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This data is related to World War 1
Able Seaman

Arthur J Herrod

Service Number SS/4188
Military Unit HMS Black Prince Royal Navy
Date of birth 28 Feb 1894
Date of Death 31 May 1916 (22 Years Old)
Place of Birth Nottingham
Employment, Education or Hobbies In 1911 he was a shop assistant at a clothier's but a pawnbroker's assistant when he joined the Royal Navy in 1913
Family History

Arthur Herrod was the son of Frank Newman Herrod and Elizabeth nee Smithurst. His father Frank was born in Kirklington, Nottinghamshire, and his mother Elizabeth in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire, on 24 December 1866. They were married at Nottingham in 1888 and had nine children of whom eight survived childhood: Alfred Francis (b. 15 September 1888), Francis Henry (b.1890 died August 1899 aged 9), Ada (b.1891), James Newman (b. 20 September 1892), Arthur (b. 28 February1894), Ronald Smithurst (b.1896), Will (b. 3 August 1898), Lizzie (b. 6 July 1900) and Emily (b. 21 July 1902). All the children were born in Nottingham. In 1891 Frank (24), a cotton warp lace maker, and Elizabeth (25) were living at 1 Britannia Place, Willoughby Street, Lenton, with their two sons Alfred (2) and Francis (1). Francis died aged 9 in August 1899. By 1901 the family was living at 21 Arthur Terrace, Radford. Frank and Elizabeth had seven surviving children: Alfred (12), Ada (9), James (8), Arthur (7), Ronald (4) Will (2) and Lizzie (8 months). The youngest child, Emily, was born the following year. Frank Newman died in 1902 aged 35 and in 1911 the widowed Elizabeth (45) was living at 18 Agnes Street, Nottingham, with seven of her eight surviving children: Ada (19) a cardboard box maker for a tobacco manufacturer, James (18) a shop assistant (provisions), Arthur (17) a shop assistant (clothier), Ronald (14) a shop assistant (jeweller), Will (12) Lizzie (10) and Emily (8). The eldest son, Alfred, had joined the Army and was serving with the 2nd Bn. (The King’s) Liverpool Regiment in India. Arthur joined the Royal Navy in 1913 and at the time of his death in 1916 his mother was living at 24 Garfield Road, Radford, Nottingham. This was also the address given on his brother James' army record in 1915 and 1919. Elizabeth later moved to Haddon House, Queen’s Street, Hucknall, perhaps to live with relatives as this was her place of birth. By 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register, Elizabeth was living at 41 Victoria Street, Hucknall, with her invalid daughter, Lizzie, who predeceased her mother. However, she was living at 88 Blackstone Street, Meadows, at the time of her death on 20 February 1945. It is possible that she was living with her son Will as in 1939 he had been living at this address with his wife. Of Arthur's siblings: Alfred Francis was a regular soldier with the 2nd Battalion Liverpool Regiment (9402 Private) and in 1911 was serving in India. He was 27 years old when he was discharged from the Army on 16 November 1915 as 'insane'; he was still serving in India. He qualified for the 1915 Star (theatre: 5GI, Asiatic), British War Medal and Victory Medal; the medal record gave his rank as corporal (9402). In 1939 he was a patient at Mapperley Hospital, Porchester Road, Nottingham, and described as an 'ex-soldier 9402 Private 2nd Bn Liverpool Regiment'. Alfred died at the age of 100 on 6 March 1989 at St Francis Hospital, Nottingham. Francis Henry died in August 1899 aged 9 years. Ada did not marry and died in 1932 (Mar Basford) aged 40. James Newman married Sarah Riley (b. 23 June 1892) in 1923 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1939 at the time the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living in Scunthorpe where James was working as a railway foreman porter. Also in the household was their daughter Doreen Peggy Herrod later Shaw (b. 11 June 1925). James' wife Sarah died on 26 July 1953; they were then living at 52 Station Road, Scunthorpe and James was a passenger station foreman. He was living at 2 Neville Road, Scunthorpe, when he died on 14 September 1977. Ronald Smithurst died in 1922 (Mar Basford) aged 25. Will married Sarah A Dodds (b. 17 January 1901) in 1923 (A/M/J Nottingham) and in 1939 they were living at 88 Blackstone Street, Meadows, Nottingham. Will was a coal labourer. In the home was their daughter, Kathleen B Herrod later Bradshaw (b. 8 November 1923) who worked for a cellulose clothing company. Will died in 1980 (Jun Nottingham) aged 81. Lizzie did not marry and was living with her mother at 41 Victoria Street in 1939 and was still living there when she died on 12 August 1941 at the Basford Infirmary, Highbury Road, Bulwell. Emily married Stanley W Felstead (b. 22 October 1901) in 1924 (A/M/J Nottingham) and in 1939 they were living in Scunthorpe, where Stanley was working as an engineer furnace, with their daughter, Joan Beryl Felstead later Cox (b. 4 May 1928). Emily died in 1998 (Oct North Lincolnshire).

