Category Archives: Royal Navy

Cambridgeshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, London, Middlesex, Midshipman, Northamptonshire, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, story, war

Midshipman Gervase de Bless

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Midshipman Gervase de Bless

Gervase Anthony David Herewyt de Bless was born on 20th October 1897 in Westminster, Middlesex. One of two children, he was the surviving son of barrister Alfred de Bless and his wife Maud, born Maud Cary-Elwes. Both were renowned families – Maud’s brother going on to become the Bishop of Northampton. The family do not appear in the 1901 census, but by 1911 Gervase’s parents were living at 156 St James’ Court, with French lady’s maid Henriette Forestier.

Alfred died not long after the census was taken. Gervase, meanwhile, was installed as a boarder at Downside College, Somerset. One of 168 students, he was taught by twelve schoolmasters and a handful of Roman Catholic priests from the local abbey.

An exceptionally clever boy of very active minds and many interests, during his time in the School he distinguished himself in all branches of study, winning the Gregorian Medal in 1912. He passed the Higher Certificate three times, twice gaining distinction in French and twice in Roman History. For three years he played in the Junior Cricket Eleven, which he captained in 1912. From 1908 to 1912 he sang in the choir as a treble, and he took a leading part with much success in “The Gondoliers,” and in “HMS Pinafore.” In 1914 he was Editor of The Raven, and he was on the committee of the Petre Library. In this year also he was awarded the Higher Certificate Latin Prose Prize given by St Gregory’s Society. On leaving Downside he spent two terms at Cambridge under the tuition of Mgr Barnes. Sensitive and somewhat retiring, and with health far from robust, he faced the situation created by the war with splendid courage, and obtained a cadetship in the Royal Navy. A skilful angler, fishing had ever been his favourite recreation, and on this pleasant pastime he wrote some charming verses which were afterwards collected in a little booklet.

[Baliol College War Memorial Book]

Gervase was given the rank of Midshipman in February 1916, and was assigned to the battleship HMS Revenge the following month. Before his posting he had suffered a bout of influenza, and had a relapse within days of boarding. He died from a combination of influenza and diabetes on 23rd March 1916, just two days after joining Revenge. He was just 18 years of age.

…rites of the Church… were administered to him by Dom Jerome Tunnicliffe, of St Mary’s, Liverpool, a monk of Downside.

[Baliol College War Memorial Book]

The body of Gervase Anthony David Herewyt de Bless was taken to Northamptonshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the ground of St Andrew’s Church, Great Billing, the last resting place of the Cary-Elwes family and de Bless families.

Midshipman Gervase de Bless
(from findagrave.com)
Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Northamptonshire, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker Herbert Barber

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Stoker Herbert Barber

The early life of Herbert Frederick Barber is a challenge to unpick. His navy service papers confirm that he was born on 12th December 1877 in Great Billing, Northamptonshire. His is not an uncommon name for the area, and Herbert Barbers appear on a number of census records. His parents are likely to have been shoe maker Frederick Barber and his wife, Jane.

In the summer of 1898, Herbert married Agnes Wood. He had found work as a bricklayer’s labourer by this point, and had set up home in Weston Favell, to the east of Northampton town centre. Agnes was a farm labourer’s daughter from nearby Great Billing: the couple went on to have six children – of whom four survived infancy.

The 1911 census found the Barber family – Herbert, Agnes and children Edith, Lilian, Fred and James – living in a five-roomed house in Weston Favell. Herbert was still labouring, but gave his employer as the navy.

When war broke out, Herbert stepped up to serve his country. He enlisted on 22nd September 1915, and his service records give his occupation as a gas stoker (although this was crossed out and replaced with “feller’s mate”). He was recorded as being 5ft 8.5ins (1.74m) tall, with grey hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Herbert took on the role of Stoker 1st Class, and was sent to HMS Victory – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire – for his training. He remained there for six months – including ten days in the cells for an unrecorded offence – before being sent down the coast to Dartmouth in Devon.

