Category Archives: Ordinary Seaman

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Leading Seaman Arthur Read

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Leading Seaman Arthur Read

Arthur William Read was born on 5th February 1886 in Lyndhurst, Hampshire. The fourth of nine children, he was one of five sons to James and Mary Read. James a builder’s labourer-turned-yardman, although his son wasn’t to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Instead, Arthur rook on work as a baker’s boy, but this was not enough for him. He sought a career at sea and, on 10th April 1901, he took a job in the Royal Navy. Given the rank of Boy 2nd Class because of his age, he was sent to HMS St Vincent, the shore-based training establishment in Devonport, Devon. Over the next eighteen months he learnt the tools of his trade, and was promoted to Boy 1st Class after just ten months.

On 5th February 1904, Arthur turned 18, and came of age. Now able to formally enlist in the Royal Navy, he took that opportunity, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service papers show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

At this point, Ordinary Seaman Read was serving on board the battleship HMS Irresistible. She would be his home for two years and, just a couple of weeks before changing vessels, he was promoted to Able Seaman.

Arthur would serve up to and during the First World War. He was assigned to a total of seven ships after the Irresistible, returning to what would become his home port, HMS Victory in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in between voyages. His character was regularly noted as being very good, while his ability was repeatedly found to be superior. By 1st October 1915, with war raging across Europe, he was promoted again, to the rank of Leading Seaman.

Away from his seafaring, Arthur had found love. In the last quarter of 1909 he married Alice Philpott. Sadly, details about her have been lost to time, but the couple would go on to have two children – Ivy and Gladys.

When war came to Europe, Arthur’s younger brother Harry stepped up to serve. He enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment, and was assigned to the 12th Battalion. Private Read was caught up in fighting on the Western Front, and was killed in action on 25th April 1916. He is buried in Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, in Bray-sur-Somme, Picardie.

Leading Seaman Read, meanwhile, was continuing his naval career. From November 1916 he was assigned to the light cruiser HMS Birkenhead. Used to patrol the North Sea, she had come away from the Battle of Jutland unscathed.

As the war entered its closing months, Arthur’s health was becoming impacted. Suffering from diabetes, he was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Edinburgh in summer of 1918. The condition was to better him, however, and he passed away on 10th August: he was 31 years of age.

The body of Arthur William Read was taken back to Hampshire for burial. He was laid to rest in Lyndhurst Cemetery.

After her husband’s death, Alice was left to raise two children under 5 years old. Unable to do this without support, on 8th July 1920, she married Jack White. A Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, it is unclear whether his path had ever crosser her late husband’s. The following year’s census found her and her two daughters living in a house on Clarence Road in Lyndhurst: her husband was away at sea.

Leading Seaman Arthur Read
(from ancestry.co.uk)

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Able Seaman Isaac Veal

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Able Seaman Isaac Veal

Isaac Veal was born on 18th November 1874, the seventh of eight children to Joseph and Frances Veal. When he was born, his parents were the publicans at the Waterloo Arms in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, and this is the town in which they would raise their family.

Frances died in 1890, and by the following year’s census, Joseph had stepped back from being a landlord, he was living with three of his children on a farm to the north of the town centre. Now employed as a domestic gardener, Isaac was working with him.

Isaac sought bigger and better things, however, and, on 21st December 1891, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Intriguingly, though, he gave his date of birth as 10th July 1875. Below the age to formally sign up, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and was sent to HMS St Vincent in Devonport, Devon, for training. He remained on board for the next two years, rising to Boy 1st Class in March 1893.

On 26th August 1893, Isaac was promoted to Ordinary Seaman: this would normally mark a boy’s coming of age, but the date doesn’t match Isaac’s given date of birth, or his actual one. It is likely, therefore, that his true age had become known.

Ordinary Seaman Veal’s service documents confirm that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, with auburn hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. He signed up for a period of twelve years and, during that time, he would serve on a total of eleven ships. Isaac travelled the world, returning to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in between voyages.

