John Moreland
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the son of James Moreland and his wife Louisa nee Surgey (also Surgay). James was born in Nottingham as was Louisa (1873 J/F/M Radford). They were married in 1890 (J/A/S Nottingham) and had four children: Samuel James b. 16 May 1892 (A/M/J Nottingham), John b. 1 July 1894 (J/A/S Nottingham), Margaret Emma b. 8 September 1896 (O/N/D Nottingham) and Gilbert b. 1903 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1901 James (34), a machine fitter, and Louisa (28) a lace hand (at home), were living at 26 Calcutta Street, St Ann's, Nottingham, with their children Samuel (9), John (7) and Margaret (5). By 1911 they had moved to 56 Bovill Street, Radford. James (42) was still working as a machine fitter. In the household on the night of the census were James and Louisa (34) and their three youngest children, John (16) was 'learning litho binding', Margaret Emma (14) who was an errand girl in a lace warehouse, and Gilbert (8). The eldest son, Samuel, had joined the Royal Navy on 4 January 1911 (K10079 Stoker 2nd Class) on a 12 year engagement. He had given his date of birth as 1 December 1892 although all other records have 16 March 1892; this was probably done by Samuel to ensure he entered at the age of 18 so did not have to serve 'boy' time (pre-18 years). In 1911 he was a Stoker 2nd Class in Royal Naval Barracks, Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth. John was killed in action on 31 May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland. His mother Louisa, who was notified of her son's death, was then living at 66 West Street, 'three stairs up off Nelson Street', Glasgow, Lanarkshire. The later CWGC record also gives James and Louisa's address as 66 West Street, Glasgow. Margaret Emma married Frederick Hatton (b. 30 November 1893) in 1916 (J/F/M Nottingham). In 1939 at the time of the compilation of the national register Margaret and Frederick, a general labourer, were living in Nottingham. Also in their home were Elsie F Hatton (later Brown) b. 27 December 1916 a hosiery linker, Louisa M Hatton (later Birkhead) b. 27 May 1922 a cigarette packer, Frederick Hatton b. 16 October 1924 a hosiery folder, and Allan Hatton b. 30 December 1936. Frederick Hatton senior died on 23 February 1958; he and Margaret were living at 183 Woodfield Road, Broxtowe Estate, Nottingham. Margaret died in 1978 (Jun Nottingham) aged 81. Samuel James was also living in Nottingham at the time of the 1939 England & Wales Register. He was a locomotive fireman and described as married. Also in the household was Margaret Moreland b, 14 March 1894 married, and Gilbert Moreland b 25 August 1922 a brass moulder single (married Rosie Simmons in 1942 A/M/J Nottingham, and died in 1989 Oct Nottingham, aged 67). Other records have not yet been found for either Samuel's marriage or the birth of Gilbert Moreland. The youngest sibling, Gilbert, appears on Electoral Registers for Glasgow, Lanarkshire, between the 1930s and 1940s. It is probable that he moved to Glasgow with his parents while his two older surviving siblings stayed in Nottingham.
John joined the Royal Navy at the age of 19 on a 12 year engagement (5 years Royal Navy, 7 years Royal Fleet Reserve). He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory II, 21 August 1913-27 January 1914 (Stoker 2nd Class); HMS Grafton, 28 January 1913-31 July 1914; Victory II, 1 August 1914-2 August 1914; HMS Invincible, 3 August 1914-31 May 1916 (Stoker 1st Class, 1 January 1915). John's brother, Samuel, was also in the Royal Navy and served in HMS Invincible from 3 August 1914, when John also joined the ship, but was drafted to HMS Caroline on16 November the same year. He was still serving in HMS Caroline when John was killed in 1816. John's Naval record was annotated ‘NP4060/1916. DD [discharged dead] 31st May 1916. Killed in action.’ John died at the Battle of Jutland; his body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
The headmaster of New Radford School Nottingham referred to Moreland and three other former pupils in his log entry 5/9th June 1916 - 'In the recent Battle of Jutland four of our old scholars lost their lives. - Ernest (sic) Walters, J. Moreland, Leonard Fowler and Alfred Richards.' (Nottinghamshire County Archives SL125R3/3) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 31 May 1917: ‘Moreland. In loving remembrance of our son John, lost with HMS Invincible, Jutland Battle, May 31st, 1916. Duty nobly done. From his loving mother, father, brother Jim (HMS Caroline), sister Maggie, Aunt Lottie, Uncle Sam.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) In memoriam published 31st May 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “MORELAND. – In loving memory of our dear son John lost with H.M.S. Invincible, May 31st, 1916, in Jutland battle. Fondly remembered. – Mother, dad, sister, and brothers.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Extract from the RN Registers of Seamen's Services, Samuel James Moreland: First service date 4 January 1911 (Victory ll), Stoker 2nd Class, last service date 13 May 1920 (Victory II). Engagement 12 years from 4 January 1911. He was advanced Stoker 1st Class on 22 February 1912 (HMS Liverpool). There were various breaks in service between 1915 and 1919 for periods speht in cells for absence etc . War service: HMS Invincible 3 August 1914-16 November 1914, HMS Caroline, 4 December 1914-3 December 1917; Victory II, 4 December 1917-27 May1918. Service record marked ‘Run [deserted] Victory 27 May 1918’. He was returned to Victory II on 8 September 1918 and was discharged shore SLNLR [services no longer required] on 13 May 1920 three years before the completion of his 12 year engagement.
