THE LOSS OF THE REMARKO (GY228)

Post date: Sep 18, 2016 4:30:48 PM

THE CREW 

ARTHUR BEDFORD

Born 18 April 1892, Hull

Temporary Skipper, Royal Naval Reserve, SA 191

Wife – Annie G. Marshall, married 1915 in Grimsby

Father – Herbert Colley Bedford, a fish merchant’s clerk

Siblings – Ada (b 1887), Herbert (b 1889), Harold (b 1890), Grace (b 1894), Robert Edward (b 1895) and Lily (b 1896)

Arthur Bedford was 5 ft 6 in tall, with blue eyes and a fair complexion. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 10 August 1914, with his record reporting that he was “willing to serve prior to the Royal Proclamation”. His address at the time of joining up was 3 Town Hall Street, Grimsby. This was the home of William Charles Marshall, the father of his future wife Annie. He was already living there in 1911, along with his brother Harold. At this time Annie was a 14 year old pupil teacher at a church school. Five years later, she would be a widow at the age of only 19.

 Bedford served as 2nd Hand on a number of vessels, including the Ophir, Craik and Jessie Nutten before being promoted to Skipper towards the end of May 1916, having only turned 24 the previous month.

 The last vessel he served on prior to skippering the Remarko was the Jessie Nutten, which was also blown up by a mine off Lowestoft on 4 September 1916. If Bedford felt his luck at having escaped death on the Jessie Nutten, the feeling was short-lived.

 One of the five men killed on the Jessie Nutten was the 2nd Hand George Denny. Was this the same George Denny that served as mate to Skipper William Martin on the controversial trawler King Stephen?

 Several years after the war, Bedford’s widow Annie, now living at 36 Taylor Street, Cleethorpes, received three payments of Naval Prize Money, an initial payment of £37 10s, a final payment of £56 5s and a supplementary award of £7 10s.

 Annie does not appear to have remarried and died in Grimsby in 1970.

LEONARD GODDARD

Born 21 May 1894, Cleethorpes

Trimmer, Royal Naval Reserve, TS 1055

Son of John Thomas and Sarah Goddard. Father was a cordwainer.

Siblings: Tom Swanson (b 1891), Florry May (b 1892), Leonard (b 1894), Reginald (b 1897)

Parents lived at 14 Osborne Street, Cleethorpes

Goddard joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 November 1914

His record describes him as 5 ft 2 in tall, with a dark complexion and brown eyes.

He served on the trawler Helgian prior to joining the Remarko in September 1916. The Helgian was sunk by a mine in the Gulf of Ruphani in the Aegean Sea a year after Goddard left it, with the loss of ten men.

His mother Sarah received Naval Prize Money payments of £12 10s, £18 15s and £2 10s several years after the war.

JAMES MILLAR BAIN

Born 1869, Wick, Caithness

Deck Hand, Royal Naval Reserve, DA743

Son of David and Janet Bain

Father of Miss E G Bain, of 45 Nicolson Street, Pultneytown, Wick

1891 - Fisherman

1901 – living at 25 Nicolson Street with wife Catherine and son George (10)

He joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 12 August 1914 and his service record describes him as 5 ft 6½ in tall, with hazel eyes and a ruddy complexion. He had clasped hands, “Forget-me-not” and “J. Bain” tattooed on his right forearm. His address at the time of enlistment was 7 Cannon Street, Leith.

Bain served on the Gloria and Swallow II before joining the Remarko in September 1916.

The record states that the casualty notice was sent to his brother John of Glen Cottage, Milton Bridge, Midlothian, as he had been separated from his wife for 12 years. She was reportedly still alive and living somewhere in Glasgow.

Naval Prize Money payments of £12 10s, £18 15s and £2 10s were paid to Mr G. Rendall, the guardian of Bain’s daughter Helen in the early 1920s.

Bain’s body was recovered and records show that he was interred at Thrumster Burying Ground in Caithness.

