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First published in the NHCRA Review, issue
number 20.2 (Autumn 2007)
Until well after the
Second World War there were close links between the country’s fire services and
both Royal and Merchant Navies. The brigades recruited extensively from among
seaman which meant that when war was declared in August 1914 large numbers of
reservists were quickly called away from fire fighting duties.
 The London County Council’s Record of War Service published in
1922 lists employees who were in all three services but in particular it
illustrates how men in the Royal Fleet Reserve were soon back on active service.
Numbers of them made the ultimate sacrifice, losing their lives in various parts
of the world. The narrative section of the 204-page book
includes a section on the Royal Navy and recalls how fifteen of the
 council’s
employees – including three fire brigade men - were killed when U9 (Otto Weddigen) sank the cruisers ABOUKIR, CRESSY and HOGUE on 22 September 1914. Two
more London firemen died when another cruiser, the HAWKE, was torpedoed by the
U9 on 15 October 1914. Other casualties included Private
James Waddingham. RMLI, who was killed by gunfire on 29 February 1916 when the
armed merchant cruiser ALCANTARA was sunk by the German raider GREIF
The London Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service casualty list for
those serving in the Royal Navy was:
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Uniformed staff
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Carpenter, Henry (1914-17): Aged 35; Able Seaman RFR; at
sea 2 years 11 months. Drowned 30 June 1917 while serving in HMS Cheerful
which struck a mine while on escort duty in the North Sea. Son of John and
Rosina Carpenter, of Bethnal Green; husband of Minnie Carpenter, of 97
Honeywell Road, Clapham Common |
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Doling, George (1914-16): Age 33; Able Seaman RN; HMS Glory
and HMS Queen Mary 1 year 9 months. Killed in action at Jutland 31 May 1916.
Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Doling, of 68, Hadyn Park Road, Shepherd's Bush,
London |
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Entwistle, Walter Sidney (1914-15): Leading Seaman RFR; HMS
Clan McNaughton, 10th Cruiser Squadron. Drowned at sea 3 February 1915 when
the Clan McNaughton was believed to have foundered in heavy weather |
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Henderson, Alexander William (1914-15): Able Seaman RFR;
Belgium 4 months; German East Africa 7 months. Died of wounds 7 July 1915, HMS
Mersey |
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Hutchings, Charles Edward
(1914-15): Lance Corporal RMLI (RMR);
Belgium and Dardanelles, 9 months. Died of wounds 6 May 1915 (Date given as 3
May by CWGC) |
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Jones, Alfred Crewdson (1914-17): Private RMLI (RMR); at
sea 2 years 11 months. Serving as a gunner was drowned 29 July 1917 when s.s.
Besswood sank in the Irish Sea after a collision |
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Livingstone, Westley
(1914): Aged 33; Able Seaman RFR;
North Sea fleet 2 months. Drowned at sea 22 September 1914, HMS Hogue. Husband
of Blanche Theresa Livingstone, of 262 Queen's Road, New Cross. Native of
Scotland |
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Miller Isaac John (1914-15): Aged 29; Able Seaman RFR;
drowned at sea January 1915, HMS Viknor. Son of Herbert Miller, of Hall's
Cross, Hooe, Battle, Sussex; husband of Katherine Mary Miller, of 21
Turneville Road, West Kensington |
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Murrell, Frank (1914-15): Able Seaman RN; naval service 12
months. Died 15 August 1915; HMS Glory. Buried at Portianos Military Cemetery,
Mudros Bay, Lemnos |
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Owen, Frank James (1914): Private RMLI (RMR); North Sea
Patrol 2 months. Drowned at sea 22 September 1914, HMS Cressy |
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Ponting, Ernest Walter
(1914-16): Aged 32; Leading Stoker RFR; North Sea 1 year 10 months. Killed in action at Jutland 31 May 1916, HMS
Tipperary. Son of Isaac and Jane Ponting, of Marlborough; husband of Annie
Maud Ponting, of 1 Figgins Lane, Marlborough, Wilts |
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Roake, Arthur (1914-17): DSM (LG 16 August 1915 for
services in the Dardanelles); Able Seaman RFR; HMS Audacious, HMS Cornwallis
and HMS Foyle; Dardanelles 12 months. Presumed drowned 15 March 1917 when HMS
Foyle struck a mine and sank in the Channel |
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Waddingham, James (1914-16): Private RMLI (RMR); 10th
Cruiser Squadron 18 months. Killed in action 29 February 1916, HMS Alcantara |
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Waite, Charles William (1914): 2nd Yeoman of Signals RFR;
North Sea Patrol 2 months. Drowned at sea 15 October 1914, HMS Hawke |
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White, Edward Valentine (1914): Stoker RN; HMS Hogue; North
Sea 2 months. Drowned 22 September 1914 |
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Administration staff
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Lowe, John William Sibley, DCM (1914-16): Able Seaman RFR,
HMS Europa and HMS Buttercup; Atlantic and Mediterranean 11 months. Killed
accidentally 16 January 1916, HMS Buttercup. Buried at Scartho Road
Cemetery, Grimsby. (LCC Record of War Service credits him with a DCM
although his Official Number 134114 indicates earlier service in the RN. He
is not listed for a WW1 DSM) |
This information is extracted from the LCC’s Record of War
Service with additional facts, including details from the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission’s website.
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