Tuesday 26 November 2013

Able Seaman James Thomas Gardener - Killed 26th November 1914




James Gardener was born in 1868 the son of Thomas and May Gardener of Soberton, England.  He moved to Ireland in the early 1900’s and by the outbreak of war was married to Bertha Gardner living in 16 Albert Drive Carrickfergus.  James was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy on board “H.M.S Bulwark” (service number 123062) - he was killed on 26th November 1914 when the said ship was blown apart by a huge accidental explosion whilst docked in Sheerness Harbour, his body was never recovered.

HMS Bulwark belonged to a sub-class of the Formidable-class of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy known as the London class.  Following the outbreak of the First World War, Bulwark, along with the rest of the squadron was attached to the Channel Fleet, conducting patrols in the English Channel.  A powerful internal explosion ripped Bulwark apart at 07:50 on 26 November 1914 while she was moored at Number 17 buoy in Kethole Reach, 4 nmi (4.6 mi) west of Sheerness in the estuary of the River Medway. Out of her complement of 750, no officers and only 14 sailors survived, two of whom subsequently died of their injuries in hospital. Most of the survivors were seriously injured.

The only men to survive the explosion comparatively unscathed were those who had been in Number 1 mess-deck amidships, who were blown out of an open hatch. One of these men, Able Seaman Stephen Marshall, described feeling the sensation of "a colossal draught", being drawn "irresistibly upwards", and, as he rose in the air, clearly seeing the ship's masts shaking violently.

Witnesses on the battleship Implacable, the next ship in line at the mooring, reported that "a huge pillar of black cloud belched upwards... From the depths of this writhing column flames appeared running down to sea level. The appearance of this dreadful phenomenon was followed by a thunderous roar. Then came a series of lesser detonations, and finally one vast explosion that shook the Implacable from mastheads to keel."

The destruction of Bulwark was also witnessed on board battleship Formidable, where "when the dust and wreckage had finally settled a limp object was seen hanging from the wireless aerials upon which it had fallen. With difficulty the object was retrieved and found to be an officer's uniform jacket with three gold bands on the sleeves and between them the purple cloth of an engineer officer. The garment's former owner had been blasted into fragments."

In terms of loss of life, the incident remains the second most catastrophic accidental explosion in the history of the United Kingdom, exceeded only by the explosion of the dreadnought battleship Vanguard, caused by a stokehold fire detonating a magazine, at Scapa Flow in 1917.  

A memorial to those lost on Bulwark and Princess Irene was erected at the Dockyard Church, Sheerness in 1921. It was dedicated by Archdeacon Ingles, the Chaplain of the Fleet. It was unveiled by Hugh Evan-Thomas, Commander-in-Chief, The Nore. Victims of both ships are also commemorated on the Naval War Memorial at Southsea.

H.M.S Bulwark


Monday 11 November 2013

Bennett's Chosen Few L.O.L 553

As part of my research I have been asked by a number of local organisations to look into the service area of some of their members.  One such request has come from L.O.L 553 Bennett's Chosen Few based in Albert Road.

According to the Carrickfergus Orange District Roll of Honour the following men served during the Great War and were members of 553.

Sidney Allcock
John Barry
William Gourley
Hugh Manson
William Milliken
Hugh McNeill
Thomas McGilton
Joseph McNeill
Thomas Robinson
Albert Ed. Salsbury
E.G Shaw
William Feeney
Alfred Upstall


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NAME; Allcock, Sydney
RANK; Gunner
SERV. NO; 8673
UNIT/SERVICE; Royal Garrison Artillery
REGIMENT; 19th Heavy Battery
BORN; Newport, Isle of Wight
LIVED; Unity Street, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Killed in Action – France and Flanders 19th October 1917 aged 29
CEMETERY; Canada Farm Cemetery – Belgium - III E. 3
CHURCH; St Nicholas Church of Ireland, Carrickfergus
MEMORIAL; St Nicholas Church of Ireland
REMARKS; Sydney was the son of Richard and Jessie Allcock, of Church View, Tuam, Co. Galway.  Born in Newport, Isle of Wight he moved to Ireland with his family in the late 1800's.  By the time he came to signing up for the war effort in 1915 he was living in 16 Unity Street Carrickfergus.  He was an active member of the Albert Road Loyal Orange Lodge 553.  Sydney was killed in action in the Ypres area of Belgium during the 3rd Ypres Campaign Battle of Passchendaele.  He is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery along with 906 other British and Canadian Great War soldiers.  The cemetery took its name from a farmhouse used as a dressing station during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Most of the burials are of men who died at the dressing station between June and October 1917.   He was well known around Carrickfergus and part of the congregation at St Nicholas Church.  News of his death in 1917 was reported with great sadness in the Carrickfergus Advertiser noting that "great lose is felt with at the death of Gunner S Allock... he was well known to many locally and will be sadly missed".  


