Joseph Acton, HMT Vale of Leven

HMT Vale of Leven (A177) was a former fishing vessel of 223 tons built by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd of Aberdeen and operated as a Minesweeper (No.1188) for the Admiralty from March 1915. Armed with a single 6 pounder gun, she was lost following a collision 10 miles off Worthing in the English Channel. Three other crew members drowned and another recorded lost the next day. Earlier in March the vessel is recorded to have engaged an enemy submarine in the English Channel with her deck armament.

Joseph Acton was born towards the end of 1872 at Port Dinorwic, Caernarvonshire, the son of Capt. Thomas Morris Acton and Mrs. Anne Jane Acton. He resided at Delaware House, 2 Stanley Crescent, Holyhead, the house of his sister, Dorothy Williams. He was the brother of John Watkin Acton, RNR (lost on HMS Invincible in May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland). During 1915 he had previously served as a Fireman on the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company vessels and enrolled in the RNR on 11 April 1916.

Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 28.

Photo is of a similar vessel built by the same yard - HMT Vale of Clyde (A192).