Military History

Arthur joined the Royal Navy on 21 January as an Ordinary Seaman on a 12 year engagement (5 years RN, 7 years Royal Fleet Reserve). He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory I, 21 January 1912-18 March 1913 (Ordinary Seaman); HMS Bulwark, 19 March 1913-15 April 1914 (Able Seaman 23 March 1914); Victory, 19 April 1914-20 April 1914; HMS Black Prince, 21 April 1914-31 May 1916. Service record annotated, ‘NP 4065/1916. DD [discharged dead] 31st May 1916. Killed in action.’ Arthur was killed at the Battle of Jutland while serving in HMS Black Prince; the ship was lost with all hands. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS Black Prince was sunk at Jutland on May 31st 1916. The circumstances surrounding her loss were unclear for many years because there were no positive sightings of Black Prince after 17.42. Recent historians hold to the German account of the ship's sinking. Black Prince briefly engaged the German battleship Rheinland at about 23:35 GMT, scoring two hits with 6-inch shells. Separated from the rest of the British fleet, the Black Prince approached the German lines at approximately midnight. She turned away from the German battleships, but it was too late. The German battleship Thüringen fixed the Black Prince in her searchlights and opened fire. Up to five other German ships, including battleships Nassau, Ostfriesland, and Friedrich der Grosse, joined in the bombardment, with return fire from Black Prince being ineffective. Most of the German ships were between 750 and 1500 yards of the Black Prince - effectively point blank range for contemporary naval gunnery. Black Prince was hit by at least twelve heavy shells and several smaller ones, sinking within 15 minutes. There were no survivors from Black Prince's crew, all 857 being killed.

Extra Information

CWGC: 'Son of Elizabeth Herrod, of Queen's St., Haddon House, Hucknall Torkard, Nottingham.' At the time of the 1911 census his brother, Alfred Francis Herrod, was a Private serving with the 2nd Bn. (The King’s) Liverpool Regiment in India. He served with the regiment in the war but was discharged in 1915. Another brother, James Newman Herrod, enlisted on 22 February 1915 and was assigned to the Manchester Regiment; he later served as a Lance Corporal with the 3rd Bn. Machine Gun Corps (Service No.34875). He survived the war and was demobilised on 28 August 1919. Probate: Herrod Lizzie of 41 Victoria-street Hucknall Nottinghamshire spinster died 12 August 1941 at Basford Infirmary Highbury-road Bulwell Nottingham Administration Nottingham 1 May to Elizabeth Herrod widow. Effects £726 1s. 3d. Probate: Herrod Elizabeth of 88 Blackstone-street The Meadows Nottinghamshire widow died 20 February 1945 at Vale Brook Lodge Nottingham Probate Nottingham 30 April to James Newman Herrod foreman railway porter, Will Herrod engineers assistant and Emily Felstead (wife of Stanley Felstead) [daughter]. Effects £2473 7s. 11d. Probate: Herrod James Newman of 2 Neville Rd Scunthorpe Humberside died 14 September 1977 Probate Nottingham 23 January £9824 Probate: Herrod Alfred Francis of St Francis Hosp Nottingham died 6 March 1989 Administration Leeds 13 June £86585 The Bundeswehr Museum of Military History, Dresden: Painting, oil on canvas: ‘SMS Thueringen destroys the English cruiser Black Prince in a night battle at 2am on 1 June.’ Clause Bergen (1885-1964). Caption: 'Present given by the commander of Thueringen, Captain Hans Kuesel, to his nephew in 1921. Bergen established his reputation as a marine painter with depictions of the Battle of Jutland (31 May-1 June 1916). When the Imperial German Fleet returned home, he was in Wilhelmshaven and asked officers involved in the battle to give him detailed accounts of the events.'

Photographs

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