Alfred Wardle
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Alfred was the son of Job (John) and Jane Selina Wardle. His mother was born in Portsmouth in 1869, the daughter of Simon and Sarah Sumners (also Summers) but by 1881 the family was living in Bulwell, Nottingham. Job was born in Nottingham (abt. 1865). According to the 1911 Census Job and Jane, who had been married for 22 years, had 11 children of whom nine were still living at the time of the census. Ten children were named on the census of 1901 and 1911 (family not traced on the 1891 Census): Ernest, William, Florence (Florrie), Alfred, Frances, Charles, Annie, George, Rose and Dorothy. It is probable that Charles, who was four months old at the time of the 1901 Census, was Charles Henry who was born in 1900 (birth registered Nottingham O/N/D) and died in 1909 aged 9 years. In 1901 the family was living at 2 St Ann's Alley, Nottingham in the ecclesiastical parish of St Mark. Job (36) was working as a coal carter and Jane (33) was a lace mender. children were in the home on the night of the census; Ernest (12), William (9), Florence (6), Alfred (4), Frances (2) and Charles (4 months). By 1911 Job and Jane were living at 15 Moorgate Street, Nottingham. Seven children were in the household on the night of the census; Florrie (16) a lace dresser, Alfred (14), Frances (13), Annie (9), George (7), Rose (3) and Dorothy (1 month). Alfred's mother was notified of her son's death; at the time she was living at 4 Palm Cottages, Mansfield Street, Sherwood. Alfred's father died in 1927 aged 62 and his mother in 1938 aged 69.
Alfred joined the Royal Navy on 15 July 1913 when he was 17 years old and signed on a twelve-year engagement on 21 November 1914, his eighteenth birthday. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: HMS Ganges 15 July 1914-18 January 1914 (Boy Second Class 15 July 1913, Boy 1st Class 18 January 1914); HMS Edgar, 19 January 1914-20 May 1914; HMS Victory 21 May 1914-17 August 1914; HMS Hermione 18 August 1914-31 March 1915 (Ordinary Seaman 21 November 1914); HMS Hecla (Lynx) 19 April 1915-9 August 1915 (Able Seaman 24 July 1915). His service record was annotated ‘NP 4047/15. DD 9th August 15. Lost with HMS Lynx.’ His last ship was HMS Lynx, an Acasta Class destroyer (Commander JF Cole RN) which was serving with the Grand Fleet. On the night of 8-9 August HMS Lynx in company with HMS Midge was on patrol in the Moray Firth. Ships had been warned of an enemy minefield which had not been accurately charted and at 0610 on 9 August HMS Lynx hit a mine which had been laid by the Imperial German Navy's auxiliary cruiser/minelayer, Meteor. (Meteor was formerly the British freighter, SS Vienna, captured in Hamburg on the outbreak of war and armed and renamed.) The first explosion near No 1 boiler room severed the fore part of the ship and another explosion 5-10 minutes later was believed to have been caused by the after part of the ship hitting another mine. Approximately 70 of her crew, including Commander Cole, were lost, about 27 survivors being rescued by SS Vulcano some hours later. Meteor was attacked on her way back to Germany by the cruisers of Harwich Force and was sunk after Meteor's captain ordered the crew to scuttle the ship. Alfred's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Photograph Nottingham Evening Post, August 1915: 'A Wardle, OS, 18, late of New Basford, killed in the North Sea, August 9th, on the Lynx.' In the photograph he has the cap tally of HMS Hermione in which he served from 18 August 1914 to 31 March 1915. Nottingham Evening Post, Roll of Honour, 18 August 1915: ‘Wardle. Drowned at sea through HMS Lynx striking a mine on August 9th. A Wardle, OS, late of New Basford, age 18. Did his duty. From his loving mother.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
