Tag Archives: Ordinary Seaman

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

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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 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.

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

Able Seaman William Real

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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.

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

Ship’s Corporal Thomas Berry

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Ship’s Corporal Thomas Berry

Details of the civilian life of Thomas Joseph Berry are a challenge to piece together. He is not recognisable in any census returns, and baptism records don’t tally either.

The main resource for building a picture of Thomas’ life is the service record for his time in the Royal Navy. This provides his date of birth – 6th May 1882 – and suggests that he was born in Hornsey, Middlesex. He was working as a cabinet maker when he enlisted, the document also confirming that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Thomas began his naval career on 29th July 1898. Below the age to formally enlist, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. Over the next eighteen months, his time was split between two training ships based in Devonport, Devon, HMS Impregnable and HMS Lion. In April 1899 he was promoted to Boy 1st Class.

In February 1900, Thomas moved to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport. On 6th May he came of age, and was formally enrolled in the navy, receiving the rank of Ordinary Seaman. From this point his career took off and, over the next sixteen years, he would go on to serve on board fifteen ships, seeing the world.

At his annual reports, Thomas’ conduct was regularly identified as Very Good, and his commitment was reflected in the progress he made through the ranks. By June 1901, he had been promoted to Able Seaman Berry. The summer of 1907 saw him move up to Leading Seaman, and three years later, Thomas was a Petty Officer. In November 1911 he was made Ship’s Corporal 2nd Class, and by the following spring he had been promoted again, this time to Ship’s Corporal 1st Class.

Away from the Royal Navy, Thomas’ personal life was developing. Again there is little documentation to provide any specifics, but he married a woman called Albertine Elizabeth in the early 1910s. The couple went on to have a son, Bernard, who was born on 15th January 1913, and the family seemed to settle down in Paignton, Devon – a later record giving Albertine’s address as 3 Alma Terrace, Well Street.

When war broke out in the summer of 1914, Ship’s Corporal Berry was serving on board the protected cruiser HMS Blake. In February 1916, he was assigned to the battleship HMS Revenge which served in the English Channel.

By this point, Thomas’ health seemed to be taking a downturn. He was posted back to HMS Vivid on 7th March, but was then transferred to Devon County Asylum in Exminster, suffering from “general paralysis of the insane“. His condition worsened and he passed away on 29th April 1916: he was days away from his 34th birthday.

Thomas Joseph Berry’s body was brought back to Paignton for burial. He was laid to rest in the town’s cemetery.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, injury, Kent, killed in action, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Suffolk, war

Ordinary Seaman John Diaper

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Ordinary Seaman John Diaper

John Dolby Diaper was born in Stowupland, Suffolk, on 1st June 1898. He was the second youngest of ten children to George and Martha, and the older of two sons. George was a cattleman turned gardener, and it seems that John went into farm work when he completed his schooling.

When war broke out, John was called upon to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 6th June 1917, joining as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records show that he was 5ft 4.5ins (1.63m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion.

Ordinary Seaman Diaper was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. The summer of 1917 was a particularly busy for the base, and temporary accommodation was set up in the Drill Hall; this is where John was billeted.

On the night of 3rd September 1917, Chatham suddenly found itself in the firing line as a wave of German aircraft bombed the town. The Drill Hall received a direct hit, and Ordinary Seaman Diaper was badly injured. He was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in the town, and would remain there for some time.

John’s injuries were severe and, although his treatment was ongoing, the impact on his overall health was detrimental. Ultimately, the air raid weakened his system, and his heart gave out. He died on 18th April 1918, more than seven months after the bombing: he was 19 years of age.

John Dolby Diaper was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, alongside those who had given their lives on 3rd September.

Able Seaman, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Kent, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, story, Sussex, war

Able Seaman Russell Engleback

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Able Seaman Russell Engleback

The life of Russell Engleback seems destined to remain lost in the mists of time and the only concrete information for him relate to his military service.

