Robert Hall

A Second Hand with H.M. Drifter Dewey, Robert died on 12th of August 1917 at the age of 50. 

Robert was born at Lowestoft on 27 September 1867, a son of Robert and Agnes Clara Hall. Robert was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 7 June 1868. In 1871 his family lived at Rant Score East. By 1881 they were living at 5 Raglan Street North. In 1891 Robert lived at 11 Barsham Square, East Street, and it seems that Robert was a ‘shoreman’. 

In 1892 Robert married Elizabeth Anna Beecroft. In 1901 they lived at 17 Mariners Street, and Robert worked as a bricklayer’s labourer. By 1911 they were living at 3 Erskine Place, Factory Street, and Robert was a drift and trawl net fisherman. Later Elizabeth lived at 20 Melbourne Road.

Robert was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper on 8 December 1891. 

Robert joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 12 December 1914. He joined the trawler Acceptable. On 20 April 1915 the Acceptable was in Ramsgate Harbour, loading coal, when a large lump of coal fell on Robert’s left foot fracturing the last phalanx of the nails of his third and fourth toe. Subsequently Robert joined the drifter Dewey.    

On 12 August 1917 the Dewey was sailing in the English Channel. The drifter collided with S.S. Glenifer, near the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel (some sources state that the Dewey was ‘run down’) and sank with the loss of ten crew.

Robert was to have been appointed Temporary Skipper on 25 August 1917.