BARKER, Edward

LT/JX 173090, Second Hand, Royal Naval Patrol Service, Minesweeper H.M.S. Firefly

Born 10/10/1903, Burley, Leeds

Died 05/02/1940, Age 36, at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

Son of George William Barker and Annie Elizabeth Barker (nee Lotterington) of Cleethorpes

Husband of Lily Barker (nee Mercer), married in 1929 in Grimsby

1908 – school admission records show that Edward began attending South Parade Mixed School.

1911 – living at 54 Hart Street, Cleethorpes. Father is a riveter of sea boots. Her parents have been married for 18 years and have had 9 children, 7 of whom are still living. Edward is the fifth of the children still alive. Based on children’s birth details, the family moved to Grimsby around 1907. The two oldest children work at the jam factory.

1927 – Edward’s Merchant Navy record shows that he was 5 ft 6½ in tall, with brown hair and eyes and a ruddy complexion. He has several tattoos, Buffalo Bill and “Elsie” on his left arm and a heart and “Mother” on the right.

1939 – occupation given as fisherman. Living with Lily at 16 Escart Avenue, Grimsby, which was the address at time of his death

http://www.naval-history.net/  says that “12 crew members of the HMS Firefly were killed outright on 3rd February 1940 as a result of an explosion. Edward Barker died of wounds two days later”.

http://ww2today.com/ reports that “on 3rd February an explosion occurred in the minesweeping trawler Firefly as a result of the detonation of a mine which was being recovered in the Firth of Forth. One lieutenant R.N.V.R., three sub-lieutenants R.N.V.R. and 6 or more ratings were killed. One lieutenant R.N.V.R.and four ratings were wounded. She was subsequently towed into Leith”

Another website comments that the explosion occurred when a destroyer passed the vessel at speed whilst the mine was being hoisted aboard.