Category Archives: killed in action

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Lancashire, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class William Eley

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Stoker 1st Class William Eley

William Charles Eley was born on 13th February 1890 in Liverpool, Lancashire. One of nine children, his parents were William and Ellen Eley. William Sr was noted as being a butcher on his son’s baptism record, but by the following year’s census, he was recorded as being a general labourer, and this is the line of work in which he continued.

When William Jr completed his schooling, he found employment as a carter. He sought bigger and better things, however, and, living so close to the Mersey dockyards, he was drawn to the sea. On 13th March 1908 he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having amole on his right cheek.

William was sent to HMS Acheron for his initial training. He spent six months on board, before moving to his first posting on board the battleship HMS Albermarle. She would be Stoker Eley’s home for the next eighteen months, and he gained a promotion to Stoker 1st Class during this time.

Over the next three years, William would serve on two more ships – HMS Victorious and HMS Lancaster. In between assignments, he was based at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. On 15th March 1913, he completed his initial contract of five years’ service, and was transferred to reserve status.

This time back on civvy street would not last for long, however. On 2nd August 1914 William was mobilised once more and, after a few weeks back in Chatham, he was assigned to the battleship HMS Formidable. She was attached to the Channel Fleet, primarily guarding the south coast.

At 2:20am on Friday 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, the Formidable was torpedoed by the German submarine U-24. Other ships in the convoy tried to assist, but after a couple of hours – and another torpedo strike – the damage was too great and she sank. 120 members of the crew were saved, but more than 540 officer and crew – including Stoker 1st Class Eley – were lost. He was just 24 years of age.

Luckily, William Charles Eley’s body was recovered and identified. His father had died a few years before, and it seems likely that Ellen could not afford to have her son brought back to Lancashire for burial. Instead, he was laid to rest in a communal grave in Lyme Regis Cemetery, Dorset, high above the seaside town where he had been brought ashore.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Scotland, story, war

Private James Williamson

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Private James Williamson

In amongst the rows of naval headstones in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, is one dedicated to James Williamson, a Private in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He was killed in action on 27th May 1915, while attached to the ship HMS Princess Irene, and was 32 years of age when he passed.

There is little specific documentation relating to Private Williamson’s life, but what remains allows us to piece together something of the man he was.

James was born in the Dennistoun area of Glasgow in around 1883, and was one of five children to William and Jane Williamson. When he finished his schooling, he seems to have had a pull to the sea: whether this was because he was following in his father’s footsteps, or because of his home’s proximity to the river and docks is unclear.

By the time of the 1911 census, James was already serving in the Royal Marines. He was based on the cruiser HMS Philomel, which was in the Gulf of Oman on the day the census was taken, and was one of 19 Royal Marines on board our of a total compliment of 244 crew.

There is little more concrete information about Private Williamson’s life. By the spring of 1915, he had been assigned to the HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner requisitioned during the war and converted into a mine layer. On 27th May, she was moored off Sheerness in Kent, when a series of explosions ripped her apart. More than 270 crewmen were killed: this included the 32-year-old James.

The crew whose bodies were not able to be identified were laid to rest in a communal grave in Woodlands Cemetery: James Williamson was laid to rest nearby, in a burial of his own.

Interestingly, James’ entry on the Royal Navy and Royal Marines War Graves Roll gives his next of kin as a friend, Miss J Malone of 3 Ashview Terrace, Newton Mearns, near Glasgow. There is no other information about her.

Buckinghamshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, writer

Writer 1st Class Harry Goodger

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Writer 1st Class Harry Goodger

Harry Goodger was born on 15th April 1885, the fourth of five children – and the only boy – to George and Emma Goodger. George was a canal labourer from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, but by the time of his son’s birth, the family had settled in Tipton, Staffordshire.

Harry was initially committed to education and, by the time of the 1901 census, he was working as a school teacher. His heart seemed set on a career with more prospects, however, and so, on 2nd November 1904, he enlisted in the Royal Navy.

Harry’s service records show that he was 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall and that he had bark brown hair, dark brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a mole on his wight upper arm and another on his left breast.

Harry’s rank was Writer 3rd Class, which was the naval equivalent of a clerk. After an initial training period, he was assigned to the cruiser HMS Terrible. Over the next decade, he served on ten further ships, and was based at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, in between voyages.

Writer Goodger slowly progressed through the ranks during his naval service. On 1st November 1908 he was promoted to Writer 2nd Class, and on 31st October 1912 was raised to Writer 1st Class. Harry seems to have needed extra support, however, and he was knocked back to Writer 2nd Class on 25th April 1913, and sent back to Portsmouth for further training. By 23rd October 1914, however, while serving on HMS Bulwark, he again received a promotion to Writer 1st Class.

By the spring of 1915, Harry had been assigned to HMS Princess Irene. She an ocean liner that has been converted to a minelayer at the start of the war.

