas Montague Vincent - 11.4.1915

Lieutenant Thomas Montague Vincent, of the Royal Navy Reserves, serving on HM Naval Trawler 'Cave' died on 11.4.1915. He is buried in Commonwealth Graves Ref: 1343, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star and the Victory and British War Medals.
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Ordinary Seaman Harry Patrick - 20.3.1915 aged 18

Ordinary Seaman Harry Patrick, No:28795, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Southampton, was born on 16.11.1897 in York, to Henry and Caroline Patrick Southampton. He died from illness on 20.3.1915 aged 18. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 560, Queensferry Cemetery. Harry was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Private john Edward Hewitt - 15.4.1915 aged 37

Private John Edward Hewitt, No:CH/10487, of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, enlisted in 1896 while employed as a Labourer. He married Ellen Emily Cox, in Kent on 24.12.1912. John died on 15.4.1915, aged 37, of Sickness and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1344, Queensferry Cemetery. John was awarded Long Service and Good Conduct medal, 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Able Seaman Harry Glanfield - 25.4.1915 aged 19

Able Seaman Harry Glanfield, No:J/17461, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Lion, born on 29.9.1895 in Devon, died from illness on 25.4.1915 aged 19 and is buried in Commonwealth Graves Ref: 1345 Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Chief Stoker Samuel Joseph Edwards - 28.4.1915 aged 39

Chief Stoker Samuel Joseph Edwards, No:175834, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS New Zealand, was born on 12.7.1875 in Devon. He died on 28.4.1915 aged 39. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1349 in Queensferry Cemetery.
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Boy servant Kenneth McLeod - 28.4.1915

Boy Servant Kenneth Mcleod, No:937445, of Mercantile Marine Reserves, serving on FPV Norna, a Scottish Fishery Board Cruiser, died of Illness, on 28.4.1915. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1346, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the British War Medal.
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Stoker 2nd Class Theodore Gordon Jennings Ward - 12.5.1915 aged 24

Stoker 2nd Class Theodore Gordon Jennings Ward, No:3988, of the Royal Australian Navy serving on HMAS Australia, enlisted on 4.8.1914 in Australia. He was born on 30.5.1895 in Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia. He died of Pneumonia, in Rosyth, on 12.5.1915 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1347, Queensferry Cemetery.
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Boy 1st Class Horace Perring - 14.5.1915 aged 17

Boy 1st Class Horace Perring, No:J/28208, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Tiger, died from illness on 14.5.1915 aged 17. He was the son of Mrs F Gilbey (formerly Perring) of Torpoint, Devon and the late W Perring (R.N.) He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1352 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Leading Stoker George Thornley - 29.5.1915 aged 27

Leading Stoker George Thornley No:225786, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Liverpool, was born on 23.0.1887 in Stratford, Lincolnshire. He died on 29.5.1915 aged 27.He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1348, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star and the Victory and British War Medals.
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Stoker 1st Class Henry James Parker Warren - 10.6.1915 aged 22

Stoker 1st class, Henry James Parker Warren, No:K/14452, of Royal Navy serving on HMS Indefatigable, was born in Devon on 13.9.1892. He died from illness on 10.6.1915 aged 22. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1350, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Stoker 1st Class Henry Seaward - 6.7.1915 aged 23

Stoker 1st Class Henry Seaward, No:305284, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Nottingham, was born on 9.3.1882 in Devon. He from illness died on 6.7.1915 aged 23. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1351, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star , Victory and British War Medals.
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Private Edwin Smith - 9.7.1915

Private Edwin Smith, No:PLY/3885, of the Royal Marines, serving on HMS New Zealand, died from illness on 9.7.1915. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1353, Queensferry Cemetery.
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Able Seaman Harold Leonard Leonard - 17.7.1915 aged 19

Able Seaman Harold Leonard Leonard, No:J/16071, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Indomnitable, was born on 13.4.1896 in London. He died by drowning on 17.7.1915 aged 19. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1354, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Private William Arthur Woodage - 27.7.1915