Stoker Barber remained on-shore for his naval career. By July 1917 he had returned to Portsmouth, and this is where he would stay for the next fourteen months. In the summer of 1918 he fell ill, and was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Haslar with pneumonia. The condition would prove his undoing: he passed away on 7th September, at the age of 40 years old.

Barber, Pte. [sic] HF, husband of Mrs Barber of Weston Favell, and son of Mr and Mrs F Barber, Great Billing, died of pneumonia on September 7, after four days’ illness at RN Hospital, Haslar.

[Northampton Mercury – Friday 20 September 1918]

The body of Herbert Frederick Barber was taken back to Northamptonshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the Great Billing Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Agnes was left to raise her children alone. The 1939 England and Wales Register found her living at 10 High Street, Weston Favell, next door to her son Fred and his family. Working as a small shop keeper, she also had two boarders to bring in some additional money.

Agnes lived on until the age of 98: she died on 27th February 1975.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, Herefordshire, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Herbert Lee

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Stoker 1st Class Herbert Lee

Herbert Lee was born in the Herefordshire village of Dilwyn on 16th August 1896. The sixth of eight children, he was one of five sons to Charles and Frances Lee. Charles was a waggoner on a local farm and, when he finished his schooling, his son found work as a farm hand there.

When war broke out, Herbert was quick to step up and play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 14th October 1914, taking on the role of Stoker 2nd Class. His service papers show that he was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Lee was sent to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent – also known as HMS Pembroke – for his training. Over the next five years, he seems to have been mainly shore-based, transferring between units in Chatham and at HMS Victory, the navy dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire. In August 1915, he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class, and his records note a very good character with a superior ability.

Herbert survived the war and, by the start of 1919, he was back in Chatham. He had fallen ill by this point, and, having contracted the highly contagious tuberculosis, he was medically discharged from navy service on 19th March 1919.

Herbert Lee battled his condition bravely, but would ultimately succumb to it. He passed away on 8th October 1920, at the age of 24 years old. He was laid to rest in the tranquil surrounds of St Mary’s Churchyard in his home village of Dilwyn.

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Leading Telegraphist, London, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, Telegraphist, war, Wiltshire

Leading Telegraphist Leonard Wort

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Leading Telegraphist Leonard Wort

Leonard James Wort was born in the Wiltshire village of Woodfalls, on 28th September 1888. He was the second of eleven children – and the oldest son – to James and Annie Wort.

James was a sawyer, but Leonard sought a better life for himself. Initially finding work as a blacksmith’s mate when he completed his schooling, but took up a career in the Royal Navy at the start of 1907. Employed as a Stoker 2nd Class, documents show that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, and that he had brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having scars on the thumb and finger of his left hand.

Leonard was sent to the training ship HMS Nelson for his initial induction. He remained there for four months, before being given his first sea-faring appointment, on board the cruiser HMS Spartiate. Over the next seven years, he would serve on nine ships in total, but his service took an unexpected route.

In February 1908, Leonard was promoted to Stoker 1st Class, and the next expected progression would have been to Leading Stoker. However, year later, while serving on HMS Hindustan, he took a different route, and became a Telegraphist. He appears to have enjoyed this role, and been more than capable of carrying it out: his annual reviews noted his superior ability on more than one occasion.

Over the next few years, Leonard spent time at HMS Victory – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire – presumably to receive the training needed to undertake his role. At the start of 1911, he was promoted again, taking the rank of Leading Telegraphist.

Away from the sea, love was blossoming. Leonard had met Florence Bysouth, a casemaker’s daughter from Bankway, Hertfordshire. The couple exchanged their vows in Bromley, Kent, but had set up home in Poplar, East London.

In November 1912, Leading Telegraphist Wort was assigned to the pre-dreadnaught battleship HMS Bulwark. Part of the Channel Fleet, she was tasked with patrolling the southern coasts of Britain. On 26th November 1914, Bulwark was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, and was being stocked with shells and ammunition. That morning, some of the cordite charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. The body of Leading Telegraphist Wort was recovered: he was 26 years of age.