On 27th May 1915, while Irene was moored off Sheerness, Kent, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew. Writer Goodger was among those who perished: he was 30 years of age.

The body of Harry Goodger was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Writer 1st Class Harry Goodger
(from findagrave.com)

Harry’s surname is variously spelt Goodger and Goodyer across the documents that trace his life. While his headstone has the latter spelling, I have used Goodger, as this is what is recorded on his naval service records.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Norfolk, photography, Private, Royal Marines, story, war

Private William Preston

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Private William Preston

William Robert Preston was born on 2nd January 1888, and was the oldest of six children to William and Alice Preston. William Sr was a blacksmith from Norwich, Norfolk, and this is where the family were initially raised.

The 1901 census saw a move to Northamptonshire, however, the document confirming that the family were living at Tanner Cottages in the village of Walton.

When he finished his schooling, William Jr found work as a painter’s labourer. However, he sought bigger and better things and, on 5th June 1905, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a number of tattoos on his arms.

Private Preston was sent to barracks in Deal, Kent, for his initial training. He spent the best part of a year there, before being transferred to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in April 1906. He was given his first ocean-going posting in January 1907, when he joined the crew of the cruiser HMS Terrible.

Over the next eight years, Private Preston served on three further ships, returning to HMS Victory, Portsmouth, in between trips. In March 1915, he was assigned to HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner converted to a minelayer at the start of the war.

On 27th May 1915, while Irene was moored off Sheerness, Kent, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew. Private Preston was among those who perished, but whose body was identified: he was 27 years of age.

The body of William Robert Preston was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, Surrey, war

Stoker 2nd Class Samuel Castle

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Stoker 2nd Class Samuel Castle

Samuel George Castle was born on 1st November 1896 in Battersea, Surrey. The third of ten children, his parents were Samuel and Louisa Castle. His father was a gas fitter turned blacksmith and, by the time of the 1911 census, Samuel Jr was working as an errand boy for Army & Navy Stores.

When war broke out, Samuel was quick to step up and serve his country. On 6th March 1915, he gave up his job – he was by then employed as an equipment maker – to enlist in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class.

George was sent to HMS Pembroke, the dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. His service records show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with black hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Tragically, Stoker Castle’s time in the navy would not prove a lengthy one. By the end of May he was part of the crew of HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner that had been put into service as a minelayer when war was declared. On 27th May 1915, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew, Samuel included. He was just 18 years of age.

Samuel George Castle was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Ireland, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker George Marshall

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Stoker George Marshall

George Patrick Marshall was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 17th March 1896. One of ten children, his parents were plumber and gasfitter Robert Marshall and his wife, Rachel.

When he finished his schooling, George found work as a messenger. By the time war broke out, however, he was working as a builder’s mate. Keen to play his part and serve his country, he decided to enlist in the Royal Navy.

Stoker 2nd Class Marshall enlisted on 7th March 1915. His service records show a little of the man he had become. He was noted as being 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His first trip overseas took him to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, where he would receive his training.

Tragically, George’s time in the navy would not prove a lengthy one. By the end of May he was part of the crew of HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner that had been put into service as a minelayer when war was declared.

On 27th May 1915, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew, Stoker Marshall included. He was just 19 years of age.

George Patrick Marshall was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Commonwealth War Graves, Fireman, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Merchant Navy, photography, story, war

Fireman Robert McQueen

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Fireman Robert McQueen

In amongst the rows of naval headstones in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, is one dedicated to Robert McQueen. The inscription notes that he was a Fireman on board HMS Princess Irene, a liner that was conscripted by the Royal Navy as a minelayer during the First World War.

The headstone records that he died during the catastrophic explosion on 27th May 1915 that destroyed the ship, killing more than 300 people in the process. It also confirms that Robert was 23 years old when he died.

Birth records identify at least six Robert McQueens born in 1891/92, and without a place of birth, or parental names, it is not possible to definitively confirm which of these was serving on the Princess Irene on that fateful day. He was in what would become the Merchant Navy: their records are sparser than the Royal Navy equivalents, and none match the man who lies buried in Gillingham.

The life of Robert McQueen, therefore, is destined to remain lost to time, although his sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Signalman, story, Suffolk

Signalman Philip Files

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Signalman Philip Files

Phillip William Turner Files was born on 13th April 1894 in Walmer, Kent. One of eight children, his parents were George and Annie Files. George was a carpenter at a local colliery, but living so close to the sea, his son was inevitably drawn there. On 25th January 1910, Phillip gave up his life as an errand boy and joined the Royal Navy.

Phillip’s service records show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was just 15 years old when he enlisted, and, as he wasn’t of full age, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was initially sent to HMS Ganges, the shore-based establishment in Suffolk for his initial training.

