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This Gent was Samuel Augustus Websdale.
A name and person, along with so many others lost to this world, possibly we can ensure somehow that he will be further remembered:
Child 3 (M): Samuel Augustus Websdale
Born: 13 JUN 1895 Place:
Died: 21 JUL 1916 Place: H.M.S. Almanzora
Buried: 1916 Place: Wallasey (Rake Lane) Cemetery, Chesire, England
LINK: Websdale, Henry/Jillings, Emma Jane
K.
SAMUEL AUGUSTUS WEBSDALE
BORN: 13 June 1895 in Oulton, Lowestoft, Suffolk
DIED: 21 July 1916 in Liverpool
Link: Sam Aug Websdale
PICTURE ATTACHED:
Behind every name carved in stone or simply forgotten there was a life, a person a life story and those that loved, grieved and missed them !
Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten".
K.
Apparently, Almanzora was used as an armed Merchant Cruiser, SAMUEL was an RN Reservist, my guess is he followed in the foot steps of his family and relations as a fisherman and registered as RNR.
My own family research, shows that then it was fairly normal for fisher folk to sign up for what would be now a type of Territorial Navy. Samuel then served his country and is commemorated unlike many from the Merchant Service, possibly from his RNR role.
The pics so far of his grave are a little vague, hopefully someone may post more recent close up's ESP of the words on the stone, that we may know more and working with all concerned may do something, even if just restoring the text ?
K.
The thread title should perhaps be Untended R.N.R. grave.
Had he been M.N. at the time of his death then he would not have been commemorated by the CWGC. Royal Navy Reservists were part of the Royal Navy and therfore were commemorated by the CWGC whether they lost their lives in action or other circumstances.
Regards
Hugh
The original Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) was founded under the Naval Reserve Act in 1859 as a reserve of professional seamen from the British Merchant Navy and fishing fleets, who could/would be called upon during times of war to assist/serve in the regular Navy. The RNR was originally a reserve of seamen only but in 1862 this was extended to include recruitment and training of officers. From its creation, RNR officers wore a unique, distinctive lace consisting of stripes of interwoven chain.
As Hugh states he was probably commemorated as he was RNR, but my own relatives were both Merchant Seamen and also RNR, I think this was fairly usual at the time. Much more would need to be found on this.
K.