Edward Sier Simpson

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter Dewey, Edward died on 12th of August 1917 at the age of 32. 

Edeward was born at Lowestoft on 19 October 1880, a son of Mark and Elizabeth Simpson. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 5 December 1880. In 1881 his family lived at 59 Bevan Street and, by 1901, at 28 Beckham Road. In 1901 Edward worked as a fish labourer

On 19 December 1915 Edward married Lucy Emma Barnes. They lived at 20 Beckham Road and by 1916 they were living at 28 Bailsham Road, Lowestoft. Later Lucy lived at 3 Sudbury Cottages, Bevan Street.

Edward joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 12 March 1916 and, from 1 July 1917, served with the drifter Dewey. 

On 12 August 1917 the Dewey was sailing in the English Channel. The drifter collided with S.S. Glenifer, near the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel (some sources state that the Dewey was ‘run down’) and sank with the loss of ten crew.