South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| The North Sea | British War & Victory Medals | Plymouth Naval Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 19 Dec 1916 aboard HMS Excellent | ~ | Knowle Downing Hall |
| Knowle War Memorial | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | |
| The sinking of HMS Surprise | 9 Jun 1916 in Bristol | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| North Sea near the Maas Lightship, Hook of Holland | HMS Excellent | Solihull School Memorial |
- 9 June 1916 - Joined up at Bristol as Ordinary Seaman and posted to HMS Victory VI Training Depot
- 19 Dec 1916 - Promoted to Able Seaman and posted to HMS Excellent
- 18 Jan 1917 - Transferred to HMS Surprise (formerly HMS Dido)
Circumstances of Death
| John is listed as being killed in action at sea on 22nd December 1917 aboard HMS Surprise. The story of her sinking is posted below, courtesy of Wikipedia. HMS Surprise was a Royal Navy R-class destroyer built at Yarrow Shipyards and launched on 25th November 1916. At about 02:00 hr on 23 December, HMS Surprise, HMS Torrent, HMS Tornado and HMS Radiant ran into a German minefield near the Maas Lightship, Hook of Holland, with Torrent striking a German mine. Surprise and Tornado went to rescue Torrent's crew, but Torrent set off a second mine and quickly sank. While she was attempting to rescue survivors and recover her boats, Surprise struck a mine and sank, while Tornado was sunk by two mines while trying to rejoin Radiant. Only Radiant was undamaged and picked up the survivors from the three ships. In total, 12 officers and 240 other ranks were killed from the three ships. There were only seven survivors from Surprise's crew, including her Captain Commander W.A Thompson, who had been blown overboard but was picked up by one of Surprise's boats. 48 of Surprise's crew had been killed. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 24 Aug 1898 at 1 Victoria Terrace, Saltisford, Warwick | |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Albert Henry and Rose Hannah Williams | The Ferns, Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Solihull School | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1898 - 1 Victoria Terrace, Saltisford, Warwick | 1911 - School |
| 1901 - The Ferns, Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge | 1916 - Metal Spinner |
| 1911 - The Ferns, Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge | 1916 - Ordinary Seaman |
| 1916 - The Ferns, Knowle Wood Road, Dorridge | |
