Tag Archives: 1918

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, Leading Stoker, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, Stoker, story, Sussex, war

Stoker Petty Officer Henry Weller

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Stoker Petty Officer Henry Weller

Henry Weller was born on 13th January 1877 in the village of Ashurst Wood, Sussex. The second of four children, his parents were John and Mary Weller. John was a farm labourer, and the 1881 census found the family living in a cottage on Brooklands Farm in East Grinstead.

Times look to have been tough for the Weller family. By the time of the next census, John, Mary and three of their children were lodging with Hartfield family. Henry, meanwhile, was living in Deptford, Kent, with James and Susannah Weller. He was noted as being a ‘cousin’, although his exact relationship is unclear. James’ nephew Joseph Weller, was also living with them. Just fourteen years of age, Henry was working as a general labourer, and the family were living at 21 Adolphus Street.

Labouring was an irregular way to being in money, and so Henry sought out a more regular career. On 18th November 1896 he signed up to the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having the letters HW tattooed on his left forearm, and shaking hands on his upper left arm.

Stoker Weller was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He spent the next nine months split between there and HMS Wildfire – Sheerness Dockyard – learning his trade.

On 8th June 1897, Henry was assigned to the battleship HMS Victorious. Promoted to Stoker 1st Class three months after boarding, she would remain his home for the next three years. After a month aboard another battleship – HMS Revenge – he returned to Chatham.

Love blossomed and, on 8th July 1900, Henry married Alice Beldham, a dock worker’s daughter. The couple exchanged vows at All Saints’ Church, Rotherhithe, Kent, and moved in with Alice’s widowed father, George, at 12 Osprey Street. They went on to have three children: Henry, Harold and Ivy.

Newly settled, Henry seems to have voiced a preference to remain closer to home and, for the next couple of years he would remain based at HMS Pembroke. Alice relocated, and the family set up home at 51 King Edward Road, Gillingham, Kent. Close to the River Medway, the Wellers’ neighbours were all based at the docks, and, during her husband’s future absences, it is likely that Alice felt a sense of community.

After leaving HMS Pembroke, Henry was attached to the cruiser HMS Bacchante. Promoted to Leading Stoker 2nd Class, over the next six years, he would serve on three more ships, spending six-month stints back in Chatham in between assignments. In July 1903 he was promoted to Leading Stoker 1st Class, although he reverted to 2nd Class nine months later. Promoted again in June 1905, he took the rank of Stoker Petty Officer a year later.

Henry’s initial term of service came to an end in November 1908. He immediately re-enlisted, and remained in service until the spring of 1918.

By this point Stoker Petty Officer Weller had been assigned to the torpedo gunboat HMS Hebe for more than thirty months. Patrolling the North Sea coast, on 12th April, she moored at the Alexandra Dock in Hull, Yorkshire. A later inquest outlined what happened next:

Joseph Taylor, a chief petty officer, said that about 11:55pm… [Henry] and he were going from the town to their ship… Witness struck a match to light his pipe. [Henry] walked on for about two yards, and then disappeared. Witness raised the alarm, and went tot he bottom of the dry dock, into which he found [Henry] had fallen, a distance of about 50 feet. They did not know the docks, has they had only come in that morning… If he (witness) had not struck the match they would both have gone over.

[Hull Daily Mail: Wednesday 17th April 1918]

Alive, but severely concussed, Stoker Petty Officer Weller was quickly taken to a local hospital. He was operated on, but his injuries were too severe. Henry passed away on 16th April 1918: he was 41 years of age.

The body of Henry Weller was taken back to Kent for burial. He was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, a short walk from where Alice and their children were still living.

Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Middlesex, Midshipman, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, story, war

Midshipman Randolph Lemon

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Midshipman Randolph Lemon

Randolph Charles Lemon was born on 23rd September 1900. An only child, his parents were Charles and Edith. Charles was a schoolmaster from Hampton Wick, Middlesex, by he and Edith raised their son at 176 Union Road, Leytonstone, Essex.

