Also Merchant Navy

A Seaman with H. M. Cable Ship Alert (United Kingdom), Robert died on 24th of February 1945 aged 39.

Robert was born at Lowestoft on 12 November 1905, a son of John and Susannah Button. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church on 1 December 1905 and his family lived at 47 Albert Street. By 1911 his family were living at 47 Park Road, and this was still the family home in 1945. 

In 1921 Robert was an errand boy working for John Deveraux and Sons at 129 High Street. 

A Cable Hand with His Majesty's Telegraph Ship Monarch, Harry died on 8th of September 1915 aged 56.

Harry was born at Wheatacre in 1859, a son of William and Joanna Seago. He was baptised at All Saints’ Church, Wheatacre, on 17 July 1859. In 1861 his family lived at The Railway Gate House, Aldeby. This was still their home in 1871 when the eleven year old Harry is recorded as working as an agricultural labourer. By 1881 Harry was working as a fisherman and living at Coleman Square, Lowestoft. 

A Mate with M.V. Adaptity (London), Frederick died on 5th of October 1940 aged 36. 

It seems that Frederick’s birth was registered in the Wangford district in 1904 and some Merchant Navy records state that he was born at Barsham, Suffolk. Commonwealth War Graves records state that his parents were Charles and Sarah West, but no civil records have been traced that verify this. 

In 1928 Federick married Daisy E Sheldrake, this was registered in the Depwade district. By 1939 their home was at 18 Lowestoft Road, Carlton Colville. Later Daisy remarried.  

A Cadet with M.V. Harpagus (London), Denis died on 5th of August 1943 at the age of 20. 

Denis was born at Reading in 1922, a son of Henry and Eleanor Mary Cox. By 1939 Denis' parents were running the Post Office at Chediston, and later they lived in Lowestoft. 

Denis died, at Algiers, in an accident caused by the explosion of a nearby ship.  

A Mate with M.V. Novio, Alfred died on 14th of March 1941 at the age of 37. 

Alfred was born in 1903, a son of George and Edith Marjoram. He was baptised at Saint Edmunds Church, Kessingland, on 17 January 1904. In 1911 his family lived at Gladstone Cottages, London Road, Kessingland. 

Alfred married Gwendoline Wigg in 1927. In 1939 Alfred, Gwendoline, and children, lived at Davies Cottages, Kessingland, and Alfred was a fisherman.

During World War Two Alfred served with the Merchant Navy and was a Mate on the Dutch vessel Novio.

An Able Seaman with M.V. Stork (London), Frank died on 23rd of August 1941 aged 35. 

Frank was born at Margate on 21 June 1906, a son of Frederick Whiting and Charlotte Timms. In 1914 his family lived at 2 Addington Street, Margate, and by 1919 their home was at 10 Edinburgh Road, Lowestoft. In 1939 Frank’s father lived at 59 Maidstone Road.

A Chief Officer with S. S. Cortes, Jack died on 26th of September 1941 at the age of 31. 

Jack was born at Brighton on 25 July 1909, a son of Vernon John Henry and Ellen Mary Ann Bosdet. His family had a home at 15 Carlton Mansions, Holmfield Road, London, and later lived at Oulton Broad. Jack's father was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve. 

Jack began his career in the Merchant Navy in 1924 as an apprentice/cadet.

Jack joined the S. S. Cortes on 3 February 1941 and was killed when the Cortes was sunk by enemy action. 

A Sailor with S.S. Ashcrest (London), Roy died on 9th of December 1940 aged 20. 

Roy was born at East Ham, London, on 21 September 1920, a son of James Robert and Cissie Olive Oldman. In 1921 his family lived at 115 Central Park Road, East Ham and by 1930 their home was at Saint Peter, Beccles Road, Oulton Broad.

Roy attended the Gravesend Sea School. From 6 August 1939 Roy worked on the merchant ship Cressington Court. He joined the S.S. Barn Hill on 11 December 1939 and, on 12 June 1940, the S.S. Ashcrest. 

A Chief Officer with S.S. Bibury (London), John died on 2nd of September 1940 aged 42.

John was born at Lowestoft on 1 January 1898, a son of Cecil and Ellen Trollope. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 28 January 1898 and his family lived at 97 Queens Road. By 1901 they were living at 100 Beresford Road and in 1911 they lived at 66 Saint Margaret’s Road which was the family home until at least 1939. 

John was educated privately until 17 September 1907 when he joined the Lowestoft School of Science.  

