keithchristmas Posted 23 July , 2008 Share Posted 23 July , 2008 I have just started to research the names listed on the First War Memorial in the viliage of Worplesdon in Surrey. This lists a Herbert James Deacon. The CWGC site records that he died on the 19/9/1918, and that he was serviving on HMS POWERFUL as a Boy 2nd Class. Service number J92245. I have not so far been able to establish any information with regard to HMS Powerful at this time. What was the ships role in 1918 and where did it serve? Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 23 July , 2008 Share Posted 23 July , 2008 She was a Boys Training Ship at Devonport. His online service register will probably not add much: Name Deacon, Herbert James Official Number: J92245 Place of Birth: Woking, Surrey Date of Birth: 16 March 1901 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithchristmas Posted 23 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 23 July , 2008 Many thanks will your help on this one. Regards, Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 23 July , 2008 Share Posted 23 July , 2008 Keith. The Times had this snippet on her retirement, giving a little of her history: The Times, Monday, Sep 16, 1929 LAST OF AN OLD CRUISER A naval link with the South African War was severed on Saturday with the departure from Plymouth of H.M.S. POWERFUL, built 35 years ago as a fast armoured cruiser and now sold out of the Navy. She has been bought by a shipbreaking firm. When on the way home from her first commission in China she landed a naval brigade and 14 guns to assist in the relief of Ladysmith. After being the flagship of the Australian station for six years she was fitted out as a training ship at Devon- port. She was so used until the end of last year, when the establishment was closed down. The following young sailor of the POWERFUL also died on the same day, so an accident of some kind perhaps..? BURMAN, RALPH WATSON Boy 2nd Class, Royal Navy Age 17, Service No J/92269 Son of Benjamin and Matilda Burman, of 28, Florence Rd., Cathall Rd., Leytonstone. Due to the Australian connection (with the ship), if you search Picture Australia for HMS POWERFUL or POWERFUL NAVAL, it returns some photos of the vessel. There are also some references to the ship in the National Archives of Australia. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithchristmas Posted 24 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 24 July , 2008 Thanks Martin. It is interesting that another Boy 2nd Class also died on the same day. It does indeed sound like it may have been an accident of some kind. Perhaps someone on the forum may know more. How long at this time would the Boy's training have lasted before they were transfered to another ship for active service? Regards, Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historydavid Posted 24 July , 2008 Share Posted 24 July , 2008 Deacon died from illness in VICTORY.. Burman died from illness on POWERFUL. Best wishes David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithchristmas Posted 25 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 25 July , 2008 Hi David, That answers that one! Many thanks for your help Regards, keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wakefieldbr@hotmail.com Posted 12 August , 2009 Share Posted 12 August , 2009 I have just started to research the names listed on the First War Memorial in the viliage of Worplesdon in Surrey. This lists a Herbert James Deacon. The CWGC site records that he died on the 19/9/1918, and that he was serviving on HMS POWERFUL as a Boy 2nd Class. Service number J92245. I have not so far been able to establish any information with regard to HMS Powerful at this time. What was the ships role in 1918 and where did it serve? Keith Herbert was born to Harriett Deacon in 1901, St Mary's baptism parish register has Harriett listed as an unmarried mother, from all accounts Harriett was a strong character who know doubt wouldn’t give up her son. Herbert join up just after his 17th Birthday, Herbert went to HMS Victory in Portsmouth for probably the first 6 months of this service then onto the training ship HMS Powerful, HMS Powerful was used to train "boy" stokers. On Herbert’s service record he is listed at 5 foot 8.5 inches tall, 34 chest, hazel eyes and fair hair, it also describes him having tattoos on his body. Herbert joined HMS Powerful just as it was hit by Spanish Flu, I've seen records for over 20 "boy" who died from the Flu or its resulting after affects. Herbert died in Stonehouse R.N. hospital Plymouth on the 19th Sept 1918, the cause of death being pneumonia . Because Herbert never drew a wage from HMS Powerful his only service is shown as HMS Victory in Portsmouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toms girl Posted 15 August , 2009 Share Posted 15 August , 2009 Hi Battlecruiser The usual training boys received was eighteen months. By this time they became boys 1st class and were usually sent to a ship, and had been trained for various sections of the ship ie signals. Many of the lads were not well educated (school leaving age was 14) The navy did its best in the eighteen months and many left with a good all round knowledge of geography, history, and basic maths. Handwritting was also part of the lessons as many could only print. Life was hard and strict with little food. How sad that they did'nt employ the clearest writers to complete the naval records, it would have saved us all a lot of time. reagrds Margarette ## Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarquebec Posted 14 March , 2012 Share Posted 14 March , 2012 Thanks everyone, such helpful information. I have just started to research my Great Uncle George Henry Wake born 1899 and joined HMS Powerful in August 1917 his service number J76790. In November 1917 he transferred to HMS Benbow, I guess that was on the completion of training and coming of age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest StokerJohn Posted 1 July , 2014 Share Posted 1 July , 2014 Just to add to the intrigue, there is another death: J R Bargent. Boy 2nd Class. Died of 'illness' 19th September 1918. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 5 July , 2014 Share Posted 5 July , 2014 I believe that the use of some of her guns in the relief of Ladysmith, described in post #4, is the origin of the Royal Navy Field Gun competition, a staple of the Royal Tournament for so many years. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 22 November , 2016 Share Posted 22 November , 2016 Anyone got info on a Ernest Henry Rafe, 392985, Boy 2nd Class, HMS Powerful, IX 1918 to end of hostilities? Bill Edwards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 22 November , 2016 Share Posted 22 November , 2016 (edited) His Official Number was J.92985, not 392985. Victory and British War Medals issued to him in HMS HERMES in the rating of Able Seaman (duplicate BWM issued to him in HMS PEMBROKE in 1927). Two sets of records at Kew for him here:- http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6895506 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14831027 Engagement papers (probably with Parental Consent Form) at the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Edited 22 November , 2016 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 29 May , 2017 Share Posted 29 May , 2017 Hi all, just reading all your posts and thought I would reply. My great grandads brother died age 18 of Spanish flu on HMS Powerful. So many young boys lost their lives due to the flu. His sername was Bowsted, he was from Cheltenham where he is still at rest. His brother (my great grandad) joind the Gloucesters and survived the whole war bless him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann Best Posted 22 September , 2017 Share Posted 22 September , 2017 I am trying to find a photo of my Grandfather Charles Fry who joined HMS Powerful in 1917? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 12 March , 2019 Share Posted 12 March , 2019 Very interesting reading these records my mums Brother George James Ellis was on board this ship in 1918 and having read all of this he must have dies of the Spanish Flu, as well. He must have been still training. He died 4/7/1918 age 17. His number is J089575. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 12 March , 2019 Share Posted 12 March , 2019 32 minutes ago, Greyghost said: he must have dies of the Spanish Flu, A bit early for the main epidemic which ramped up in UK in October 1918. His record shows he died of empyema in Plymouth Hospital (one of our medical specialists will advise whether this was flu'-related.). His correct official number was J.89575. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 12 March , 2019 Share Posted 12 March , 2019 Wikipedia says "a collection of pus in the pleural cavity" [round the lungs]. "Often it happens in the context of pneumonia, injury, or chest surgery." As the symptoms in thr flu pandemic usually took the form of influenza developing to pneumonia, it could have been flu (an early case of pandemic or a late case of May 1918's less virulent form). But, without antibiotics, chest infections such as bronchitis were at that time much more likely to result in pneumonia anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swally Posted 26 September , 2019 Share Posted 26 September , 2019 Morning Guys, I'm researching one of our local guys, can anyone confirm that it was flu that was the cause of death? Alexander Mearns - Boy 2nd Class J/92270 - Royal Navy. Alexander, born 20th February 1901 in Glasgow, son of Alexander and Margaret, 11b, Netherton Terrace, Netherton, Wishaw. Alexander died 4th October 1918 while serving in HMS “Powerful”, possibly from Spanish Flu which was rife at the time. Alexander is buried in Cambusnethan Cemetery, Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Grave B. 187. Regards, Swally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 26 September , 2019 Share Posted 26 September , 2019 (edited) His ADM 188 record shows that he died of peritonitis. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6894798 Edited 26 September , 2019 by horatio2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swally Posted 23 June , 2020 Share Posted 23 June , 2020 Thanks Horatio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Chidzey Wood Posted 12 March Share Posted 12 March On 29/05/2017 at 20:11, Guest said: Hi all, just reading all your posts and thought I would reply. My great grandads brother died age 18 of Spanish flu on HMS Powerful. So many young boys lost their lives due to the flu. His sername was Bowsted, he was from Cheltenham where he is still at rest. His brother (my great grandad) joind the Gloucesters and survived the whole war bless him. Just found a 2nd cousin also died of ILLNESS on the HMS Powerful aged just 17. Probably Spanish Flu too then :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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