Tag Archives: Royal Navy

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

Stoker 1st Class William Eley

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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

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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

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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 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.

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.

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

Writer 1st Class Harry Goodger

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Writer 1st Class Harry Goodger

Harry Goodger was born on 15th April 1885, the fourth of five children – and the only boy – to George and Emma Goodger. George was a canal labourer from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, but by the time of his son’s birth, the family had settled in Tipton, Staffordshire.

Harry was initially committed to education and, by the time of the 1901 census, he was working as a school teacher. His heart seemed set on a career with more prospects, however, and so, on 2nd November 1904, he enlisted in the Royal Navy.

Harry’s service records show that he was 5ft 2ins (1.57m) tall and that he had bark brown hair, dark brown eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also noted as having a mole on his wight upper arm and another on his left breast.

Harry’s rank was Writer 3rd Class, which was the naval equivalent of a clerk. After an initial training period, he was assigned to the cruiser HMS Terrible. Over the next decade, he served on ten further ships, and was based at HMS Victory, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, in between voyages.

Writer Goodger slowly progressed through the ranks during his naval service. On 1st November 1908 he was promoted to Writer 2nd Class, and on 31st October 1912 was raised to Writer 1st Class. Harry seems to have needed extra support, however, and he was knocked back to Writer 2nd Class on 25th April 1913, and sent back to Portsmouth for further training. By 23rd October 1914, however, while serving on HMS Bulwark, he again received a promotion to Writer 1st Class.

By the spring of 1915, Harry had been assigned to HMS Princess Irene. She an ocean liner that has been converted to a minelayer at the start of the war.

On 27th May 1915, while Irene was moored off Sheerness, Kent, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew. Writer Goodger was among those who perished: he was 30 years of age.

The body of Harry Goodger was buried in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Writer 1st Class Harry Goodger
(from findagrave.com)

Harry’s surname is variously spelt Goodger and Goodyer across the documents that trace his life. While his headstone has the latter spelling, I have used Goodger, as this is what is recorded on his naval service records.

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

Stoker 2nd Class Samuel Castle

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Stoker 2nd Class Samuel Castle

Samuel George Castle was born on 1st November 1896 in Battersea, Surrey. The third of ten children, his parents were Samuel and Louisa Castle. His father was a gas fitter turned blacksmith and, by the time of the 1911 census, Samuel Jr was working as an errand boy for Army & Navy Stores.

When war broke out, Samuel was quick to step up and serve his country. On 6th March 1915, he gave up his job – he was by then employed as an equipment maker – to enlist in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class.

George was sent to HMS Pembroke, the dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. His service records show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with black hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Tragically, Stoker Castle’s time in the navy would not prove a lengthy one. By the end of May he was part of the crew of HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner that had been put into service as a minelayer when war was declared. On 27th May 1915, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew, Samuel included. He was just 18 years of age.

Samuel George Castle was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, alongside the other victims of the disaster.

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

Stoker George Marshall

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Stoker George Marshall

George Patrick Marshall was born in Dublin, Ireland, on 17th March 1896. One of ten children, his parents were plumber and gasfitter Robert Marshall and his wife, Rachel.

When he finished his schooling, George found work as a messenger. By the time war broke out, however, he was working as a builder’s mate. Keen to play his part and serve his country, he decided to enlist in the Royal Navy.

Stoker 2nd Class Marshall enlisted on 7th March 1915. His service records show a little of the man he had become. He was noted as being 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. His first trip overseas took him to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, where he would receive his training.

Tragically, George’s time in the navy would not prove a lengthy one. By the end of May he was part of the crew of HMS Princess Irene, an ocean liner that had been put into service as a minelayer when war was declared.

On 27th May 1915, a series of explosions ripped through the ship, killing more than 350 crew, Stoker Marshall included. He was just 19 years of age.

George Patrick Marshall was laid to rest in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, alongside the other victims of the disaster.

Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Kent, killed in action, photography, Royal Navy, Signalman, story, Suffolk

Signalman Philip Files

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Signalman Philip Files

Phillip William Turner Files was born on 13th April 1894 in Walmer, Kent. One of eight children, his parents were George and Annie Files. George was a carpenter at a local colliery, but living so close to the sea, his son was inevitably drawn there. On 25th January 1910, Phillip gave up his life as an errand boy and joined the Royal Navy.

Phillip’s service records show that he was 5ft 4ins (1.62m) tall, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was just 15 years old when he enlisted, and, as he wasn’t of full age, he was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. He was initially sent to HMS Ganges, the shore-based establishment in Suffolk for his initial training.

Phillip remained at HMS Ganges for the next year, and was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 5th September 1910. The following January he was moved to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth, Hampshire, also known as HMS Victory.

