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Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, injury, Kent, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Ordinary Seaman Albert Hillman

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Ordinary Seaman Albert Hillman

Albert Alsop Hillman was born in Islington, Middlesex, on 22nd September 1895. He was the second of five children to Alfred and Harriet Hillman. Alfred was a builder’s labourer from Hoxton, and, at the time of the 1901 census, the family had rooms at 36 Affleck Street, not far from King’s Cross Station.

The next ten years showed a downturn in the family’s fortunes. They had moved to rooms at 19 Chapel Street, but Alfred was no longer bringing in a wage, and was recorded as being an invalid. In fact, unusually, none of the household of seven – including Albert and his older brother, Alfred Jr, both of whom were of age to have left school – were recorded in any trade, and it is not clear what, if any, money was coming in.

This changed in 1913, when Albert joined the Royal Navy. He had been earning money as a van guard, but a life at sea offered a career and a regular wage. Sent to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, Devon, he spent the next five months learning the skills he would need as a seaman. Being below the age to formally enlist, however, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class.

On 15th November 1913, Boy Hillman was given his first assignment, on board the battleship HMS Venerable. She would remain his home for the next few months, during which time he was promoted to Boy 1st Class.

Albert was formally enlisted in the Royal Navy on 18th February 1914, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service papers show that he was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. His papers also note that he had a scar on his right cheek, and a number of tattoos on his left forearm.

After a short spell at Chatham Dockyard in Kent – also known as HMS Pembroke – Albert was given his second assignment, aboard the destroyer HMS Liberty. In August 1914, she was involved in the Battle of Heligoland Bight and, in a skirmish with the German 5th Flotilla. She was hit by the enemy cruiser Mainz, which landed a direct hit on the bridge, killing the ship’s commander, Nigel Barttelot, and a number of other crew. Albert was wounded, and the ship made its slow way back to port.

When Liberty reached Pembroke once more, Albert was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, and would remain there for the next more than a year.

The death has taken place in the RN Hospital, Chatham, of Able Seaman Albert Hillman, who sustained terrible injuries whilst serving in HM destroyer Liberty in the sea fight in the Bight of Heligoland on August 28th, 1914. For sixteen months the young fellow – he was only 19 years of age – suffered, but he bore his pain unflinchingly and without a murmur, winning the admiration of the medical and nursing staff. It will be remembered that Lieut.-Com. Nigel Barttelot and six members of the crew of the Liberty were killed in the action, one died from wounds, and eleven others were wounded.

[Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser: Saturday 15th January 1916]

The newspaper report includes a couple of errors – Albert held the rank of Ordinary Seaman, and was 20 years of age when he died – and has a stoic and heroic sense of how the injured man bore his wounds with grace and calm.

The body of Albert Alsop Hillman was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the Kent hospital in which he had been tended for so long.

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

Able Seaman John Williams

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Able Seaman John Williams

The funeral of Mr Williams… of South-street, took place on Saturday, the interment being made by the Vicar of Braunton (Rev. JH Prince) in the St Brannock’s Churchyard. There were many manifestations of sympathy, and blinds were drawn all along the route to the Churchyard. The Vicar, in the course of a sympathetic and short address to the bereaved relatives, related a touching incident at an interview he had had with the deceased a few days before his death. The Vicar asked him if he would not rather die peacefully at home than out with his comrades, who were keeping the silent vigil on the seas and in conflict with the enemy. The dying sailor replied in the negative, and said he would sooner be with his comrades, fighting for his King and Country. This, said the Vicar, struck the key-note of Mr Williams’ unselfish life, and by his death they had lost an upright and steady inhabitant.

[North Devon Journal: Thursday 22nd March 1917/

John Williams was born on 4th May 1886 in St Agnes, Cornwall. Details of his early life are a challenge to confirm, but the newspaper report goes on to name two of his brothers as Alfred and Cecil, and one of his sisters as Olive. Piecing this information together with census documents, it seems likely that his parents were William and Elizabeth (his pension record gives Mrs B Williams, which may be Bessie).