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NAME; Barry, John
RANK; Seaman
SERV. NO; Unknown
UNIT/SERVICE; Royal Navy Reserve
REGIMENT; Unknown
BORN; Carrickfergus 1881
LIVED; Eden, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Carrickfergus
FATE; Survived the War
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; John Barry was born in Carrickfergus in 1881, he was the husband of Catherine Barry and father to James and John.  In 1911 he is listed as living in the Eden village area and was working as a labourer at the local salt works.  He signed with Ulster Covenant on Ulster Day 1912 in Carrickfergus Court House.  He and his family were members of Joymount Presbyterian and John was a member of Bennett’s Chosen Few LOL 553.  He enlisted with the Royal Naval Reserve following the outbreak of war in 1914, little is known about his service record except that he survived the war.   


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NAME; Gourley, William 
RANK; Unknown
SERV. NO; Unknown
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
BORN; Unknown
LIVED; Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Unknown
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Unknown 
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; We know little about William Gourley except that he survived with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during the war and was a member of Bennett’s Chosen Few LOL 553 based on Albert Road in Carrickfergus. 


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NAME; Manson, Hugh
RANK; Sergeant  
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; 2nd Battalion
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus in 1888
LIVED; Carson Street, Larne 
ENLISTED;
FATE; Wounded but survived the war
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Albert Road Congregational
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; Hugh was the son of William and Mary Manson and brother of Jane, Isabella, Thomas, William, James and Samuel who also served. Prior to the war he was a mill worker living between Larne and Carrickfergus. He signed the Ulster Covenant on Ulster Day 1912 in the 1st Larne Presbyterian Church, at that point he was living in 2 Jubilee Street Larne. Hugh joined the Royal Irish Rifles and was attested to the 2nd Battalion, he was reported in dispatches August 1917 as being wounded for the 5th time and was now in a base hospital.  On the 5th occasion he suffered shrapnel wounds to his back.  Served from the start of the war – Carrick Advertiser reports in August 1917 that he would soon be promoted to the rank of sergeant.  Hugh was a members of Bennett's Chosen Few LOL.  His brother James Manson was killed in action June 29th 1916.


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NAME; Milliken, William
RANK; Private
SERV. NO; Unknown
UNIT/SERVICE; Labour Corps
REGIMENT; Royal Engineers
BORN; Carrickfergus 1873
LIVED; Davy’s Street, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; Unknown
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; William was the husband of Christina Milliken and father to Robert, William, Thomas and Elizabeth.  He was born in Carrickfergus in 1873 and by 1911 was living in Davy's Street in the town with his family working as labourer.  His wife Christina was born in Scotland.  William was an Orange man and a member of Bennett’s Chosen Few LOL 553, the entire family were also members of the Joymount Presbyterian Congregation.  On Ulster Day in 1912 William signed the Ulster Covenant at Carrickfergus Court House.  During the war he joined the labour corps of the Royal Engineers, probably due to his age - The Labour Corps were formed in the feb' of 1917 and lasted until 1921. It was made up of men that had been in the front line and who had been either wounded or taken ill and could not be returned to the front or men who, on enlistment, were found to be too old or did not pass as  fit enough to be sent to the front. By the November of 1918 some 400,000 men were serving in the Labour Corps. Being in this body of men did not stop you being killed by enemy action as some 9,000 men were killed. Their duties would have been anything from helping in stores, taking equipment up to the front, repairing roads and such like, helping at rest areas by manning theatres and cinema's in fact anything that was need of them they would have done.  We know nothing about his service record or life after the war except that he survived the war. 


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NAME; McNeill, Hugh
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion "B Coy"
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus 1896
LIVED; 10 McKeen’s Row, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; September 1914 in Carrickfergus
FATE; Wounded in the left thigh – Survived the war
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Joymount Presbyterian
MEMORIAL;   N/A
REMARKS; Hugh was the son of Hugh and Ellen McNeill and brother of Matilda, Maggie, Lezzie, and James.  Hewas born in Carrickfergus in 1896, by 1901 the McNeill family were living in rural Carrickfergus, his father working as a farm labourer.  On Ulster Day 1912 he signed the Ulster Covenant in Carrickfergus Court House.  By 1914 Hugh was living in 10 McKeen’s Row, Carrickfergus and working at the International Salt Works Company LTD.  The entire family were members of the Joymount Presbyterian church and Hugh was an active members of Bennett's Chosen Few LOL.  On the outbreak of war Hugh like many of his mates locally enlisted with the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, he was to see action across the Western Front.  He was reported as being wounded badly in the left thigh in 1916 but survived the war.  



