Daniel Vernon Jones. A Life and Death at Sea

I have been researching the lives of Joe Vernon Smith and his wife, Sarah Banks Rich (my husband's grandparents). Sarah's brother Tom died at Gallipoli in August 1915. But this was not the first death to the war in the family. Joe had three brothers. Two - Duncan and Haward - had emigrated to the USA just before the War. His other brother Daniel, had been workinig on the ships in Liverpool. He was destined to work, and die, at sea. One of thousands of men and women who lived in that port and made a living from the sea,  Dan had previously worked on the Lusitania but died on another ship, two months before it was torpedoed. 

Dan is almost certainly in the picture which was inscribed "the cooks of the Lusitania"

I can't spot him though!

Daniel was born on 26th May 1888, one of four sons born to Joseph McDougall Smith and Fanny Vernon (more of their interesting story in another blog!). Unlike two of his brothers, Daniel stayed in Liverpool but unlike Joe, he did not work for his father's varnish making company. He was a cook, who progressed to "chief cook" by the time of the 1911 census. 

Dan in 1910. He looks a very confident young man!

We have a wonderful "silk" postcard sent to Joe from his brother

It is headed "New York March 26 1910"

"Dear Joe, thanks for photo. Hope you are quite well, like myself.

I will be back on the 5th April"

Daniel married Dorothy Alice Leigh on 4th December 1910 in Liverpool. At some time in early 1915, Daniel joined the ship the SS Bayano. Here he is in his merchant marine uniform, looking every inch a smart sailor - quite a contrast to his previous photo!

There is a full and graphic  account of the sinking of the Bayano here

https://www.scottishshipwrecks.com/bayano/

 

"At 4:50am on 11^th March 1915 she was a few miles north of Corsewall Point, Galloway. Two thirds of the crew were asleep, leaving the third watch in charge of the vessel as she steamed through the night. A single torpedo was fired which struck the Bayano on the forward quarter and exploded. 

Aboard the Bayano the huge explosion flung most of the sleeping men from their hammocks and killed many instantly in and around the engine room where the torpedo actually struck. The survivors later told many stories of heroism aboard the sinking ship. The wireless operators who remained at their posts broadcasting SOS messages as the ship sank or the sailor who handed out lifejackets to his frightened colleagues as the sea rose around his ankles or the captain who went down with his ship after organising the evacuation of as many of the crew as possible."

 

I was pleased to discover that there is a photograph of  Mrs McNaught who was Matron at Breeze Hill Auxiliary Military Hospital in Bootle and who was asked to lay a wreath on the War Memorial in Bootle. Dan is remembered on this memorial. Bootle War Memorial was unveiled in King’s Gardens on Sunday 15th October 1922; thousands of people attended the ceremony to honour the fallen

Dan was one of over 200 men who died that night. His widow lived to be 99. She never remarried.

 

Thomas Banks Rich - A Young Life Lost to War, Far From Home

Sarah had one brother who survived infancy - Thomas Banks Rich. Thomas was born 6th May 1891in Walton, Liverpool.  He attended Bedford Road School (I know this because he is mentioned on a War Memorial in the school buildings). Tom and Sarah's mother, Sarah, died in 1910 and shortly afterwards, on 16th November 1911, Tom emigrated to Australia on the "Suevic" with his close friend, Charles Thomas Williams. Just before he left, he wrote in Sarah's autograph book (she collected autographs too!) It is a touching ode to the country he was to die in the service five years later

Just before he left, he wrote in Sarah's autograph book (she collected autographs too!) It is a touching ode to the country he was to die in the service five years later

"There is a land where floating free

From mountain top to girdling sea

A proud flag waves exultingly

And freedom's sons the banner bear

No shackled slave cn breathe the air

Fairest of Britain's daughters fair

Australia

 

 

I know they both worked for Anthony Horden and Sons "Universal Providers" because Sarah had saved some letters (thank you Sarah, for being such a collector of your family's history!). 

 

Tom (left) with Charles in 1912. They worked together in Sydney

Tom's letters home are warm and touching ("My dear old dad"). One was sent on his 21st birthday "I mean for you and poor mother's sakes (she had of course died in 1910) to make a name for myself and to prove myself better than any of the Richs!" (No love lost with some of his father's family?!) He says he is getting help from his firm to buy books and to meet their vet - he was aiming at studying to become one. 

His letters were really interesting and often very funny. He jokes about about being asked to marry a lady who is well off but has sloppy cooking and a face you could smash plates with (!).