There is little information available about Randolph’s life. When war broke out he stepped up to play his part, but the only documentation about his time at sea confirms that he served as a Midshipman in the Royal Naval Reserve. Randolph was assigned to the TSS Hurunui, owned by the New Zealand Shipping Company, in April 1916. By the spring of 1918, however, he had transferred to the destroyer HMS Exe.

That March Exe was sailing with HMS Kale south down the eastern coast of Britain, from Hull to Portsmouth. On 27th March 1918, both ships inadvertently steered six miles out of a clear channel and into a British-laid minefield. Both ships hit mines and the Kale was sunk, with the loss of 41 lives. The Exe floundered and, while the full impact is unclear, Midshipman Lemon was killed in the incident. He was just 17 years of age.

The Exe made it to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. Randolph Charles Lemon’s body was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.

The loss of their only child at such a young age must have been for his parents to bear. The 1921 census found Charles and Elizabeth had moved to Ilford, Essex, where Charles was now teaching.

Charles died in 1939, at the age of 65, Elizabeth passing away in February 1967, aged 90. Both were buried with their son: a family reunited after nearly five decades.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Leading Seaman, London, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, story, war, Yorkshire

Leading Seaman William Coombes

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Leading Seaman William Coombes

William Henry Marsh was born on 6th September 1879 in Whitstable, Kent. An only child, his parents were William and Maria Marsh, and, based on the census records, his early life seemed to have lacked some stability.

The 1881 census recorded William and his mother living on Beach Walk in the town. Marias was recorded as being a mariner’s wife. By 1891, William and his father was living with Maria’s sister and son. Still a mariner, with his son also working as a seaman, William Sr was listed as being a widower.

A decade on, and William Jr’s life had taken a different turn and the 1901 census listed him living on Whitstable High Street. Working as a labourer in the harbour, he is recorded as having a wife, Julia, and a two-year-old son, also William. Sadly, there is no further information about either of them.

The next document for William Jr is his First World War service papers. It shows that he enlisted on 10th March 1915, his previous time at sea making him an ideal candidate for the Royal Naval Reserve. His is noted as being 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He also had a tattoo of clasped hands on his right forearm. The most interesting thing about this document, however, is the fact that William had chosen to go by the surname of Coombes.

Given the rank of Leading Seaman, William would spend the next couple of years serving mainly on shore, at bases in London and Devonport. By the spring of 1918, while attached to the SS Eastville, he was admitted to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. Suffering from anaemia and malaria, the conditions would take his life. He died on 19th March 1918, at the age of 38 years old.

The body of William Henry Coombes was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from the dockyard he would have known.

William’s will left £114 (around £8200) to his widow Julia, who was by now living in Leeds, Yorkshire. At his request, however his war pension, however, was given to his aunt, Mrs Rose Rout, of Hull, Yorkshire.

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

Stoker 1st Class Henry Tregillis

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Stoker 1st Class Henry Tregillis

Henry Johnson Tregillis was born on Christmas Day 1890 and was one of six children to Edward and Emma. Edward was a journeyman baker from Westminster, Middlesex, but the family were raised in Woolwich, Kent.

When Henry finished his schooling, he found work as a general labourer, but as he got older, he sought a more reliable trade. On 15th September 1909 he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service papers show that he was 5ft 9ins (1.65m) tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a number of tattoos: a soldier and rifle on his left forearm, a girl on his left upper arm, Buffalo Bill on his right upper arm, the words In loving memory of my dear father and his mother’s name, Emma, on his right forearm.

Stoker Tregillis was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his induction. In March 1910 he was assigned to the battleship HMS Lord Nelson. He would spend the next five years attached to Lord Nelson and, while he was promoted to Stoker 1st Class, his time on board was not without incident. He spent two separate periods in the cells – totally 21 days – for unrecorded demeanours.

Henry left HMS Lord Nelson in July 1915, and over the next couple of years he served on two more ships, before becoming shore based – first at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, then back at HMS Pembroke again. His annual review were mediocre, ranging from fair to very good, and he spend three more periods of time in the brig: 7 days in October 1915, 28 days in April/May 1916 and 14 days in June 1916.