GEORGE ANDREWS

Born 25 March 1879, Kinson, Dorset

Petty Officer, Royal Fleet Reserve B 3087, 179977 (PO)

Wife – Eleanor

Address at time of death – Dower’s Cottage, Ashley, Nr Milton, Hants

Andrews’ Royal Naval record shows that he joined the Navy on his 18th birthday and at that time describes him as having light brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion, with a cut on his right cheek. His previous occupation was as a gardener.

His first ship was the St Vincent and he served on numerous vessels over the next twelve years, including the Inflexible, Imperieuse, Duke of Wellington, Victory Flag, Prince of Wales and Victory I.

He left the Navy in 1909 and by 1911 he was working as a domestic chauffeur. He and his wife Eleanor had been married for around ten years by then and had produced three children, only two of whom had survived.

Andrews joined the Royal Fleet Reserve when he left the Navy and served on the Europa, Victory I, Vernon and Halcyon prior to being killed whilst on the Remarko.

CHARLES HENRY ALFRED BRANDON

Born 18 May 1897, Plaistow, West Ham, Essex

Telegraphist, RNVR, Sussex Z461

Son of Charles William and Louisa Emily Brandon

Sibling: Louisa E (b 1895)

1911 – living in Hove, Sussex

Address at time of death – 41 Payne Avenue, Hove

Prior to joining the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 21 November 1915, Brandon was a postman. His RNVR record describes him as 5 ft 7 in tall, with black hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion, with a small scar about his right eyebrow.

He served on the Victory II (Jackdaw), Pembroke and Halcyon and had been on the Remarko since late September 1916 when he was killed.

His record states that “If this man dies, is discharged shore, or reported missing G.P.O to be informed.”

JAMES EZRA FEATHER

Born 4 January 1891, Sherburn, York

Deck Hand, Royal Naval Reserve, DA 5666

Son of William and Kate Feather. Father was also a fisherman

Wife – Ada Pye, married 25 December 1913 in Scarborough

Address at time of death: 9 East Sandgate, Scarborough

On his RNR record, Feather is described as 5ft 1½in tall, with blue eyes, a fair complexion and “J.E. Feather” tattooed on his right forearm.

Feather enrolled in the RNR on 9 April 1915 and his one and only vessel appears to have been the Remarko.

His widow Ada received Naval Prize Money payments of £12 10s, £18 15s and £2 10s. By then she was Mrs Ada Hilton and had moved to Whitefield, Manchester.

JOHN GROVES

Born 29 December 1863, London

Deck Hand, Royal Naval Reserve, DA 2090

Son of John and Susan Groves

Father of Frances Harriet Groves

1911 – 3rd Hand on board the fishing vessel Ajax

Groves joined the RNR on 16 November 1914. He is described on his service record as 5ft 2½ tall, with a dark complexion and brown eyes. His address at the time of enlistment was 12 John Street, Grimsby.

Groves served on a number of vessels, including the Satellite, Jupiter and St George. He had only been on the Remarko for about a month at the time of his death.

Record says that a casualty notice was sent to his next of kin Mrs Frances Harriet Odlin, of 140 Stanley Street, Grimsby. She was later awarded Naval Prize Money payments of £12 10s, £18 15s and £2 10s.

SYDNEY JOHN MANOURY

Born 7 June 1892, Hull

Trimmer, Royal Naval Reserve, TS 5872

Son of John and Edith Manoury. Father died in 1905, aged 50. Edith remarried to Charles T Mannering in 1908

Wife – Mary Jane Garner, married 1914, Hull

Siblings – Percy (b 1910), Harold (b 1896), Walter (b 1899), Muriel (b 1903)

1911 – a fruiterer’s labourer

Address at time of death – 11 Ryland Avenue, Warsand Street, Hull

Manoury enrolled in the RNR on 16 August 1916. On his RNR record he is described as 5ft 6in tall, with a dark complexion and brown eyes. He also had a tombstone tattooed on his left arm.

