Arthur Leslie Rhodes

HMS Stephen Furness HMS Stephen Furness was an Armed Boarding Cruiser. On December 13th 1917 she was heading from Lerwick to Liverpool for repairs when torpedoed 15 miles WxN from Contrary Head Isle of Man by UB 64 (Walter Gude). She was struck between the bridge and funnel and sank suddenly before lifeboats could be launched. 101 men were lost. His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Boots 'Comrades in Khaki', March 1916, 'A Gallipoli Chronicle' (photograph): 'AL Rhodes, formerly of Boots Audit Department and now a gallant seafarer, has sent home the following striking account of affairs at the Gallipoli.' The letter runs to three pages of the magazine. (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. RB.38) Boots ‘Comrades in Khaki’, April/May 1916, ‘By the Way’: ‘AL Rhodes, Ship’s Steward’s Assistant, who after a prolonged period of naval activity was granted a furlough of 16 days, spent the time with his parents at Nottingham, and cheered his old colleagues with his breezy presence. He speaks in glowing terms of life in the navy with its varied excitements, and its admixture of rough and smooth times. He has visited many ports, and enjoyed a fairly constant change of scene; he has experienced good and bad weather, hot and cold, and has passed through heavy times at the Dardanelles. Like so many of the boys he reports perfect health and added weight.’ (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. RB,38) A Boots spokesperson commented 'Leslie was a good Christian lad. I always had great admiration for his manly upright character. The firm have lost a valuable and most promising employee.' Hucknall Dispatch 3/1/1918 Inscription on family headstone, Hucknall Cemetery: ‘In loving memory of William Rhodes who fell asleep in Jesus June (-) (-) aged 71 years. Also of Elizabeth Berresford Rhodes daughter of the above who passed away Feb 21st (-) aged 31 years. And Elizabeth, wife of the above, who died Jan 2nd (-) aged (-) years. Also Arthur Leslie Rhodes S.S. of HMS Stephen Furness torpedoed Dec 13th 1917 aged 21 years.’ Article published 3rd January 1918 in the Hucknall Dispatch :- Ship's Steward Assistant Arthur Leslie Rhodes, R.N., was killed when his ship, H.M.S. Stephen Furness, was torpedoed in the Irish Sea on 13th December 1917. An anonymous officer from H.M.S. Stephen Furness wrote to his family. “He was my right-hand man. I never want a better man to with than your son; always loyal, true and very cheerful. I never saw him otherwise under any circumstances. He was one of the most popular chaps on the ship, and everyone had a good word for him. I did not myself see him from the time the ship was struck to the time she went down. The carpenter, who is also one of the few lucky survivors, could not say too much for your son, for he fulfilled his difficult job as a ship’s steward in a very satisfactory way to all concerned in the ship.” Death notice published 28th December 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “RHODES. – Lost at sea, through enemy action, on December 13th, 1917, Arthur Leslie Rhodes, acting ship's steward, third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Rhodes, 62, High-street, Hucknall, late “Hazelhurst,” Westdale-lane, Mapperley.” Above article and death notice are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918