Charles Cadman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Charles was the son of Charles Cadman and his first wife Mary (nee Needham). His father was the son of Herbert and Sarah Cadman, born in 1872 in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, and baptised at the parish church in February the following year. His mother was the daughter of Joseph Needham and was also born in Killamarsh. They were married in November 1894 at Barlborough, Derbyshire. According to the 1911 census completed by the widowed Charles, he and his wife had had 12 children of whom only seven were still living. Six children have been traced on the 1901 and 1911 Census, one of whom (Constance) died in infancy: Charles b. 17 March 1895 (reg. Worksop), Joseph Herbert b. 1897, bap. Killamarsh, Harold b. 1898 (reg. Chesterfield), Constance bap. August 1900 Killamarsh, died 1901, George b. 1902 (Warsop) and Annie birth registered 1905 (J/F/M Warsop). In 1901 Charles, a coal miner hewer, was living with his wife Mary and their children Charles, Joseph Herbert, Harold and Constance (8 months) at 90 High Street, Killamarsh, Derbyshire. Constance died a few months later. Charles and Mary had probably moved to Warsop by 1902 as their two youngest children, George and Annie, were born in Warsop in 1902 and c1905 respectively. Mary died in 1910 aged 37 and at the time of the next census in 1911 her widowed husband Charles and their five children, Charles, a colliery pony driver underground, Joseph, a surface worker (belt boy), Harold, George and Annie were living at 102 Warsop Vale, Shirebrook. Charles employed a housekeeper, Winifred Ogdon. The family home was still at 102 Warsop Vale when Charles junior was killed in 1916. Charles senior later married Gertrude (marriage record not yet traced). Charles, a retired miner/OAP, and Gertrude (b. 1871), were still living in Warsop at the time of the 1939 Register; Charles' son George, a coal miner, was unmarried and living at home. Charles may have died in 1954 (reg. Mansfield) while Gertrude died in 1956 (reg. Mansfield). George died in 1972 reg. Mansfield). One of Charles' brothers, Joseph Herbert, also served in the war. Joseph a Royal Marine based at HMS Royal Arthur, married Ann Wagstaff, the daughter of Thomas Wagstaff, a collier, at Shirebrook, Derbyshire, on 17 March 1917.
Chales joined the Royal Navy on 27 March 1913 on a 12 year engagement (5 years RN, 7 years Royal Fleet Reserve). He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Victory II, 27 March 1913-9 September 1913 (Stoker 2nd Class), HMS Vindictive, 10 September 1913-31 October 1913; Victory II, 17 November 1913-15 December 1913; HMS Europa, 16 December 1913-26 January 1914; HMS Hampshire, 27 January-5 June 1916 (Stoker 1st Class, 27 March 1914). Service record annotated, ‘NB4098. DD [Discharged Dead] 5 June 1916. When HMS Hampshire was sunk’ HMS Hampshire was on passage from Scapa Flow to Archangel, Russia, with the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, onboard as part of a diplomatic and military mission to Russia. In bad weather and within two miles of Orkney’s northwest shore, HMS Hampshire struck a mine laid by a German submarine U-75. Only 12 of a ship's complement of over 600 survived. Charles' body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. A 48 foot high stone tower at Marwick Head was unveiled in 1926 to commemorate those lost in HMS Hampshire.
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 8 June 1916: 'Warsop Vale Sailor on the Hampshire. Charley Cadman, son of Mr & Mrs Cadman of 102 Warsop Vale, was engaged as a stoker on "HMS Hampshire" the ill-fated cruiser which sank off the Orkney Islands on Monday last. For present Mr & Mrs Cadmen have had no communication from the Admiralty and it is feared that the unfortunate youth has perished. He joined the Royal Navy 3 years ago. He was smart, intelligent young man, and highly respected by all who knew him. He at one time served on the "Black Prince" one of the ships sunk in the recent naval battle.' Note: no record on Registers of Seamen's Services that Charles served in HMS Black Prince. A similar report was also published in the Mansfield Reporter, 9 June 1916.