Given his short length of service before his death, not surprisingly the Remarko was his only vessel. His widow Mary Jane received Naval Prize Money payments of £11 5s, £16 17s 6d and £2 5s from 1920 to 1923.

ARTHUR LAUNCELOT REDGRAVE

Born 3 May 1886, Lowestoft, Suffolk

Engineman, Royal Naval Reserve, TS 3696

Son of Samuel and Mary Ann Redgrave. Father was a ship joiner and carpenter

1901 – fish curer’s labourer

Mother’s address at time of death   - 5 Factory Court, Factory Street, Lowestoft

Redgrave enrolled in the RNR on 31 May 1915 and his record describes him as 5ft 7in tall, with a fresh complexion and blue eyes.

His only other vessel befpre the Remarko was the Aberdeen trawler Loch Morar.

Redgrave’s father Samuel was the recipient of his Naval Prize Money payments of £20 2s, £30 and £4.

GEORGE WILLIAM SHEADER

Born 1 November 1893, Scarborough

2nd Hand, Royal Naval Reserve, DA 5667

Son of George William and Catherine Grace Sheader

Wife – Hannah Ramsey, married late 1915 in Scarborough

Siblings – Kate Elizabeth (b 1897) and Margaret Alice (b 1904)

Address at time of death – 10 Reeve Street, Lowestoft

Sheader enlisted in the RNR on 10 April 1915 and is described as 5ft 10in tall, with a fair complexion and hazel eyes. He had three dots tattooed on his right forearm. His address at the time of enlistment was 37 Sandside, Scarborough, but widow Hannah’s address is later given as 127 Commercial Road, South Shields.

Sheader was promoted to 2nd Hand on 10 July 1916. The Remarko was the only vessel he served on.

Widow Hannah received Naval Prize Money payments of £20, £30 and £4 between 1920 and 1923.

HENRY HARTLEY

Born 19 January 1889, Grimsby

Engineman, Royal Naval Reserve, ES 2888

Son of Fred Lusby Hartley, a Humber Pilot, and Harriet Finch

Husband of Olive Lakin, married 19 January 1911 at St Andrew’s Church, Grimsby

Father of Henry Hartley, born 29 July 1911, Grimsby, and also we believe William Hartley, born 1916 in Suffolk

Brother of Fred (b 1878), a marine engineer, Chas Henry (b 1880), Rose (b 1882), Harriett (b 1884) and George (b 1887)

The Hartley family lived at 6 Davison’s Avenue, Grimsby, whilst the Lakins lived at 11 Freshney Street, Grimsby

Henry and Olive spent their married lives at 9 Lincoln Boulevard, Grimsby. Olive never remarried and remained at this address until her death in 1972.

Henry Hartley joined the RNR on 17 April 1915 and his record describes him as 5ft 8in tall, with fair complexion, hazel eyes and a scar under his right hand.

The Remarko appears to have been the only vessel on which he served whilst in the RNR.

Widow Olive received Naval Prize Money payments of £20, £30 and £4 between 1920 and 1923.

GEORGE LEE

Born 15 November 1880, West Ham, Essex

Temporary Acting Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve

Wife – Ethel Charlotte Leach. Married in early 1915 in West Ham

Address at time of death – 5 Gladding Road, Manor Park, London

Widow’s address at time of probate – 138 Wanstead Park Avenue, South Wanstead, Essex

Twice mentioned in despatches, for services in Gallipoli and also in Dardanelles operations in April 1915.

Lee was formerly a temporary Acting Boatswain, then made Temporary Sub Lieutenant on 24 December 1915 and Temporary Acting Lieutenant on 2 April 1916.

He was assigned to the Osiris II ketch flotilla in early 1916, before transferring to Halcyon, from where he found himself on the Remarko.