Ordinary Seaman Engleback joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Service on 3rd July 1914, just weeks before the declaration of war. His records confirm his date of birth – 11th August 1896 – and his occupation, which was a printer. He was 5ft 5ins (1.64m) tall, and had dark brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion.

Russell was sent to HMS Victory – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire – for training, before being assigned to the battleship HMS Commonwealth in October. He remained on board for the next two years, rising to the rank of Able Seaman during this time.

Able Seaman Engleback returned to HMS Victory in August 1916, but may have moved to another naval base, HMS Pembroke in Chatham soon afterwards. Certainly he was at the Kent dockyard when he fell ill in November, as he was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital around this time.

Russell was suffering from nephritis – kidney disease – by this point, and it was a condition that was to ultimately kill him. He passed away on 23rd November 1916, while still admitted in hospital: he was just 20 years of age.

Russell Engleback was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the Chatham dockyard. His pension records give Fred and Amelia Tiffin – Russell’s Sussex-based mother and stepfather – as his next-of-kin.

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

Petty Officer Ellis Sayer

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Petty Officer Ellis Sayer

Much of the life of Ellis Edward Sayer seems destined to remained shrouded in the mists of time. Born in Attleborough, Norfolk on 31st January 1888, the only census return he appears on dates from 1891. This records him as living with his grandmother, Maria Simons, who was noted as being married and working as a laundress. Ellis’ 16-year-old uncle, William, was also living there and employed as a groom.

Jumping forward a few years and, on 31st December 1907, Ellis enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records note that he had previously been employed as a messenger, and there seems to have been some previous marine connection. The document shows that he was 5ft 8ins (1.72m), with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having tattoos of a dragon, a rose and the word ‘unity’ on his left forearm.

As an Ordinary Seaman, Ellis was initially sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. He was only there for a matter of weeks before being assigned to the HMS Cochrane then HMS Natal.

On 7th April 1908, Ordinary Seaman Sayer was attached to the cruiser HMS Lancaster, and he was to remain with her for close to two years. Promoted to Able Seaman on 26th November 1909, his time on board came to a close in May 1910.

Over the next few years, Ellis continued his progress in his naval career. After a year on shore in Chatham, he was assigned to HMS Blonde, and was promoted to Leading Seaman in August 1912. He returned to HMS Pembroke the next month, and remained attached to the dockyard for the next year and a half: his experience likely being used to support newer recruits.

On 6th March 1914, Leading Seaman Sayer was assigned to the battleship HMS Commonwealth. Over the next three years she patrolled the North Sea, from the Norwegian coast and Shetland in the north to Dogger Bank in the south. On 1st August 1915, Ellis receive a further promotion, holding the rank of Petty Officer for the remainder of his time on board Commonwealth.

On 18th February 1917, Ellis’ life came to an abrupt end. There is little information available about his passing, one record stating that he died from an injury to his kidney which was as a result of an accident, while another states ‘rupture of kidney caused through [a] fall’. HMS Commonwealth seems to have been moored in Chatham, however, as he passed away in the town’s Royal Naval Hospital. He was 29 years of age.

Petty Officer Sayer’s next-of-kins were noted as his sister, Mrs J Andrews, who lived in Norwich, and a friend, Mrs Ethel Hampton, who lived in Gillingham, Kent.

Ellis Edward Sayer’s body was laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the dockyard he had called home for so long.

Able Seaman, accident, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Kent, London, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Able Seaman Horace Freeman

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Able Seaman Horace Freeman

Horace James Freeman was born in Hackney, East London, on 16th September 1879. The second of five children, his parents were Archibald and Mary Freeman. According to the 1891 census, Archibald was employed as a carman, but the next document had him listed simply as a ‘traveller’.

When he completed his schooling, Horace found work as a baker’s assistant. He sought bigger and better things, however, and, on 13th February 1897, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. His service records show that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.

A few months under full age, Horace was initially given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was sent to the training ship HMS Northampton, and seemingly impressed his superiors, rising to Boy 1st Class within a couple of months. He moved to another training vessel, HMS Calliope, in July 1897, and was serving on board when he came of age that September.