It is so tragic that in 1914 he says he has decided to settle in Australia but will come home soon for a holiday and looks forward to meeting the family at Lime Street. It was not to be. He died within a year aged 24.

Tom embarked for Gallipoli on 13th April 1915. He was killed in action 9th August 1915. Below are photographs of his medals, death plaque (known often as the death penny), his battlefield cross (families could pay for a photograph to be taken and sent to them. This was sent to the family's home in Cowley Road Liverpool). I have also found a photograph of "Daisy" who I believe was his sweetheart. You will see that I have found some "In Memoriam" notices in the Sydney papers, from Daisy.

 

 

 

The above image shows the effects that were found on Tom's body. 

I wonder if the photo is Daisy. Daisy's Notices confused me for some time.

Coincidentally she lived in Liverpool. I tried in vain to locate her in England - but in fact she lived in

Liverpool,  Australia!

 

 

Sarah would have heard of her only brother's death just after her marriage, and just as she saw her new husband march off to war...

Finally, once again showing Joe's deep love and understanding of his wife, he sent her lovely postcard 

"Australian - New Zealand Military Forces" - in memory of "our dear brother"

                  

Sarah lost her "dear brother" in August 1915. However, another tragedy had befallen her family just a few months earlier. Her brother-in-law, Joe's brother, had died, drowned when he was serving in the Merchant Navy.  His story is next. By this time she had lost her mother, two brothers and three sisters before the age of 22...Daniel Vernon Jones was to be another death to deal with in her short life.

Home for Good

 

Joe had enlisted and left home on 19th January 1915, married on 20th July 1915, left for London on 25th July 1915 and embarked for France on 15th September 1916. 

 

Joe's cap badges

Almost a year later- 20th September 1917 - he was seriously injured by a gunshot to the head, presumably while manning the Lewis Gun that he had been trained to use. Joe was initially taken to a field hospital in France (Abbeville) where he stayed until 28th September. He arrived at the military hospital in Chester on 29th September and stayed for several months.

Joe(seated left) in his hospital "Blues" (the uniform worn by soldiers in hospital), his head

injury evident.

While Joe was being treated and transported home, the news of his injury was on its way to Sarah, at home in Cowley Road, Bootle. Sarah saved the telegram, together with the envelope it came in; it was found with her postcard album

These two documents reflect the terror that Sarah must have felt when receiving this letter from the army. All of the postcards, photographs and documents that I have of Sarah's have been kept in near pristine condition. And yet that envelope has been ripped, in her obvious haste to see what was in it. In fact it did give potentially bad news - Joe had a gunshot wound to the head and it was noted to be severe.That Sarah kept that telegram, with all her photos and postcards, shows what she must have gone through when she received it. When I hold it, I can almost feel her anguish. 

Whilst  Joe never returned to the front line, on regaining his health on 16th May 1918 he became a member of the Military Foot Police. I have his service record of this: he signed a declaration that he would uphold the tradition and values of the service. He served in Manchester and I believe Sarah went to stay Manchester for a few months soon after, as there were no more cards, except one in June of that year. So-  presumably, no need for any of those lovely postcards!

Joe was awarded the Military Medal and received it on 30th May 1918 at a ceremony in Heaton Park Manchester.

 

 

He is seen here (3rd row back, directly above the man in the bowler who is seated, centre)  There are children, older men and women also there, presumably wearing the medal of a father, son or husband who never returned.They also suffered, who had to carry on after the loss of a loved one.

 

I also have a copy of the letter he received from his CO advising him on the military medal. It is so matter-of-fact! But the information about the fate of his comrades is absolutely devastating in the language of the time. 

 

 

 

“Dear Smith

You have been awarded the Military Medal. I am sorry I did not see you before, but I have been having such a busy time that I had no chance to do anything at that time. I suppose that you have heard that D Company has been wiped out by a big German attack. I was away at the time; the only NCOs left were ASM Hamilton, Corporal Price […] who were on leave at the time and ? whose horse fell lame and ? who was on a course

I am in command of those left of C & D Companies.How are you getting on?

The following got the MM the same time as yourself Sgt……….. etc. All D Company LCs have gone west. They put up a splendid fight against the Huns”

 

Joe was seriously injured and we will never know how his injuries affected him in later life. However, of course, he was one of the lucky ones and how full of joy Sarah must have been. However, as we will see in the next blog, both Sarah and Joe lost a brother to the War - one near their home of Liverpool but the other 1000s of miles away from home in Gallipoli.