Charles Henry Benstead

A Seaman with H.M.S. Cressy. Charles died on 22nd of September 1914 at the age of 19. 

Charles was born at Lowestoft on 1 October 1895, a son of James Henry and Sarah Benstead. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft, on 27 October 1895 and his family lived at 34 Bevan Street, Lowestoft.

In 1912 Charles worked on the trawler Nimrod, LT 598, and in 1913 on the Children's Friend LT 174; Councillor, LT 267, and LT 1104. 

Charles joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 15 March 1912.  

On 12 December 1913 Charles married Gertrude Mary Womack at Saint Margaret's Church. Charles was working as a fisherman and they both lived at 6 Kent Road. Later Gertrude lived at 102 Love Road. After Charles' death Gertrude remarrried, O'Neill, and lived at 1 Gillybrand Walks, Chorley, Lancashire.

Charles was called out for service at the start of the First World War and in early August 1914 joined H.M.S. Cressy. 

On 28 August 1914 H.M.S. Cressy was part of the British naval force at the Battle of Heligoland Bight, but took no active part in the battle. On 22 September H.M.S. Cressy, sailing with sister ships Aboukir and Hogue, were in the Broad Fourteens area of the North Sea when each ship was sunk by torpedoes from German submarine U-9. A total of 560 men, including Charles, were killed in the loss of the Cressy. 

Note Charles' Royal Naval Service record gives his date of birth as 1 October 1893.