Ernest Peet
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the son of Edward and Mary Jane Peet of 19 Edwin Street, St. Ann's Well Road, Nottingham. Edward was a plumber. In 1891 there were 8 children in the household; Edwin (16), Albert (14), John Thomas (12), Alice Jane (10), Harold (8), Clara Elizabeth (6), Ernest (4) and William Lewis (2) and the same children were in the household ten years later in 1901. In 1911 Ernest's parents had been married for 26 years and had had 10 children born living of whom only 8 had survived. Seven were in the household at the time of the 1911 census; Albert (24), John Thomas (22), Alice Jane (20), Harold (18), Ernest (14), 'Louis' (William Lewis, 12) and Doris (9). It would appear that either Edwin (age 16 in 1901) or Clara Elizabeth (age 6 in 1901) had died in the intervening 10 years.
Ernest joined the Royal Navy on 11 March 1916 (Hostilities only). Ships and shore establishments: Vivid I, 11 March 1916-30 Aug 1916 (Armourer); HMS Colossus, 31 August 1916-26 September 1917; Vivid II, 27 September 1917-14 October 1917; Woolwich (Vehement), 15 October 1917-31 May 1918; Wallington (Vehement), 1 June 1918-30 June 1918; Leander (Vehement), 1 July 1918-2 August 1918. HMS Vehement (20th Destroyer Flotilla) sank in the North Sea after striking a mine while undertaking mine laying operations in the Heligoland Bight. The resulting explosion caused her forward ammunition magazine to detonate and the entire forward section of the ship was blown off. After the fires had been put out Vehement was taken in tow but her stem rose in the air making towing impossible. The surviving crew took measures to scuttle her and then abandoned ship. Forty-eight of a ship's company of 588 lost their lives. Ernest's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 14 August 1918: 'Peet. Drowned at sea as a result of enemy action, August 2nd 1918, Armourer Ernest Peet, age 21 (sic). Mother, father, brothers, sisters.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 2 August 1919: ‘PEET. – In loving memory of Armourer Ernest Peet, who lost his life on H.M.S. Vehement August 2nd, 1918; also Lce.-Corpl. A. Peet, York and Lancs., died of wounds September 26th, 1916. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. – From mother, father, brothers, and sisters.” Notice courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War 1914-1918 Another Nottingham sailor, Petty Officer George Shirley Simons, J.2429 (Dev), whose family lived on Wilford Crescent West, Meadows, was also lost in HMS Vehement.
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