Those who were killed in the explosion were laid to rest during a mass funeral in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his body had been identified, Leonard James Wort was laid to rest in a marked grave.

Leading Telegraphist Leonard Wort (from findagrave.com)

Leonard was not the only one of the Wort sons to sacrifice his life during the First World War. His younger brother, Alfred, also enlisted in the Royal Navy, giving up his role as footman and valet to serve as an Officer’s Steward.

Alfred’s service records show that he was attached to HMS Vivid – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport – when, on 4th April 1918, he drowned. He was 26 years of age, and left a widow and son.

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

Boy 1st Class William Walters

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Boy 1st Class William Walters

William John Walters was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on 9th July 1898. The fifth of nine children, his parents were Charles and Sarah Walters. Charles was a licensed boatman, and, for William’s short life, the family lived on Grange Street, Portsea.

Young William found work as a shop boy when he finished school, but he was drawn to the sea like his father and, on 22nd November 1913, he joined the Royal Navy. Too young to full enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class and sent to HMS Impregnable, the navy’s school ship in Devonport, Devon.

Boy Walters’ service records show that he was 5ft 3.5ins (1.61m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. He was also noted as having tattoos on both of his forearms.

By the summer of 1914, William has been promoted to Boy 1st Class. He returned to Hampshire, and was based at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth. This was just a staging post, however, as, on 26th August, he was assigned to the pre-dreadnaught battleship HMS Bulwark.

Part of the Channel Fleet, Bulwark was tasked with patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast. On 26th November 1914, Bulwark was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, and was being stocked with shells and ammunition. That morning, some poorly stowed cordite charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. The body of Boy 1st Class Walters was among those to be recovered: he was 16 years of age.

Those who were killed in the explosion were laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his body had been identified, William John Walters was laid to rest in a marked grave.

William’s headstone gives his name as IWJ Walters. There are no records to suggest that his forenames were anything other than William John, however.

William’s mother Sarah died around the same time as him. It is unclear whether she passed knowing her son had lost his life or not.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Essex, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Leading Stoker, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Leading Stoker Percy Curtis

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Leading Stoker Percy Curtis

Percy John Curtis was born on 2nd January 1889, the second of twelve children to Tom and Sabina Curtis. Tom was a general labourer from Todber, Dorset, and this is where the family were born and raised.

Much of Percy’s life is a mystery. He found work at sea when he finished his schooling, and in October 1911 he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 1st Class. His service papers show that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Curtis was initially assigned to the cruiser HMS Pathfinder, and remained on board until the summer of 1912. After a short sting at HMS Victory – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire – he was given another posting, aboard the battleship HMS King George V. She would become his home for the next four years, during which time Percy was promoted.

In September 1916, the now Leading Stoker Curtis returned to shore and to HMS Victory. He would remain at the base for the rest of his time in the navy.

On 5th November 1918, Percy married Kathleen Francis. She was the daughter of a Co-operative store manager from Dovercourt, Essex. She seems to have stayed with her family while her new husband was working, and a later census records confirms that she had returned (or remained) there after his death.

Percy’s service record gives a intriguing hint as to what happened, to him. By the end of the war he had been assigned to HMS Victory’s accounting branch. His papers simply state that he “Found dead on board 17 March 1919”. No cause of death is confirmed, although another naval document does confirm that it was due to illness, rather than any foul play. He was 30 years of age.

The body of Percy John Curtis was taken back to Dorset for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in Todber Churchyard, alongside his father, who had passed away the year before.

Able Seaman, accident, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, Yorkshire

Able Seaman Albert Dobson

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Able Seaman Albert Dobson

Albert Dobson was born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, on 7th April 1896. One of seven children, his parents were John and Annie Dobson. John was a bricklayer, and, when he completed his schooling, Albert was apprenticed to him. The 1911 census found the family living in a small terraced house at 55 St John’s Walk, on the outskirts of the town.

