Tag Archives: 1914

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

Able Seaman John Poole

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Able Seaman John Poole

John Poole was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, on 11th May 1893. One of nine children, his parents were James and Mary Poole. James was a quarryman, and, at the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at 5 Cross Street, on the southern edge of the town centre.

John was keen to make his mark on the world and when he completed his schooling, he joined the Royal Navy. His service papers show that he began his naval career on 12th March 1909, a couple of months short of his sixteenth birthday. Given his age, he was assigned the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Impregnable, the training base in Devonport, to start learning his skills.

Boy Poole initially impressed his seniors, and, on 12th November, he was promoted to Boy 1st Class. The positive start to his career, however, was not to continue, and over the next five years, his service record is peppered with misdemeanours. The first of these came on 6th January 1910, when he did a bunk from base: the authorities caught up with him, however, and he was frogmarched back to Devonport some three weeks later.

On 1st February, John was given his first formal posting, on board the armoured cruiser HMS Donegal. He transferred to another cruiser – HMS Grafton – in April, but by August he has moved again, to the battleship HMS Swiftsure.

Swiftsure would remain John’s home for the next eighteen months, during which time he came of age. Now old enough to formally enlist in the Royal Navy, he was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His papers show that he was 5ft 3.5ins (1.61m) tall, and had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Poole did not get off to a good start and, on 28th June 1911, he was sent to the brig for 28 days for refusing a duty. In April the following year, Swiftsure was docked in Portsmouth, and John saw a chance to go AWOL. Apprehended quickly, he was nevertheless sentenced to 42 days’ detention at HMS Victory, the city’s naval base.

Sent back to his duties on 3rd July 1912, Ordinary Seaman Poole was obviously no longer happy in his role. Going absent without leave again on 2nd December, a harsher sentence was granted when he was captured, and he was sent to the brig for 60 days.

As a new year dawned, John was assigned to another armoured cruiser, HMS Black Prince. The move did nothing to temper Ordinary Seaman Poole’s attitude, however, and he was sent to the brig on 5th September 1913, for refusing a duty. Intriguingly, he was released three weeks later, and just a fortnight after that, he was promoted to Able Seaman.

John remained part of Black Prince’s crew until April 1914. After a short stint at HMS Excellent – the gunnery school in Portsmouth – he was given another assignment, on board the battleship HMS Bulwark. Part of the Channel Fleet, she was tasked with patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast.

On 26th November 1914, Bulwark was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness. While she was being re-stocked with shells and ammunition, a number of 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 Able Seaman Poole was amongst those to be recovered. He was 21 years of age.

The body of John Poole was laid to rest alongside the other victims of the disaster, in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.

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

Ordinary Seaman William Wheeler

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Ordinary Seaman William Wheeler

William Leonard Wheeler was born in Epsom, Surrey, on 8th September 1896. He was the fourth of six children to John and Mary Wheeler. John was a carman in a brickyard, and the family lived in Nonsuch Cottage on Leith Road.

When William finished his schooling, he took work as a gardener. He sought bigger and better things, however, and, on 12th September 1912, he joined the Royal Navy. Too young to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Impregnable, the training ship, to start learning the skills he would need.

Impregnable would remain Boy Wheeler’s home for the next nine months, during which time he was promoted to Boy 1st Class. On 18th June 1913, he was give his first posting, on board the cruiser HMS Gibraltar. In November 1913, William was reassigned, and took up a post on board the battleship HMS Bulwark.

William came of age in September 1914, and fully enlisted in the Royal Navy. Given the rank of Ordinary Seaman, his service papers show that he was 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, and had light brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Bulwark was part of the Channel Fleet, tasked with patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast. On 26th November 1914, she was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, and was being resupplied with shells and ammunition. That morning, a handful of the cordite charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The explosion ripped through the vessel, and more than 740 crew – including 18-year-old William – were killed.

Ordinary Seaman Wheeler’s body would be recovered from the wreckage until 8th July 1915. He was laid to rest in the naval section Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, a short distance from the the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham.