A Fifth Engineer Officer with S.S. Fort Bellingham (London), William died on 26th of January 1944 aged 22. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 15 November 1921, a son of Oliver and Martha Hannah Brown of Lowestoft Suffolk. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church on 2 December 1921 and his family lived at 54 Raglan Street. By 1939 they were living at 7 Summer Road and William was an engineer’s apprentice.

A Third Engineer Officer with S.S. Kyleglen (Liverpool), Leonard died on 15th of December 1940 aged 27. 

A Cook with S.S. Laconia (Liverpool), Herbert died on 12th of September 1942 at the age of 39. 

Herbert was born at Carlton Colville on 20 November 1902, a son of Herbert Wallace and Eliza Greengrass. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville, on 22 February 1903. In 1911 his family lived at Hall Cottages, Cley Road, Holt, Norfolk, and by 1918 at 36 Kimberley Road, Lowestoft.

On 10 January 1935 Herbert married Rosie Hettie Gertie Meadows. Herbert was a cook and they both lived at Kirkley. In 1939 their home was at 33 Saint John’s Road, Lowestoft. 

A Chief Engineer Officer with S.S. Larpool (Whitby), Robert died on 2nd of November 1941 aged 50. 

Robert was born at South Shields on 14 January 1891, a son of Charles John and Mary Ann Watson. In 1891 his family lived at 20 Chichester Road, Westoe, South Shields. Robert was baptised at Saint Michael’s Church, South Westoe, on 11 February 1891. In 1901 Robert’s family lived at 14 Vine Street, South Shields. By 1911 they were living at 10 Talbot Road, Tyne Dock, South Shields, and Ribert was a ship fitter. In 1914 Robert became a freemason. 

An Able Seaman with S.S. Moortoft (Middlesbrough), Joseph died on 3rd of December 1939 aged 22. 

Joseph was born at Lowestoft in 1916, a son of Joseph William and Lilian Rose Newson. In 1921 his family lived at 16 Clemence Street, and this was still their home in 1939.

In 1939 Joseph was an Able Seaman working on the S.S. Moortoft, a steam cargo ship. Joseph, and the twelve other crew, were missing, presumed drowned, on 3 December when the Moortoft disappeared in the North Sea. The cause of the ship's loss remains unknown. 

An Assistant Steward with S.S. Orford (Barrow), Thomas died on 1st of June 1940 aged 27.

Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 2 June 1912, a son of Thomas and Ellen Maria Head. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 21 June 1912 and his family lived at Pendeen Villa, Winnipeg Road. By 1939 his family were living at the Globe Inn, High Street, where Thomas’ father was the licensee. Later his parents lived at 14 Yeovil Road. 

A Second Mate with the mooring vessel Recovery of Leith, Jack died on the 1st January 1943 aged 37.

Jack was born at Kessingland on 27 December 1905, a son of James and Ellen Barker. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 20 April 1911. In 1921 his family lived at London Road, Kessingland. In 1939 Jack’s widowed mother lived at 2 Collins Cottages, High Street, Kessingland.

In 1939 Jack was an Able Seaman with the steam mooring vessel Recovery of Leith at Harwich. From 10 November 1941 Jack served as the Bosun on the Recovery of Leith. 

An Ordinary Seaman, Arthur died on 20th of May 1941 aged 18. 

Arthur was born at Kessingland on 3 March 1923, a son of Alfred and Ellen Mary Utting. His family lived at 8 The Ridge, Kessingland.

In May 1941 Arthur was serving on the S. S. Rothmere. The ship was part of convoy HX-126. On 20 May the Rothmere dispersed from the convoy and, when off Cape Farewell, was hit by a torpedo from submarine U-98 and began to sink. Twenty-two people, including Arthur, died, and another thirty-four were rescued.

An Able Seaman with S.S. Thurston (West Hartlepool), George died on 4th of March 1940 aged 32. 

George was born at Lowestoft on 13 January 1906, a son of John Henry and Eunice Farman. By 1911 George’s mother had died and George, and his father, lived with George’s grandmother Elizabeth Knight at 5 Ashby Road. In 1921 his family lived at 21 Beckham Road, and by 1939 at 35 Avondale Road. 

A Sailor with S.S. Wallsend (Newcastle-on-Tyne), William died on 3rd of December 1942 aged 19. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 2 June 1923, a son of William Henry and Margaret Caroline Burch. Throughout his life William’s family lived at 37 Alma Road.

A Fireman and Trimmer with S.S. Wayfarer (Liverpool), Frederick died on 19th of August 1944 at the age of 28.

