David Church

A Second Hand with H.M. Drifter Persistive, David died on 9th of February 1916 at the age of 57. 

David was born at Middleton, Suffolk, on 27 July 1858, a son of David and Susan Church (but note his Royal Naval Reserve service sheet gives his mother's name as Elizabeth). He was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Westleton, on 9 May 1858. David's father died in 1870 and during the 1870s David began working at sea. 

In 1883 David married Elizabeth Vale (some sources give her first names as Hannah Elizabeth). 

In 1891 David was a member of the crew of the 'Helios', but in 1901 David and Elizabeth, and their children, lived at High Street, Wangford, and he worked as an agricultural labourer. By 1911 they were living at 9 Nelson Terrace, Pakefield, and David was a herring fisherman. David had been awarded his Certificate of Competency, as a Second Hand, on 29 June 1910.

David joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 January 1915 and served on the Drifter Persistive. 

The Persistive was blown up by a mine on 9 February 1916. Seven of the crew were killed and the other was severely wounded. 

During the war Elizabeth lived at 12 Trevaigen, Dover, but afterwards returned to Lowestoft and lived at 22 Nelson Terrace, Pakefield.