Private William Richard Arthur Woodage, No:CH/17312, of Royal Marines Light Infantry, Chatham Division, died from illness on 27.7.1915. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave ref: 1355, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Signal Boy William Mahoney - 30.7.1915 aged 17

Signal Boy William Mahoney, No:J/32165, of Royal Navy, serving on H S Victory was born in London on 17.12.1897. He was the son of John and Eliza Mahoney of London. He died from illness on 30.7.1915 aged 17 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:1355. Queensferry Cemetery William was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Able Seaman John Close - 2.8.1915 aged 29

Able Seaman John Close No:216280 of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Indefatigable, was born in Belfast, Ireland on 8.10.1885. He died from illness on 2.8.1915 aged 29. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1356, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star , Victory and British War Medals.
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Commissioned Gunner George William Comley - 10.8.1915 aged 45

Able Seaman Robert Thomson - 13.8.1915 aged 20

Able Seaman Robert Thomson,No:J/14034, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Devonshire, was born on 26.12.1894 in Swindon, Wiltshire. He died from illness on 13.8.1915 aged 20 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1359, Queensferry Cemetery. Robert was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Scullion Xaviar Da Costa died 5.9.1915

Scullion Xaviar Da Costa, of the Merchant Marines serving on HMS Plassy was married to Joanna Da Costa, Bombay. He died on 5.9.1915 and is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref:1360, Queensferry Cemetery. He was awarded the Mercantile Marine Medal.
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Painter 2nd Class George Sobey - 6.11.1915 aged 27

Painter 2nd Class George Sobey,No:M/1485, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Fearless was born on 1.5.1888 in Bristol. He died during an unrecorded collision on 6.11.1915 aged 27. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1361, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star , Victory and British War Medals.
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Petty Officer James Mahoney - 28.9.1915 aged 33

Petty Officer James Mahoney, No:196155, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Fearless died on 28.9.1915 aged 33, caus recorded as unknown. His Father was James Mahoney, Co.Cork, Ireland, and he was husband of Kathleen Mahoney, Co.Cork, Ireland. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1362, Queensferry Cemetery, and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Petty Officer Arthur Ewens - 2.11.1915 aged 37

Petty Officer Arthur Ewens, No:174032, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Victory was born on 31.3.1878 in Kent. He died from illness on 2.11.1915 aged 37. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1363, Queensferry Cemetery and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Able Seaman Arthur John Oblin - 6.11.1915 aged 26

Able Seaman Arthur John Oblin, No: 236035 of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Orion, was born on 5.7.1889 in St Helliers, Jersey.Hs parents were Joseph and Mary Ann Obin. He died 6.11.1915 aged 26. He is buried in Commonwealth Garve Ref: 1364. Arthur was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War medals.
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Ships Steward Assistant Albert Frederick Payne - 14.11.1915 aged 33

Ships Steward Assistant, Albert Frederick Payne, No:341243, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Inflexible, was born on 22.6.1881 in Kent and died in the UK on 14.11.1915 aged 33. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1365 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Stoker 1st Class Frank Alford - 17.11.1815 aged 24

Stoker 1st Class Frank Alford, No:SS/110147, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Princess Royal was born on 5.4.1891 in Hampshire. He died on 17.11.1915 aged 24. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1366 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star and the Victory and British War Medals.
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Master at Arms Frank Shergold - 24.11.1915 aged 44

Master at Arms Frank Shergold, No:150141, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Drina, was born on 10.1.1873 in Wiltshire. His Parents were William and Elizabeth Shergold and he was husband of Edith Rosa Shergold of Portsmouth. He died from illness on 24.11.1915 aged 44. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1367 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Officers Steward 2nd class Arthur Thomas Chalkley - 1.12.1915 aged 19

