Tag Archives: history

Able Seaman, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Essex, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Leading Seaman, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, Petty Officer, photography, Royal Navy, story, Surrey, war

Petty Officer William Feldon

Leave a comment
Petty Officer William Feldon

William Feldon was born on 16th October 1878, the middle of three children – and the only son – to William and Jessie Feldon. William Sr was a carpenter from Highgate, Middlesex, but it was south of the Thames, in Lambeth, Surrey, that the family were raised.

When he finished his schooling, William Jr found work as a general labourer. He was drawn to bigger and better things, however, and a life at sea was to catch his eye. In June 1894, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class. His service records noted that he was 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

By the time William had completed his initial training, he had been promoted to Boy 1st Class. He was then moved to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

By October 1895, he was given his first posting, on board the torpedo cruiser HMS Archer, and he would remain assigned to her for the next two years. During this time, William came of age and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His commitment to the service was pretty clear, and, within seven months he had been promoted again, to Able Seaman.

After a short spell back at Pembroke, William was assigned to HMS Wildfire, another shore establishment just along the coast in Sheerness. He remained there for nine months, during which time he was promoted again, to the rank of Leading Seaman.

In May 1899, William was moved to another posting, on board the gunboat HMS Partridge. This assignment provide him with the route to further promotion: he remained on board until July 1901, having risen to Petty Office 2nd Class on 1st July 1899 and Petty Officer 1st Class on 23rd September 1900.

Over the remainder of his initial term of service, William served on six further vessels. The sea was in his blood by this point, and when his contracted ended on 15th October 1908, he re-enlisted without any hesitation.

Away from the Navy, William fell in love. On 23rd October 1909, he married Ada Plumpton, who was 25 years old, and who lived in Battersea, Surrey. The couple exchanged vows at St Faith’s Church in Southwark, but settled down in the village of Dovercourt, Essex. They went on to have two children, Doris, who was born in 1910, and Elsie, who came along the following year.

Back at sea, Petty Officer Feldon was assigned to the cruiser HMS Boadicea. He spent two years on board, before moving to another cruiser, HMS Blonde, for another two years. In between voyages, William returned to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham.

On 13th January 1914, Petty Officer Feldon was posted to the battleship HMS Formidable, part of the Channel Fleet patrolling the seas of the southern coast of Britain.

Early on the morning of 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-24. Other ships in her convoy came to help, but after a couple of hours – and another torpedo strike – the damage was too great and she sank. 120 members of the crew were saved, but more than 540 officer and crew – including Petty Officer Feldon – were lost. He was 36 years of age.

William Feldon’s body was one of those recovered and identified. He was laid to rest in a communal grave in Lyme Regis Cemetery, in the hills above the Dorset town where he had been brought ashore.

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

Stoker 1st Class Horace Bernthall

Leave a comment
Stoker 1st Class Horace Bernthall

Horace Frank Bernthall was born in Clapton, Middlesex, on 19th February 1893. One of twelve children, his parents were Henry and Ellen. Henry was a general labourer, and this is work into which his sons followed.

By the time of the 1911 census, the Bernthall family were living on Folly Lane in Walthamstow, Essex. Henry and Ellen were sharing three rooms with six of their children – of which Horace was the eldest. The census return confirms that, of their twelve children, four had died by this point. Three of the family were working – Henry, Horace and another sibling, 16 year old Arthur.

Horace set his sights on bigger and better things, and on 30th August 1912, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. He took up the role of Stoker 2nd Class, his records confirming that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.

Stoker Bernthall was initially sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He remained there for the next five months, before being assigned to the pre-dreadnought battleship HMS Formidable. She was to remain his home for the nest two years, and was where he gained promotion to Stoker 1st Class in August 1913.

HMS Formidable was attached to the Channel Fleet, primarily guarding the waters separating Britain from France. Early on the morning of 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-24. Other ships in her convoy came to help, but after a couple of hours – and another torpedo strike – the damage was too great and she sank. 120 members of the crew were saved, but more than 540 officer and crew – including Stoker 1st Class Bernthall – were lost. He was just 21 years of age.