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NAME; McGilton, Thomas 
RANK; Rifleman
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN;
LIVED; Victoria Street, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the War
CEMETERY;
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Little is known about Thomas McGilton, he is listed as a member of Bennett's Chosen Few L.O.L on their Role of Honour and as living in Victoria Street, Carrickfergus.  He served with the Royal Irish Rifles and survived the war. 


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NAME; O’Neill, Joseph
RANK;
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; 6th Battalion
REGIMENT; Inniskilling Dragoons
BORN;
LIVED;
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY;
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Member of LOL 553,

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NAME; Robinson, Thomas
RANK;
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; Royal Field Artillery
BORN;
LIVED;
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY;
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Member of LOL 553, 

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NAME; Salsbury, Albert Edward
RANK;
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; Royal Garrison Artillery
BORN;
LIVED;
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY;
CHURCH;
MEMORIAL;
REMARKS; Albert Edward Salsbury appears on the Carrickfergus LOL District roll of honour as a member of 553 Bennett's Chosen Few.  There is no record of him in the census of either 1901 or 1911.  

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NAME; Shaw, Edward G.
RANK; Unknown
SERV. NO; Unknown
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion "C Coy"
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Carrickfergus 1871
LIVED; Upper Woodburn, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; September 1914 in Carrickfergus
FATE; Survived the War
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Presbyterian
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; Edward Shaw was born in Carrickfergus in 1871, in 1901 and 1911 he is listed as living in the Middle Division of Carrickfergus more than likely the Woodburn area of the town living with his wife Jemima and son William born in 1900, Henry born 1907, daughter Rachel born 1902 and Susan born 1905.  The entire family were members of the Presbyterian church and Edward was a member of Bennett's Chosen Few LOL 553.  Prior to the war he worked as a salt miner at the local salt mine works.  On the 28th September 1912 he signed the Ulster Covenant at Carrickfergus Court House where he is listed as living in Upper Woodburn.  Edward enlisted with the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in September 1914 and was assigned to C Company.  We know nothing about his service record except that he survived the war.    

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NAME; Teeney, William Henry
RANK;
SERV. NO; Unknown
UNIT/SERVICE;
REGIMENT; Royal Engineers
BORN; England 1878
LIVED; Irish Quarter South Carrickfergus
ENLISTED;
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Presbyterian Church
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; William Tenney was born in Liverpool, England in 1878, by 1911 he was living in Irish Quarter West Carrrickfergus with his wife Annie and their 3 children Herbet, Norman and Hildred.  William was a bricklayer by trade and following the outbreak of war in 1914 enlisted with the Royal Engineers.  He was a member of Bennett's Chosen Few LOL 553.
   
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NAME; Upstall, Alfred
RANK;
SERV. NO;
UNIT/SERVICE; 12th Battalion "B Coy"
REGIMENT; Royal Irish Rifles
BORN; Cornwall, England 1882
LIVED; Glyn Park, Carrickfergus
ENLISTED; September 1914 in Carrickfergus
FATE; Survived the war
CEMETERY; N/A
CHURCH; Church of Ireland
MEMORIAL; N/A
REMARKS; Alfred was born in Cornwall England in 1882, in 1901 aged 19 he is listed as a journeyman working as a gardener with his brother George in Audleystone, Strangford.  By 1911 he is listed as head of the house working still as a servant gardener now in Castleward Strangford.  It is not clear when Alfred moved to Carrickfergus however according to records he enlisted with the 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in September 1914 just one month after the outbreak of war.  His address on enlisting was Glyn Park Carrickfergus.  Alfred was a member of the Church of Ireland, (presumably St Nicholas), he was also a member of Bennett's Chosen Few LOL 553 and is listed on the Carrickfergus Orange District Roll of Honour.
 
 


 

Rifleman James A Stewart

Today on the 11th of November we remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Today Carrickfergus specifically remembers Rifleman James A Stewart - 8264 - 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles - Born Carrickfergus 1888, Killed in action in Belgium 11th November 1914.

James was the husband of Mary Stewart, together they lived in the Commons Milebush area of Carrickfergus. James was pre-war regular with the 2nd Battalion R.I.R and was serving on the western front almost from the beginning of the war.

He was killed in fighting around Ypres, Belgium. His body was never recovered, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.

Let us always remember the sacrifice of these brave men even just for a moment #LestWeForget