Category Archives: Vessel Loss

Old Church Cemetery, Cobh, County Cork, Republic of Ireland

Memorial at Old Church Cemetery, Cobh, County Cork, Republic of Ireland commemorating Alfred Witherbee d. 1911

Location

Old Church Cemetery, Cobh, County Cork, Republic of Ireland

Transcript

'ALFRED SCOTT WITHERBEE / BORN JUNE 27TH 1911 / DIED MAY 7TH 1915 / VICTIM OF THE ‘LUSITANIA’ / FOULLY MURDERED BY GERMANY'

Details

Type: Headstone
Materials: Stone
Vessel: SS Lusitania

People

Witherbee Jr, Alfred Scott
Age: 3 years 11 months
Date of Death: 7/5/1915
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Passenger
Organisation: Unknown

Extra

Notes: Master Alfred Scott Witherbee, Jr, aged 3 years, died when his mother, Beatrice, was unable to hold onto him following the sinking of the 'Lusitania'. There was a court battle with Arthur Luck, who lost his wife and two sons on the ship over a recovered body. Beatrice Witherbee buried the body as Alfred Scott Witherbee in Old Church Cemetery, Cobh.

Bibliography: Patrick O'Sullivan 'Lusitania, unravelling the mysteries' (Cork, 1998), p. 85 (photo).
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Church of St Peter and St Paul, Belton, Lincolnshire, England

Wall tablet at Church of St Peter and St Paul, Belton, Lincolnshire commemorating Sub-Lieutenant Arthur John Purey-Cust RN d. 1917 in the loss of HMS ‘Strongbow’

Location

Church of St Peter and St Paul, Belton, Lincolnshire, England

Transcript

'TO . THE . GLORY . OF . GOD . AND . IN . UNDYING / MEMORY . OF . ARTHUR . JOHN . PUREY-CUST . / SUB . LIEUTENANT . ROYAL . NAVY . AND . OF . HIS . GALLANT .COMRADES . OF . H.M.S. STRONGBOW . KILLED . IN . / ACTION . ON . 17 . OCTOBER . 1917 . IN . DEFENCE . OF . A . / CONVOY . IN . THE . NORTH . SEA . FIGHTING . AGAINST . OVERWHELMING . ODDS . UNTIL . THEIR VESSEL . SANK . / WITH . COLOURS . FLYING .', 'ONLY . BE . THOU . STRONG . / AND . VERY . COURAGEOUS'

Details

Description: Carved with a shield of arms and crest.
Type: Wall tablet
Position: North side of nave
Materials: Bronze, pewter
Artists: John Williams

Event Category

1914-1918 First World War

People

Purey-Cust, Arthur John
Age:
Date of Death: 17/10/1917
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Sub Lieutenant RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Recorder: M. T. Morton
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St Akeveranus's Church, St Keverne, Cornwall, England

Plaque in St Keverne, Cornwall dedicated to John Smith d. 1912

Location

St Akeveranus's Church, St Keverne, Cornwall, England

Transcript

'To the Glory of God and in memory of John R. Jago Smith of the Transatlantic Post Office who died on duty in the foundering of the SS 'Titanic' April 15th 1912. By this tablet the members of the Postal and Telegraph Services record their deep sorrow at his death'

Details

Type: Brass plaque
Vessel: RMS Titanic

People

Smith, John R. Jago
Age:
Date of Death: 15/4/1912
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation:

Extra

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Westoe Cemetery, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England

Memorial at Westoe Cemetery, South Shields commemorating Thomas Tindle d. 1863 in the loss of the brig ‘Spray’

Location

Westoe Cemetery, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England

Details

Vessel: Spray

People

Tindle, Thomas
Age: 25
Date of Death: 12/1863
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation:
Organisation:

Extra

Notes: Lost in brig 'Spray' with all hands foundered 12/1863.
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St Andrew's Church, Walberswick, Suffolk, England

Memorial at St Andrew’s Church, Walberswick, Suffolk commemorating seven fishermen, William Walker, Alfred Pipe, Thomas Kerridge, Henry Curdy, Charles English, John English, Lewis Goddard, d. 1883 in the loss of the fishing smack ‘Clipper’

Location

St Andrew's Church, Walberswick, Suffolk, England

Transcript

'Seven fisherman parishioners of Walberswick, who were drowned at sea 30th Sept 1883. William WALKER, Alfred PIPE, Thos KERRIDGE, Henry CURDY, Charles ENGLISH, John ENGLISH, Lewis GODDARD'

Details

Description: A very worn stone tablet installed in a window ledge in the nave of the church.
Type: Wall tablet
Position: Nave
Vessel: Clipper

People

Curdy, Henry
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 30/9/1883
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Fisherman
Organisation: Unknown
English, Charles
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 30/9/1883
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Fisherman
Organisation: Unknown
English, John
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 30/9/1883
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Fisherman
Organisation: Unknown
Goddard, Lewis
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 30/9/1883
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Fisherman
Organisation: Unknown
Kerridge, Thomas
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 30/9/1883
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Fisherman
Organisation: Unknown
Pipe, Alfred
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 30/9/1883
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Fisherman
Organisation: Unknown
Walker, William
Age: Unknown
Date of Death: 30/9/1883
Cause of Death: Vessel loss

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Rank / Occupation:
Organisation: Unknown

