Charles Henry Crews

A Second Hand with H.M. Trawler Lucknow, Charles died on 18th of May 1917 at the age of 25. 

Charles was born at Lowestoft on 1 May 1892, a son of Charles Henry and Elizabeth Crews. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 20 May 1892 and his family lived at 4 Till Road. Charles attended Saint John’s Infant School and then, from 5 February 1900 Saint John’s School. In 1901 his family lived at 69 Norwich Road. By 1911 his family were living at 31 Selby Street.

Charles was awarded his certificate of competency as a second hand in 1914. 

Charles joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 April 1917 to serve as a Deck Hand. On 1 May 1917 he was advanced to Second Hand and joined the trawler Lucknow. On 18 May 1917 the Lucknow was sailing off Portsmouth, about 2 miles west of the Over Light Vessel, when it struck a mine and sank. Nine crew, including Charles, were killed. Charles’ body was recovered and details of his funeral appeared in the Lowestoft Journal 2 June 1917, page 3:

On Saturday afternoon [26 May] Mr. Charles Henry Crews, nephew of Mr. C.H. Crews (of Crews and Son, Trawl Market, Lowestoft) who lost his life at sea, was buried at Lowestoft with naval honours. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was conveyed on a gun carriage. A considerable number of naval men attended, the buglers sounded the “Last Post”. The Rev. Sidney J. Jones (Wesleyan) officiated. The coffin was inscribed:

CHARLES HENRY CREWS
Died May 21st 1917 Aged 26 years.

Wreaths were sent as follows: - In loving memory of our dear son, form his mother and father; In loving memory of our dear brother, Molly and George; In loving memory of dear Charlie, from his sweetheart Lizzie; In affectionate remembrance, from aunt Alice and uncle Will; With all true sympathy, from uncle Ernest and aunt Ellen (Bungay); With all true sympathy, from uncle Ernest  and aunt Ellen (Bungay); In loving memory, from uncle Jim, aunt Fish, and cousins; In loving memory from his cousins Bob, Nellie, Miriam, and Ernest; with deepest sympathy, from grandfather, aunt Edith, and uncle Norton; with deepest sympathy, from Mrs. Lincoln and family “Rest in peace”; with sincere sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Walter Podd; with deepest sympathy from Mrs. Curtis and family “peace perfect peace”; with deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds; ”; with deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Cullen; ”; with deepest sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Bull; ”; with deepest sympathy from F. E. Moore; in affectionate remembrance, from Mrs. Charlish and family, London; ”; in sympathy from Mr. and Mrs. Wooden and family; ”; with deepest sympathy from Kate and Reggie Saunders.
Mr. Horace Richards, Raglan Street, was undertaker.
Mr. Charles Crews and family desire to take this means of thanking the many friends for their kind expressions of sympathy in sending wreaths, etc., in their recent sad bereavement. They also wish to thank the officers and men at the Lowestoft Naval Base.