Arthur James Spink

A Deck Hand with H.M. Trawler Amy, Arthur died on 11th of April 1917 at the age of 18. 

Arthur was born at Hedenham, Norfolk, on 13 June 1899, a son of Charles and Eliza Spink. He was baptised at Hedenham on 24 September 1899. In 1901they lived at a cottage at Station Road, Tivetshall Saint Margaret, Norfolk. By 1907 Arthur’s mother had died and his father had married Harriet Hext. In 1911 they lived at Geldeston Road, Gillingham. Later his parents lived at Holy Farm Lane Mutford. 

In January 1914 Arthur was in trouble for ‘singing an obscene song on the highway at Mutford’. Arthur, and his friend William Rusted, were each fined five shillings.   

Arthur added two years to his age when he joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 July 1915. From 10 November 1916 he served on the trawler Amy. On 11 April 1917 the Amy was sailing off Le Havre, possibly minesweeping, when the trawler struck a mine and sank. Nine crew, including Arthur, were killed and one man wounded. 

Note the Navy paid separation allowance to his friend Maria Rusted of 4 Duke's Head Street, Lowestoft: Maria was the mother of William Rusted.