Officers Steward 2nd Class, Arthur Thomas Chalkley, No:L/3829, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS King Edward, was born on 15.3.1896 in London. He died from illness on 1.12.1915 aged 19. He is buried in Commonwealth Grave Ref: 1368 and was awarded the 1914/15 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Images copyright Frank Hay Queensferry History Group

© Queensferry History Group 2015

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1914 Commonwealth Graves, South Queensferry Cemetery

1/12/2014

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Queensferry Cemetery, Commonwealth Graves, 1914
Listed Alphabetically

Able Seaman Thomas Vincent Badger - 16.9.1914 aged 29

Able Seaman Thomas Vincent Badger, No:210722,of the Royal Navy, served in the Persian Gulf in 1912. He was a Labourer when he enlisted in Chatham in 1902, for 12 years. In 1901 aged 16 he was a Boy 2nd Class, on board HMS Caledonia. In 1911, aged 26, he was an Able Seaman on HMS Highflyer, Flagship of the East Indies Station.
He was serving on Her Majesty's Torpedo Boat No: ‘25’, when he died of Disease of the Stomach, on 16.9.1914 age 29, in South Queensferry Hospital.
His Parents were Thomas, a Bark Porter, and Martha Badger, both born in Ireland, living in Hull. He had 3 Brothers and 2 sisters.
Thomas is buried in Commonwealth Graves, Ref No: 576, South Queensferry Cemetery
He was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medals.
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Petty Officer Stoker Arthur Thomas Cattanach, No:K/3437, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Queen Mary, died in Sick Quarters, Queensferry, of Enteric Fever (Typhoid) on 18th September 1914, aged 24. He enlisted in 1904 for a 12 year term.
He was born in 1890 in London, and his Parents were Arthur, a Brass Polisher and Charlotte, a Boot Machinist, working from home. He had 3 brothers and 2 Sisters.
In 1911 he was on Board HMS Duke of Edinburgh,
part of the 5th Cruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet.
Arthur is buried in South Queensferry Cemetery, Commonwealth Graves, Ref No: 574.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, The Victory and British War Medals.
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Petty Officer Stoker James Colgan - 3.10.1914 aged 32

Petty Officer Stoker James Colgan, No:297513, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Erin, died on 3.10.1914, aged 32 years. He died on board Hospital Ship ‘Drina’ as a result of burns sustained in an explosion on HMS Erin, on 25.9.1914. He was born in 1883 in Lancashire. His Parents were John, A Railway Platelayer and Catherine Colgan, both born in Ireland. He had 5 Brothers and 5 Sisters. His occupation, Coal Miner.
He married Ellen Sherry in 1914, and she was living in Bolton.
James is buried in South Queensferry Cemetery, Commonwealth Graves, Ref No: 570.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Officer's Steward, Clarence Herbert Flatman - 25.12.1914 aged 29

Officer's Steward, Clarence Herbert Flatman, occupation, Pantryman, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Aquarius –Destroyer Depot Ship –ex SS Hampstead, died from Asphyxiation (choking) on 25th December 1914 aged 29. He was born in 1884 in London. His Parents were Herbert, an Advertising Agent and Clara Flatman ms Lorrimer. He had 1 Sister, Elsie. In 1901, aged 17, Clarence is a Newsagent Assistant and in 191, aged 27, he is a Traveller in Coffee, Tea and Cocoa.
Clarence is buried in South Queensferry Cemetery,
Commonwealth Graves, Ref No: 566.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, the Victory and British War Medals.
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Stoker 1st class Thomas Mitchell-27.12.1914 aged 22

Stoker 1st Class Thomas Mitchell , a Greengrocers Porter, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Indomitable, died on 27.12.1914, aged 22 years, on board HMS Indomitable. Cause of death was a Fractured Skull, caused by a Derrik breaking while coaling ship. He was born in Maidstone, Kent in 1892 and his Mother was Mary Mitchell.Thomas is buried in South Queensferry Cemetery, Commonwealth Graves, Ref No: 654.He was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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Private Alexander Welsby - 6.12.1914 aged 18