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

Private Donald Bruce

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Private Donald Bruce

Donald Hendry Bruce was born on the 23rd July 1893 in the remote Logiealmond estate in Perthshire, Scotland. The oldest of six children, his parents were slate quarrier Hugh Bruce, and his wife, Ellen.

There is little information available about Donald’s early life, but the 1911 census records that he had enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Private, and was based at the barracks in Deal, Kent.

By the time war broke out, Private Bruce was assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark. Part of the Channel Fleet, she 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. Donald’s body was among those recovered: he was 21 years of age.

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

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

Captain Herbert Morton

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Captain Herbert Morton

The mortal remains of Capt. Herbert Claude Morton, RMLI, were laid to rest in St Nicholas Cemetery, Rochester, on Tuesday afternoon, the first portion of the Burial Service being conducted in the Cathedral, where the deceased office was married, on September 17th, 1908, to Evelyn St Aubyn Lennard, eldest daughter of Col. and Mrs DL Barratt, late of Star-hill, Rochester. Captain Morton, who was 34 years of age, was the only son of Mr John Ellis Morton, of County Cavan, and Mrs Werry, of Cowes, Isle of Wight. He served during the campaign in China and was awarded the medal. His home was at Gosport.

[Chatham, Rochester and Brompton Observer: Saturday 5th December 1914]

The early life of Herbert Claude Morton is a challenge to piece together. The 1911 census states that he was born in France, and confirms that he and Evelyn were living with their then two children at 139 Stoke Road, Gosport, Hampshire.

This was the only census on which Herbert features and, as the “campaign in China” that the newspaper reported would have been the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, this may account for the lack of other documentation for him.

When war broke out, Captain Morton assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark. He was on board Bulwark on the 26th November 1914, when she was moored close to Sheerness, Kent. That morning, an explosion ripped through the ship, sinking it and killing more than 740 people. Herbert was amongst them: he was 34 years of age.

The body of Herbert Claude Morton was laid to rest in a marked grave in St Nicholas’ Cemetery, Rochester, Kent.

The summer after her husband’s death, Evelyn gave birth to another child, daughter Stella, who would never know her father.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorset, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Orkney, photography, Private, Royal Marines, Scotland, story, war

Private Albert Thorne

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Private Albert Thorne

Albert Edward Thorne was born on 30th April 1874. The fourth of eight children, his parents were George and Rosanna Thorne. George was born in Nether Compton, Dorset, and this is where the family were raised. He worked as a stone mason, the 1884 census confirming he employed six men and two boys.

When Albert completed his schooling, he found work as a domestic gardener. This was not something he wanted to do long-term, however, and, on 30th May 1892, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was also noted as having a mole on the right of this abdomen and a scar on the right of his waist.

Private Thorne was sent to the Royal Marine depot in Walmer, Kent, for his training, and he remained there until the end of November. He transferred to Plymouth, Devon, and, over the next three years, split his time between there and Devonport.

On 26th December 1895, Albert married Rhoda Mills, the daughter of a local labourer, in Plymouth Register Office. The couple would have three children: Albert Jr, Arthur and Vera.

Private Thorne was a career marine, and remained in the service, based between Plymouth and Portsmouth, Hampshire, until the spring of 1914. Having completed 22 years, he was stood down to reserve status, although this was not to be for long, as storm clouds were brewing over Europe.

In August 1914, Albert was mobilised once more, and was assigned to the cruiser HMS Gibraltar. A depot ship, she would support other ships in and around the Orkney and Shetland Isles. The voyage north seems to have taken its toll, however, and Private Thorne was evacuated to the hospital ship Rohilla, suffering from appendicitis, which resulted in peritonitis. The conditions would prove fatal, and he passed away on 30th August 1914, at the age of 40 years old.

The Rohilla docked at Kirkwall on the Orkney mainland. Hundreds of miles from home, is seems that Rhoda may not have been able to afford to bring her husband’s body back to Devon. Instead, the body of Albert Edward Thorne was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Magnus’ Cathedral, Kirkwall.