By the start of 1918, Stoker 1st Class Tregillis had been at Chatham Dockyard for six months. That winter he came down with pleurisy, and was admitted to the town’s Royal Naval Hospital. The condition would prove fatal, and he breathed his last on 29th January 1918: he was 27 years of age.

The body of Henry Johnson Tregillis was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, walking distance from the dockyard that had become home.

Bermuda, Cambridgeshire, Canada, Chaplain, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Kent, London, Nova Scotia, photography, Royal Navy, story, Suffolk, war

Reverend Joseph Dathan

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Reverend Joseph Dathan

Much regret has been felt… at the death of Rev. JD Dathan MA, chaplain to the Royal Marines, at the age of 50 years. His death was due to pneumonia, caused by catching a chill while doing temporary duty… at the [Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, Kent]. The eldest son of Captain JC Dathan RN, the deceased gentleman was educated at Christ’s Hospital and Cambridge, where he obtained the degree of MA. He entered the Royal Navy as a chaplain in 1896, and served on the China Station during the Boxer riots. For five years he was chaplain of Bermuda Dockyard and Hospital. He also served commissions in HMS Monmouth, Goliath and Russell. He was posted to the Royal Marine Barracks in July 1914, but on the outbreak of war he was appointed to HMS Formidable, and was transferred from the ship a week before she was lost. He was subsequently sent tot he Dardanelles for service in the Implacable at the first landing in April 1915. Later he joined the Italian Fleet, and was subsequently recalled to the Royal Marine Barracks. Three of the deceased officer’s brothers – Paymr.-in-Chief Ellis Dathan, Com. Hartley Dathan, and Eng.-Com. William Dathan – are serving in the Royal Navy.

[Naval & Military Record and Royal Dockyards Gazette: Wednesday 16th January 1918]

Joseph Duncan Dathan was born in 1866 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The second of seven children, his parents were Joseph and Emma Dathan.

By the time of the 1891 census, the Dathan family had moved back to Britain. Joseph Sr and Emma were living in Portsea, Hampshire, while the younger Joseph was studying at Christ’s Hospital. The next return, taken in 1901, found him having taken up a role as curate at St John’s Church in Ipswich, Suffolk. He was, by this point, living on Foxhall Road on the western edge of the town.

On 25th February 1904, Joseph married Alicia Cane. The daughter of a vicar, she lived in Ipswich, and the couple married in the local parish church. By this point, Joseph was based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and this is where the young couple set up home. Alicia gave birth to their first child, John, that November. The couple’s second son, Joseph, was born in 1906 and their third, daughter Alicia, was born in Bermuda while the family were stationed out there with Reverend Dathan’s work.

Joseph’s connection to the navy continued much as the newspaper reported. He died from pneumonia on 7th January 1918: he was 51 years of age.

Reverend Joseph Duncan Dathan was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, a place he would have known well, given its proximity to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, where he had been based.

Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Essex, Great War, history, illness, Pembrokeshire, photography, Royal Army Service Corps, Sergeant, story, war

Corporal Tom Morse

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Serjeant Tom Morse

Thomas Morse was born in St Nicholas, Pembrokeshire, in the summer of 1885. One of thirteen children, his parents were Thomas and Mary Morse. Thomas Sr was an agricultural labourer, but when he completed his schooling, his son found work as a mason and, by the time of the 1911 census, he was boarding with his older sister Maria and her family.

When war broke out, Thomas Jr – who was better known as Tom – stepped up to play his part. Full details about his service have been lost to time, but it is clear that he enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps. It is unclear whether he spent any time overseas, but towards the end of the war, he found himself based in Essex in the Mechanical Transport Division.

In the autumn of 1918, Tom, who had risen to the rank of Acting Corporal, fell ill. He came down with pneumonia, and was admitted to Colchester Hospital. The condition would prove fatal, and he passed away on 26th October 1918: he was 33 years of age.