On 11th March 1895, Isaac was promoted to the rank of Able Seaman, and his annual reviews generally marked him of very good character. From April 1901 he was assigned to the battleship HMS Revenge, and she would remain his home for more than four years. During his time assigned to her his contract came to an end and he immediately re-enlisted.

On 18th October 1909, Isaac married Ethel Maud Astridge, a caretaker’s daughter from Basingstoke, Hampshire. When they wed, Ethel – who was better known by her middle name – was working as a housemaid for a miller in North Stoneham. The couple would go on to have three children – Beatrice, Mary and Florence – and while her husband was away at sea, Ethel lived in their cottage on Queen’s Road in Lyndhurst.

Back at sea, Able Seaman Veal would continue to travel the world. During the second term of his contract with the navy, he was assigned to a further dozen ships. In August 1912, Isaac was assigned to HMS Dolphin, the shore base in Gosport, Hampshire, which was the home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service. Over the next five years he would split his time between Dolphin and HMS Maidstone. The submarine depot ship, which operated out of Harwich, Essex, would be his home for the majority of the First World War. Able Seaman Veal’s commitment to the navy was being recognised, as was his ability, which was recorded as superior in each of his annual reviews from 1911 onwards.

As the conflict entered its closing months, Isaac’s health was becoming impacted. In the spring of 1918, he was admitted to the sick quarters in Shotley – just across the river from Harwich – suffering from pernicious anaemia and rheumyalgia. The combination of conditions would prove fatal: Isaac passed away on 11th April 1918, at the age of 43 years old.

The body of Isaac Veal was taken back to Hampshire for burial. He was laid to rest in Lyndhurst Cemetery, just a few minutes’ walk from his family home. Conveyed to the cemetery in a motor ambulance van, he funeral was supported by a firing party from the local Bombing School Camp, tributes including “a token of respect from the men of the 8th and 9th Submarine Flotillas.” [Hampshire Advertiser – Saturday 20 April 1918]

After the death of her husband, Maud remained living in Myrtle Cottage, the family’s home for the rest of her life. The 1921 census recorded her as being an apartment House Keeper, while the 1939 Register noted that both she and her daughter Florence, were carrying out unpaid domestic duties.

This latter document identifies three boarders to Myrtle Cottage, including Maud’s younger sister Thirza.

Ethel Maud Veal died on 17th October 1949, at the age of 62. She was buried in the family plot in Lyndhurst Cemetery, reunited with her husband Isaac after more than 30 years.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Ordinary Seaman Thomas Fleet

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Ordinary Seaman Thomas Fleet

Thomas Fleet was born on 3rd February 1879 in Kingswear, Devon, and was the sixth of nine children to Thomas and Emma. Thomas Sr was a fish dealer, and the family lived on Lower Street over the river in Dartmouth. Most of the family were involved in the fish industry, and by the time of the 1901 census, Thomas Jr was also working as a fisherman.

On Christmas Day 1901, Thomas Jr married Hannah Jury. She was a farm labourer’s daughter from Torquay, Devon. The couple married in Hannah’s home town, but settled back in Dartmouth. They had five children – Reginald, Elspeth, Edith, Florence and Thomas – and set up home in a five-roomed house on Victoria Road.

By the time of the 1911 census, Thomas had changed jobs, and was working as a yachtsman. The following year, Reginald died, at the age of just 9 years old. It is unclear how he died, but he passed in August 1912, and was buried on 2nd September, in St Clement’s Churchyard, Dartmouth.

When war broke out, Thomas would be called upon to serve. Unsurprisingly, given his job, he joined the Royal Navy, enlisting on 30th March 1917 as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records show that, at 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, he had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Fleet was sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, Devon, for his formal training. Tragically, however, his time in the service was to be a brief one. He contracted lobar pneumonia and was admitted to the barracks’ sick quarters. He passed away from heart failure on 13th May 1917, at the age of 38 years old.

The body of Thomas Fleet was taken back to Dartmouth for burial. He was laid to rest in the family plot in St Clement’s Churchyard, reunited with his oldest son, Reginald.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Morgan

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Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Morgan

Frederick Morgan was born on 15th July 1871, the oldest of four children to Samuel and Selina. Samuel was a miner from Bristol, Gloucestershire, but it was in the Staffordshire town of Tipton that he and local girl Selina married and raised their family. The 1881 census found the Morgans living at 17 Brewery Street, to the south of the town centre.

