Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree--Loss of WA Massey

 

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail.  The trawler sank in the Atlantic Ocean 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) west by north of Handa Island, Sutherland off the coast of Scotland with the loss of ten of her crew.  The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

Casualties

The following casualties were reported with the loss of the trawler W. A. Massey:

1.       Cook, Sidney Charles, 35,Skipper

2.       Beamish, Frank Ernest, 29, Engineer

3.       Church, George Henry, 17, Cook

4.       Fisher, Emanuel Edward, 33, Fisherman

5.       Jacob, Herbert Ernest, 16, Fisherman

6.       James, Albert Edward John, 35, Fisherman

7.       Peek, William Rayner, 34, Mate

8.       Roberts, Walter Percy, 21, Stoker

9.       Sheldrake, Richard, Fisherman

10.   Suggate, Henry, 30, Fisherman

Sydney Charles Cook

A Skipper with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), Sydney died on 11th of March 1918 aged 35. 

Sydney was born at Kessingland on 14 February 1883, the son of Charles Cook and Mina Forster. He was baptised at Saint Edmund’s Church, Kessingland, on 30 March 1884. Sidney attended Kessingland School and on 14 October 1889 became a pupil at Cunningham School, leaving that school on 19 February 1895. 

In 1891 his family lived at Stone Alley, 8 Pakefield Street, and by 1911 their home was at 44 Acton Road and Sidney was a fisherman.

In 1911 Sydney married Ethel Mildred Hall, who came from Geldeston. By 1918 their home was at Foxburrow, The Avenue, Kirkley. Later Ethel lived at Sunnymeade, Geldeston.  

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

Sidney's brother, Reginald, served with H.M.M.B. Cervantes and died in 1942. 

Frank Ernest Beamish

An Engineer with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), Frank died on 11th of March 1918 at the age of 29. 

Frank was born at Oulton in 1889, the son Edith Beamish. He was baptised at Saint John the Baptist Church, Barnby, on 18 August 1889. In 1891 he lived with his mother and grandparents, John and Louisa Beamish, at Swan Lane, Barnby. By 1901 his family were living at Barnby Green. 

Early in 1911 Frank married Esther Gouldby, and they lived at The Green, Barnby. In 1911 Frank was a stoker with the trawler Willing Boys at Newlyn.

Frank and Esther had three children.  They were:

1.       Ronald Ernest Edward Beamish, 1911-1986

2.       Gordon Frank Beamish, 1914-1965

3.       Anthony Arthur Beamish 1916-1917

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

George Harry Church

A Cook with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), George died on 11th of March 1918 at the age of 17. 

George was born at Lowestoft on 1 October 1900, the son of George Arthur and Ellen Sarah Hammond. George was baptised at St. Peter and St. John’s, Kirkley.   His family lived at 9 Clements Square. By 1911 their home was at 2 Saint Margaret's Plain. By 1914 their home was at Police Station Road and later Ellen lived at 50 Princes Road. 

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

George's father, George Arthur, died in 1914 in the loss of the trawler Queen of Devon.

Emmanuel Edward Fisher

A Deck Hand with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), William died on 11th of March 1918 aged 33. 

Emmanuel was born at Pakefield in 1885, the son of George Edward Fisher and Phoebe Elizabeth Peek. He was baptised at All Saints’ Church, Pakefield, on 11 July 1886. In 1891 his family lived at 4 School Cottages, Pakefield Street. Later his father lived at 46 Church Road, Pakefield. 

In 1901 Emanuel worked on the trawler Ruby, LT 622, with his father and older brother. In 1911 Emanuel lived with his sister and brother-in-law, Mabel and George Wright, at 8 Church Road, Pakefield.     

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

Emanuel's brother, Ernest Alexander Fisher, served with the Royal Naval Reserve as Second Hand aboard H.M. Trawler OKINO when he was killed during enemy action on March 8, 1915.

Herbert Ernest Jacob

A Fisherman with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), Herbert died on 11th of March 1918 at the age of 16. 

Herbert was born at Oulton in 1901, the son of Edward James Jacob and Agnes Beamish. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville, on 10 November 1901, and his family lived at Beccles Road, Carlton Colville. By 1911 his father had died and his mother had married William Ward and the family lived at Cotmer Green, Oulton Broad. Later his mother lived at 38 Kimberley Road. 

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

Herbert’s half-brother, Alfred Ward, died in the loss of S.S. Powhatan in 1917. 

Herbert Ernest Jacob was also a cousin to Frank Ernest Beamish.

William Rayner Peek

A Mate with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), William died on 11th of March 1918 aged 34. 

William was born at Pakefield on 10 July 1883, the son of William Peek and Elizabeth Sarah Martin. William was baptised at All Saints’ Church, Pakefield, on 12 August 1883. On 31 August 1886 William became a pupil at Cunningham School and his family lived at Pakefield Street. In 1891 his family lived at 10 Beach Street, Pakefield. 

On 3 January 1911 William married Rachel Aldred at Saint Mary’s Church, Aldeby. William was a fisherman living at Pakefield and Rachel was a domestic servant living at Aldeby. By 1918 their home was at 16 Coronation Terrace, Pakefield. Later Rahcel lived with her parents at Money Farm, Aldeby. 