The 1891 census records the family as living in St Agnes. William is missing, although it is possible that he was away at sea when the return was taken. John does not appear on the 1901 census, but his trail can be picked up again a year later, when he enlisted in the Royal Navy.

John was working as a butcher when he chose a seafaring career path, and he was sent to HMS Impregnable, the training ship moored at Devonport, Devon, for his induction. He was below the age to formally join up, and so was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class.

Over the next two years, John learnt the tools of his trade. He was trained at three Devon bases – Impregnable, HMS Lion and HMS Vivid – and was promoted to Boy 1st Class in February 1903. On 4th May 1904 he came of age, and officially enlisted in the Royal Navy, given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service records note that he was just 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, and had dark brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Williams was on his first formal posting by this point, and was serving on board the gunboat HMS Harrier. By November 1904, however, he was transferred, and became part of the crew of the armoured cruiser, HMS Suffolk. She remained his home for the next eighteen months, during which he was promoted again, to Able Seaman.

Over the next decade, John would serve on a further six ships, returning to HMS Vivid in between assignments. The work, particularly after the outbreak of war, was taking a strain on his health, however, and, on 3rd May 1916, he was medically discharged from duty, suffering from tuberculosis.

By this point, John’s mother had moved to Devon and was living in the village of Braunton. Following his discharge, he returned to live with Elizabeth – Bessie – and remained there until his death some nine months later. John died on 12 March 1917, aged 29.

The body of John Williams was laid to rest in St Brannock’s Churchyard, Braunton.

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

Able Seaman Percy Nicholls

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Able Seaman Percy Nicholls

Percy Walter Nicholls was born in West Ham, Essex, on 10th July 1898. One of seven children, he was the fourth son to Ernest and Selina Nicholls. Ernest was a carman for the local iron works, and the family lived close to the factory, in rooms at 28 Rocher Road.

The 1911 census recorded that the growing family had moved to 185 North Woolwich Road. Three of the family were employed by the iron works: Ernest and his oldest son Ernest Jr as carmen, while second son George was an iron worker. Percy, just twelve years of age, was still at school, and the document noted that his older brother, Charles, was unable to work as he had been epileptic since birth.

Percy chose a different route for himself when he left school, taking up work as a farm hand. He was after bigger and better things, however, and, on 17th June 1914 he joined the Royal Navy. Too young to formally enlist at that point, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Ganges, the training base near Ipswich, Suffolk, for his induction.

Is appears that Percy impressed his superiors: he was promoted to Boy 1st Class in January 1915, and was given a posting on board HMS Centurion, a dreadnought battleship, on the 20th March. She would remain his home for the next two years, during which time he came of age.

Now able to formally enlist, Percy was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman, his papers showing the young man he had become. He was noted as being just under 5ft 3ins (1.59m) tall, and had dark brown hair, dark brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also recorded as having a scar on his right eyebrow.

Centurion patrolled the waters around Scotland, and took part in the Battle of Jutland at the end of May 1916. Percy was proving to be a steady worker and, on 22nd February 1917, he was promoted to Able Seaman. His time on board the battleship was coming to a close, however, and, on 1st September 1917, he disembarked at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

The base was a busy and overcrowded place at that point in the war. The sinking of the Vanguard left its replacement crew shore-bound while they awaited their next assignments, and an outbreak of meningitis meant that temporary accommodation was needed to space out the men, and, with luck, slow the spread of infection. Able Seaman Nicholls found himself billeted in the dockyard’s Drill Hall.

On the night of the 3rd September 1917, the German air force carried out a daring raid on the North Kent Coast. Dozens of bombs were dropped on Chatham, two of which landed unplanned direct hits on the Drill Hall. The glass roof shattered showering the sleeping men below with deadly shards. Able Seaman Nicholls was badly injured, and taken to the Royal Naval Hospital in the town.