Bricklaying was not what Albert wanted from a career and, on 19th July 1913, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Below the age to formally enlist, he was taken on with the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Vivid – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, Devon, for his training.

Over the next nine months, Albert learnt the tools of his trade. Promoted to Boy 1st Class in October 1913, he spent time on board the battleship HMS Irresistible, before moving to HMS Pembroke, Chatham Dockyard in Kent. While he was there, he came of age, and was fully inducted into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. Albert’s service papers show the man he had become: he was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

In April 1914, Ordinary Seaman Dobson was assigned to the new cruiser HMS Lowestoft. She would become his home for the next two years, and, while his annual reviews were average (character varying from good to very good and ability from moderate to satisfactory), he did gain a promotion to Able Seaman on 26th April 1915.

A singular fatality to a naval seaman names Albert Dobson, age 30 [sic], a native of Bridlington, was investigated at the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, on Monday. On October 20th, Dobson was one of a working party engaged on a battleship in the Dockyard, when, owing to the breaking of a plank, he and three men fell a distance of about eight feet. The knee of one of the men caught him in the stomach, with the result that he sustained a rupture of the spleen. In hospital he developed pneumonia, and died. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.

[Kent Messenger & Gravesend Telegraph: Saturday 2nd December 1916]

Able Seaman Dobson’s service papers confirm that the incident occurred as the men were transferring a torpedo from HMS Illustrious. He was just 20 years of age when he died on 23rd November 1916.

The body of Albert Dobson was taken to Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, close to the dockyard he had come to know as home. He was laid to rest in the graveyard’s naval section.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Leading Stoker, Middlesex, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Leading Stoker James Mills

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Leading Stoker James Mills

James George Mills was born on 5th August 1891 in Poplar, Middlesex. One of nine children, his parents were Robert and Emily Mills. Robert was a bricklayer, and by the time of the 1901 census, they had settled in Lochnager Street.

Robert had died by 1911, and Emily was left to raise their children alone. That year’s census return found them living in rooms at 1 Cobden Street, with three of the children – including James – old enough to be earning a wage.

James had enlisted in the Royal Navy the year before, and was employed as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service papers show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He was also noted as having a small scar on his right cheek.

Stoker Mills would come to be based at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, during his career. He served on a number of ships and, by the time he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class in October 1911, he had spent time on board the cruisers HMS Vindictive and HMS Foresight.

With his promotion came a move, and James was assigned to HMS Acteon, the navy’s new torpedo school based in Sheerness, Kent. From here on in, much of his time seems to have been spent on land, and in January 1914, he moved to HMS Dido, also in Sheerness.

This move to the navy’s land bases seems to have coincided with James’ life away from his career. On 26th December 1912, he married Classina Steenbergen, a Dutch national, whose parents had moved to Barking, Essex in the late 1890s. The couple would go on to have two children: daughters Clasina and Iris.

James’ dedication to the Royal Navy began to pay off, with his annual reviews noting a very good character and a superior ability. In May 1915 he was promoted to Acting Leading Stoker, with the position being formalised that November.

By this point, however, James’ health was becoming impacted. He was admitted to the naval hospital in Chatham in December 1916, suffering from a malignant growth on his pancreas. The condition would prove fatal: he died on 13th December, at the age of just 25 years old.

The body of James George Mills was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from the naval base he had known so well.

Classina now had two young children to support on her own. She married again in the spring of 1920, her new husband being cabinet maker William Walter Hermann. The couple went on to have three children: Walter, Pearl and James.

Leading Stoker James Mills
(from findagrave.com)
Able Seaman, Boy, Chief Petty Officer, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Chief Petty Officer Albert Boorman

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Chief Petty Officer Albert Boorman

Albert Edward Boorman was born on 21st November 1873 in Hadlow, Kent. He was the oldest of seven children, and one of four boys to James and Jane Boorman. James was a maltster’s labourer, but his eldest son sought a longer-term career.

On 5th January 1889, Albert enlisted in the Royal Navy. Due to his age, he took on the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and was sent to the training ships HMS Impregnable and HMS Lion, both based in Devonport, near Plymouth, Devon.