Horace Frank Bernthall’s body was one of those recovered and identified. He was laid to rest in a communal grave in Lyme Regis Cemetery, in the hills above the Dorset town where he had been brought ashore.

The spelling of the family surname varies across the documents that cover Horace’s life – Bernthal, and Burnthall being two other suggestions – but I have gone with Bernthall, as that is what is recorded on his baptism record.

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

Stoker 1st Class William Eley

Leave a comment
Stoker 1st Class William Eley

William Charles Eley was born on 13th February 1890 in Liverpool, Lancashire. One of nine children, his parents were William and Ellen Eley. William Sr was noted as being a butcher on his son’s baptism record, but by the following year’s census, he was recorded as being a general labourer, and this is the line of work in which he continued.

When William Jr completed his schooling, he found employment as a carter. He sought bigger and better things, however, and, living so close to the Mersey dockyards, he was drawn to the sea. On 13th March 1908 he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 6.5ins (1.69m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having amole on his right cheek.

William was sent to HMS Acheron for his initial training. He spent six months on board, before moving to his first posting on board the battleship HMS Albermarle. She would be Stoker Eley’s home for the next eighteen months, and he gained a promotion to Stoker 1st Class during this time.

Over the next three years, William would serve on two more ships – HMS Victorious and HMS Lancaster. In between assignments, he was based at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. On 15th March 1913, he completed his initial contract of five years’ service, and was transferred to reserve status.

This time back on civvy street would not last for long, however. On 2nd August 1914 William was mobilised once more and, after a few weeks back in Chatham, he was assigned to the battleship HMS Formidable. She was attached to the Channel Fleet, primarily guarding the south coast.

At 2:20am on Friday 1st January 1915, while off the Dorset coast, the Formidable was torpedoed by the German submarine U-24. Other ships in the convoy tried to assist, but after a couple of hours – and another torpedo strike – the damage was too great and she sank. 120 members of the crew were saved, but more than 540 officer and crew – including Stoker 1st Class Eley – were lost. He was just 24 years of age.

Luckily, William Charles Eley’s body was recovered and identified. His father had died a few years before, and it seems likely that Ellen could not afford to have her son brought back to Lancashire for burial. Instead, he was laid to rest in a communal grave in Lyme Regis Cemetery, Dorset, high above the seaside town where he had been brought ashore.

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

Leading Seaman Sidney Crabb

Leave a comment
Leading Seaman Sidney Crabb

Sidney Harry Crabb was born in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, Dorset on 6th September 1888. One of nine children, his parents were Albert and Mary Crabb. Albert was a Trinity pilot, working on ships, and his son was destined to follow in his stead.

On 16th January 1903, Sidney enlisted in the Royal Navy. He lied about his age to be taken in, adding two years to his date of birth. That was still below the full enlistment age for the military, and he was taken on with the rank of Boy 2nd Class.

Sidney was sent to HMS Boscawen, a training ship, for his initial instruction. He remained there until mid-November 1903, by which time he had been promoted to Boy 1st Class. He then moved to the training battleship HMS Minotaur (which became HMS Boscawen II shortly afterwards), and remained on board for the next nine months.

On 7th September 1904, Sidney “came of age” (albeit he was two years younger than he had said), and was formally inducted into the Royal Navy. He was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman and, within a matter of days, was assigned to his first vessel, the tender HMS Fire Queen.

On 19th November 1904, Ordinary Seaman Crabb was reassigned, to the armoured cruiser HMS Sutlej. She was to remain his home for the next eighteen months, during which time Sidney was promoted again, to the rank of Able Seaman.

Over the next nine years, Sidney was to serve on six more vessels. On 9th December 1912, while back in Dorset, he married Lily Froom in the parish church of their home town, Lyme Regis. The couple would go on to have a son, Stanley, who was born in September 1914.

By this point, Able Seaman Crabb’s health was faltering. He was serving on board the battleship HMS Prince of Wales when war was declared, and had been promoted again, to Leading Seaman. By early October 1914, however, he was medically dismissed from service, having contracted pulmonary tuberculosis.

