Leonard Green
- Family History
- Military History
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Leonard was the son of George and Mary Ann Green (née Day). His father George was born in Caistor, Lincolnshire, and his mother Mary Ann (also known as 'Polly') was born in Bedfordshire. They were married in 1874 (registered J/A/S Worksop, Nottinghamshire) and had ten children, the eldest of whom was born shortly before their marriage. The first three children were born in Worksop: Emily Day (later Green) b. Worksop 1874 (A/M/J) bap. Worksop St Mary (Priory) 23 June 1874; George Henry b. 1875 and Wallace b. 1877. The younger children were born in East Retford: Arthur birth reg. 1881 (J/F/M); Frederick William birth reg. 1883 (J/F/M); Kate birth reg. 1885 (J/F/M); Nellie b. 1887; Leonard b. 23 August 1889; Edith Mary birth reg. 1891 (J/F/M) and Gertrude birth reg. 1894 (J/F/M). In 1881, George (32) a tailor and Mary (25) were living on South Parade, Retford, with their four children Emily (6), George (5), Wallace (3) and Arthur (under 1 year). The family had moved to White Hall Road, Retford, by 1891; eight of their nine children were living at home: George a turner's apprentice, Wallace an errand boy, Arthur, Frederick (8), Kate (6), Nellie (3), Leonard (1) and Edith (under 1 year). The eldest child Emily has not yet been traced after 1881. The youngest child Gertrude was born three years later. George and Mary were still living on Whitehall Road in 1901. Seven of their ten children were in the home on the night of the census: George and Wallace who were both iron turners, Frederick a iron moulder's apprentice, Nellie, Leonard, Edith and Gertrude (7). Leonard joined the Royal Navy four years later in 1905 and in 1911 was serving in HMS Swiftsure. His parents had moved to 15 George Street; his father was still employed as a tailor. Only Leonard's older brothers Wallace, a fitter mechanic, and Frederick, a moulder, were living at home. Mary Ann Green probably died in 1913. Leonard's father was named as his next of kin and was living at Domnie Road, Retford, at the time of his son's death in 1915.
HM Submarine C33 Leonard joined the Royal Navy on 13 December 1905 at the age of 16 and entered on a 12 year engagement on 23 August 1907, his eighteenth birthday. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Ganges 13 December 1905-19 September 1906 (Boy 2nd Class, Boy 1t Class 14 August 1906); HMS Euryalus, 20 September 1906-19 December 1906; HMS Centurion, 20 December 1906-2 February 1907; HMS Ariadne, 3 February 1907-19 June 1907; HMS Antrim, 20 June 1907-13 April 1908 (Ordinary Seaman 23 August 1907); HMS Carnarvon, 14 April 1908-25 July 1908; HMS Antrim, 26 July 1908-12 April 1909 (Able Seaman 23 November 1908); Victory I, 13 April 1909-8 May 1909; HMS Hebron, 9 May 1909-25 November 1909; HMS Renown, 26 November 1909-23 April 1910; HMS Vernon, 24 April 1910-21 November 1910; HMS Swiftsure, 22 November 1910-7 May 1912; Victory 1, 8 May 1912-29 June 1913; HMS Bristol, 30 June 1913-15 November 1913; HMS Dolphin, 16 November 1913-16 September 1914; HMS Arrogant (C33), 17 September 1914-5 August 1915. His Naval record was annotated, ‘NP4046/15. D [Discharged Dead] 5th August 1915. Lost in Submarine C33.’ Leonard's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. HMS C33 was a C-class submarine built by HM Dockyard, Chatham for the Royal Navy. She was laid down on 29 March 1909 and was commissioned on 13 August 1910. C33 was involved in the U-Boat trap tactic. The tactic was to use a decoy trawler to tow a submarine. When a U-boat was sighted, the tow line and communication line was slipped and the submarine would attack the U-boat. The tactic was partly successful, but it was abandoned after the loss of two C class submarines. In both cases, all the crew were lost. C33 was one of the two C class submarines sunk because of the tactic. She was mined off Great Yarmouth while operating with the armed trawler Malta on 4 August 1915. (Wikipedia)
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