Benjamin Green
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Benjamin was the son of Edward and Mary Ann Green (née Marriott). Edward Green was born in about 1851 in Muston, Leicestershire, and Mary Ann Marriott was also born in about 1851 at Skegby, Nottinghamshire. They were married at Skegby St Andrew on 2 June 1873 (A/M/J Mansfield) and had at least ten children: Esther b. Skegby 4 December 1873 bap Skegby St Andrew 11 January 1874 d. 16 February 1940; Sarah Maria b. Skegby 1875 (J/A/S Mansfield) bap. St Andrew 15 August 1875 m. Walter Hellewell 17 April 1900 Shirebrook Holy Trinity d. 1901 (A/M/J Mansfield); John b. Skegby 1877 (J/A/S Mansfield) bap. St Andrew 8 July 1877; Albert Edward b. Pleasley bap. Pleasley 29 October 1879; Alice b. Pleasley birth registered 1882 (J/F/M Mansfield) bap. St Andrew 28 May 1882; William b. Shirebrook 1883 (O/N/D Mansfield) bap. Shirebrook Holy Trinity 25 November 1883 d. 1954 (A/M/J Mansfield); Rejoice b. Shirebrook 6 August 1886 (J/A/S Mansfield) d. 3 June 1975 (Radcliffe on Trent Notts); Benjamin b. Shirebrook 22 July 1888 bap. Holy Trinity 12 August 1888; Harry b. Shirebrook 1890 (O/N/D Mansfield) bap. Holy Trinity 21 December 1890 and Gertrude b. Shirebrook 26 January 1893 bap. Holy Trinity 26 February 1893. Edward Green (30) a coal miner, and Mary Ann (30) a dressmaker, were living in Pleasley in 1881 with their four children Esther (7), Sarah Maria (5), John (4) and Albert (under one year). By 1891 Edward was a coal miner and publican and he and his wife were living at the Gate Inn, Main Street, Shirebrook, Derbyshire. They now had eight children: Sarah, John, Albert, Alice (9), William (7), Rejoice (5), Benjamin (2) and Harry (under one year). They were still at the Gate Inn in 1901 with Edward listed on the census as a licensed victualler. Seven of their children were living at home: Esther, Albert a hay and straw dealer, Alice, William, Benjamin, Harry and Gertrude (8). Their daughter Sarah had married Walter Hellewell on 17 April 1900 at Shirebrook Holy Trinity, and died in 1901 (A/M/J Mansfield). Benjamin's mother died in 1904 (O/N/D Mansfield). Benjamin joined the Royal Navy four years later in July 1908. His father Edward had moved to Brooklyn House, Woodthorpe Avenue, Arnold, by 1911 and had retired as a licensed victualler. Three of his daughters still lived with him: Esther, Rejoice and Gertrude who was a milliner. Edward employed one general domestic servant. Edward died on 10 October 1918 at Shirebrook although his home was at Brooklyn House where his unmarried daughters, Esther, Rejoice and Gertrude, were still living when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled.
Benjamin Green joined the Royal Navy on 14 July 1908 on a 12 year engagement a few days before his 20th birthday. At the time of the 1911 (Military) census he was serving in the corvette HMS Bacchante. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Acheron (14 July 1908-5 March 1909, Stoker II), Pembroke II (6 March 1909-13 April 1909), HMS Antrim (14 April 1909-2 May 1910, Stoker 1st Class 16 July 1909), HMS Baccante (3 May 1910-14 March 1912), Pembroke II (15 March 1912-10 May 1912), HMS Actaeon (11 May 1912-11 May 1914), Pembroke II (12 May 1912-9 June 1914), Sutly (10 June 1914-28 June 1914) and HMS Dwarf (29 June 1914-6 November 1914). There is a note on service records that he died from disease while serving in HMS Dwarf on the West Africa Station: ‘DD 6 Nov. 1914 on board SS Appam from obstructive jaundice-cholaemia.’ He is buried in the Duala Protestant Cemetery, Duala, Cameroons, West Africa. HMS Dwarf: Bramble Class Steel Gunboat. Sold for breaking up 1926. HMS Dwarf: July 1914-February 1916 West Africa Station including Cameroons Campaign. NAVAL CAMPAIGN IN OUTLINE. Monday 7 September 1914. Naval operations started against Duala, Cameroons, with armoured cruiser Cumberland (Cn - returned to UK January 1915), old light cruiser Challenger (Cn - left for East Africa in 1915), gunboat Dwarf, local converted gunboats of the Niger Flotilla - Alligator, Balbus, Crocodile, Ivy, Moseley (believed Mole), Porpoise, Remus, Vampire, Vigilant, Walrus taking part.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'At Rest' Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 17 November 1914: 'Green. Died in November on HMS Dwarf, Benjamin Green, son of Ann and Edward Green, Brooklyn House, Woodthorpe Avenue, age 26 years.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 6 November 1915: ‘Green. In loving memory of Benjamin Green of HMS Dwarf, died November 6th, 1914, in West Africa.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 November 1917: ‘Green. In affectionate remembrance of Benjamin Green, HMS Dwarf, who died November 6th, 1914, at Duala, West Africa.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
