Same Age - 16

A Deck Hand with the Sailing Trawler Wanderer (Lowestoft), Reginald died on 15th of May 1916 at the age of 16.

Reginald is believed to be Reginald Augustus Barker who was born at Lowestoft in 1899 (his mother’s maiden name was Barker). In 1901 Reginald was a ‘boarder’ living with Charles and Elvina Castleton at 14 Saint Margaret’s Road, Lowestoft (the Castleton’s had other young boarders/adopted children). In 1911 they lived at 2 Saint Margaret’s Road.

A Civilian, Roy died on 9th of April 1941 at the age of 16. 

Ronald was born at Lowestoft on 21 July 1924, a son of Bertie Frederick and Rose Clarke. By 1939 his family were living at 100 Rotterdam Road and Roy was an errand boy.

Roy, his parents, two of his brothers, and several neighbours were killed in an air raid when a bomb hit the air raid shelter, at 100 Rotterdam Road, where they were taking cover.  

A Cook with Fishing Vessel Boy Jack (Lowestoft), Thomas died on 26th of July 1918 at the age of 16. 

Thomas was born at Lowestoft in 1902, a son of Thomas and Jessie Claxton. In 1911 his family lived at 31 Kent Road. Later his parents lived at 17 Avondale Road. 

In 1918 Thomas was the Cook on the trawler Boy Jack. The following report, from The Illustrated Police News, 1 August 1918, page 2 (with additional details from the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 29 July 1918, page 1), gives an account of what happened to the Boy Jack.

U BOAT MURDERERS

A Fourth Hand with Trawler Queen of Devon (Lowestoft), Arthur died on 20th of December 1914 at the age of 16.

A Civilian, Ronald died on 12th of May 1941 at the age of 16. 

Ronald was born at Lowestoft on 31 August 1924, a son of Charles William and Minnie Maria Drake. Throughout his life Ronald's family lived at 54 Stevens Street. In 1939 Ronald worked as a General Post Office messenger.

A Fourth Hand with Trawler Rupee (Brixham), Ernest died on 3rd of October 1917. 

Ernest was born at Carlton Colville in 1900, a son of William and Martha Ann Hawkes. He was baptised at Saint Mark's Church, Oulton Broad, on 13 January 1901.His family lived at Beccles Road, Carlton Colville. By in 1911 they were still living at Beccles Road and later Ernest's mother lived at Waverley House, The Avenue, South Lowestoft.

Ernest's father was a trawler skipper and Ernest became the 4th Hand on his father's trawler the Rupee.

A Private with 1st Bn. Alfred died on 5th of September 1916 at the age of 16. 

Alfred was born at Saint Leonard's, Sussex, in 1899, a son of Frank Augustus and Maud Holl. In 1901 his family lived at 4 Silverhill Villas, Hastings Saint Matthew's, Sussex. By 1911 his family were living at The Bungalow, Chestnut Avenue, Oulton Broad.

Alfred enlisted at Norwich and joined the 2/6th (Cyclist) Battalion Norfolk Regiment, number 2318. Later he was posted to the 1st Battalion, in France, and renumbered 43137. 

A Civilian, Iris died on 13th of January 1942 aged 16. 

Iris was born at Lowestoft on 15 May 1925, a daughter of Victor John and Winifred May Hood. In 1939 her family lived at 27 Saint Margarets Plain. 

Iris died at London Road North during the Waller Raid.

A Fisherman with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), Herbert died on 11th of March 1918 at the age of 16. 

Herbert was born at Oulton in 1901, a son of Edward James and Agnes Jacob. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville, on 10 November 1901, and his family lived at Beccles Road, Carlton Colville. By 1911 his father had died and his mother had married William Ward and the family lived at Cotmer Green, Oulton Broad. Later his mother lived at 38 Kimberley Road. 

A Private with 7th Bn., Sidney died on 24th of February 1915 at the age of 16.

Sidney was born at North Cove, a son fo Edward and Jane Kerry. In 1901 his family lived at Kemp's Heath, Oulton (note the Census gives the area as Kemp's Heath, note Camp's Heath). By 1911 Sidney's father had died and he lived with his mother at Lound Road, Blundeston. Sidney was a farm worker. 

Sidney enlisted at Lowestoft and joined the Suffolk Regiment. He did not serve overseas. 