Percy’s wounds would ultimately prove fatal. He died from his injuries on 8th September 1917: he was just 19 years of age.

The body of Percy Walter Nicholls was taken back to Essex for burial. He was laid to rest in the East London Cemetery, Plaistow, a couple of miles from where his family were now living, on Ellesmere Road, West Silvertown.

[Note: the photo above is of the memorial to the Chatham Air Raid victims, close to the mass grave for those whose bodies were not identified, in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.]

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, County Durham, Great War, history, injury, Kent, killed in action, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Suffolk, war

Able Seaman William Magog

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Able Seaman William Magog

William Dowsey Magog was born on 23rd March 1898 in Sunderland, County Durham. He was the only child to William and Mary Magog. William Sr was a railway fireman who died when Mary was three months pregnant. He would never know his son, but William was named in his father’s honour.

With a baby to raise, Mary needed support and married for a second time in 1900. Her new husband was Thomas Gardner, who was employed as a chain testing labourer. The extended family set up home on Thomas Street, initially at No. 7, then moving to No. 19 by the time of the 1911 census. By this point, William had three half-siblings, Mary Jr, Elizabeth and Robert.

William followed his stepfather into factory work, taking a job as a moulder. However, he had his sights set on bigger and better things, and on 31st August 1913, he joined the Royal Navy. Too young for formally enlist at this stage, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Ganges, the training base near Ipswich, Suffolk.

Boy Magog seemed to impress his seniors, and within nine months had been promoted to Boy 1st Class. He was given his first assignment, on board the cruiser HMS Grafton, in June 1914. That summer, as war broke out, he was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

At the end of October 1914, William was transferred to the battleship HMS Dominion, and she would remain his home for the next three years. During this time, he came of age, and formally joined the Royal Navy. His service papers show that the he stood just 5ft 1/2in (1.54m) tall, and had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

The now Ordinary Seaman Magog was dedicated to his role, although his annual reviews noted a very good (or average) character and a satisfactory (again average) ability. He rose through the ranks, however, becoming an Able Seaman in April 1917.

During this time, Dominion patrolled the North Sea as part of the Third Battle Squadron. She was not involved in many of the major skirmishes of the First World War, although she did take part in the protection of Scarborough during the German raids of 1914, and the Battle of Dogger Bank just a few months later.

By the summer of 1917, Able Seaman Magog had returned to Chatham to await his next assignment. The dockyard was a particularly busy and overcrowded place by this point in the conflict: the sinking of HMS Vanguard had left its replacement crew with nowhere to go, and an outbreak of meningitis had meant that additional accommodation was needed to provide space in the cramped barracks. It was because of this that William found himself billeted in temporary barracks in the dockyard’s Drill Hall.

On the night of the 3rd September 1917, the German air force carried out an audacious night raid on the north Kent coast. The Drill Hall was hit by two bombs, shattering its glass roof, and killing dozens of men who were sleeping below. Able Seaman Magog was badly wounded, and was taken to the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham. Tragically, his injuries would prove too severe, and he passed away two days after the bombing. He was just 19 years of age.

The body of William Dowsey Magog was taken back to County Durham for burial. He was laid to rest in Sunderland’s Ryhope Road Cemetery, just a few minutes’ walk from where Mary and the family were living.

Able Seaman William Magog
(from findagrave.com)

[Note: the photo above is of the memorial to the Chatham Air Raid victims, close to the mass grave for those whose bodies were not identified, in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.]

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

Able Seaman William Lang

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Able Seaman William Lang

William John Lang was born on 22nd August 1882, and was one of six children to Thomas and Elizabeth Lang. Thomas was a general labourer from the Devon village of Georgeham, and this is where the family were born and raised.

William initially followed his father into labouring work, but after Thomas died in 1891, he decided he wanted bigger and better things. On 28th February 1899 he joined the Royal Navy. Under the age to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Impregnable, the school ship based in Devonport, for his training.

