Royal Arthur John Watson Page

A Skipper with H.M. Trawler Fir, Royal died on 3rd of December 1942 at the age of 42. 

Royal was born at Lowestoft on 26 November 1900, a son of Charles and Margaret Page. He was baptised at Saint John's Church, Lowestoft, on 11 October 1901, and his family lived at 71 Tonning Street. By 1911 his family were living at 27 Ontario Road, and by 1921 at 10 May Road. Later his parents lived at 2 Simnetts Cottage, Saint Johns Road, Lowestoft.

Royal, who was also known as John, was working as an errand boy when he joined the Royal Navy, as a Boy 2nd Class, on 7 June 1916. He served until 11 September 1919 and during 1919 he worked as an Assistant Cook.

In 1921 Royal was working as a Deck Hand with his father who was Skipper of the trawler Glory, LT 1027.

Royal was awarded his certificate of competency as a Skipper in 1928. 

In early 1939 Royal married Minna Fritze, this was registered in the Maidenhead district. 

In 1939 Royal and Minna were living at 182 Church Road, Great Yarmouth, and Royal worked as a fisherman. Later Minna lived at Heimat, Yarmouth Road, Ellingham, Norfolk.

Royal served with the Royal Naval Reserve as a Seaman, then Second Hand, from 9 January 1941. Royal was Mentioned in Despatches on 1 January 1942. He was promoted to Temporary Acting Skipper on 1 May 1942. He joined the trawler Fir on 13 July 1942.  

Royal was serving on the minesweeping trawler Fir when there was an accident with a projector and Royal suffered multiple fatal injuries.  

A letter was sent to Minna by Chaplain Alsop R.N.V.R. which stated that: 'There was an accident at one of the guns and a shell was about to explode which would have endangered the lives of several others. You husband immediately took such action as would have avoided this danger and in doing so received injuries from which he died. His captain brought the ship back to port; after doing what he could for him and a doctor went on board. Everything possible was done, but he died on the way to hospital.'

See: Ellingham and Kirby Cane photograph archive - Wartime (ellcane-photoarchive.org.uk)