Frederick was not destined to follow in his father’s footsteps, however, and had his sights set on a life at sea, rather than in the depths of a coal mine. On 23rd November 1896 he joined the Royal Navy, and was sent to HMS Impregnable, the training base in Devonport, Devon, for his induction.

Being too young to formally enlist, Frederick was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. Over the next three years, he learnt the tools of his trade, and served at three further bases: HMS Lion, HMS Penelope and HMS Raleigh. During this time, he was promoted to Boy 1st Class and, on 15th July 1889, when he turned 18, he was formally inducted into the Royal Navy.

Ordinary Seaman Morgan’s service records show that he was just 5ft 2.5ins (1.59m) tall. He had light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He also had a tattoo by this point, of a dancing sailor on the inside of his right arm.

Frederick remained at HMS Raleigh for the next couple of years, and was promoted to Able Seaman on 1st July 1891. From the autumn, however, his sea-going life really took hold. Over the next ten years, he served on five ships, and was to be based at HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, in between voyages. His dedication to the service was recognised – his annual reviews regularly noted his character as very good, and he rose through the ranks to Leading Seaman in May 1898, Petty Officer 2nd Class that October, and Petty Officer 1st Class in January 1901.

Away from work, Frederick’s love life was blossoming. In the autumn of 1893 he married Zipporah Elizabeth Beatrice Griffiths. Better known as Beatrice, she was the daughter of waterman Thomas Griffiths and his wife, Zipporah. The family came from Dartmouth, and this is likely where the young couple got to know each other. They married in St Clement’s Church, Dartmouth, and went on to have two children, George and Kathleen.

On 15th July 1901, Petty Officer Morgan’s initial contract with the Royal Navy came to an end. He renewed it straight away, and would spend the next decade sailing the world. Again Frederick was based at HMS Vivid in between voyages. On 11th July 1911, after 21 years in service, he was formally stood down to reserve status, and he returned to shore.

Frederick’s trail goes cold over the next couple of years, but when war broke out, he was called into service once more. Petty Officer Morgan would serve on the depot ships HMS Leander and Cyclops, which served out of Scapa Flow. He also spent time at HMS Gunner, the naval base to the north of Edinburgh. By March 1919, with the Armistice signed, he found himself based back in Devon.

At the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, on Saturday, an inquest was held relative to the death of Fredk Morgan, 47, a naval pensioner, who died suddenly in the train on Thursday last.

Wm. Griffiths, inspector, GWR, at Millbay, said that PO Morgan was removed from the 6.20 train from Saltash on Thursday, apparently in a fit. He was laid on a seat, and a doctor who was about to travel on another train pronounced life extinct.

Charles Evans Jenkins, surgeon-lieutenant at the Naval Hospital said death was due to fatty degeneration of the heart.

The Coroner, who expressed his sympathy with the widow, declared that death was due to natural causes.

[Western Times: Tuesday 1st April 1919]

Frederick Morgan died of a heart attack on 27th Match 1919. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Clement’s Churchyard, Dartmouth, where he and Beatrice had been married.

Able Seaman, Boy, Coastguard, Commonwealth War Graves, County Clare, County Cork, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Pembrokeshire, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Somerset, story, Wales, war

Petty Officer 1st Class George Bailey

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Petty Officer 1st Class George Bailey

George Bailey was born in Bedminster, Somerset, on 20th August 1871. One of six children, his parents were George and Anna (or Hannah) Bailey. George Sr was a labourer and, when he died in 1876, Anna moved the family to Clifton, near Bristol.

The 1881 census found the family living in a small cottage at 5 Crosby Row in the then village. Hannah was listed as a late general labourer’s wife, while her three older children were all working for a dairy.

When George finished his schooling, he sought out a career. Joining the Royal Navy, this would prove a long-term role, bringing in a relatively decent wage for him and his family, but also gave him some adventure, not surprising given the number of ships he would have seen going to and fro from Bristol.

