Reginald Augustus Barker

A Deck Hand with the Sailing Trawler Wanderer (Lowestoft), Reginald died on 15th of May 1916 at the age of 16.

Reginald is believed to be Reginald Augustus Barker who was born at Lowestoft in 1899 (his mother’s maiden name was Barker). In 1901 Reginald was a ‘boarder’ living with Charles and Elvina Castleton at 14 Saint Margaret’s Road, Lowestoft (the Castleton’s had other young boarders/adopted children). In 1911 they lived at 2 Saint Margaret’s Road.

Whether Reginald was formally adopted by the Castleton’s is not known, but it seems that he began using Castleton as his surname.

Reginald was the Deck Hand with the sailing trawler Wanderer, LT 611. The Wanderer sailed from Lowestoft on 11 May 1916, heading for fishing grounds near Haisborough Sands. The trawler was due back at Lowestoft on 21 May. 

On Monday 15 May the Wanderer was seen by the crew of the trawler Research about sixteen miles north-east by north from Smiths Knoll Gas Buoy. Nothing more was seen or heard of the trawler, or any of the crew. Later it was concluded that the Wanderer had been attacked by an enemy submarine.

(With thanks to Rodney Coote for help with this entry)