Francis John Pinkney

An Engineman with H.M. Trawler Yucca, Francis died on 24th of May 1918 aged 23.

Francis was born at Willingham, Suffolk, on 4 October 1894, a son of William and Eliza Pinkney. He was baptised at Sotterley, Suffolk, on 27 January 1895. By 1901 his family were living at 5 New Road, Carlton Colville, and in 1911 they were living at 8 Wellington Road, Pakefield, and Francis was a fisherman-cook.

On 8 September 1914 Francis joined the Royal Naval Reserve as a Deck Hand. From 29 September 1914 he served on the trawler North Star. He was promoted to Engineman on 13 February 1915 and joined the trawler Northman. He joined H.M.S. Victory on 3 April 1917 and H.M.S. Halcyon II on 15 May 1917. Halcyon II was an administrative depot for minesweeping trawlers and Francis actually served on board the trawler Yucca. By 1918 his family were living at 19 Grosvenor Road, Lowestoft. 

On 24 May 1918 the Yucca struck a mine, off Lowestoft, and sank with the loss of seven members of crew, including Francis.