Eric Woodward Carver
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the son of Edward Stephen and Ellen Carver (nee Woodward) Edward was born in Cropwell Bishop, Nottinghamshire, (birth registered 1876 J/F/M Bingham), and married Ellen Woodward in 1895 (A/M/J Basford). They had six children of whom only three survived infancy: Eric b. 22 December 1897, Ellen Woodward b. 1899 (A/M/J Nottingham) and Mabel b. 1903 (A/M/J Basford). In 1901 the family was living in Jessops Yard, Gedling: Edward (25) a railway porter, Ellen (28), Eric (3) and Ellen (2). Also in the household was a boarder, Samuel Townsend (33), a coal miner/hewer. By 1911 Edward (35), now a railway good guard, and his wife were living at 14 Manvers Street, Netherfield, with their three children, Eric (13), Ellen (12) and Mabel (7). Eric's mother was notified of his death; her address is given in the Naval record as Rosewood House, Manvers [Street], Nottingham. His father, Edward, probably died at the age of 43 in 1918 (death registered March Bingham). Helen Bowes (Ellen Carver's granddaughter) notes 'Eric’s youngest sister, Mabel went to London, possibly in the 1920s. She lived there throughout the Second World War eventually having her own couture business off Bond Street. She became known as Marie, and married Bernard Smith in Hove Sussex 24 February 1951. They did not have any children. She died in Donyatt Somerset 3 June 1982 aged 79. Sister Ellen married John (known as Jack) Neville Osborne 30 August 1924. They had one child, a daughter Patricia Ellen Osborne born 28 August 1928 in Southwell Notts. Ellen married Claude Hare Nevett 20 February 1962, and died aged 84 on 19 August 1983.' Mother Ellen born 25 July 1872, lived with Ellen and Jack Osborne in Southwell Notts, possible from 1930s until her death on 19 April 1956 aged 83.'
Eric joined the Royal Navy on 8 October 1913 when he was 15 years old and entered on a 12 year engagement on 22 Dec 1915, his 18th birthday. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Ganges 8 October 1913-29 May 1914 (Boy Second Class, May 1914 Boy 1st Class); HMS Royal Arthur, 30 May 1914-30 November 1914; Pembroke I, 1 December 1914-2 December 1914; Victory I, 3 December 1914-9 December 1914; AMC Virginian, 10 December 1914-23 August 1915 (Ordinary Seaman 23 August 1915), Victory I, 24 August 1915-13 September 1915; Attentive II, 14 September 1915-27 February 1916 (Able Seamen 1 November 1915); Victory I, 28 February 1916-20 March 1916; HMS Vernon, 21 March 1916-25 September 1916; HMS Diligence (Opal), 26 September-12 January 1918. His service record was annotated, '[passed] leading seaman 12 July 1917' and ‘NP453/18. ‘DD’ [discharged dead] 12 Jan/18. HMS Opal.’ HMS Opal was a destroyer and with her sister ship HMS Narborough and in company with the light cruiser HMS Boadicea was engaged in a night patrol on the Scottish coast on 12 January 1918, searching for German minelayers. By evening the weather had deteriorated to such an extent that both ships were ordered to return to Scapa Flow. All messages from Opal ceased and bad weather prevented a search until the following day; it was two days before both ships were found wrecked on Hesta Rock. The loss of HMS Opal was attributed to navigational error. Eric Woodward was eligible for the 14/15 Star, Victory and British medals.
CWGC states that Eric was 29 when he died but in fact he was only 20. Belfast Newsletter 18 January 1918: ‘Official Reports. Two destroyers lost. Wrecked on Scotch Coast. Only one survivor. The secretary of the Admiralty makes the following announcement: Two of his Majesty’s destroyers whilst returning to their base during a violent gale, accompanied by heavy snow, ran ashore off the coast of Scotland on the night of the 12th inst. and became total wrecks. All hands except one –an able seaman – were lost. The next of kin have been informed.’ (www.irishsailor.co.uk/first-world-war/hms-narborough-opal) ‘HMS Opal and HMS Narborough were Royal Navy Admiralty M Class destroyers.On 12 January 1918, along with the light cruiser HMS Boadicea the destroyers went on night patrol to look for German minelayers along the Scottish coast. The weather took a turn for the worse and both destroyers found themselves in serious danger. Visibility was very restricted and both Narborough and Opal were ordered to return to Scapa Flow. However, despite reporting that they were on course for Scapa Flow, the destroyers never returned. Due to horrific weather conditions it was the next day before vessels could be despatched to search for them. It was two days before Opal was found wrecked on the cliffs at Hesta Rock, just to the north of Windwick Bay, South Ronaldsay. Narborough was found in a similar position nearby, One survivor William Sissons was later located on a small island … Both wrecks were abandoned and broken up by the sea over the next few weeks taking the bodies of both crews, bar William Sissons, with them – 92 men from HMS Narborough and 96 men from HMS Opal.' (www.irishsailor.co.uk/first-world-war/hms-narborough-opal) Wreck Number 002600791, N 58 46 15.0 W 002 55 48.0 Memorial plaque, South Ronaldsay: ‘In memory of the 188 men who perished here when HMS Narborough and HMS Opal were lost on the rocks of Hesta during the snowstorm of 12 Jan 1918.' (www.gwpda.org/naval/opalnarb) Ten men from HMS Opal whose bodies were recovered were buried in Lyness Cemetery. Lyness Museum has a number of artefacts recovered or associated with HMS Opal. Navy News, February 2018: ‘Never forgotten. Tributes to those who perished off Orkney. People in the Orkney islands paid tribute to 188 sailors lost a century ago when their destroyers were smashed against rocks. Just one man survived when HMS Opal and Narborough ran aground off South Ronaldsay in a snowstorm during a patrol on January 12 1918. One hundred years to the day of the tragedy, Orcadians and representatives of today’s Royal Navy aid their respects with a wreath-laying ceremony at the destroyers’ monument in Windwick Bay, before a memorial event and presentation in a public hall at St Margaret’s Hope … Detailed research over many years by [local historian] Mr Budge, with assistance from another Orkney-based researcher, Andrew Hollinrake, has resulted in a new Book of Remembrance which brings together the names of all the sailors who died.’