Sidney died from measles at Shorncliffe Military Hospital. 

A Civilian, Betty died on 12th of May 1943 aged 16.

Betty was born at Brightlingsea, Essex, on 3 August 1926, a daughter of Benjamin John and Ethel Mummery, and her family lived at 15 New Street, Brightlingsea. In 1939 her family lived at 322 Raglan Street and Betty was still at school. 

Betty, and her mother Ethel, died at their home during the Focke-Wulf Raid. 

A Boy 2nd Class with H.M.S. Ganges, Roy died on 26th of February 1940 aged 16.

Roy was born at Lowestoft on 26 January 1924, a son of Nelson and Emilie Nunn. Throughout Roy’s life his family lived at 4 Riverside Road. 

Roy was still undergoing training at H.M.S. Ganges when he died. He died at the Royal Navy Sick Quarters, Shotley, from acute rheumatic carditis and bilateral lobar pneumonia. 

A Boy 1st Class with H.M.S. Clan McNaughton, William died on 3rd of February 1915 at the age of 16. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 7 September 1898, a son of William Arthur and Florence Pollard of 48 Stevens Street, Lowestoft. He was baptised at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft, on 10 May 1907. 

William had been working as an errand boy when he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 20 January 1914. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 4 September 1914. William joined H.M.S. Clan McNaughton on 11 December 1914.

A Second Hand, George died on 23rd February 1916 at the age of 16.

George was born at Lowestoft, a son of George Edward and Mary Shiplee.  

In 1901 his family lived at 6 Fir Lane, Lowestoft, and by 1911 at 5 Sterry's Cottages, London Road, Pakefield.

Eventually his mother lived at 2 The Prairie, Lowestoft, before moving to Beccles and then Welling, Kent. 

George's brother Gordon served in the Royal Naval Reserve, on H.M.S. Majestic, and died of wounds in 1915

A Deck Hand with Fishing Vessel Boy Jack (Lowestoft), Frederick died on 26th of July 1918 at the age of 16. 

Frederick was born at Lowestoft on 1 August 1901, a son of Frederick John and Emma Simons. Frederick attended Saint Andrews School and, on 24 January 1910, he became a pupil at Saint John’s School. In 1911 his family lived at 48 Haward Street, and later at 69 Queens Road. 

A Deck Hand with H.M. Drifter John Mitchell, Charles died on 8th of February 1915 at the age of 16.

Charles was born at Oulton Broad on 1 May 1898, a son of George and Jane Turrell. In 1901 his family lived at 33 Victoria Road, Carlton Colville. By 1911 they were living at 3 Lavinia Terrace, Commodore Road, Oulton Broad, and later their address was 112 Commodore Road.

Charles joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 February 1915 and served on the drifter John Mitchell. 

A Fourth Hand with Trawler Boy Sam (Lowestoft), Percy died on 12th of May 1916 at the age of 16. 

Percy was born at Lowestoft in 1900, a son of Lily Florence Alger. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 30 June 1900, and his mother lived at 81 Oxford Road, Lowestoft. In 1901 he lived with his mother, and grandparents, at 81 Oxford Road. During 1901 Percy’s mother married Samuel William Welch and thereafter Percy was known as Percy Welch. In 1911 his family lived at 39 Thurston Road, Lowestoft.  

A Signal Boy with H.M. Drifter Persistive, Harry died on 9th of February 1916 at the age of 16. 

Harry was born at Kirkley on 30th March 1899, a son of Arthur Oswald and Margaret Emily Whatling. Note that his given names were John Harry, but he often used Harry as his first name, including when he served in the Royal Naval Reserve. Harry was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 28 April 1899. 

A Civilian, Barbara died on 13th of January 1942 at the age of 16. 

Barbara was born at Lowestoft in 1926, a daughter of Doris Ethel Wright. In 1928 Barbara’s mother married Charles Reginald Brown and by 1933 Doris and Charles were living at Hackney, London. In 1939 Barbara’s mother lived at Queen’s Road School Fire Station, Hackney, and worked with the Auxiliary Fire Service. 

In 1939 Barbara lived with her grandmother, Maud Rackham, formerly Wright, at 16 Worthing Road, Lowestoft. 

Barbara died at Morling’s Music Shop, 106 London Road North, during the Waller Raid.