At this point, Sidney’s trail goes cold. He seems to have returned home, but it is unclear how much his failing health impacted on his daily life. The lung condition was ultimately to get the better of him: he passed away in Axminster, Devon, on 8th February 1917, at the age of 28 years of age.

Sidney Harry Crabb was taken the short distance back to Lyme Regis for burial. He was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery, overlooking the sea to which he and he late father had dedicated much of their lives.

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

Petty Officer 1st Class Albert Hodder

Leave a comment
Petty Officer 1st Class Albert Hodder

Albert George Hodder was born on 27th December 1878 in Lyme Regis, Dorset. The oldest of three children, his parents were Samuel and Ellen Hodder. Samuel was a general labourer who died in 1886, when he was 35 years of age. By the time of the 1891 census, Albert had given up school, and was working as a live-in cowboy in the nearby Devon village of Uplyme, bringing in what would be the only wage for him, his mother and his two younger brothers.

Working on a dairy farm would not bring in the money the his family would need. So, on 7th August 1894, Albert sought out more of a career and enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall with brown hair, grey eyes and a ruddy complexion.

Albert was under the age to formally enlist, and so was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was sent to the training ship HMS Boscawen, and, over the next eighteen months he received a basic education and naval induction. By the end of July 1895, he had been promoted to the rank of Boy 1st Class.

On 12th November 1895, Boy Hodder was assigned to the ironclad ship HMS Alexandra, and his naval career began. Over the next nearly two decades, he would serve on twelve separate ships, rising through the ranks as he did so.

When Albert came of age, on 27th December 1896, he was serving on board HMS Gibraltar. Formally inducted into naval service, he was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. He spent more than three years on board Gibraltar, and rose to Able Seaman on 1st January 1899.

From here his career continued: He was promoted to Leading Seaman on 18th May 1903, Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st April 1905 and Petty Officer 1st Class just two years later.

In the autumn of 1912, Albert’s career changed course. He was assigned to HMS Maidstone, a submarine depot ship, and a life under the ocean waves started to appeal. On 28th March 1914, Petty Officer Hodder was sent to HMS Dolphin, home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, where he was trained up for new duties. By October that year he was to be found serving on board the newly-commissioned submarine E11.

Over the next few months he served in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and the E11 was involved in a minor way in the defence of Scarborough in December 1914 and the Cuxhaven Raid ending on Christmas Day that year.

At this point, Petty Officer Hodder’s trail goes cold. He remained on the E11 until early February, by this time she was based off the Norfolk coast.

An inquest was held on Friday on the body of Albert George Hodder… of Lyme Regis, Dorset, a member of the crew of one of HM vessels, who died from the effect of immersion.

Evidence showed that at 9.20 on the previous Thursday night a petty officer heart the shout of “Man overboard.” He got on to a collier moored in the river and saw a black object float past. Unable to reach it, he jumped ashore and got into the ferry boat. He was then able to reach the object, which he found was the deceased. He held his head above the water while the ferryman pulled the boat to the quay. The deceased was got out in an insensible condition, a doctor sent for, and artificial respiration tired. Efforts were persisted till breathing was established, and he was then wrapped in blankets, with hot water bottle; but he succumbed to the effects of immersion and shock shortly after eleven. No one saw how the deceased fell overboard.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

[Diss Express: Friday 12th February 1915]

Petty Officer 1st Class Albert George Hodder was just 35 years of age when he died on 4th February 1915. His body was taken back to Dorset for burial, and he was laid in Lyme Regis Cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Great War, history, photography, Royal Army Service Corps, Staff Sergeant, story, Surrey, unknown, war

Staff Serjeant Samuel Powell

Leave a comment
Staff Serjeant Samuel Powell

Samuel Edwin Powell was born at the start of 1876, the third of eight children to Samuel and Catherine Powell. Samuel Sr was a baker from Gloucestershire, and it was in the village of Leonard Stanley that the family were born and raised.

