Clifford Edward Rose Hall

A Deck Hand with H.M. Trawler Morococala, Clifford died on 19th of November 1917 at the age of 26. 

Clifford was born at Lowestoft on 22 March 1891, a son of George and Mary Ann Hall. He was baptised at Christ Church, Lowestoft, on 15 April 1891, and his family lived at Rant Score East. By 1901 they were living at 88 Oxford Road, and in 1911 at 1 Royal Avenue. Later they lived at 73 Kimberley Road. 

In 1908 Clifford worked on the steam drifter Agnes Weston, of Penzance. In April of that the drifter was fishing about 30 miles off the Bishop Rock Lightship, Scilly Isles, and Clifford was in the rope room clearing away. The trawler began shooting its nets and a turn of rope caught around Clifford’s right leg, pulling him out of the room, and along the deck, fracturing his leg just above the ankle, and also bruising his back. A crewman, Fred Carter, who was a member of the Saint John Ambulance, gave first aid, and Clifford was taken to the West Cornwall Infirmary for treatment. In 1911 Clifford was a deck hand on the trawler Select, LT 732, at Newlyn. In 1913 Clifford lived at Old Nelson Street.

Clifford was living at 96 Grafton Street, Grimsby, when he joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 14 December 1914. He served on the trawler Maximus until 8 January 1915 when he joined the Bradford. He joined the trawler Bluebell on 10 January 1916. 

On 20 April 1916 Clifford was ordered to go aboard the Bluebell and refused and missed his ship sailing. He was sent to the cells for ten days and stopped six days pay. He again missed his ship on 2 June 1916, being nine hours later, and was sent to the cells for five days and lost five days pay. He joined the Monarch II on 9 June 1916.    

Clifford joined the Holden on 12 April 1917 and the Morococala on 1 May 1917. He was sent to the cells again for five days on 6 June 1917. On 27 August 1917 Clifford was sent to Cork prison for 30 days with hard labour. He had overstayed his leave and was convicted by a naval court martial. He was released on 25 September.

On 19 November 1917 the Morococala was sweeping for mines outside Cork Harber when the trawler struck a mine, exploded, and sank almost immediately. All thirteen of the crew, including Clifford, were lost.