George was only 15 years old when he joined up on 25th September 1886, and so was below the age to formally enlist in the navy. Taken on with the rank of Boy 2nd Class, he was sent to HMS Impregnable, the training ship based in Devonport, Devon. Over the next three year he learnt his craft, and served on a few ships, including the battleship HMS Iron Duke.

In October 1887, George was promoted to Boy 1st Class and, on 20th August 1889, while assigned to the Iron Duke, he came of age, and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy. Ordinary Seaman Bailey’s service records show that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with auburn hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a spot tattooed between the finger and thumb of his left hand, a scar on his left leg and another in the centre of his back.

Over the next seven years, George served on a total of ten ships, and saw the world. In between voyages he returned to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport. In 1895 he married Elizabeth Bull, from Burrington, Somerset, and the couple went on to have six children.

George’s naval career continued, and he rose through the ranks, to Able Seaman in September 1890, Leading Seaman in June 1895, and to Petty Officer 2nd Class and 1st Class the following year.

In January 1899, George’s life took a different direction. After some time training at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire, he joined the Coastguard service, and would spend the next twelve years serving on the coast of Southern Ireland. This opportunity allowed him to have his family with him, and his and Elizabeth’s four youngest children were born in County Clare and County Cork.

By 1911, the family returned to Britain, setting up home in Brixham, Devon. That year’s census found the Baileys living at 6 Coastguard Station on the waterfront. The family remained there through to October 1913, when George was transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve, having served for 26 years.

George found work as the caretaker of the Electric Theatre in Tiverton, Devon, and this is where he and Elizabeth settled down.

Petty Officer Bailey’s time out of active service was to be limited, however, as, just nine months later, war was declared. Called back into action, he was sent to Western Stack Fort in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.

An interesting personality has passed away in First-Class Petty Officer George Bailey, who died suddenly on Tuesday… He came home about a fortnight ago on sick leave, and seemed to be improving in health, and on Tuesday went out for a walk. After retiring to bed his death came suddenly as a result of heart failure.

[Crediton Gazette: Saturday 24th March 1917]

George Bailey died on 13th March 1917: he was 45 years of age. He was laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Petty Officer William Clark

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Petty Officer William Clark

William George Clark was born on 23rd November 1884, and was the oldest child to John and Harriet. John was an agricultural labourer from Exminster, Devon, and this is where the family were born and raised.

When he completed his schooling, William found work as a gardener. However, he wanted bigger and better things for himself, and sought out a career at sea. On 12th March 1900 he enlisted in the Royal Navy: being under the formal age to enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class.

William was sent to HMS Impregnable, the training establishment in Devonport, for his induction. Over the next two years – until he turned 18 in November 1902 – Boy Clark started to learn his trade. He was promoted to Boy 1st Class in October 1900, and spent time on the frigate HMS Agincourt and the cruiser HMS Melampus.

When William came of age, he was formally inducted into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records show that he was just under 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, with black hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He was also noted as having a tattoo of an anchor in his left arm.

Over the next five years, William served on three further ships, returning to HMS Vivid – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport – in between voyages. He travelled the world and, in May 1904, was promoted to the rank of Able Seaman.

Away from the navy, love blossomed. In May 1907, William married Louisa Cosway in Tiverton, Devon. She was a few months older than her husband, and the couple would go on to have one child, William, who was born the following spring.

Back at sea, and Able Seaman Clark’s career continued. In November 1911 he was promoted to Leading Seaman, reaching the rank of Petty Office in January 1917. During his eighteen year career, he would serve on a total of eleven ships, but in the closing months of the war, William’s health was beginning to suffer. On 9th May 1918, he was medically discharged from service, suffering from heart disease.

William returned home to Tiverton. His time with his family was to prove tragically brief: he passed away from mitral disease and pneumatic fever on 13th May 1918, at the age of 33 years old.

William George Clark was laid to rest in Tiverton Cemetery. His grave was just a 15min walk from where his widow and son lived on Fore Street, in the town centre.

