William Frederick Flick
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Frederick was the youngest child of Charles Flick and Elizabeth Charlotte Flick nee Brown. Charles was born in Pentonville, London, in 1839 (J/F/M Clerkenwell London) and Elizabeth in Manchester in about 1838. They were married in Nottingham in 1863 (O/N/D Nottingham) and had at least eight children. Their first six children were born in Nottingham and the two youngest in Scotland: Ada Emily b. 1864 (J/A/S Nottingham), Charles William b. 1865 (J/A/S Nottingham), Leila Mary/Maria birth registered 1869 J/F/M Nottingham, Beatrice Charlotte b. 1869 (A/M/J Nottingham, Florence Emma b. 1870 (O/N/D Nottingham), Frederick Stuart b 1873 (J/A/S Nottingham), Annie Louise b. abt 1879 (Scotland) and William Frederick b. 8 May 1881. In 1871 Charles (32), a lace warehouseman, his wife Elizabeth (32) and their five children, Ada (7), Charles (6), Leila (4), Beatrice (2) and Florence (6 months) were living at 219 Woodborough Road, Nottingham. Also in the household was Elizabeth Hallam (14), a domestic servant. By 1881 the family had moved to 152 Cathcart Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow. Charles was working as an office clerk at an ironworks. He and Elizabeth now had seven children: Ada (16), Charles (15), Leila (14), Beatrice (12), Florence (10), Frederick (7) and Annie (2). Their eighth and youngest child, William, was born a few months later on 8 May. The family returned to Nottingham before 1889 as Elizabeth's death was registered in Nottingham in 1889 (J/A/S Nottingham). She was 51 years old. William's eldest sister, Ada Emily, married Charles Clay, a butcher, in 1889 (J/F/M Nottingham) and in 1891 they were living at 105 Radford Road, Nottingham. By 1901 they had moved to 175 Birkin Avenue, Radford, and had two children, Charles E. (9) and Elsie B. (5). Another sister, Leila Marie, married Harry Edgar Baker in 1890 (O/N/D Nottingham) and in 1891 they were living at 106 Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green. By 1901 they were living on Derby Road, Sandiacre, with their three children, Harry (9), Nora (6) and Ethel (5). The widowed Charles (52) was living at 46 Bridlington Street, Hyson Green, in 1891 along with five of his children; Charles (25) a lace maker, Beatrice (22) a lace hand, Florence (20), Annie (12) and William (10). The second son, Frederick Stuart, has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census. William's father, Charles, married Louisa Frances Brown in 1891 (O/N/D Nottingham, and remained at 46 Bridlington Street. By 1901 his two youngest children, Annie (22), an assistant in 'Boot [Boots?] shop' and William (19) a brass finisher, were still at the family home. William joined the Royal Navy the following year in 1902. His sister Annie Louisa married William Torr in 1905 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living at 115 Glapton Road, Meadows. William (29), an iron turner, and Annie (31) had one son, Eric (4). Another sister, Beatrice Charlotte, married Thomas Goodman Ball in 1906 (J/A/S Nottingham) and in 1911 they were living at 25 Cedar Road, Nottingham. Thomas (33, b. Elecar Yorkshire), a bricklayer, and Beatrice had one child, Enid May (3). The eldest brother, Charles William, married Harriet Maria Holdcroft (41) on 24 November 1906 in St Barnabus Church, Derby, and in 1911 they were living at 81 Moss Street, Derby. His married sister Leila Baker and her husband Harry Edgar were still at 118 Derby Road, Sandiacre, in 1911. They now had four children; Harry Leslie (19) an accountant's clerk, Nora Lilian (16) a chemist's clerk, Ethel Mary (15) and Stewart Gordon (5, b. Sandiacre). His married sister Ada Clay (46) and her husband Charles (46), a shopkeeper (English meat), were still living on Birkin Avenue, Hyson Green. Their two children, Charles (19) a warehouseman (lace curtains) and Elsie (15) an office clerk were still living with their parents in 1911. On the night of the census they had an overnight visitor, Charles' sister, Eliza A Clay (50) a shopkeeper on her own account. William's father, Charles (72), his second wife Louisa (77 b. Preston Lancashire) and Frederick Stuart (37), a clerk in the lace industry, were still at 46 Bridlington Street in 1911. William Frederick married Lavinia Shepherd (birth registered 1876 J/F/M Basford) in 1913 (J/F/M Nottingham). At the time of William's death in 1914 they were living at 38 Kenny Road, Fratton, Portsmouth. It seems that Lavinia did not remarry after William's death as there is a record of the death of a Lavinia Flick in 1966 (Jun Nottingham) aged 90. William's father, Charles, died in 1914 (J/A/S Nottingham) age 75. Of William's siblings: Ada Emily (Clay) died on 16 March 1952 aged 87; she was living at Park Brow, 140 Moorside North Fenham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Her husband Charles predeceased her. Charles William died in 1938 (Dec Derby) aged 73 Leila (Baker) died in 1955 (Dec Ilkeston Derbys) aged 87 Beatrice (Ball) died in 1955 (Mar Basford) aged 85 Florence Emma has not been traced after the 1891 Census. Frederick Stuart probably died aged 75 in 1947 (Jun Manchester) Annie Louisa (Torr) died on 16 April 1943 aged 64. Her home address was 135 Wilford Crescent, Meadows. Her husband survived her.