Rhoda remained in Plymouth, in the rooms at 64 Durnford Street that she knew as home. The 1921 census found her living there with eldest son Albert – now a construction manager at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport – and daughter Vera. The family had a boarder, Irish-born merchant seaman William Arnold, whose sister, Margaret Fitzgerald, was also visiting.

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

Stoker 1st Class Lancelot Cramp

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Stoker 1st Class Lance Cramp

Lancelot Percival Cramp was born in the Kent village of Sutton on 7th June 1891. The youngest of five children, his parents were bootmaker Alfred Cramp and his wife Elizabeth.

Lancelot – who preferred to be called Lance – seems to have had a disjointed childhood. Neither of his parents are recorded in the 1901 census, while he is noted as living with his widowed aunt, also called Elizabeth, in Ticehurst, Kent.

By the time he completed his schooling, Lance found work as a tinsmith. However, he sought a bigger and better career and, on 30th April 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Assigned the role of Stoker 2nd Class, his papers note that he was 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall, with auburn hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Cramp was sent to HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He was then sent to the battleship HMS Renown for his first assignment.

Over the next four years, Lance would serve on seven ships in total, returning to Portsmouth in between assignments. His service record notes a very good character and satisfactory ability and, in September 1911, he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class.

On 8 February 1914, Lance was given a new posting aboard the battleship HMS Bulwark. When war broke out, she was assigned to the Channel Fleet, which had the responsibility for patrolling and protecting Britain’s southern coastline.

On the morning of 26 November 1914, Bulwark lay anchored in the River Medway near Sheerness while taking on shells and ammunition. During the process, improperly stored cordite charges overheated and ignited nearby munitions. The massive explosion that followed tore the ship apart, killing more than 740 members of the crew. Stoker Lance Cramp was amongst those who died: he was 23 years of age.

Those who were killed in the explosion were buried in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. The body of Lancelot Percival Cramp was identified, and laid to rest in a marked grave.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, County Donegal, County Down, Great War, Hampshire, history, Ireland, Kent, killed in action, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Ordinary Seaman William Gubbey

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Ordinary Seaman William Gubbey

William Ernest Gubbey was born on 21st February 1896 in Portsmouth, Hampshire. He was the only child to William and Alice Gubbey. William Sr was a Petty Officer in the Coastguard, and the family travelled to where he was needed. The 1901 census found them in Malinmore, County Donegal, while ten years later, they were living in Tara, County Down.

It seemed natural for William Jr to follow in his father’s footsteps and, on 3rd August 1912, he joined the Royal Navy. He was too young to formally enlist, and was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. Sent to HMS Impregnable, the school ship based in Devonport, she would remain his home for the next ten months while he was trained.

William was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 17th June 1913, and was assigned to the cruiser HMS Gibraltar the following day. After six months on board, and a short stopover at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, he received his next posting, the battleship HMS Bulwark.

Boy Gubbey would spend the next year attached to Bulwark and, during this time, he came of age. Now formally inducted into the navy as an Ordinary Seaman, his service papers show the young man he had become. He was recorded as being 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion.

When was was declared in the summer of 1914, Bulwark was assigned to the Channel Fleet, patrolling and defending Britain’s southern coast. On 26th November 1914, she was moored in the River Medway, close to Sheerness, Kent, being reloaded with ammunition.

Some of the new cargo overheated and the resulting explosion ripped through the battleship. More than 740 crew were killed, including Ordinary Seaman Gubbey: he was just 18 years of age.

The bodies of the dead were laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his had been identified, William Ernest Gubbey was laid to rest in a marked grave.

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, Lancashire, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Tyne & Wear, war

Able Seaman Percy Cronshaw

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Able Seaman Percy Cronshaw

Percy Cronshaw was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, on 10th January 1885. The second of five children, he was the oldest son to Thomas and Alice Cronshaw. Thomas was a loom overseer in a local mill, and when Percy completed his schooling, he found work as a calico weaver. Alice had died by the time of the 1901 census, and the family has moved to a cottage on Loxham Street in Bolton.