It seemed that William impressed his teachers. By the end of November he had been promoted to Boy 1st Class, and in the spring of 1900, he was given his first assignment, on board the frigate HMS Agincourt. In August he was transferred to the battleship HMS Camperdown, and he was within days of arriving that he came of age.

William was now formally inducted into the Royal Navy, and given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service papers show that he was a little over 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Lang signed up for a period of 12 years, and during that time, he would serve on eight vessels, returning to what would become his shore base – HMS Vivid in Devonport – between assignments. In January 1903 he was promoted to Able Seaman but, while his annual reviews consistently noted a very good character, as time went on, his ability varied from good to moderate.

Able Seaman Lang’s contract came to an end in August 1912, and he immediately re-enlisted. In November 1913 he was assigned to the battleship HMS Colossus, and she would remain his home for the next three years. The posting seemed to suit William well, and his annual reviews reflected this, with superior ability being noted at the end of 1914.

By the start of 1916, William’s health was beginning to be affected and, he returned to HMS Vivid. He had contracted tuberculosis, and this led to his ultimate discharge from naval service on 22nd March.

At this point his trail goes cold, but it is likely that he returned home. Elizabeth had remarried by this point, and she and her husband, Thomas Physick, were living on a farm in Georgeham. William’s lung condition would get the better of him, and he passed away on 2nd September 1916. He had not long turned 34 years of age.

The body of William John Lang was laid to rest in the family plot in St George’s Churchyard, Georgeham: father and son reunited after 15 years.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, photography, Royal Navy, story, war, Wiltshire

Boy 2nd Class William Bray

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Boy 2nd Class William Bray

William Clements Bray was born on 14th October 1900. One of six children, his parents were Frederick and Annie. Frederick was a Private in the Wiltshire Regiment, and was based out of Trowbridge, Wiltshire. His work took him away from home a lot, however, and so Annie was left to raise the children on her own.

By the time of the 1911 census Frederick had left the army, and had instead found work as a canal labourer for the Great Western Railway. The family of eight were living in a four-roomed cottage at 22 Prospect Place, to the north of the town centre. William was still at school, but two of his siblings – brother Frederick Jr, and sister Florence – were both employed and bringing a wage into the household.

War broke out in the summer of 1914, and it seems that William was keen to play his part. He enlisted on the 12th April 1918, joining the Royal Navy. As he was under age, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and sent to HMS Powerful, a training ship based in Portsmouth, Hampshire. His service papers note that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a large scar across his chest.

Boy Bray’s time in the navy was to be tragically short. After just a few weeks he was admitted to hospital in Plymouth, Devon, with scarlet fever, and developed emphysema. He passed away on 25th November “after a long and painful illness” [Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser: Saturday 14th December 1918] He was just 18 years of age.

The body of William Clements Bray was taken back to Wiltshire for burial. He was laid to rest in Trowbridge Cemetery, not far from where his parents were living.

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

Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Russell

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Petty Officer 1st Class Frederick Russell

Frederick Russell was born in Woolwich, Kent, on 8th August 1868, and was the younger of two children to Elizabeth Russell. Of Frederick’s father there is no trace, and it is likely that he passed away soon after his son’s birth. Only Elizabeth’s name appears on her son’s baptism record, the ceremony carried out at St Nicholas’ Church, Plumstead, Kent, on 1st August 1869.

The 1871 census found Elizabeth and her children – Caroline and Frederick – living in rooms at 1 Armstrong Place, Plumstead. She was employed as a hat trimmer, and the document confirms that she had been born in Matlock, Derbyshire.

Money must have incredibly tight, and by the 1881 census, Frederick was one of 115 students at the South Metropolitan Schools Branch in Herne Bay, Kent. The former Pier Hotel on the seafront, this had been set up as a convalescent home for pauper children from the Woolwich area.

The next record for Frederick shows the start what would become a thirty year naval career. He enlisted as a Boy 2nd Class on 10th January 1884, and was assigned to the Royal Navy’s school ship, HMS Impregnable. She would remain his home for the next eighteen months, and he was promoted to Boy 1st Class during his time on board.