William joined the Royal Navy on 11 June 1902 when he was 21 years old. He joined on a 12 year engagement which he extended on 11 June 1914 'to completion.' He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Excellent, 11 June 1902-14 February 1903 (Assistant Gunner); HMD Duke of Wellington, 15 February 1903-15 October 1903; HMS Firequeen, 16 October 1903-29 February 1904; HMS Andromeda, 30 October 1904-16 July 1906; HMS Excellent, 17 July 1906-5 January 1907; HMS Vernon, 6 January 1907-2 February 1907; HMS Excellent, 3 February 1907-4 March 1907; HMS Victory, 5 March 1907-12 February 1908; HMS Excellent, 23 February 1908-19 June 1908; HMS Hecla, 20 June 1908-10 February 1909; HMS Excellent, 11 October 1907-8 May 1909; HMS Vernon, 9 May 1909-12 June 1909; HMS Excellent, 13 June 1909-26 July 1909; HMS Terrible, 27 July 1909-31 August 1909; HMS Psyche, 1 September 1909-15 September 1911 (Arm. Mate 1 August); HMS Crescent, 16 September 1911-31 October 1911; HMS Excellent, 1 February 1911-9 March 1912; HMS Vernon, 10 March 1912-23 March 1912; HMS Seagull, 18 April 1912-20 May 1913; HMS Bulwark, 21 May 1913-26 November 1914. He was killed when HMS Bulwark blew up at Sheerness on 26 November 1915; his service record was annotated: 'DD 26th November 1914 when Bulwark was sunk.' His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. On the afternoon of Thursday, November 26th, 1914, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill made the following statement to the House of Commons : ‘I regret to say I have some bad news for the house. The Bulwark battleship, which was lying in Sheerness (on the River Medway) this morning, blew up at 7.35 o'clock. The Vice and Rear Admiral, who were present, have reported their conviction that it was an internal magazine explosion which rent the ship asunder. There was apparently no upheaval in the water, and the ship had entirely disappeared when the smoke had cleared away... I regret to say the loss of life is very severe. Only 12 men are saved. All the officers and the rest of the crew, who, I suppose, amounted to between 700 and 800, have perished. I think the House would wish me to express on their behalf the deep sorrow with which the House heard the news, and their sympathy with those who have lost their relatives and friends.’ HMS Bulwark belonged to a sub-class of the Formidable Class of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy known as the London class. Entering service with the Royal Navy in 1902, she sailed with the Mediterranean Fleet until 1907. She then served with the Home Fleet, for a time under Captain Robert Falcon Scott. After a refit in 1912, she was assigned to the 5th Battle Squadron.Following the outbreak of the First World War, Bulwark, along with the rest of the squadron was attached to the Channel Fleet, conducting patrols in the English Channel. (As Churchill intimated), the explosion was likely to have been caused by the overheating of cordite charges that had been placed adjacent to a boiler room bulkhead. (Wikipedia )
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 5 December 1914: ‘Flick. On November 26th, William Frederick Flick, AM of HMS Bulwark, late of Hyson Green, dearly loved husband of Winnie (sic) Flick. Grief too deep for words.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Torr Annie Louisa of 135 Wilford-crescent-east Nottingham (wife of William Torr) died 16 April 1943 at Vale Brook Lodge Nottingham Administration Nottingham 27 May to the said William Torr turner.Effects £190 13s. 2d. Probate: Clay Ada Emily of Park Brow 140 Moorside North Fenham Newcastle-upon-Tyne widow died 16 March 1952 Probate Nottingham 8 April to Charles Edward Clay warehouseman. Effects £468 2s. 7d.
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