Edward Garrod

A Skipper with H.M. Trawler Clifton, Edward died on 18th of February 1917 at the age of 39.  

Edward was born at Wangford in on 31 October 1877, a son of and Emily Garrod. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Wangford, on 24 March 1877. In 1881 Edward lived with his maternal grandparents, William and Johanna Garrod, at Wangford Hill, Wangford. By 1891 his family lived at Bishops Buildings, Mariners Street, Lowestoft, and Edward was a rope twine spinner.

On 21 January 1898 Edward married Ellen Maria Nunn at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Edward was a smacksman and they both gave 79 Cambridge Road as their address. They would go on to have seven children. In 1901 they lived at Bell Road, Carlton Colville, and Edward was a smacksman. By 1911 they were living at 84 Stanford Street and Edward was still a smacksman, and this was still the family home in 1917. 

In 1904 Edward was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper. 

Edward joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 7 October 1915. He joined the trawler Clifton, as second hand, on 15 October 1915. The Clifton was used as a minesweeper. On 12 February 1917 Edward was promoted to Skipper. On 18 February 1917 the Clifton was minesweeping near the Kinsale Lighthouse, off Cork Harbour, Southern Ireland. The minesweeper struck a mine, blew up, and sank. Royal Navy records state that twelve crew, including Edward were lost, but other sources suggest that thirteen men were killed, and another man rescued. Edward’s body was recovered and brought back to Lowestoft for burial.   

Edward's brother-in-law, Harry Nunn, served in the Royal Naval Reserve and died in 1918.