Frederick was born at Hull on 13 August 1916, a son of Ellerby and Mary Ann Tharratt (Note CWGC gives his parents as Mr and Mrs Joseph Tharrat: information here from Frederick' baptism record). He was baptised at Saint Paul's Church, Sculcoates, on 27 August 1916 and his family lived at 3 Peck's Terrace, Rodney Street. 

In 1940 Frederick married Ethel May Webb at Ipswich and she lived at 44 Shakespeare Road, Whitton, Ipswich.

An Able Seaman with S/V B.H.C. 9, William died on 6th of March 1941 at the age of 44.

William was born at Kessingland on 11 August 1896, a son of William and Laura Roth. He was baptised at Saint Edmund's Church, Kessingland, on 18 October 1896. In 1901 his family lived at Clifton Villa, Kessingland, and the 1911 Census shows them living at Clifton House, Kessingland. They were still living at Clifton House in 1921 and William worked as a fisherman. 

A Deck Hand with Steam Trawler Carry On (Lowestoft), Gordon died on 17th of December 1940 aged 25. 

Gordon was born at Lowestoft on 17 October 1915, a son of William and Belinda Baxter. In 1921 his family lived at 1 Kirkley Run and by 1939 they were living at 63 Long Road and Gordon was a drift net fisherman. 

A Deck Hand with Steam Trawler Carry On (Lowestoft), Leonard died on 17th of December 1940 aged 62. 

A Mate with Steam Trawler Carry On (Lowestoft), Robert died on 17th of December 1940 aged 57. 

Robert was born at Pakefield on 17 March 1883, a son of Robert and Harriet Lewis. He was baptised at All Saints’ Church, Pakefield, on 13 May 1883. On 30 August 1887 Robert became a pupil at Cunningham’s School. In 1891 his family lived at 13 Beach Street, Pakefield. 

In 1910 Robert was awarded his certificate of competency as a Skipper. In 1911 he was a crewman with the trawler Confier LT 658. 

A Cook with Steam Trawler Carry On (Lowestoft), George died on 17th of December 1940 aged 66. 

George was born at Kirkley on 5 February 1874, a son of Noah and Elizabeth Mullender. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 1 May 1875. In 1881 his family lived at Pakefield Street. In 1886 George was a pupil at Cunningham’s School. 

A Skipper with Steam Trawler Carry On (Lowestoft), Ernest died on 17th of December 1940 aged 49. 

Ernest was born at Gillingham, Norfolk, on 25 November 1891, a son of James Pye Smith and Ellen Smith. In 1901 his family lived at Frances Terrace, Carlton Road, Carlton Colville. By 1911 his were living at 26 Lovewell Road, Kirkley, and by 1915 their home was at 10 Lawson Road.  

In January 1914 Ernest was awarded his certificate of competency as a Skipper. 

An Able Seaman with the tug S. S. Aid (London), Leonard died on 29th of November 1940 at the age of 39. 

Leonard was born at Kessingland on 22 November 1900, a son of Lewis Charles and Minnie Jane Blowers. He was baptised at Saint Edmunds Church, Kessingland, on 20 January 1901. In 1901 his family lived at High Street, Kessingland. By 1911 they were living at High Path, Beach, Kessingland, and this was still their address in 1921 when Leonard worked as a fisherman (either for, or on the, Beamish). 

A Second Engineer Officer with the tug S. S. Aid (London), Bernard died on 29th of November 1940 aged 34.

Bernard was born at Kessingland in 1906, a son of Ernest and Blanche Pauline Moyse. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 1 April 1906. In 1911 his family lived at 2 Prospect Place, Kessingland, and this was still their home in 1921 when Bernard was a grocer’s assistant working for Mr. G. Brock at Lowestoft Road, Kessingland. 

A Master with the tug S. S. Aid (London). William died on 29th of November 1940 at the age of 25. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 1 September 1914, a son of William Henry Peek and of Elizabeth Charlotte Peek. He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 30 October 1914 and his family lived at 12 John Street, Lowestoft. Later his family lived at Kendal House, Kendal Road, Lowestoft.

William married Gertrude Muriel Littlewood, of Great Yarmouth, at Great Yarmouth in 1937. 

A Cook with the tug S.S. Aid (London), Samuel died on 29th November 1940 aged 21.

Samuel was born at Kessingland on 19 August 1918, a son of Alfred William and Mary Anne Thacker. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 15 December 1918 and his family lived at Brooklands, Kessingland Beach. In 1921 his family lived at 2 Shelter Cottages, Kessingland. By 1939 Samuel was a fisherman and he lived with his widowed mother The Sailor’s Home, Kessingland, fisherman. Later his mother lived at 1 Shelter Cottages Kessingland.