Wall tablet in Bridlington Priory commemorating William Pitts RN d. 1806, Frederick Pitts RN d. 1814 and Commander Edward Pitts RN d. 1848
Location
Bridlington Priory, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, England
Transcript
SACRED TO THE MEMORY / OF THOMAS JAMES HEBLETHWAYTE / OF WILLIAM AND OF FREDERICK PITTS / THREE BROTHERS, / WHO IN ZEALOUS DISCHARGE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL DUTIES // AND IN THE PERILOUS CAUSE OF GLORY WHICH THEY PURSUED / LIVED DISTINGUISHED AND DIED LAMENTED, / SERVING THEIR COUNTRY / WILLIAM AND FREDERICK MIDSHIPMEN IN THE ROYAL NAVY / ALREADY AT THE AGE OF 16, HAD GIVEN AN ERNEST OF FUTURE EXCELLENCE; / WHEN THEY SEVERALLY FELL THE VICTIMS OF MISCHANCE AND DISEASE. / WILLIAM WAS DROWNED IN THE BRITISH CHANNEL, ON THE 2ND AUGUST 1806 / FREDERICK DIED AT SEA; ON THE 24TH JUNE 1814 / THOMAS/A CAPTAIN IN THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS / SERVED FOUR CAMPAIGNS AGAINST THE FRENCH IN SPAIN, / UNTIL THE DELIVERANCE OF THAT COUNTRY BY HIS COMPATRIOTS / TRANSFERRED THE SCENE OF VICTORY TO THE SOIL OF FRANCE / AT BARROSA, AT BADAJOZ, AT SALAMANCA, / THE SIEGE OF SALAMANCA, MADRID, BURGOS, VITTORIA, CADIZ, ALMAREZ, BIDAZOA, / PAMPLONA, NIVELLE, NIVE AND BAYONNE: / IN THE PASSES OF THE PYRANEES / HE DISPLAYED ALL THOSE QUALITIES WHICH CONSTITUTE MILITARY VIRTUE / AND ON THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY 1814, IN CARRYING THE FORT OF HASTINGUES / FELL AT THE AGE OF 24 / NOT MANY DAYS BEFORE THE CITY OF BORDEAUX WAS TAKEN / BY THAT ILLUSTRIOUS ARMY / WHOSE LAURELS OVERSHADOW HIS GRAVE / IF THE FATHER WAS TOO PROUD, THE MOTHER TOO FOND / OF SONS LIKE THESE, / THEY HAVE BORNE THE LOSS OF THEM WITH SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD / WHOSE MERCY THEY HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGE / THAT IN THIS SAD BUT SOOTHING OFFICE / OF INSCRIBING A MONUMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN / NOTHING WOULD BE RECORDED / THAT DID NOT REFLECT HONOR ON THE AUTHORS OF THEIR BEING / Sons of John Pitts Esq. Of Bridlington Quay, / in the East Riding of the County of York / many years Lieut- / Commandant of the Bridlington Volunteer Artillery and Light Infantry and of Frances his Wife, eighth Daughter of the / late James Heblethwayte Esq. of Bridlington in the same County' [added marble slab] 'Also of John S. Pitts Captain R.L. B.L. Fusiliers. / Died in India in 1833, Aged 33 / Edward Pitts, Commander R.N. and K.T.S. / Died at Newcastle-upon-Tyne; in 1848, Aged 53 / Francis Pitts Lt. Colonel, late 72nd Highlanders; Died / 1st Sept 1880, aged 78 years / Brothers of the above / And of Edward William Pitts, the only son of the above John S. Pitts / died at Glenely, Adelaide S. Australia 30th Decr. 1885, Aged 53 years'
Details
Position: South side of nave
Materials: Marble
Event
1803-1815 Napoleonic War
People
Age: 16
Date of Death: 2/8/1806
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Midshipman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Pitts, Frederick
Age: 16
Date of Death: 24/6/1814
Cause of Death: Infectious disease
Rank / Occupation: Midshipman
Organisation: Royal Navy
Pitts, Edward
Age: 53
Date of Death: 1848
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Commander RN
Organisation: Royal Navy