Private Alexander Welsby, occupation, Gardeners Assistant, of the Royal Marines, serving on HMS Argyll, died 6th December 1914 aged 18, as a result of an accident.
He was born in 1896 in Bootle, Kent and is living with his Aunt Ann Brown in Bootle in 1901 aged 5. In 1911, age 15, he is an Inmate of Standon Boy’s Farm Home, a Certified Industrial School, Eccleshall, Staffs,
run by the Church of England Waifs and Strays Society. At the time of his death, his Guardian is listed as Mr J Davidson, Boy’s Farm Home, Standon Bridge, Staffs.
He enlisted in 1913 aged 17 and was marked under age until his 18th birthday. His next of Kin was his Uncle Alexander Brown.
Alexander is buried in the South Queensferry Cemetery,
Commonwealth Grave Ref No: 568.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, the Victory and British War Medals.
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Private Charles Sydney Whitaker - 15.10.1914

Private Charles Sydney Whitaker, alias Charles Barnes, of Royal Marine Light Infantry, Chatham Division, serving on HMS New Zealand, an Electrician, died on 15th October 1914 aged 31, through Illness. He was born in 1884 in Norwich. His Parents were William and Harriet Whitaker and he had 1 Brother and 2 sisters.
Charles first enlisted as Charles Barnes in 1901 and was marked as under age from October until July 1902 then invalided out in January 1907. He re-enlisted as Charles Whitaker in September 1914.
Charles is buried in South Queensferry Cemetery,
Commonwealth Graves, Ref No: 570.
He was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory and British War Medals.
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HMS Pathfinder 

HMS Pathfinder – a Light Cruiser, which was Torpedoed and Sunk by the German U.21 off St Abb’s Head, Berwickshire, Scotland, on Saturday 5th September 1914. Being short of coal, and only reaching a speed of 5 knots, made her an easy target. She was hit at 15.50 pm - and sank within 29 minutes, with a loss of 259 men. Research shows there were a possible 18 known survivors. The HMS Pathfinder was the first ship to be sunk by a Locomotive Torpedo fired by Submarine.
'Marine Quest', Eyemouth divers, laid a plaque on the Pathfinder wreck, during the week beginning 2nd September 2014 (Pathfinder sank on the 5th).

There are names of two men who served on the HMS Pathfinder, in Queensferry Cemetery Commonwealth Graves.

Leading Cooks Mate Thomas James Howard - 5.9.1914 aged 25

Leading Cooks Mate, Thomas James Howard, of the Royal Navy, serving on HMS Pathfinder, died on 5th September 1914 aged 25, in the North Sea. Thomas was born in 1889 in Stepney, London.
In the 1911 Census, aged 24, he is Ship’s Cooks Mate in the Royal Navy. He married Matilda in 1910 and they lived in Poplar, England. They had no children at this time.
He is buried in Commonwealth Grave - Ref No: 581. South Queensferry Cemetery
Thomas was awarded the 1914 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.
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Stoker 1st Class Alfred Rumbles - 5.9.1914 aged 29

Also Stoker 1st Class, Alfred Rumbles, occupation Agricultural Labourer, of the Royal Navy serving on HMS Pathfinder, died on 5th September 1914, aged 29, in the North Sea. He was born in 1887 in Norfolk, Parents Robert, a Farm Labourer and Martha Rumbles (previous married name- Gidney). He had I Sister and I Brother and 2 older step Brothers and 1 older Stepsister.
On April 2nd 1911 Census– He was on board HMS Scylla, as Stoker 1st Class.
Parish listed as - Australia and South Africa.
He is buried in Commonwealth Grave - Ref No: 578. South Queensferry Cemetery
Alfred was awarded the 1914 Star, the Victory and British War Medals.
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Memorial Images copyright to Frank Hay, Queensferry History Group
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