Robert Willis Lumsdaine

A Cook with Steam Drifter Reliance (Lowestoft), Robert died on 7th of October 1917 at the age of 17. 

Robert was born at Lowestoft in 1900, a son of Robert Willis and Margaret Ellen Lumsdaine. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 28 October 1900 and his family lived at 3 Lincoln’s Buildings, The Beach. His parents married in 1900 and his younger half-siblings all had the surname Willis. By 1911 his family were living at 1 Lincoln’s Buildings, Whapload Road, and later at 194 Clapham Road.

In 1917 Robert was a Cook with the Drifter Reliance, LT 694. The Reliance sailed from Lowestoft, on Saturday 29 September, to fish between Wintertons Ridge and Smiths Knoll, and was due to return on Monday 8 October. The Reliance was seen by several boats outside Winterton Ridge during the evening of October 6. A member of the crew of the Lord Roberts, William Westmate, stated at an inquiry that his crew had hauled their nest and gone below when, about five minutes later, they heard an explosion. This was presumed to be the Reliance striking a mine. All ten of the Reliance’s crew were lost. 

See: 1914 – 1918 Lowestoft Fisherman: killed by enemy action – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry

Robert's brother Frederick died in 1917 in the loss of the trawler Chrysolite.