Now formally inducted into the Royal Navy, Ordinary Seaman Freeman began what was to be an eighteen year career at sea. He would become based at HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, and went on to serve aboard nine ships during his time.

Promoted to the rank of Able Seaman in October 1899, Horace’s time in the navy was not to be without incident. He spent eight separate periods of time in the cells, 158 days in total. Full details of his misdemeanours are lost to time, but at least on at least one occasion he was placed in the brig for refusing orders.

On Christmas Day 1911, Horace married Sarah Byatt. She was a bricklayer’s daughter from Tottenham, and the couple went on to have two children: Clifford, born in 1913, and Leslie, born two years later.

While Sarah was looking after their young family, Horace spent a lot of his time at sea. As time moved on, however, he was based at HMS Pembroke for longer spells, and it was while he was in Chatham early in 1916 that fate befell him.

The body of Horace J Freeman, an able seaman of the RFR, who had been missing from his ship since February 25th, was found floating in South Lock at Chatham Dockyard on Saturday.

[South Eastern Gazette: Tuesday 11th April 1916]

Little additional information is available about Horace’s death, and it is unclear how he had fallen into the lock. He was 36 years of age.

The body of Able Seaman Horace James Freeman was laid to rest in Gillingham’s Woodlands Cemetery, not far from the naval base he had called home for so long.

Able Seaman, Commonwealth War Graves, County Antrim, Great War, history, illness, Ireland, Kent, Northern Ireland, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, story, war

Able Seaman Charles Dorman

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Able Seaman Charles Dorman

Charles Columbus Dorman was born on 21st October 1892, and was the middle of three children to James and Margaret Dorman. Charles’ parents both hailed from Belfast, Country Antrim, but the 1901 census records his and his older sister’s birthplace as America. No baptism documents are available and no later information supports this, so, while his unusual middle name may suggest the place of his birth, it seems destined to remain unclear.

When he left school, Charles found work as a printer’s apprentice. He sought more, however, and was drawn to a life at sea. On 29th November 1910, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. His service records confirm that he was 5ft 3.5ins (1.61m) tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.

Charles was sent to HMS Pembroke – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent – for his training. In January 1911, he was assigned to the ill-fated HMS Bulwark, before moving to the battleship HMS Implacable three months later. He would remain on board until the summer of 1914, gaining a promotion to Able Seaman during his three year stint there.

Charles was serving on Implacable when war was declared. At the beginning of September, after a week back in Chatham, was assigned to the sloop HMS Cormorant. After six months aboard, the cruiser HMS Blenheim became his home, and he spent the next month supporting troops who were being sent to Gallipoli.

By this point, Able Seaman Dorman had become unwell. He had contracted the autoimmune disease pemphigus, resulting in blistering to his skin and body. He returned to HMS Pembroke, and was stood down from the service on medical grounds 9th July 1916.

It is unclear whether or not Charles was admitted to hospital for his condition. Either way, he succumbed to the illness on 31st August 1916. He was just 23 years of age.

Charles Columbus Dorman’s family appear to have been unable to bring their boy back to Ireland for burial. Instead, he was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from the Kent naval base he had come to call home.

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

Able Seaman William Turner

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Able Seaman William Turner

Details of William Alliston Turner’s life are a challenge to track down. According to later military records, he was born on 28th February 1888 in St Helier, Jersey. While there are a couple of census returns that may be connected to him, there is nothing to definitively confirm his early life.

William enlisted in the Royal Navy on 9th January 1904. He was just shy of his 14th birthday, and so was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. Over the next fifteen months, he was attached to the training ship HMS St Vincent, moored at Haslar in Hampshire. In August 1902, he was promoted to Boy 1st Class, and was given his first posting, on board the cruiser HMS Edgar, in May 1905.

