Charles Frederick (snr) Daft

Civilian. Lost when RMS Leinster was sunk by German submarine U123 on 10 September 1918 on passage from Ireland to Holyhead. His body and that of his son who was travelling with him were recovered and interred in Nottingham (Rock) Cemetery on 17 October 1918.

Inscription on family headstone: 'In loving memory of Alice Maud Mary, wife of Charles Frederick Daft, died August 23rd 1918 aged 51 years, also of Charles Frederick Daft, husband of the above, aged 54 years, and of Charles Frederick Daft, their son aged 25 years, who lost their lives through the torpedoing of the SS Leinster by enemy (-) (-) the Irish Sea (-)'. RMS Leinster was sunk by U-123. It was a 2,646 tons vessel carrying 771 men, women and children, including the crew, civilian passengers and 492 soldiers and sailors returning from Ireland on leave. The ship, belonging to the City of Dublin Steam packet Company left Kingstown Pier, now Dun Laoghaire, for Holyhead. She had already been attacked on 27th December 1917 by a submarine whose torpedo had missed and was, since that incident armed with a single 12-pounder. An hour out, the ship was struck without warning by a torpedo from submarine UB 123. A second torpedo struck her a few minutes later. The engine room was blown out and she sank 13 minutes after the first impact. Lifeboats were launched and SOS messages sent. After an hour two old destroyers, plus other craft arrived and saved some of the Leinster’s passengers and crew, but 501 lost their lives out of 771. A number of bodies were recovered including those of Charles and his son who are both buried in the family grave in Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. The surviving son, Arthur, was chief mourner at the funeral. Report published 12th October 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post:- “SUPPOSED LOST. “NOTTINGHAM TRAVELLER AND HIS SON. “Mr. C. F. Daft and his son, Mr. C. F. Daft, jun., of Nottingham, were, it is feared, on the ill-fated Leinster. Mr. Daft, sen., was the Irish traveller for Messrs. Thomas Adams, Limited, having been in the employ of the firm since his boyhood days, and he is believed to have been returning after making one of his periodical journeys, which extended over three weeks. Owing to the death of his wife [1], which occurred little more than a month ago, he had taken his eldest son, who was also in the employ of Messrs. Thomas Adams, with him for a holiday. “He had written stating that he would be home yesterday, and he had also wired to say that he would see the Manchester representative of the firm on his way back, but nothing further has been heard of him. Mr. Daft, who resided at 28, William-road, West Bridgford, was about 52 years of age, and his son was 26. “Both were well known in the realm of sport, Mr. Daft, sen., indeed having a world-wide reputation. He was the last of a long line of champion hurdle-racers produced by Nottingham and the Forest Club. He followed in the footsteps of C. J. Spencer, Frank Cleaver, S. F. Bestow, and C. W. Gowthorpe, who all won honours in hurdle racing. C. F. Daft took the championship in 1885 and 1886, and at one of those meetings he had to meet strong American competition, so that his victory partook of an international character. After an interval of four years he again carried off the championship. “He was the most stylish hurdler who ever ran, and his athletic career was a phenomenally long one, for he won prizes at the Forest Sports during a period covered by 16 years. More than once he filled the office of secretary to the Forest Sports Committee. “C. F. Daft, jun., whilst at the High School, was one of the best batsmen in the club eleven, and was subsequently very successful in local circles. Both were members of the Rushcliffe Lodge of Freemasons. “The younger son, A. W. Daft [2], has recently joined the navy, and is at present home on leave.” [1] Alice Maud Mary Daft. [2] Arthur Walles Daft. Report published 14th October 1918 in the Nottingham Journal and Express :- “LATE MR. C. F. DAFT. “Body of Local Victim of U-boat Crime Identified. “We are informed by Mr. W. Harrop, Deputy Chief Constable of Notts., that the body of Mr. C. F. Daft, a well-known Nottingham gentleman who was one of the victims of the Leinster outrage, was yesterday [13th October 1918] identified by a friend of deceased in Dublin. The remains will be brought to Nottingham for burial. “The body of Mr. Daft, jun., who unfortunately shared his father's sad fate, has not yet been found.” Report published 17th October 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “FATHER AND SON. “IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL AT THE CHURCH CEMETERY. “The tragic circumstances under which the father and his eldest son had met their deaths— the victims from the fiendish U boat attack on the Leinster — little more than a month after the mother [1] had been laid rest, wove around the burial of Mr. C. F. Daft and his eldest son, at the Church Cemetery, Nottingham, to-day, [17th October 1918] an atmosphere of poignant sadness. Both were widely known and esteemed, and the attendance at the funeral testified unmistakably to the profound grief which their untimely end had caused in many circles. “Out of respect for an old servant, both the warehouse and the factory of Messrs. Thos. Adams, Ltd., were closed during the interment, and the directors, chiefs of departments, and a large number employees from both the firm's establishments awaited the arrival of the cortège. There were also present representatives of the Masonic body — of the Provincial Grand Lodge, the Rushcliffe Lodge, the Fitz-Hugh Mark Lodge, the Masonic Bowling Club — and several firms in the Lace Market, members of athletic organisations, and the High School and the High School Cadet Corps, in addition to many close personal friends. “The chief mourners were Midshipman A. W. Daft (son). Mr. A. C. Wallis (brother-in-law), Mr. J. H. Daft (cousin), Mr. E. B. Wallis and Mr. C. E. Wallis (brothers-in-law), Mr. A. E. Daft and Mr. T. B. Daft (cousins), Mr. W. M. Spreckley, Mr. C. Oaksford. Mr. W. Bass, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Freer, Mr. Shipley, and Mr. T. A. Rose (Manchester). The firm of Messrs. Thomas Adams, Ltd., was represented by two of its directors, Mr. E. Hooton and Mr. H. Sharp, Mr. W. Wadsworth, Mr. A. P. Lacey, Mr. W. K. Northage, and Mr. C. T. Smith being unavoidably absent. “The service at the church and at the graveside was impressively conducted by the Rev. R. Hargreaves, rector of West Bridgford, and the interment was made in the grave in which Mrs. C. F. Daft was buried. A great number of wreaths included tributes from the directors of Messrs. Thomas Adams, Ltd., the departments at Stoney-street, and the Sherwood-hill works, and the Rushcliffe Lodge, and many organisations with which Mr. Daft and his son had been associated.” Above articles and details are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 See also report in Mansfield Reporter, 18 October 1918 The gravestone collapsed some time after the photographs were taken in 2011 but the Nottingham Civic Society had the gravestone restored in time for the centenary of the loss of RMS Leinster. The gravestone was rededicated at 11am on 10 October 2018 by the Bishop of Nottingham at a ceremony attended by the Deputy Lieutenant, Lord Mayor and members of the Civic Society and City Council. The rededication coincided with an official ceremony held in Eire at RMS Leinster's home port of Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire), 10 October having been declared a National Day of Commemoration to mark the loss of over 500 lives in the Irish Sea. The ceremony in Nottingham also commemorated the crew of the German submarine U123 which was lost with all hands later that month.