I often research the names on gravestones in my local church - St Peter's, Formby. Many of these seemingly "ordinary" men, women and children have interesting lives and hold a mirror up to the society in which they lived and the history of their times.
On a recent visit I spotted the headstone of a small family; Caroline and James Home, a husband and wife and their adult son, Edgar. Edgar was born in 1893 - this piqued my curiosity - I also research men and women who served in WW1 and Edgar would have been a young man, eligible to fight in the War. I wondered if I could discover his story. On researching the family I found he did indeed serve - for four years - and his story was a remarkable one! He survived an attack on a ship in which he served, spending 8 days at sea in a lifeboat. Dozens of crew members had died and in fact, his records noted that so had he!
The family's gravestone at St Peter's
Edgar's parents, Caroline and James, are both buried in St Peter's. They married in January 1892 in St Mary's Church, Kirkdale. Their only child, Edgar, was born in 1893. They may of course have had other children who were born and died between census returns. James was born in 1870 in Bootle and his father William, was a gardener. Caroline ("Carrie") was born in 1863 in Monmouthshire. I don't know why or when she moved to this area; the rest of the family never left Wales. Sadly, Caroline died in 1907 aged 44. Edgar was 14. His father remarried in 1908 to Elizabeth Copley a spinster who on the 1901 census declared that her occupation was "hospital nurse". This must have been an informal title; she is not on the Nursing Register at that time. I cannot find Elizabeth's death - she may have remarried and therefore had a different surname on her death.
James worked for for many years for W H Rhodes & Sons as a stevedore in Liverpool. By 1921 he had risen to the position of Quay Foreman.
Dock Labourers: Illustrated London News 1889
This site has a a really detailed and interesting account of the lives of dockers in Liverpool at the time that James was working there.
https://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/docklabourer.html
Edgar was born on 23rd December 1893 in Bootle. The census of 1911 states that he was a cleaner working for the Lancashire and York Railway. I suspect this would have been the heavy duty work of cleaning the outside of the large locomotives although many women joined the staff of the railway companies during WW1 and doubtless some took on this heavy labouring!
Men from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
it is believed to be the early 1900s.
Photo from this amazingly detailed website "A Pug's Life" https://trainstobeyond.com/5-3/
I have been lucky enough to find out a lot about Edgar's experiences during WW1.
At the turn of the 20th Century, the Admiralty had concerns that the
Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) would not be sufficient to bolster the ranks
of the Navy in the event of war. Hostilities across Europe were growing
and the armed forces were expanding capacity at an increasing speed, and
demand for servicemen was outstripping supply.In 1903, the Royal Navy was given permission to raise a second
reserve force – the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve – which, unlike the
RNR was open to civilians with no prior seafaring experience.
Edgar enrolled in April 1914 in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve ( RNVR). Six months later he was on active service - and he remained in the Navy throughout the War.
Edgar took part in the siege of Antwerp in October 1914. Poignantly, my grandfater- Thomas Cameron, was in the RND and took part in the same (doomed) action. Thomas had been in the Royal Marines for 12 years and rejoined his unit in August 1914. He died of wounds on his 40th birthday leaving a widow and four sons. An early casualty of the War. His story is here: https://historicalclues.blogspot.com/2015/
My grandfather, Thomas Cameron
who took part in the defence of Antrwerp alongside Edgar's unit
Edgar returned to the UK after the failure of the Antwerp campaign. Records show he served in several defensivlely armed merchant ships although I do not know in what capacity he served. However, in April 1918 -after nearly four years serving his country - he was to face almost certain death - and survive.
Acording to his service record, Edgar embarked on the SS Ausonia in late May.
commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147308209
The ship sailed from Liverpool under the command of Captain Robert Capper while carrying 140 crew members and general cargo, when she was hit by a torpedo . The initial explosion killed
eight crew members and had damaged the ship, but not enough to sink her.
The survivors were in some distress. Hundreds of miles from land and
with few provisions the chance of rescue must have seemed slim. During
the passing days two of the lifeboats became separated and were never
seen or heard from again. The remaining group were discovered by HMS
Zennia on June 8, their ordeal was over when they set foot on her decks.
The loss of Ausonia cost the lives of forty-four of her crew,
Edgar was one of those survivors. However, his service records show that it was believed that he had been killed when the ship sank.
It can be clearly seen that Edgar is pronounced "DD" which means discharged dead. I have seen these initials on my grandfather's records which sadly proved to be true. In Edgar's case, his family must have been advised that he was dead. The pronouncement however is crossed through and the words "Saved when the SS Aussonia sank 30 May 1918. One can only imagine the family's joy when they found that he was alive.
The incident was infamous and reports of the sinking and the bravery of the crew and captain featured in many newspapers.
The Captain of the ship was awarded the DSC for his bravery and for bringing the survivors home in terrible conditions. I wonder if Edgar spoke much of his ordeal? I suspect, as was the way of that war, it was seldom mentioned, although it must have been a terrible ordeal.
Happily Edgar, after being demobilised in !919, married Ida Bell in the same year. Ida was born in yorkshire and I have found her occupation to have been that of servant. Edgar was working for the same company as his father and in the same capacity. Very sadly, Edgar died in 1921 aged just 28 and just two years after his ordeal. I do not know what he died of or if it was war related. I have found records that show his medals were sent to his widow. I have been unable to trace Ida - perhaps she remarried. She was still young, being only 27. However of course, there were many women both single and widowed, who did not marry after the war - so many men had given their lives in the conflict.
I am always amazed at the stories that lie, literally (!) buried in English churchyards. They reflect so wonderfully the social history of country and localities. Whenever I research in the area surrounding and including Liverpool - it does not take me long to find a connection to the sea. It shaped so many lives. It is a privilege to record and remember them.
https://www.maritimequest.com/daily_event_archive/2012/05_may/30_ss_ausonia.htm
ancestry.co.uk
https://tangledtrees.blogspot.com/2009/08/ss-ausonia-1.html
British National Archives
Find my Past
Wikepedia
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