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

Able Seaman Arthur Norris

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Able Seaman Arthur Norris

Arthur Norris was born on 24th February 1897 in the Wiltshire town of Mere. The seventh of nine children, he was one of four sons to Fred and Mary Norris. Fred was a domestic groom, and the family lived on Castle Street on the western edge of the town.

By the time of the 1911 census, Arthur had left school, and had found work as an errand boy. He had moved out of the family home, and was living with his older sister, Beatrice, and her husband. Piecemeal work wasn’t something Arthur was keen on, however, and in September 1913, he found himself a career.

That autumn, Arthur enlisted in the Royal Navy. Just 16 years of age, he was too young to formally join up, and so he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was sent to HMS Impregnable, the training ship based in Devonport, Devon, for his induction, and seemed to make an impression.

On 14th May 1914 Arthur was promoted to Boy 1st Class, and was assigned to the depot ship HMS Gibraltar. On 24th February he came of age, and officially joined the Royal Navy. His service records show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was noted as having a mole on his left shoulder blade.

The now Ordinary Seaman Norris remained on Gibraltar for most of the year. After a couple of weeks back in Devonport, he was assigned to the Armed Merchant Cruiser Oropesa, and remained on board for the next twelve months. During his time there, Arthur was promoted again, gaining the rank of Able Seaman.

Over the next three years, Arthur served on three further vessels: HMS Excellent from March 1916; HMS Woolwich from April 1916 to June 1918; and HMS Columbine from July 1918.

While attached to the Columbine, Arthur fell ill. He contracted pneumonia, and passed away on 16th October 1918. He was 21 years of age.

The body of Arthur Norris was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in Mere Cemetery, not far from where his grieving family were still living.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, London, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, war

Stoker 1st Class Joseph Hawke

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Stoker 1st Class Joseph Hawke

Joseph Hawke was born in Paignton, Devon, on 8th January 1887. Details of his early life are lost to time, although the 1891 census suggests that he was one of five children to Maria Hawke, who had been widowed by that point. The family had taken rooms at 104 Pembroke Street in Devonport.

When he finished his schooling, Joseph initially found work as a packer. However, possibly driven by his proximity to the Devon dockyards, he soon stepped up to take a job in the Royal Navy. Joining the training cruiser HMS Northampton, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, as he was under the age to enlist.

Over the next few years, Joseph proved his mettle. In May 1904 he was promoted to Boy 1st Class and, when he came of age on 8th January 1895, he was formally inducted into the Royal Navy, taking the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service papers show that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, with fair hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. It was also noted that he a mole on his right shoulder and abdomen, a scar on his chin, and tattoo marks on the back of his left hand and on his right forearm.

Ordinary Seaman Hawke would serve on three ships in total. On 26th February 1906 he became a Stoker 2nd Class, a role change that might be seen as a semotion, although his records suggest he was of very good character. By November 1906 Joseph had become Stoker 1st Class, but within twelve months, he gave up his life at see, buying himself out of the Royal Navy.

This change of heart may have been driven by love as, on Christmas Day 1908, he married Ellen Saunders, in Tower Hamlets, London. Their wedding certificate gives Joseph’s father’s name as cabinet maker George Hawke, but doesn’t suggest that he is deceased.

The document also gives Joseph’s job as a stoker, later confirmation suggesting that he was employed by the electrical works in Paignton, Devon. Joseph and Ellen would go on to have five children – Marie, Joseph, Albert, Harry and Ellen – between 1909 and 1917.

When war broke out, Joseph was called upon to play his part once more and, as part of the Royal Naval Reserve, he was assigned to HMS Gibraltar in November 1914. Over the next four years, he would serve as a Stoker 1st Class on four more ships, each time returning to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, in between voyages.

By the spring of 1918, Joseph’s health was struggling. He was medically dismissed from active service on 22nd May, and returned home to Paignton. His condition was to worsen, however, and on 17th October 1918 he passed away froma combination of dysentery and influenza. He was 31 year of age.

Joseph Hawke was laid to rest in Paignton’s sweeping cemetery, not far from his family home in Laura Terrace.