William and Rachel had two children.  They were:

1.       Sybil I Peek, 1911-1912

2.       William Rayner Peek, 1918-1996

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

Henry Alfred Suggate

Henry Alfred SuggateA fisherman with Steam Drifter W. A. Massey (Lowestoft), Henry died on 11th of March 1918 aged 30. 

Henry was born at Mutford on July 20, 1887, the son of William Suggate and Ruth Andrews.  Henry was baptised on 25 September 1887 at the Wesleyan-Methodist Chapel in Mutford.   In 1891 his family lived on Mill Road, Mutford. His father was a shoemaker and their family lived in the adjoining house next to William’s father, who was a roof thatcher. 

In 1901 Henry was 14 and the family lived on Wesleyan Chapel Road in Mutford. Henry’s older brother, Edward was a wheelwright and his grandfather was a widower.

On 11 March 1918 the trawler W.A. Massey, LT 1090, was sunk by a mine when fishing about five miles west of Craeg a Mhail, Handa Island, Scotland. The trawler Rose was fishing nearby and reported the loss. 

 

Genealogy:  Sydney Charles Cook 1883-1918 was the son of Mina Forster 1862-1941 and her sister was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  Frank Ernest Beamish 1889-1918 was the son of Edith Beamish 1875-1954 and her father was John Beamish 1839-1915 and his father was James Beamish 1811-1891 and his mother was Elizabeth Algar 1782-1865 and her sister was Lydia Algar 1792-1872 and her son was William Algar Moore 1816-1857 and his father was Joseph Moore 1788-1863 and his brother was William Moore 1793-1872 and his wife was Hannah Blowers 1799-1878 and her mother was Susanna Barber 1772-1852 and her sister was Elizabeth Barber 1773-1835 and her son was Isaac Forster 1801-1890 and his son was Thomas Forster 1837-1888 and his daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  George Harry Church 1900-1918 was the son of Ellen Sarah Hammond 1875-1941 and her father was Arthur George Hammond 1849-1922 and his brother was Alfred Cousins Hammond 1867-1933 and his son was Captain George Hammond 1889-1932 and his wife was Florence Jemimah Bullard 1889-1978 and her mother was Lydia Ann Thacker 1849-1917 and her mother was Sarah Ann Cole 1827-1903 and her mother was Lydia A Cotton 1794-1876 and her father was John Cotton 1766-1832 and his mother was Elizabeth Foster 1732-1780 and her brother was Samuel Forster 1740-1815 and his son was William Forster 1778-1854 and his son was Isaac Forster 1801-1890 and his son was Thomas Forster 1837-1888 and his daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  George Edward Fisher 1846-1931 was the son of John Fisher 1821-1890 and his wife was Sarah Youngs Tyrrell 1831-1888 and her mother was Elizabeth Day Burwood 1791-1877 and her father was Henry Bell Burwood (Fish Merchant/Boat Builder) 1766-1851  and his father was George Burwood 1743-1823 and his mother was Judith Salter 1707-1773 and her mother was Judith Farrow 1680-1718 and her mother was Anne Mewse 1654- and her father was Philip Mewse 1629-1673 and his brother was Simon Mewse (butcher) 1641-1719 and his son was Simon Mewse (butcher) 1672-1741 and his son was Simon Mewse 1695-1736 and his daughter was Mary Mewse 1727-1797 and her daughter was Elizabeth Curtis 1756-1831 and her son was John Curtis Adams 1797-1873 and his son was William Frederick Adams 1848-1907 and his son was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  Herbert Ernest Jacob 1901-1918 was the son of Agnes Beamish 1871-1965 and her father was John Beamish 1839-1915 and his father was James Beamish 1811-1891 and his mother was Elizabeth Algar 1782-1865 and her sister was Lydia Algar 1792-1872 and her son was William Algar Moore 1816-1857  and his father was Joseph Moore 1788-1863 and his brother was William Moore 1793-1872 and his wife was Hannah Blowers 1799-1878 and her mother was Susanna Barber 1772-1852 and her sister was Elizabeth Barber 1773-1835 and her son was Isaac Forster 1801-1890 and his son was Thomas Forster 1837-1888 and his daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  William Rayner Peek 1883-1918 was the son of Elizabeth Sarah Martin 1858-1925 and her mother was Sarah Ann Nichols 1835-1905 and her husband was William West 1835-1904 and his sister was Maria West 1824-1859 and her husband was Robert Fuller 1823-1915 and his father was Robert Fuller 1789-1879 and his mother was Susanna Colby 1765-1848 and her husband was Philip Adams 1763-1807 and his brother was John Adams 1750-1837 and his son was John Curtis Adams 1797-1873 and his son was William Frederick Adams 1848-1907 and his son was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

Genealogy:  Henry Alfred Suggate 1887-1918 was the son of Ruth Andrews 1853-1932 and her sister was Mary Ann Andrews 1848-1935 and her daughter was Alice Ruth Houghton 1871-1948 and her daughter was Gertrude Alice Winifred Breach 1894-1963 and her husband was Thomas Edward Sterry 1894-1973 and his father was Thomas John Sterry 1864-1932 and his mother was Jemima Moore 1831-1919 and her mother was Hannah Blowers 1799-1878 and her mother was Susanna Barber 1772-1852 and her sister was Elizabeth Barber 1773-1835 and her son was Isaac Forster 1801-1890 and his son was Thomas Forster 1837-1888 and his daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.