Samuel Riley Waterfield
He was a fitter when he joined the Royal Navy in 1899.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Samuel Riley was probably known in the family as 'Riley' (birth registered 'Riley', baptised 'Samuel Riley').
Riley was the son of James and Martha Waterfield (née Belfield). His father was born in Milford, Derbyshire, and his mother in Belper, Derbyshire. They were married in church in Derby on 4 October 1866 and had eight children, two of whom died in infancy; Eleanor birth reg. 1875 (JFM) bap. Belper St Peter 4 July 1875 d. 1875 (OND) death registered in the name of Helena, and Herbert birth reg. 1889 (JFM) d. 1890 (JFM).
Their surviving children were: Florence Jane birth reg. 1869 (JFM), Sarah b. 1870, James b. 1872, Riley b. 1879, William Farmer b. January 1883 and Mary Elizabeth b. October 1885. Their births were registered in either Nottingham or districts of Nottingham (Basford, Radford) and four of the children were baptised at Belper St Peter: Florence Jane 4 July 1869; Sarah (baptismal record 'Clara') 3 July 1870; James 4 August 1872; and Samuel Riley 10 August 1879.
James, a machine fitter, his wife and their two daughters, Florence and Sarah, were living on Queens Road, Nottingham, in 1871, but by 1881 had moved to Leicestershire where they were recorded at Victoria Cottage, Burbage (Hinckley district), with their four children, Florence (12), Sarah (10), James (9) and Samuel R. (2). A daughter, Eleanor/Helena, had died in 1875 aged 10 months. A son, Herbert, was born in 1889 but died the following year aged 14 months.
James, a mechanic, and Martha had returned to Nottingham by 1891 and were living at 56 St Ann's Well Road, with five of their six children; Florence, a cotton winder, James a lace curtain draughtsman, Riley, William (8) and Mary (5). Their eldest daughter, Sarah, had married Thomas Shawcroft at Sneinton St Luke on 4 March 1890 and they were living at 37 Ferrers Road, Nottingham.
James and Martha were still at 56 St Ann's Well Road in 1901 but only three of their six children were in the home on the night of the census: Flora [Florence] a cotton winder, William an insurance clerk and Elizabeth who worked in a mantle warehouse.
Their eldest son, James, has not yet been traced on the 1901 or subsequent census.
Samuel Riley had joined the Royal Navy in May 1899 and was serving in HMS Gladiator in 1901 (to October 1912).
Sarah Shawcroft and her two children, Nellie [Helena] (9) and Herbert (6, were recorded on the 1901 Census at 24 Marple Street, Nottingham. Her husband has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census but in 1911 he and Sarah were living at 51 Station Street, Nottingham, with Helena, a machinist, and Herbert, an apprentice (lace machine building).
Mary Elizabeth had married Albert (Bert) Smith, a carpenter, in 1908 and in 1911 they and their son William (2) were living on Richmond Avenue, Wells Road, Nottingham. Their daughter, Marjorie Mary, was born in 1915.
By 1911 James, now retired, and Martha were living at 2 Newdigate Villas, Newdigate Street, Nottingham, with their married daughter, Florence Teather, and her husband William Henry (62) whom she had married in July 1908 and who were listed as boarders.
William Farmer had married Emma Georgiana Pickard at Derby St Peter on 10 November 1910 and in 1911 they were living on South Road, West Bridgford. William was an insurance inspector and later district manager (Law Union & Rock Insurance Co.).
Martha died in April 1913 aged 68. Her husband James was still living at 2 Newdigate Villas when their son Samuel was killed in 1916.
James later moved with his daughter, Florence Teather, and her husband to Belfield, Kenrick Road, Mapperley, where he died on 27 April 1933. His son-in-law William Teather had died in July the previous year and his daughter Florence died on 6 March 1934. Florence's brother-in-law, Bert (Albert) Smith, was one of her executors.
Thomas and Sarah Shawcroft had moved to 192 London Road, New Balderton Newark, by 1939; their son Herbert Thomas, was probably still living at home. Their married daughter Helena Mabel Wheeldon and her husband Thomas (m. 1915), were living at 194 London Road, with their children Florence, Leonard and Frank. Sarah, a widow, was still living at 192 London Road, at the time of her death on 23 April 1943. Probate was awarded to her two children, Herbert, an engineers fitter, and Helena Wheeldon.
William Farmer and his wife Emma were living at 5 Wordsworth Road, West Bridgford, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Also in the household was his widowed father-in-law, Joseph Pickard, a retired railway clerk. William died at his home on 30 November 1962; probate was awarded to his niece, Marjorie Mary Distin (née Smith). William's widow, Emma, continued to live at Wordsworth Road after her husband's death; she died in August 1965.
Bert Smith, a foreman joiner, his wife Elizabeth (sic) and their daughter, Marjorie, who worked as a clerk at John Player (cigarette manufacturer), were living at 6 Bartholomew Road, Nottingham, in 1939. Marjorie married Paul Thornton Distin, in April 1941. Her husband, a supervisor at John Player, had joined the Army (cadet 204552) and was gazetted Second Lieutenant, Royal Army Service Corps, on 5 September 1941. Marjorie's father, Bert Smith, died in 1952 and her mother, Mary, in August 1970; the probate record gave her address as 47 Kenrick Road, Mapperley. Marjorie died in 2002.
Service No. 269744 (Po). Samuel Riley joined the Royal Navy on 7 May 1899 on a 12 year continuous service engagement and re-engaged on 7 May 1911.