After a short spell at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, William was assigned to HMS Powerful, a protected cruiser, and he would spend two years on board. During this time, he came of age, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service records at the time confirm that he was 5ft 5.5ins (1.66m) tall, with dark hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having two tattoos – a heart on the back of his right hand, and the letter T on the back of his left.

William seemed to have taken to his life at sea with some ease. On 1st January 1907 he was promoted to the rank of Able Seaman, and over the next eight years, he served on twelve different vessels, returning to Portsmouth between each voyage.

What had become a good career for Able Seaman Turner, began to take a bit of a downturn. He spent six separate periods of time in the brig between 1908 and 1914, totalling 121 days in total. On 19th March 1915, William was medically discharged from naval service, suffering from neurasthenia, or PTSD as it is now known.

At this point, William’s trail goes cold. He returned to the Channel Islands, and passed away on 13th April 1917: he was 29 years of age.

William Alliston Turner was laid to rest in the quiet graveyard of St Lawrence Church in Jersey.

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

Able Seaman Walter Brett

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Able Seaman Walter Brett

Walter Brett was born in Batheaston, Somerset, on 12th July 1896. The fourth of seven children, he was the second son of George and Louisa Brett. George was a groom and coachman from Norfolk, and his work took the family around the country. Louisa had been born in Staffordshire, their oldest child, daughter Florence, had been born in South Wales. By 1893, the family had settled in Somerset, but the next census, taken in 1901, found them in Branksome, Dorset.

When Walter finished his schooling, he found work as an errand boy for a hairdresser. By now the Bretts had moved back to Somerset, where George – and his widowed father, John – were working as coachmen for a Mr Page. There were seven in the household – George, Louisa, Walter and three of his siblings, and George Sr – and the family were living at 1 Nelson Terrace, on Walcot Street, Bath, in a six-roomed cottage.

Walter sought bigger and better things for himself. His older brother, Frederick, had left home, and was working as a grocer’s assistant in Brislington – now a suburb of Bristol – and he too wanted a career. On 23rd January 1912, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. As he was only 15 year of age, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class, and was sent to HMS Impregnable, a training ship based in Devonport, Devon, for his induction.

Obviously showing signs of ability and commitment to the role, Walter was promoted to Boy 1st Class just seven months later. His first assignment was on board the battleship HMS Cornwallis, and he spent the remainder of 1912 serving with her.

After a brief period back in Devonport – this time at HMS Vivid – and six weeks aboard HMS Lancaster, Boy 1st Class Brett was assigned to the ship that would become his home for the next three years. HMS Lion was a battlecruiser, and she was to serve as the flagship of her class of ships during the First World War.

Walter came of age while serving on Lion, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman on his eighteenth birthday. His service records show that he was 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a mole on his stomach.

Walter was promoted to Able Seaman in the summer of 1915, and remained on board HMS Lion until the end of April the following year. His ship had been involved in a number of skirmishes by this point, including the Battle of Heligoland Bight, the defence of the raid on Scarborough and the Battle of Dogger Bank. In June 1916, she would be caught up in the Battle of Jutland, but Able Seaman Brett was back on terra firma by this point, and was billeted in Devonport.

On 1st August 1916, Walter was given a new posting, when he was assigned to the dreadnought battleship HMS Ajax. Acting as support to the Norwegian convoys in the North Sea, he was to remain on board until the closing weeks of the war.

Walter’s brother Frederick, meanwhile, was also caught up in the conflict. He had enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment, and was assigned to the 12th Battalion. By the spring of 1917, his unit was based in Arras, and was Private Brett was heavily involved. Following an attack on 8th May, he was declared missing, presumed dead. He was 24 years of age, and is commemorated on the Arras memorial.

Back at sea, in October 1918, Able Seaman Walter Brett became unwell, contracting a combination of influenza and pneumonia. He was transferred to the Hospital Ship Garth Castle, but the conditions were to get the better of him. He passed away on 27th October, at the age of 22 years old.

Walter Brett was brought back to Somerset for burial. His parents had lost both of their sons, but were able to lay their youngest to rest in Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath.