Clifford Bertie Bird

A Skipper with Steam Drifter Lord Carnarvon (Lowestoft), Clifford died on 19th of November 1914 at the age of 35. 

Clifford was born at Mettingham, Bungay, Suffolk, in 1878, a son of Charles and Alice Bird. He was baptised at Mettingham on 3 November 1878. In 1881 his family lived at Low Road, Mettingham, and in 1891 they were still living at Low road and Clifford worked as an agricultural labourer. 

In 1902 Clifford married Gertrude Bedingfield, this was registered in the Wangford district. In 1911 they lived at Low Road, Mettingham, and Clifford was a fisherman. By 1914 they were living at Carlton Road, Pakefield, and later Gertrude lived at 5 Kent Road, Lowestoft. Gertrude remarried in 1919.  

William worked as a fisherman on the steam drifter Lord Carnarvon, LT 1197. The drifter sailed from Lowestoft on 18 November 1914. An explosion was heard during the evening, but next morning there was no sigh of the drifter. Wreckage was later washed ashore at Gorleston and Southwold. It seems that the Lord Carnarvon was sunk by a mine, most probably when sailing off Gorleston. All ten of the crew were killed. 

See: Lowestoft – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)