Extra

Notes: 'Ipswich Journal' 16 October 1883. Lost with fishing smack 'Clipper' and ten crew members in all. Seven of the men were from Walberswick including two sons of the owner, Mr English.
Recorder: Sighted Geoffrey Turner 2013
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All Saints Church, Farnham, Surrey, England

Plaque in All Saints Church, Farnham commemorating Fraser Sumner Stooks RN d. 1893 in the loss of HMS ‘Victoria’

Location

All Saints Church, Farnham, Surrey, England

Transcript

'In loving remembrance of a Crondall boy's devotion to duty and in / the hope that it will be taken as a pattern by other boys in Crondall. / THIS TABLET IS SET UP BY HIS FORMER NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS / TO THE GLORY OF GOD, AND TO THE MEMORY OF MIDSHIPMAN / FRASER SUMNER STOOKS / AGED 16 YEARS / of H.M.S. Victoria, who went down with his vessel / in the Mediterranean off Tripoli June 22 1893'

Details

Type: Wall plaque
Position: North aisle by north door
Materials: Brass
Vessel: HMS Victoria

People

Stooks, Fraser Sumner
Age: 16
Date of Death: 22/6/1893
Cause of Death: Vessel Loss
Rank / Occupation: Midshipman RN
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Recorder: The Arts Society (NADFAS)
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All Saints' and St Margaret’s Church, Pakefield, Suffolk, England

Memorial at All Saints’ and St Margaret’s Church, Pakefield, Suffolk commemorating George Blowers, RN, d. 1941 and Ivan Ayers, d.1943

Location

All Saints' and St Margaret’s Church, Pakefield, Suffolk, England

Transcript

'Ellen Mary Vincent, died 24 April 1940 aged 71. George William Henry BLOWERS (son of the above) lost on LT 'KINCORTH' on 10 Dec 1941 aged 38. Ivan Henry William AYERS (grandson of the above) Killed in Action on HMS SOB6 on 16 April 1943 aged 19'

Details

Position: Churchyard
Vessel: Kincorth, HMS SOB6

Event

1939-1945 Second World War

Event Category

1939-1945 Second World War

People

Ayers, Ivan Henry William
Age: 19
Date of Death: 16/4/1943
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Unknown
Organisation: Royal Navy
Blowers, George William Henry
Age: 38
Date of Death: 10/12/1941
Cause of Death: War casualty
Rank / Occupation: Fisherman
Organisation: Unknown

Extra

Notes: Steam drifter 'Kincorth' was sunk by a mine 7 miles off Point Lynas, Wales with the loss of the eleven man crew.
Recorder: William Donnan. 1967
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St Martin's Church, North Perrott, Somerset, England

Window in St Martin’s Church, North Perrott dedicated to Admiral Anthony Hiley Hoskins d. 1901

Location

St Martin's Church, North Perrott, Somerset, England

Transcript

'TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF / ANTHONY HILEY HOSKINS ADMIRAL G.C.B. AND OF / DAME DOROTHEA HIS WIFE FROM THEIR ADOPTED DAUGHTER.'

Details

Description: Window with two lights representing Christ calming the waters and walking on the Sea of Galilee.
Type: Window
Materials: Glass, lead
Vessel: HMS Victoria

People

Hoskins, Anthony Hiley
Age:
Date of Death: 21/6/1901
Cause of Death: Unknown/None
Rank / Occupation: Admiral
Organisation: Royal Navy

Extra

Notes: Also a brass plaque commemorating the ramming and sinking of Hoskin's ship HMS 'Victoria' by HMS 'Camperdown' in 1893. His flag was retrieved from the water and laid up in the church after his funeral.
Bibliography: 'Dictionary of National Biography'.
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Holy Trinity Church, Salcombe, Devon, England

Memorial in Holy Trinity Church, Salcombe, Devon commemorating Joseph Loades. d. 1869

Location

Holy Trinity Church, Salcombe, Devon, England

Transcript

'Ann wife of William Loades died Oct 19 1865 aged 61, also Joseph their son who was lost in the schooner 'Gazelle' of Falmouth off Cape de Gatte 3 Feb 1869 aged 29 years'

Details

Type: Gravestone
Position: Churchyard no 201
Vessel: Gazelle

People

Loades, Joseph
Age: 29
Date of Death: 3/2/1869
Cause of Death: Maritime accident
Rank / Occupation: Unknown
Organisation: Unknown

Extra

Recorder: Lyn Collins
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All Saints Church, Brightlingsea, Essex, England

Memorial tile in All Saints Church, Brightlingsea, Essex, commemorating Harry Doyle RNR, d. 1917

Location

All Saints Church, Brightlingsea, Essex, England

Transcript

'HARRY T DOYLE Sub-Lt. RNR / Aged 33 / Killed on H M Patrol Yacht / “Verona' off Cromarty / February: 24: 1917 / Buried in this churchyard'

Details

Type: Memorial tile
Vessel: HMY Verona

Event Category

1914-1918 First World War

People

Doyle, Harry T
Age: 33
Date of Death: 24/2/1917
Cause of Death: Vessel loss
Rank / Occupation: Sub Lieutenant RNR
Organisation: Royal Naval Reserve

Extra

Notes: HMY 'Verona' sunk by German mine, 24 lives lost

Bibliography: Alfred L. Wakeling and Peter Moon 'Tiles of Tragedy' (Brightlingsea, 2001)

Photographer: P Lacey
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