Ephraim Hunt

A Second Hand with H.M. Drifter Datum, Ephraim died on 26th of October 1916 at the age of 32. 

According to his Royal Naval Reserve service record Ephraim was born at Hopton, Suffolk, on 18 December 1868, a son of Edward and Anne Hunt. However, when he married he gave his father’s first name as Henry. 

It is possible that he was actually born at Hapton, Norfolk, a son of Henry and Mary Ann Hunt, and that he was baptised at Forncett St. Peter, Norfolk, on 31 January 1869, and his family lived at Hapton. By 1881 they were living near the church at Toft Monks, Norfolk, and Ephraim was an agricultural labourer. He must have gone to sea soon afterwards. 

Ephraim married Elizabeth Frances Saunders at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 15 December 1890. Ephraim was a fisherman living at Raglan Street, and Elizabeth lived at Anguish Street. By 1895 they were living at 5 Rant Score East, Lowestoft, which was still their home in 1901. By 1911 the family were living at 1 Salter Street, Whapload Road, Lowestoft. Later Elizabeth lived at 41 Ipswich Road, Lowestoft. 

On 16 October 1891 Ephraim received his certificate of competency as a skipper.

In 1898 Ephraim was the skipper of the trawler Boy Ernest. 

Ephraim joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 11 January 1915, and joined the drifter Datum on 16 January 1915. 

Ephraim died when the drifter Datum was sunk by German destroyers during the night of 26-27 October 1916. All of the crew were lost. 

For details of the attack on the Dover Barrage see: The German attack on the 'Dover Barrage' 26th/27th October 1916 (sussexhistoryforum.co.uk)

Ephraim's son Bertie died in 1941 in the loss of the fishing vessel Westfield.