Jacob Stratford

A Trimmer with H.M. Trawler Amy. Jacob died on 11th of April 1917 at the age of 32. 

Jacob was born at Peckham, London, on 9 June 1884, a son of Thomas and Eliza Stratford. He was baptised at Camden Church, Peckham Road, Camberwell, on 12 October 1884, and his family lived at 2 Lisford Street. In 1891 his family lived at 2 Caln Street, Camberwell. Arthur attended Cator Street School and between 18 November 1893 and 16 December 1897 he attended Arthur Street School: about this time his family lived at 4 Fenham Road.  

In 1903 Jacob was found guilty of shop-breaking and sentence to borstal for one year. By 1911 he was working as a fisherman and living with Charles and Eliza Rose of 59 Raglan Street, Lowestoft. Jacob is described as Eliza’s ‘foster son’ and he had an aunt, Mrs. Orange, who lived at 208 Cator Street, Peckham, and it seems that some of his other relatives had moved to Canada.  

Jacob joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 3 March 1916. From 10 November 1916 he served on the trawler Amy. On 11 April 1917 the Amy was sailing off Le Havre, possibly minesweeping, when the trawler struck a mine and sank. Nine crew, including Jacob, were killed and one man wounded.