The body of Thomas “Tom” Morse was brought back to Pembrokeshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the Hermon Baptist Burial Ground in Fishguard.

Intriguingly, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have Tom’s rank as Serjeant. What remains of his service papers, however, all suggest he was an Acting Corporal.

Equally intriguing are the details of Tom’s dependents. His entry on the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects gives his father, Thomas Sr, as his beneficiary. His Dependents’ Pension Record, however, gives his mother, Mary, and Miss M Nicholas, who is listed as the guardian of his illegitimate child. There no further information on them.

Carpenter's Crewman, Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Great War, history, Ireland, killed in action, Merchant Navy, Pembrokeshire, photography, story, Wales, war

Carpenter’s Mate George Land

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Carpenter’s Mate George Land

George William Land was born early in 1891, and was the only child to George and Caroline Land. George Sr was a greengrocer from Dagenham, Essex, and the family were living in Ilford when his son was born.

Caroline seems to have died a few months after George Jr’s birth, and, by the time of the 1901 census, he was in the care of her parents. His father was still running the shop, and was supported by George Jr’s aunt.

The 1911 census found George Jr employed as a greengrocer, and it seems likely that he was working alongside his father by this point. He was living with his maternal and uncle, who was also employed in the same line of work.

When war was declared, it seems that George Jr wated to play his part. Full details of his service have been lost to time, but it seems that he joined the Merchant Navy and, by the summer of 1918, he was working as a Carpenter’s Mate on board the SS Mesaba. She was a cargo liner, requisitioned by the Admiralty for transport duties.

On 31st August 1918, the Mesaba left Liverpool, Lancashire, for Philadelphia. The following day, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-118, and foundered. She sunk off the coast of County Wexford, with the loss of 20 souls, Carpenter’s Mate Land included. George Jr was 27 years of age.

The body of George William Land was laid to rest in St David’s Parish Cemetery, Pembrokeshire. It is unclear whether his body had been brought to Wales with the seventy survivors who had been rescued, or whether it had washed ashore there some time after the sinking.

Cadet, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Gunner, history, illness, Middlesex, photography, Royal Garrison Artillery, Sergeant, story, Sussex, war

Cadet Sergeant Henry Clark

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Cadet Sergeant Henry Clark

Henry John Clark was born on 17th January 1885 in Tufnell Park, Middlesex. The oldest of five children, his parents were wire worker and brass finisher Henry Clark and his wife, Louisa.

The 1891 census found the family living at 51 Cromwell Avenue, Highgate, Middlesex, and this would certainly remain Henry Sr and Louisa’s house for the next ten to fifteen years at least. Henry Jr – who was better known as Jack – is missing from the 1901 census, but by the next document, taken in 1911, he had moved back in with the family.

By this point the Clarks were living in a thirteen-room house on Shepherd’s Hill, Highgate. Henry Sr was now listed as an employer, manufacturing fenders, fire guards and metal good generally, with Jack and his brother, Cyril, also working in the business. The family were supported by two servants, with Henry Sr’s niece and another boarder living with them. Tragically, the census records that Louisa had had five children, although only Jack and Cyril were still alive.

The family business, according to De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour, Messrs. J Clark, Ltd, of High Street, Bloomsbury, and Jack was one of the directors. The publication also notes that, in his spare time, Jack was “a prominent and active member of the Kit Marlowe Dramatic Club, and the Vaudeville Dramatic Club, and was a popular member of the Highgate Special Constabulary, which body he joined as soon as it was formed.”

On 19th June 1912,Jack married Alice King. Born in Finsbury Park, she was the daughter of a wine and spirit valuer and merchant. The couple exchanged vows at St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London, and would go on to have a child, John, in 1916.

When war broke out, Jack was called upon to play his part. He enlisted on 4th December 1916, joining the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner. His service papers note that he was just over 6ft 2ins (1.89m) tall, and weighed 159lbs (72.1kg).

Gunner Clark served with the British Expeditionary Force from March 1917, returning to home soil just three months later. He had obviously impressed his superiors, as he was sent to the No. 2 RGA Officers’ Cadet School in Uckfield, Sussex, to be trained as a Sergeant.