In August 1885, Boy Russell was given his first sea-going assignment, on the battleship HMS Ajax. The following spring, he transferred to the corvette HMS Comus, and she would become his home for the next six years. During this time, he came of age, and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. His papers show that he was 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. They also note an abscess scar under his jaw and a dog bite on his right arm.

Frederick was a determined young man, and his commitment to the navy paid off. Over the ten years of his contract, he would serve on three ships after Comus, and was promoted three times – to Able Seaman in April 1888, Leading Seaman in 1894 and Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st January 1895.

In August 1896, Frederick’s contract with the navy came to an end, but he immediately re-enlisted. Over the next decade he added a further six vessels to the list of those he had served on, and had been promoted again, to Petty Officer 1st Class, taking the rank in August 1897. As time wore on, more and more of his service was spent on shore, and he spent the last two years of his second contract based at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

Petty Officer Russell’s contract came to an end in August 1906 and his trail goes cold for a few years. An entry on the 1911 census suggests that he may have found work as a servant in the St Aloysius School on Hornsey Lane, Upper Holloway, Middlesex.

Frederick had also met someone by this point, and on 7th January 1911, he was due to marry Elizabeth Stone at Holy Trinity Church on Haverstock Hill. The nuptials did not take place, however, the vicar noting that the entry was cancelled, ‘the parties not having presented themselves at the time appointed.’ The couple were still very much together, however, and went on to have four children: Frederick, Gladys, Ernest and George.

When war broke out, Frederick was called back into service in his previous role of Petty Officer 1st Class. Over the course of two years, he spent six months on board the battleship HMS Duncan. The rest of the time he served at his former base HMS Pembroke, and is seems likely that this was so that he was closer to his family.

By the summer of 1916, Frederick’s health was starting to fail. He contracted pneumonia, and the condition would get the better of him. He passed away on 29th July 1916, a few days short of his 48th birthday.

The body of Frederick Russell was laid to rest in the military section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from the base he had called home for a lot of his navy career.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Dorsetshire Regiment, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, India, Mesopotamia, photography, Private, Royal Navy, story, war

Private Thomas Adams

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Private Thomas Adams

Thomas Charles Adams was born on 18th April 1891 in Ilfracombe, Devon. The oldest of four children, his parents were Thomas and Amanda Adams. Thomas Sr was a mason turned builder, but his son seemed keen to carve his own path in life.

On 5th October 1905, Thomas Jr enlisted in the Royal Navy. His papers show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.67m) tall, with dark hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion. His time with the navy seems to have been brief, he was sent to HMS Impregnable for training, but was discharged on 9th November 1905, the reason given being “Invd”. Later documents suggest that he was dismissed because he was under the regulation chest measurement, but it was likely due to the fact that he had added two years to his age in order to be accepted.

Thomas returned home, and found employment as a fitter. He was not to be deterred, however, and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment as a volunteer. On 30th January 1907 he gave up his job, and enlisted in the army full time. Thomas’ papers give similar physical descriptions to his naval record, but also include his weight, 123lbs (55.8kg).

Private Adams was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, and spent the next two years on home soil. On 5th January 1909, however, the life of adventure he had wanted truly began. His unit was sent to India, and he would remain overseas for more than six years. His time overseas was not without incident, however, and he had four separate admissions to hospital with neuralgia (in April 1909), gonorrhoea (1910 and 1912) and malaria (in 1914).

By May 1915, Thomas was back in Britain. He was still having health issues, however, and he was admitted to Netley Hospital, Hampshire, suffering from tuberculosis. The condition would lead to his discharge from the army, and he was formally stood down on 15th June 1915.

At this point, Thomas’ trail goes cold. It is likely that he returned to his family, who were now living in Combe Martin, Devon. This is where he passed away, on 14th October 1915, at the age of 24 years old.

The body of Thomas Charles Adams was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peter’s Church, Combe Martin.

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.