Over the next year, with Victory as his base, Boy Files was sent to serve on three ships – the dreadnought battleship HMS Albermarle, and the cruisers HMS Sappho and HMS Philomel. While on board Philomel, Phillip came of age and, because of his technical abilities, was given the rank of Ordinary Signaller – changing to Signalman when the ranks were updated later in 1912.

Phillip remained on Philomel until October 1913 and, after a brief spell back in Portsmouth, he was transferred to the armoured cruiser, the converted RMS Laconia. She was to be Signalman Files’ base for the next year, when, on 9th March 1915, he was transferred again, this time to HMS Princess Irene.

Princess Irene was a converted liner, requisitioned as a minelayer when war broke out. On 27th May 1915, an explosion ripped through the ship, while moored off Sheerness, Kent. Signalman Files was one of the 352 souls killed. He was just 21 years of age.

Phillip William Turner Files was laid to rest in the Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham, Kent. His body having been identified, he was given his own grave, unlike those who were buried in a mass grave nearby.

Signalman Files’ headstone spells his first name with one L. However, all the other documents relating to Phillip spell it with two.

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

Boy 2nd Class Albert Loveless

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Boy 2nd Class Albert Loveless

Albert William Loveless was born on 23rd February 1901, the third of four children to Albert and Matilda Loveless. Albert Sr was a hawker and marine store dealer, and the family grew up and lived in the Dorset village of Mosterton.

When he completed his schooling, Albert Jr found work as a railway porter. When war broke out, however, he was keen to play his part before the opportunity passed him by and, on 10th September 1918, he enlisted in the Royal Navy.

As he was below the age to formally enrol, Albert was given the rank of Boy 2nd Class. His service records show that he was 5ft 2.5ins (1.59m) tall, with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Boy Loveless was sent to HMS Powerful, a training ship based in Devonport, Devon, but sadly, his time there was to be brief. Within a matter of days, he was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital in Plymouth, having contracted pneumonia. He passed away on 18th September 1918, having been in service for just a week. He was only 17 years of age.

The body of Albert William Loveless was taken back to Dorset for burial. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church in Mosterton, walking distance from his grieving family’s home.

Cadet, Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Kent, Midshipman, photography, Royal Navy, story, Sub Lieutenant, war

Sub-Lieutenant Denys Puttock

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Sub-Lieutenant Denys Puttock

Denys Ernest Puttock was born on 14th September 1895 in the Devon village of Halwill. The middle of three children, his parents were Edward and Alice Puttock. Edward was a vicar of the village’s St Peter & St James’ Church, but died tragically early:

The Red. E Puttock, Rector of Hallwill died on Wednesday, after a brief illness… Mr Puttock had been in charge… for six and a half years. He was much beloved by those among whom he labourer and universally respected. His devotion to the due performance of all his sacred duties was unceasing and his visitations among the poor and afflicted were much appreciated by the whole parish. He was fond of all manly sports, and under his captaincy the Cricket Club at Halwill attained considerable success. Up to the day of his death he could hardly believe that he was ill, and up to the last it was hoped that his wonderful constitution might have carried him through the illness. About a fortnight since he contracted a chill. He would not be deterred from carrying out his duties, and against the advice of his friends, he persisted in taking every service at the church long after he was fit for it. On Sunday, the 24th January, although then in a high fever, he took both the morning and evening services at Halwill Church unassisted, and also the Sunday School in the afternoon. Pneumonia set in at the end of last week, and on Tuesday evening, the 2nd February, the action of the heart failed. He leaves a widow and three young children to mourn their loss.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 5th February 1897]

After Edward’s death, Alice moved the children to Okehampton. The 1901 census found the family living at 4 Brondage Park, Alice by this time living off her own means. She felt that learning was important, and Denys was sent to Twyford School and St Edmund’s School in Canterbury, Kent. From here he took up a career in the Royal Navy, enlisting in September 1913.

He served in the Highflyer as a Cadet, and was Midshipman in HMS Conqueror, and later Sub-Lieutenant in the destroyers Patriot and Valorous. Long exposure to the rough weather in the North Sea during the winters of 1916 and 1917 brought on tuberculosis, which incapacitated him for further war service. He was invalided our of the Navy and spent many months in a Sanitorium.

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 4th April 1919]

Denys Ernest Puttock’s health was failing him, and he passed away on 20th March 1919, while still admitted. He was 23 years of age. The report of his funeral included comments from those who knew him:

His Headmaster writes: “He has not lived in vain, for he has exercised the power of unconscious influence on all those around him. He knew the secret of happiness – purity of soul and unselfishness of heart.” His Commanding Officer has written: “He was a zealous and capable young officer. Possessed of great charm of manner, he was popular with both officers and men.”

[Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 4th April 1919]

Alice, having moved to Paignton by this point, laid her son to rest in the town’s cemetery. When she passed away in 1932, she was buried alongside him.