Much of Samuel Jr’s earlier life is undocumented, and he does not appear on either the 1891 or 1901 census returns. By the time of the next census, taken in 1911, he is recorded as living in Lewisham, Surrey.

The census noted that Samuel was employed as a commercial traveller in the chocolate industry. He was married to Stroud-born Ellen Hobbs, and had been since 1906. The couple had a son, Denis, who was a year old, and were living at 20 Hazelbank Road in Catford, with a domestic servant, Edith Price, helping Ellen while her husband was away working.

When war broke out, Samuel was called upon to play his part. He was enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps, with the rank of Staff Serjeant, which would suggest that his absence from earlier documents was because of earlier military service.

There is little information about Samuel’s time in the army, other than that he was attached to the Clearing Office when the Armistice was declared.

The cause of Staff Serjeant Powell’s passing is not known, but the Army Register of Soldier’s Effects confirm that he died in Dorset on 10th September 1919. The connection to Dorset is unclear: he may have been serving in the area, or recuperating from an illness. He was 43 years of age.

Samuel Edwin Powell was laid to rest in Lyme Regis Cemetery, overlooking the seaside town.

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

Able Seaman William Real

Leave a comment
Able Seaman William Real

William Thomas Bradley Real was born in Lyme Regis, Dorset, on 31st December 1875. His parents were coastguard William Real and his wife, Sarah. William Jr seems to have lived with his maternal grandparents for most of his life, even though he went on to have seven younger siblings.

Sarah died in the spring of 1891, just weeks after the birth of her and William Sr’s youngest child, and William Jr took this as an opportunity to seek a career for himself. Living next to the sea, and with a coastguard for a father, a role in the Royal Navy seemed an apposite choice. He joined up on 26th May 1891, just 20 days after his mother’s funeral.

William was under age when he joined up, and so was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 8ins tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was initially sent to HMS Boscawen, the training ship moored in Portland, Dorset, and remained there until January 1893. By this point his training had paid off, and he had been promoted to the rank of Boy 1st Class.

William’s first posting was on board the ironclad HMS Alexandra. Over the next year he was posted to two further vessels, and, when he came of age on 31st December 1893, he was formally inducted into the Royal Navy, and given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. Over the next 25 years, he would serve on a total of sixteen more ships, returning to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, Devon, between some of his voyages.

William’s career saw promotion – to the rank of Able Seaman on 4th February 1896. He also spent three days in the cells in August 1898, although the nature of his misdemeanour is unclear.

Away from his career William’s family life took hold. On 15th April 1911, he married Louisa French. Her parents owned and ran the George Hotel in Charmouth, Dorset. The couple went on to have a daughter, Maud, who was born in the spring of 1915.

When war was declared, Able Seaman Real was assigned to HMS Tiger. The most heavily armoured battlecruiser in the British Navy, She would go on to fight in the Battles of Dogger Bank, Jutland and Heligoland Bight, action William would have seen first hand.

By the spring of 1918, Able Seaman Real had become unwell. He was posted back to HMS Vivid on 1st May, and was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Plymouth. His admission was not to be a long one: he died of heart failure just five days later, at the age of 42 years old.

The body of William Thomas Bradley Real was taken back to Dorset for burial. He was laid to rest in Lyme Regis Cemetery, overlooking the town in which he had been born.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Pioneer, Royal Engineers, story, Sussex, war

Pioneer Wilfred Ansfield

Leave a comment
Pioneer Wilfred Ansfield

Wilfred Clarence Ansfield was born in the spring of 1899, and was the youngest of eleven children to Frederick and Frances Ashfield. Frederick was an innkeeper from West Tarring in Sussex, and the family were living in the public house he ran – possible the Vine Brewery on the Hight Street.

Frederick died at the start of 1904, and by the time of the next census, taken seven years later, Frances had moved the family to Salvington. They settled at 1 Beaconsfield Terrace, with six of the Ansfield children sharing the home with their mother. Three of Wilfred’s brothers were employed as gardeners – possibly at one of the many nurseries in the area – while he was still at school.