He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Duke of Wellington II 7 May 1899-7 6 July 1899 (Acting ERA); HMS Hannibal 7 July 1899-10 January 1900; Duke of Wellington II 11 January 1900-7 February 1900; HMS (-) 8 February 1900-11 November 1900 (ERA 18 June 1900); HMS Gladiator 17 November 1900-16 October 1912; Duke of Wellington II 17 October 1902-11 December 1902; HMS Vernon 12 December 1902-4 February 1902; HMS Firequeen 5 February 1905-7 February 1905; HMS Cressy 8 February 1905-12 March 1906; HMS Berwick 13 March 1906-2 September 1908; Victory 3 September 1908-6 October 1908; HMS Swiftsure 7 October 1908-21 November 1910 (Chief ERA 1 October 1910); Victory 22 November 1910-14 December 1910; HMS Heclas 15 December 1910-30 April 1912; HMS Tyne 1 May 1912-30 November 1912; Victory II 1 December 1912-5 December 1912; HMS Fisgard 6 December 1912-7 February 1913; Victory II 8 February 1913-3 September 1913; HMS Queen Mary 4 September 1913-31 May 1916. RN Record annotated ‘NP 3925/1916. DD 31st May 1916. Killed in action.’
He was awarded the RN Good Conduct Medal: received and sent for trace 18 May 1914, Waterfield SR, Queen Mary. Medal sent to: RA, 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron, medal sent 21 July 1914.
He died at the Battle of Jutland. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Jutland Bank 31 May 1916, Extract from the Official History; 'Naval Operations', by Sir Julian S. Corbett. 1923: 'For Admiral Hipper was in action again. At 4.10, being then eleven miles away abaft the beam of the Lion, he inclined inwards a couple of points, and as Admiral Beatty simultaneously altered still more to port to press his van, he was able at 4.17 to re-open fire at extreme range. The Lion had not yet been able entirely to master the fire that was smothering her. To the Germans she must have been invisible, for the Derfflinger, mistaking the Princess Royal for the flagship, began firing on the next astern, which the Seydlitz was also engaging. Thus the QUEEN MARY, at from 15,800 to 14,500 yards, became the target of both these ships. For about five minutes she stood it gallantly. She was fighting splendidly. The Germans say full salvoes were coming from her with fabulous rapidity. Twice already she had been straddled by the Derfflinger, when at 4.26 a plunging salvo crashed upon her deck forward. In a moment there was a dazzling flash of red flame where the salvo fell, and then a much heavier explosion rent her amidships. Her bows plunged down, and as the Tiger and New Zealand raced by her to port and starboard, her propellers were still slowly revolving high in the air. In another moment, as her two consorts were smothered in a shower of black debris, there was nothing of her left but a dark pillar of smoke rising stem-like till it spread hundreds of feet high in the likeness of a vast palm tree.” Casualties: 57 officers and 1,209 men killed.'
CWGC Additional information: Son of James Waterfield, of 2, Newdigate Villas, Newdigate St., Nottingham, and the late Martha Waterfield.
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave, headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of Martha Waterfield who fell asleep April (-) 1913 aged 68 years. Also Riley (-) of HMS Queen Mary, killed in Naval Battle May 31st 1916, aged 37 years. Helena who died (-) 1875 aged 10 months. Herbert who died (-) 1890 aged 14 months. Children of the above. And of James husband of the above Martha who died April 27th 1933 aged 87 years.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 9 June 1916: ' Waterfield. Killed in action in the North Sea on May 31st, Riley Waterfield Chief Engine Room Artificer HMS Queen Mary, son of James Waterfield, 2 Newdigate Villas, Newdigate Street, Nottingham, age 37.'
Probate 4 August 1916: Waterfield Samuel Riley, of 2 Newdigate-villas, Newdigate Street, Nottingham, chief engine room artificer RN, died 31 May 1916 at sea. Administration (with Will) Nottingham, 4 August to James Waterfield, retired mechanic. Effects £626 0s 11d.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 7 March 1934: ‘Teather. March 6th, at her residence, Belfield, Kenrick-road, Mapperley, Florence Jane, wife of the late William and loving sister of Mrs Smith [Elizabeth Mary], 4 St Bartholomew-road. Interment General Cemetery, bottom end, Friday, 1 o’clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Marriages’, 21 April 1941: Distin-Smith. April 19th, by Bishop Nevill Talbot [vicar, Nottingham St Mary] assisted by Rev JB Fraser, at St Catherine’s Nottingham, Paul Thornton, son of Mr and Mrs CT Distin to Marjorie Mary, daughter of Mr and Mrs Bert Smith.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) A report of the marriage was published in the Nottingham Evening Post, 19 April 1941.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 26 March 1943. ‘Shawcroft. March 24th, Sarah, widow of Thomas, of 192 London-road, New Balderton, Newark, late of 67 Wilford-crescent, Nottingham. Sorrowing children and grandchildren’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 1 December 1962: ‘Freemason dies aged 79. After a long career in insurance, Mr WF Waterfield, of 5, Wordsworth-road, West Bridgford, died yesterday, aged 79. He entered the service of Law Union and Rock Insurance Co. Nottingham in 1904, and in 1928 was appointed district manager, a position he held until his retirement on December 31, 1947. A Freemason, he was a Past Master of the Welbeck Lodge, and held the Provincial rank of Past Provincial Grand Standard Bearer.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated, RF (March 2026)
Photo of Samuel Riley Waterfield
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave. Photograph Simon Roots, CWGC 'EOHO' project volunteer (Feb. 2026)
Photo of Samuel Riley Waterfield
Plymouth Naval Memorial (www.cwgc.org)