Henry Charles Shimmon

A Deck Hand with Fishing Vessel Vanguard (Lowestoft), died on 24th of October 1917 at the age of 53. 

Henry was born at Great Yarmouth on 6 July 1864, a son of Henry Charles and Susan Shimmon. He was baptised at Saint Nicholas' Church, Great Yarmouth, on 10 January 1869. In 1871 his family lived at Row 140, Great Yarmouth. In 1881 Henry was living at Victoria Road, Southwold, with his uncle and aunt, John and Mary Welton, and Henry worked as a twine spinner. 

On 4 July 1887 Henry attested for the 3rd Battery 3rd Brigade Eastern Division Royal Artillery (Militia) at Halesworth. He was living at Southwold and working, as a rope maker, for Mr. Oldring of Southwold. Henry served with the Militia until May 1890. It seems that by 1891 Henry was working at sea (he may have been working as a steward on a ship at Barry in 1891).

Henry married Minnie Elizabeth Holbrook in 1899. In 1901 their home was at 39 Mariners Street, Lowestoft. In 1901 Henry was a member of the crew of the Five Sisters at Devon. 

In 1911 Henry and Minnie, and children, lived at 68 Hemplands, Lowestoft, and later Minnie lived at 6 Edinburgh Road. 

On the morning of 24 October 1917 the trawler Vanguard (LT 722) sailed from Lowestoft and went north apparently to fish off Happisburgh. The trawler was never seen again and it was assumed the trawler was lost through enemy action.  

See: 1914 – 1918 Lowestoft Fisherman: killed by enemy action – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)