Phillip remained at HMS Ganges for the next year, and was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 5th September 1910. The following January he was moved to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, also known as HMS Victory.

Over the next year, with Victory as his base, Boy Files was sent to serve on three ships – the dreadnought battleship HMS Albermarle, and the cruisers HMS Sappho and HMS Philomel. While on board Philomel, Phillip came of age and, because of his technical abilities, was given the rank of Ordinary Signaller – changing to Signalman when the ranks were updated later in 1912.

Phillip remained on Philomel until October 1913 and, after a brief spell back in Portsmouth, he was transferred to the armoured cruiser, the converted RMS Laconia. She was to be Signalman Files’ base for the next year, when, on 9th March 1915, he was transferred again, this time to HMS Princess Irene.

Princess Irene was a converted liner, requisitioned as a minelayer when war broke out. On 27th May 1915, an explosion ripped through the ship, while moored off Sheerness, Kent. Signalman Files was one of the 352 souls killed. He was just 21 years of age.

Phillip William Turner Files was laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent. His body having been identified, he was given his own grave, unlike those who were buried in a mass grave nearby.

Signalman Files’ headstone spells his first name with one L. However, all the other documents relating to Phillip spell it with two.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Ireland, killed in action, Northern Ireland, photography, Private, Somerset, Somerset Light Infantry, story, war

Private Frederick Bundy

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Private Frederick Bundy

Private Frederick Arthur Bundy, of the 1st Somerset Light Infantry is to be buried in Locksbrook Cemetery tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon with full military honours. He met with a fatal accident in Belfast on Sunday last. In the afternoon when in quarters he was passing from one room to another when a rifle which was bring cleaned by a comrade in the room which he was entering went off. The bullet passed through Private Bundy’s wrist and entered the stomach. He was at once removed to the military hospital, but passed away at midnight, from internal haemorrhage. Deceased, was the son of Mr FA Bundy, of 93 High Street, Upper Weston, and enlisted at the Drill Hall, Bath, in August 1919, when only 15 years of age, being accepted as he was a youth of exceptionally fine stature. At the time of his death he was 16 years and 10 months of age. After a short period of training at Taunton he went with a draft of Somersets to Ireland and was stationed for some time at Carrickfergus Castle, being moved into Belfast when the riots occurred there.

[Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette: Saturday 4th December 1920]

Frederick Arthur Bundy was born early in 1904, and was the middle of three children to Frederick and Mary Ann Bundy. Frederick Sr was a labourer from Bath, Somerset, and it was in the Weston area of the city that the family were born and raised.

The 1911 census – the only one Frederick Jr would be recorded on – noted the family as living at 45 High Street, Weston. The household consisted of Frederick Sr, Mary Ann, Frederick Jr, his older sister Sarah, younger brother William and Mary Ann’s daughter from a previous marriage, Annie.

Sadly, due to his young age, there is little additional documentation to build a picture of Frederick Jr’s life. He passed away on 28th November 1920, and was laid to rest in Bath’s Locksbrook Cemetery, not far from the family home.

Frederick Arthur Bundy’s funeral was shown in a photo-spread in the Bath Chronicle of 11th December 1920.

Editor’s Note: While Frederick enlisted nine months after the end of the First World War, his acceptance for a Commonwealth War Grave is because his passing being between the qualifying dates and the cause being as a result of his military service.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Gunner, history, injury, Kent, killed in action, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Somerset, story, war

Gunner Arthur Green

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Gunner Arthur Green

Arthur William Green was born on 27th August 1896, the middle of five children to William and Mary Green. William was a shoemaker, who was employed at the Clark’s factory in Street, Somerset, and this is where the family were born and raised.

Clark’s was the key employer in Street and, by the time of the 1911 census, five of the Green family were working for them. This included the 15 year old Arthur, whose job was a shoe cutter.

When war came to Europe, Arthur had already stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery in March 1914. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a scar on the back of his neck.

Private Green was initially under age for service in the regiment, only coming of age at the end of August 1914. He initially completed his training either in Chatham, Kent, or Plymouth, Devon, becoming a Gunner on 5th February 1915. That spring he was assigned to the battleship HMS Warspite, and would remain on board for the next four years.

In February 1918, Gunner Green was assigned to the 4th Battalion of the Royal Marines. Still serving on Warspite, on 23rd April he was involved in the Raid on Zeebrugge. A combined action by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the aim was to block the entrance to the port of Bruges-Zeebrugge by sinking obsolete ships. A total of 1700 men were involved, and, in the ensuing battle, some 200 were killed and 400 wounded.

Gunner Green was one of those who was injured in the battle. When the Warspite returned home, he was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, Kent, but his injuries were to prove too severe for him to overcome. He passed away on 17th May 1918, at the age of just 21 years old.

Arthur William Green was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the Chatham base he had briefly known as home.