When war came to Europe, Wilfred was keen to serve his King and Country. Full service details have been lost to time, but it is clear that he enlisted in the Royal Engineers and, as a Pioneer, was assigned to the 3rd Provisional Company (later renamed the 642nd (London) Field Company). This was a territorial force, and it is unlikely that Wilfred saw any action overseas.

The only other document that can definitely connected to Pioneer Ansfield is the record of who his pension was assigned to. This confirmed Frances’ name and address, but also gives the cause of her son’s death, noted as ‘acute paralysis’. This could have been as a result of a tetanus infection, but nothing remains to confirm either way. Wilfred died on 25th June 1916: he was just 17 years of age.

Wilfred Clarence Ansfield was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Andrew’s Church in West Tarring, He was buried alongside Frederick, father and son reunited after twelve years.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, Lance Corporal, photography, Royal Fusiliers, story, Sussex, war

Lance Corporal Frank Page

Leave a comment
Lance Corporal Frank Page

Frank Arthur Page was born early in 1891, and was one of seven children – and the youngest son – to Matthew and Emily Page. Matthew was a bricklayer’s labourer from Lancing in Sussex, while Emily had been born in Norfolk. It was in the village of Steyning, however, that the couple raised their family.

By the time of the 1901 census, Matthew had been invalided out of work. The family had moved to a small cottage in Lancing by this point, and Frank’s older brothers were working to bring in some money for the family.

The next census return, taken in 1911, found Matthew and Emily living Frank and his older brother Sydney at 2 Ivy Cottages in Lancing. Both of the Page siblings were working as market gardeners by this point, bringing in some money to help support the family.

War came to Europe in the summer of 1914, and Frank stepped up to serve his King and Country. Full details of his military service are lost in the mists of time, but it is clear that he enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, and was attached to the 26th (Service) Battalion (Bankers).

Frank’s unit served in both France and Italy, although, without his documents, it isn’t possible to determine where, and for how long, he served. During his time in the army, however, he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, underlining a level of dedication on his part.

Matthew passed away in the spring of 1917, and it appears that Frank was demobbed at some point after the Armistice. By the autumn of 1919, he was back in Sussex, living with his now widowed mother. His time in the army seems to have impacted on Frank’s health by this point, and he died ‘from disease’ on 24th October 1919. He was 28 years of age.

Frank Arthur Page was laid to rest in the graveyard of St James the Lesser Church in Lancing, not far from where his father had been buried.

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

Private James Williamson

Leave a comment
Private James Williamson

In amongst the rows of naval headstones in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent, is one dedicated to James Williamson, a Private in the Royal Marine Light Infantry. He was killed in action on 27th May 1915, while attached to the ship HMS Princess Irene, and was 32 years of age when he passed.

There is little specific documentation relating to Private Williamson’s life, but what remains allows us to piece together something of the man he was.

James was born in the Dennistoun area of Glasgow in around 1883, and was one of five children to William and Jane Williamson. When he finished his schooling, he seems to have had a pull to the sea: whether this was because he was following in his father’s footsteps, or because of his home’s proximity to the river and docks is unclear.

By the time of the 1911 census, James was already serving in the Royal Marines. He was based on the cruiser HMS Philomel, which was in the Gulf of Oman on the day the census was taken, and was one of 19 Royal Marines on board our of a total compliment of 244 crew.

There is little more concrete information about Private Williamson’s life. By the spring of 1915, he had been assigned to the HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner requisitioned during the war and converted into a mine layer. On 27th May, she was moored off Sheerness in Kent, when a series of explosions ripped her apart. More than 270 crewmen were killed: this included the 32-year-old James.

The crew whose bodies were not able to be identified were laid to rest in a communal grave in Woodlands Cemetery: James Williamson was laid to rest nearby, in a burial of his own.

Interestingly, James’ entry on the Royal Navy and Royal Marines War Graves Roll gives his next of kin as a friend, Miss J Malone of 3 Ashview Terrace, Newton Mearns, near Glasgow. There is no other information about her.