John Harvey Hinksman
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
John Harvey Hinksman was the son of John Harvey and Bridget Mary Hinksman.
His father John Harvey was born in 1887 and his mother Bridget in 1888. The couple had four children: John Harvey b. 21 November 1914 (reg. 1915 JFM Ballino) bap. 29 November 1914, James Ernest b. 1920 (reg. Kilkenny), Catherine Theresa b. 1925 (reg. Kilkenny) and Mary E. b. 1928.
John's parents and three siblings were living at 34 Alberta Terrace, Sherwood Rise, Nottingham, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled: John, a motor mechanic, Bridget, James a bobbin store operative, Catherine a machinist and Mary who was school age. Also in the household was Florence Hinksman (b. 1916, married) who later married Stanley Coward (1956, Cheshire).
John has not yet been traced on the 1939 Register and may have already joined the Royal Navy although no record has been traced of his date of enlistment.
His father John Harvey died in August 1978 and his mother Bridget Mary in November 1984; both were buried in Bulwell Cemetery.
His three siblings married:
James married Dorothy Atherton in 1944 and they had two children, John Harvey (m. 1970) and Karen (m. 1983). James died in March 1997; his son John had predeceased him (d. 1988).
Catherine married Wasyl Fostun in 1956 and had three children, Christine, Peter and Angela. Catherine died in October 1975 and was buried in Bulwell Cemetery; she predeceased her parents.
Mary married Stanley W Morris in 1948.
HMS Boadicea
HMS Boadicea was a B-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy (RN) around 1930. Initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, she was transferred to the Home Fleet in 1936. Before her departure, the ship evacuated civilians from Spain during the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Boadicea later spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. During World War II, the ship spent the bulk of the war on convoy escort duty in British waters and participated in the Battle of the Atlantic, Operation Torch, the Russian Convoys.
In preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, she was transferred to Portsmouth where she escorted convoys arriving in England as well as the convoys across the Channel. Boadicea was sunk on 13 June off Portland Bill by German aircraft while escorting a convoy of merchant ships to France. Sources differ as to the weapons used and the aircraft that carried them; some say Fritz X missiles fired by Dornier Do 217s belonging to KG 100 or torpedoes dropped by Junkers Ju 88s. The weapons caused a magazine explosion and Boadicea sank quickly, with only 12 of her crew of 182 surviving. Among those lost were six men from Nottinghamshire - Sub Lieutenant Keith Robinson from West Bridgford, Lieutenant Eric Hoyes from Ollerton and four Nottingham sailors - Leading Seaman Charles Barrett, Able Seaman William Stevens, Able Seaman Albert Henshaw (Bulwell) and Stoker 1st Class John Hinksman.
The ship's casualties are commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial; John Harvey (77.3).
The wreck is 16 miles (26 km) southwest of the Isle of Portland at 50°28′12″N 02°29′30″W in 53 metres (174 ft) of water. Her bow is blown off forward of the engine rooms and her stern section is upright and reasonably intact. The wreck site is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. (Wikipedia)
CWGC Additional information: Son of John Harvey Hinksman and Bridget Mary Hinksman, of Nottingham.
Nottingham Evening Post, 15 August 1944. Photograph with caption: ‘Stoker (1st Class) Jack Hinksman RN, of 34, Alberta-terrace, Sherwood-rise, previously reported missing, now presumed killed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 16 August 1944: ‘Hinksman, June, 1944. Jack, First Class Stoker, RN, missing presumed killed. Remembered by mam and dad, brothers and sisters, sister-in-law and nephew, also grandad and gran,’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 13 June 1945: ‘Hinksman, Jack, stoker RN, lost at sea June 13th, 1944. Sunshine passes, shadows fall, without goodbye he left us all. Mam, dad, sisters, brothers, sisters-in-law, nephew.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 13 June 1947: ‘Hinksman. Jack, RN, HMS Boadicea, lost at sea June, 1944. Loving memories. Dad, mam, brother and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) also ‘In Memoriam’ notice, 14 June 1948.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 11 October 1975: Fostun, Catherine Teresa passed away peacefully after long illness October 9th, 1975, aged 49 years, loving and devoted wife of Bill … Reception into Church of the Infant of Prague … interment Bulwell Cemetery.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk). Notices from children Christine, Peter, and Angela and siblings Ernie [James Ernest] and Doris,
Nottingham Evening Post. ‘Deaths’, 8 August 1978: ‘Hinksman. John Harvey passed away suddenly August 6th, 1978, aged 81 years. Dearly loved husband of Bridget. Reception into Bulwell Catholic Church … interment at Bulwell Cemetery [10 August].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 November 1984: ‘Hinksman. Bridget passed away peacefully on 2nd November 1984 aged 95. Loving Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother … Reception into our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Bulwell … interment Bulwell Cemetery [8 November].’(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Also notice from son-in-law Bill [Wasyl Fostun]
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 18 March 1997: ‘Hinksman. James Ernest. Jim. Passed away on Saturday 15 March 1997 … aged 76 years. Dearly loved husband of Doris …’. Children Karen (son-in-law Andrew), daughter-in-law Sue, ‘Reunited with beloved son John’. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
John Harvey Hinksman
Nottingham Evening Posy 15/8/1944
Photo of John Harvey Hinksman
Commemorated on the Chatham War Memorial (www.cwgc.org)