While here, however, Jack came down with pneumonia, and was admitted to the No. 2 Eastern General Hospital in Brighton. The condition was to get the better of him, sadly, and he passed away on 16th January 1918, the day after his 33rd birthday.

Henry John “Jack” Clark was taken back to Middlesex for burial. He was laid to rest in the majestic Highgate Cemetery, a short walk from his grieving family.

Cadet Sergeant Henry Clark
(from De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour)
Commonwealth War Graves, Corporal, Farrier, Great War, history, illness, Life Guards, Middlesex, photography, story, Sussex, war

Farrier Staff Corporal Reginald Lambert

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Farrier Staff Corporal Reginald Lambert

Reginald Harold Lambert was born in the spring of 1878 in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. One of eight children, his parents were Henry and Elizabeth Lambert. Henry was a surgeon dentist, who had five more children from first marriage, giving Reginald a total of twelve siblings.

When Reginald finished his schooling, he took up work as a dental assistant, presumably under his father’s tutelage. Away from this, he volunteered for the Royal Sussex Regiment, and the military life drew him in. On 8th July 1897, he joined the 1st Life Guards: based in London, he took on the role of Farrier, tending to the regiment’s horses and looking after their hooves in particular.

On 25th April 1909, Reginald married Lilian Burns at St George’s Church in Tufnell Park, Middlesex. There is little information about her background, but she was the daughter of a grocer and, at 38 years old, seven years her new husband’s senior.

As the point of his marriage, Reginald was listed as a Corporal, and gave his address as Knightsbridge Barracks. By the time of the 1911 census, however, he and Lilian had set up home in second floor rooms at 6 Princess Road, Camden.

When war broke out in 1914, Corporal Lambert was called upon to play his part. His service records are long since lost, but the 1st Life Guards fought in some of the key battles of the conflict: at Ypres in both 1914 and 1915, at Loos in 1915, and at Arras in 1917. Exactly where and how Reginald served, however, is unknown, but by the end of the war he had risen to the rank of Farrier Staff Corporal.

The next record for Reginald is that of his death, which was registered in Islington, Middlesex. It seems likely that he either returned home, or was hospitalised close to home. He passed away through illness on 4th September 1918, at the age of 40 years old.

Reginald Harold Lambert was laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery, not far from where his widow still lived. His epitaph gave a nod to her pet name for him: In loving memory of dear Rex. Apart yet not afar.

Air Mechanic, Clerk, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Middlesex, photography, Royal Air Force, story, war

Clerk 1st Class George Townsend

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Clerk 1st Class George Townsend

George Wilson Townsend was born in St Pancras, Middlesex on 13th September 1885. The youngest of three children – although his older brother Joseph had died before George was born – his parents were piano maker Samuel Townsend and his wife, Eliza.

When he finished his schooling, George found work as a clerk for a shipping company. In the summer of 1909 he married Ellen Gibbins: the couple went on to have two children, daughters Kathleen (born in 1910) and Elsie (born in 1912).

The 1911 census found the family in a small cottage at 43 Leighton Road, Kentish Town. George was still working as a shipping clerk, while Ellen was look after baby Kathleen.

When war broke out, George was called upon to play his part. He enlisted on 12th May 1917, and joined the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 3rd Class. His service records show that he stood 5ft 9.75ins (1.77m) tall.

When the Royal Air Force was formed in April 1918, George was immediately transferred across. Reclassified as a Clerk 3rd Class, he was quickly promoted to Clerk 1st Class, the skills he had learn in civilian life coming to the fore. Attached to 85 Squadron, then 62 Training Squadron, which was based in Gosport, Hampshire.

By the autumn of 1918, George had returned home, although the circumstances for this are unclear. He may have been on leave or recuperating from an illness. Certainly he passed away from pneumonia while at home on 5th October. He had not long turned 33 years of age.

George Wilson Townsend was laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery, not far from where his family still lived.