Over the next couple of years, Albert learnt the tools of his trade, rising to the rank of Boy 1st Class in December 1889. The following November he was assigned to HMS Calypso, a corvette, and it was during the eighteen months he spent with her that he came of age.

The now Ordinary Seaman Boorman’s service record show that, having turned eighteen, he was 5ft 7.5ins (1.71m) tall, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He was noted as having a birth scar on his left shoulder.

Albert was obviously dedicated to his naval career and, on 2nd April 1892, he was promoted to Able Seaman. When he came of age, he enlisted for twelve years’ service and, during that time, he would serve on four ships. In between tours he returned to what would become his shore base, HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. His annual reviews reflected his commitment to the role: in December 1897 he was promoted to Leading Seaman, in January 1899 he gained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class, and in September 1900 he rose to Petty Officer 1st Class.

When his contract came to an end in November 1903, Albert immediately re-enlisted and would serve for another decade. In the summer of 1909 he was promoted to Acting Chief Petty Officer: the role was formalised a year later.

Away from his naval career, Albert had fallen in love. He married Eliza in 1909, and, while her husband was at sea, she set up home at 43 East Street, Gillingham, Kent.

In November 1913, after 22 years’ formal service, Chief Petty Officer Boorman was stood down to reserve status. This time away from the sea was not to last for long, however, and he was called upon once more when war was declared just nine months later. Albert resumed his previous role, but was primarily based back at HMS Pembroke.

On 7th March 1917, Chief Petty Officer Boorman was on board the gunboat HMS Spey, which was carrying out diving operations in the Thames Estuary. At 4 o’clock in the afternoon, in “bitterly cold and boisterous conditions” [Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald: Saturday 24th March 1917], the ship lost an anchor, and the decision was made to return to base at Sheerness, Kent. Another vessel, the HMS Belvedere, was close by and turned towards the Spey, and, despite trying to avoid a collision, the smaller ship was struck a glancing blow.

The Spey was 40 years old, and the impact sheered numerous rivets from the side. Water gushed in, and the gunboat sunk beneath the Thames within a matter of minutes. Some of the crew had managed to escape on a life raft, but it was not fitted with lights or flags. The boat drifted and was not found until five hours later, partially submerged: all on board had died.

In total, twenty of the thirty-seven crew perished on that March afternoon, including Chief Petty Officer Boorman. He was 43 years of age.

The body of Albert Edward Boorman was retrieved. He was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from where his widow still lived.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war, Yorkshire

Stoker 2nd Class Frank Waterhouse

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Stoker 2nd Class Frank Waterhouse

Frank Waterhouse was born in Keighley, Yorkshire, on 14th September 1889. The second of four children, including two younger sibling who both died before their first birthdays, his parents were Waddington and Jane Waterhouse.

Waddington was an engineer for a worsted mill in nearby Bingley, and when Frank finished his schooling, he found employment as a fireman for the same mill. By the time of the 1911 census father, son, Frank’s sister Fanny and her husband Arthur were all employed at the factory.

In the spring of 1915, Frank married Alice Greenbank. She worked at a mill in Haworth and the couple set up home together. They would not go on to have any children.

War was raging across Europe by this point, and Frank stepped up to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Navy and his trade made him ideal for an initial role of Stoker 2nd Class. He was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training and his service record confirms the man he had become. He was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker 2nd Class Waterhouse was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. At the beginning of May 1917, he was assigned to the cruiser HMS Crescent, and spent the next four months aboard.

During this time, Frank fell ill. When Crescent docked back at HMS Pembroke at the end of September, he was disembarked, and taken to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham. He was suffering from endocarditis, and the heart condition would prove fatal. He passed away the day after he was admitted – on the 2nd October 1917 – at the age of 28 years old.

Hundreds of miles from home, it is likely that Frank’s family would not have been able to foot the bill for bringing his body back home. Instead, Frank Waterhouse was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, not far from the base at which he had been based.