Percy wanted a better life for himself and, on 12th February 1902, he joined in the Royal Navy. Too young to fully enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Northampton for his training. Over the next year he learnt the tools of his trade, rising to Boy 1st Class after just three months.

By the time of Percy’s eighteenth birthday, he had had three further postings: the shore bases HMS Calliope in Gateshead and HMS Victory in Portsmouth; and the cruiser HMS Good Hope. It was with her that he came of age, and was in a position to formally enlist in the Royal Navy.

The now Ordinary Seaman Cronshaw’s papers show the man he had become. He was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall, with auburn hair, black eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having moles on the right side of his face and neck, and two tattoos: his initials on his right forearm, and an anchor on his left.

Percy remained aboard HMS Good Hope until the spring of 1905. By this point, he had been promoted, taking the rank of Able Seaman. With his promotion came more training, and he spent the next year split between HMS Victory and HMS Excellent, another shore base in Portsmouth. His annual reviews noted a very good character and an ability to match.

Over the next seven years, Able Seaman Cronshaw would go on to serve on two further ships – HMS Venus and HMS Superb. In between voyages he returned to Portsmouth, with HMS Excellent becoming his home port. This land base offered some continuity, and the unexpected bonus of romance. On 28th January 1912, Percy married Frances Stubbington, a shoemaker’s daughter from the city: the couple would go on to have a child, Violet, who was born later that year.

By this point, Percy had been given a new posting, on board the battleship HMS Bulwark. When war was declared, she became a part of the Channel Fleet, 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 charges overheated, detonating the shells stored nearby. The resulting explosion ripped through the battleship, and more than 740 crew were killed. Able Seaman Cronshaw was among those to be recovered: he was 29 years of age.

Percy Cronshaw’s body as laid to rest alongside his colleagues in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent. As his body had been identified, he was able to be buried in a marked grave.

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

Private Frederick Pagett

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Private Frederick Pagett

Frederick Pagett was born in the Worcestershire village of Hanley Castle on 27th July 1892. The seventh of eight children, he was the youngest son to Samuel and Ann Pagett.

Samuel was a policeman, but when he completed his schooling, Frederick found work as a miner. This seemed not to suit him, however, and, on 20th December 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

Private Pagett’s service records show that he was 5ft 4.5ins tall, and that he had brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He had two small scars on his upper lip, and was noted as being able to swim.

Frederick was sent to Deal in Kent for his training. Over the next couple of years, he learnt his trade, and would serve in the Hampshire towns of Gosport and Portsmouth. His papers noted a very good character.

On 12th June 1912, Private Pagett was assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark. He would remain part of her crew for the next couple of years.

On the 26th November 1914, when Bulwark was moored close to Sheerness, Kent, an explosion ripped through the ship, sinking it and killing more than 740 people. Frederick was on board at the time, and was amongst those to be killed: he just was 22 years of age.

The body of Frederick Pagett was laid to rest in a marked grave in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, London, Middlesex, photography, Royal Marines, story, Surrey, war

Sergeant Edwin Ward

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Sergeant Edwin Ward

Edwin James Ward was born at the start on 3rd December 1879 in London. The oldest of four children, his parents were William and Emma Ward. William, who was a printer, had also been born in London, and the family lived initially in rooms on Trafalgar Street, Walworth, then Hardaker Street in Shoreditch.

There are tantalising gaps in Edwin’s life, and it is a challenge to piece together what happened to him after the 1891 census. He disappears from the records for nearly two decades, and is it likely that he had enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and spent time overseas.

On 21st August 1908, Edwin married a woman called Kate. There is no further information available about her, although the couple went on to have a daughter, Kitty, who was born in Portsmouth on 13th November 1911.

Edwin’s trail goes cold again at this point. He appears to have risen through the ranks with the Royal Marines and, by the summer of 1914, was a Sergeant. He was assigned to the battleship HMS Bulwark, and was on board on the 26th November 1914, when she was moored close to Sheerness, Kent. That morning, an explosion ripped through the ship, sinking it and killing more than 740 people. Sergeant Ward was amongst them: he was 34 years of age.

The body of Edwin James Ward was laid to rest in a marked grave in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.