Ralph Edgar Snook
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Ralph was the second son of Frederick William Snook and Kate Mary Snook (nee Kirk).Frederick (b. 1864, Nottingham) was the son of James Snook who founded the company of the same name; the offices of James Snook & Co were on Hounds Gate, Nottingham.Frederick and Kate were married in 1888 (marriage registered J/F/M Nottingham) and had three children; Frederick Lionel (birth registered 1889 J/F/M, christened 1 April 1889), Ralph Edgar (b. 28 September 1890, christened 22 December 1890) and Kathleen Mary (birth registered 1901 J/F/M). All three children were born in Nottingham.In 1891 Frederick (26) and Kate (26) were living at 12 Peverill Drive, The Park, Nottingham, with their two sons, Frederick (2) and Ralph (6 months). Frederick employed two domestic servants.By 1901 Frederick and Kate were living at Castle Grove, The Park. They now had three children; Lionel (12) and Ralph (10) and Kathleen (4 months). The household included a nurse, a cook and two housemaids.Ralph entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1903 when he was 12 years old. His father Frederick William died the following year on 9 December 1904. His mother continued to live at Castle Grove and in 1911 was living there with her eldest son, Frederick (22) who was described as 'assisting in the business of James Snook & Co', and her daughter Kathleen (10). The household included a governess, a cook, a parlourmaid and a housemaid.Ralph was now serving as a midshipman in the Royal Navy and at the time of the 1911 Census was probably serving in HMS Lord Nelson in the Home Fleet.Ralph married Constance Marjorie Smith (b. 1896), the daughter of John Percy Smith, a lace manufacturer, and his wife Catherine, on 17 April 1917. In 1911 Constance's family was living at Haddon House, The Park, Nottingham. It is likely that the couple lived with Ralph's mother after their marriage as the address given for Ralph on the Probate record (September 1918) was Castle Grove, The Park. Ralph's widow may have remarried as there is a record of the marriage of a Constance Marjorie Snook to Randal MacDonnell on 29 June 1919 at Great Berkhampstead, Hertford.Ralph's brother, Frederick, married Marjorie Ella Wightman on 15 June 1916 at Baildon St John the Evangelist Yorkshire. They had at least one child, Joyce Marjorie, who was born on 7 March 1918. Frederick died on 29 November 1937; he was then living at 11 Redcliffe Road, Nottingham. Probate was awarded to his widow and his daughter Joyce, now the wife of Harold Barker.His sister, Kathleen May, married John Walter Turner on 4 May 1923 (Nottingham).His mother, Kate Mary Snook, died aged 80 on 29 May 1945; she lived at Yorke House, North Road, The Park.
Ralph joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on 15 September 1903 shortly before his 13th birthday and was educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, Isle of Wight. He was promoted midshipman on 15 May 1908 and promoted sub lieutenant on 15 July 1911. He was appointed to HMS Dolphin on 1 May 1913 for submarine training and was promoted lieutenant on 15 July 1913. After appointments as First Lieutenant in several submarines he was apppointedin command of HMS E50, an E-class submarine (commissioned 23 January 1917) on 17 July 1917.E50 was lost with all hands in the North Sea on or about 31 January 1918; it was believed that the submarine was sunk by a mine off the South Dogger Light Vessel. Ralph's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.Naval career:Navy List: March 1907 and Sept 1908: HMS Bacchante 14 Twin Screw Armoured Cruiser 12000 Tons Third Cruiser Squadron Mediterranean, Vice Admiral Sir Henry D Barry KCVO. Midshipman Ralph E Snook, 15 May 08Navy List January 1910: Ralph Edgar Snook Mid, sny 15 May 1908Navy List 1910: HMS Aboukir 14 Twin Screw Armoured Cruiser 1200 Tons Mediterranean Sixth Cruiser Squadron Captain Richard F Phillimore MVO. Mid Ralph E Snook, 6 November 1909Navy List March-April 1911 Midshipmen 1908: Ralph Edgar Snook 15 May, time gained on passing out 2 months.Navy List March-April 1911 HMS Lord Nelson 14 Twin Screw Battle Ship 16500 tons, Home Fleet, Captain Alfred EA Grant. Midshipman Ralph E Snook, 14 May 1910Navy List August 1912. HMS Suffolk, 14, Twin Screw Armoured Cruiser, 9800 Tons, Mediterranean Cruiser Sqn Captain Edward H Moubray. Sub Lt Ralph E Snook,15 Nov 1911Navy List August 1912 Ralph Edgar Snook, 15 July. Class of certificate in: Seamanship (2) Navigation (3) Gunnery (3) Torpedo (2) Engineering (3) Voluntary subjects (3)Navy List August 1912: Ralph Edgar Snook, sub lieutenant, sny 15 July 1911Navy List October 1913. The following officers are borne as additional for submarines Lt Ralph E Snook 25 Aug 1913Navy List April1914 Ralph Edgar Snook Lieutenant, sny 15 July 1913Navy List April & November 1914, officers are borne as additional for submarines: Lt Ralph E Snook (C2), October 1913Navy List April 1915 The following officers are borne as additional for submarines: Lt Ralph E Snook October 1913Navy List October 1916 (entry for 1913 Lieutenants), Ralph Edgar Snook, 15 July 1913 (in same list, David, Prince of Wales, 17 March 1913)Navy List April 1915 Officers borne as additional for submarines, Lt Ralph E Snook, Oct 1913Navy List 1916: RE Snook, Lieutenant, sny 15 July 1913.Navy List October 1916 The following officers are borne as additional for various services for command of submarines Lt Ralph E Snook August 1916Navy List August 1917. The following officers are borne as additional for command of submarines, Ralph E Snook, Lieutenant, 17 July 1917Navy List August 1917 also October 1916 The following officers borne as additional for command of submarines, Lt Ralph E Snook, 17 July 1917Navy List August 1917: RE Snook, Lieutenant, sny 15 July 1913
An article in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 8th February 1918 reads :- “KILLED.“COMMANDER R. SNOOK.“Official intimation was received last night that Commander Ralph Snook, R.N., son of the late Mr. F. W. Snook and of Mrs. Snook, of Castle-grove, Nottingham, had lost his life. The deceased officer, who was 27 years of age, was educated at Osborne and Dartmouth. He was married only nine months ago to the daughter of Mr. Percy Smith of Nottingham.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 There is anecdotal evidence that there was a war memorial in the boardroom of the offices of James Snook at 17-21 Hounds Gate, Nottingham. If this is the case then Ralph's name may well have been included on it. However, no documentary evidence has been found to confirm this information and the building was redeveloped as multi-occupancy offices when the company vacated the premises.Probate: Snook Frederick William of Castle-grove The Park Nottingham merchant died 9 December 1904 Probate Nottingham 18 January to Herbert Durrant Snook merchant and Kate Mary Snook widow. Effects £11597 0s. 6d.Probate: Snook Ralph Edgar of Castlegrove The Park Nottingham lieutenant in HM Navy died 31 January 1918 at sea. Probate Nottingham 10 September to Frederick Lionel Snook [brother] director of a limited liability company. Effects £403 12s.Probate: Snook Kate Mary of Yorke House North-road The Park Nottingham widow died 29 May 1945 Probate Nottingham 19 July to Kathleen May Turner (wife of John William Turner) [daughter] and George Harold Bracher Wilson company director. Effects £1987 5s.
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