Able Seaman, accident, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, Leading Seaman, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Petty Officer 1st Class James Brett

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Petty Officer 1st Class James Brett

The early life of James Watt Brett is lost in the mists of time. He was born on 25th November 1880 in the Scottish village of Fochabers and when he finished his schooling, he found work as an apprentice draper. He sought bigger and better things, however, and, on 25th August 1896, he joined the Royal Navy.

At just fifteen years old, James was too young to formally enlist. He was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, however, and dispatched to the training ship HMS Caledonia, for his basic instruction. He remained on board until October 1897, by which point he had been promoted to Boy 1st Class.

Over the next year, James served on two cruisers – HMS Blenheim and HMS Dido. His shore base became HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, and he would return here time and again in between assignments.

It was while James was serving on Dido that he came of age. Now given the rank of Ordinary Seaman, his records show that he was 5ft 1in (1.54m) tall, with fair hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. James would remain on board Dido until January 1902, by which time he had been promoted to the role of Able Seaman.

Over the initial twelve years of his service, James would spend time on eight vessels, and travel the world. His dedication to the navy is clear, although his career was not without its hiccups.

In April 1904, James was promoted again, to the rank of Leading Seaman. The following January he was made Petty Office 2nd Class, although this new role only lasted for a couple of weeks, before he was knocked back down to Able Seaman.

In April 1909, he was again made Leading Seaman and, promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class once more in January 1910. By October that year, he had risen to Petty Officer 1st Class, by which point his initial contract came to an end.

James immediately re-enlisted, and retained his rank for the remainder of his naval career. At some point after the 1911 census, he married a woman called Annie, and the couple seem to have been based at Burnt Oak Terrace, Gillingham, Kent, although there is no further information about Petty Officer Brett’s new wife.

James seemed to have become more shore-based after his marriage, and he served at HMS Actaeon in Portsmouith, Hampshire, and HMS Pembroke and HMS Wildfire in Kent. By the summer of 1917, he was attached to the Dover Patrol, and assigned to HMS Attentive.

On 3rd March 1918, Petty Officer Brett’s service records note that he was accidentally killed by falling into [a] dry dock at Royal Albert Docks. No further information is available, although it is possible that the accident took place in London. He was 37 years of age.

The body of James Watt Brett was taken back to Kent for burial. He was laid to rest in the military section of the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from where his widow still lived.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, injury, Kent, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Able Seaman Arthur Crisp

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Able Seaman Arthur Crisp

Arthur Edward Crisp was born in 16th March 1899 in the Norfolk village of South Creake. The youngest of six children, his parents were blacksmith Henry Crisp and his wife, Sarah.

When war broke out across Europe, young Arthur had already had some experience of seamanship, and was keen to play his part. He joined the Royal Navy on 7th April 1915 and, given his age, he was assigned the rank of Boy 2nd Class. Initially sent to HMS Powerful, he was trained there for three months, rising to the rank of Boy 1st Class.

On 26th July 1915, Arthur was assigned to the battlecruiser HMS New Zealand, and would remain on board for the next two years. During this time, he came of age, and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records show that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

His stint on New Zealand also exposed him to naval warfare, as she was heavily involved in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916. Ordinary Seaman Crisp came through, however, and remained part of the battlecruiser’s crew for a further year.

After a short time on shore, where he was based at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Arthur’s next posting was on board HMS Wallington. A former trawler, she had been converted to a boom defence vessel, she protected the dockyard in Grimsby. In November 1917, while based in the Lincolnshire town, Arthur was promoted again, rising to Able Seaman.

The following March, Arthur moved again, and was assigned to HMS Attentive, the shore base for the Dover Patrol. He would not remain there for long, however, and was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, Kent. He passed away on 17th March 1918, from an intriguing combination of gunshot wounds to his chest and pneumonia. He had turned 19 years old the day before.

The body of Arthur Edward Crisp was taken to nearby Gillingham for burial. He was laid to rest in the military section of the town’s Woodlands Cemetery.

Able Seaman Arthur Crisp
(from findagrave.com)