Killed by Shell in France

In 

Ever Loving

Memory of

George

Ernest Reynolds

Who was Killed by Shell

in France

December 13 ~ 1916

Aged 34 Years

'Nearer my God to Thee'

In Loving Remembrance

George E Reynolds was a Private in the 6th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment and he is buried in the Hamel Military Cemetery in Beaumont~Hamel in France.

The detail of the buds and broken stem with a fallen Flower are well detailed on this headstone. The buds are a reminder of the potential of a life cut tragically short and the broken stem depicts that ending. The flower in bloom shows us that the person reached adulthood, whereas a broken bud would often depict the loss of a child.  

HMS Velox ~ Killed by Explosion

In 

Loving Memory of

William Walter Allaby

Killed by Explosion on

H.M. Torpedo Destroyer Velox

Oct. 25th 1915 Aged 47 Years

Greater Love Hath No Man Than This'

That A Man Lay Down His Life

For His Country

Also Mary Ann Mottram

Niece of the Above

Died July 10th 1917 Aged 2 Years

Safe in the Arms of Jesus

Also Clara Beloved Wife of

William Mottram

Died April 17th 1935 Aged 60 Years

Rest in Peace

Also the Above Named William Mottram

Died March 18th 1953 Aged 78 Years

Re~United

H.M.S Velox

HMS Velox was a Viper class British Torpedo Boat Destroyer and on the 25th October 1915 it was out on patrol as one of the Portsmouth Local Defence Flotilla destroyers when it hit a mine. Forty two of the Fifty four crew members were lost when the vessel sank. 
The Velox which means 'Swift' in Latin had  originally been named HMS Python and had been part of the Snake Class of Naval vessels along with HMS Viper and HMS Cobra. The vessel's name was changed in June 1902 when it was purchased by the Admiralty following the loss of the Viper and Cobra in 1901, the Royal Navy did not use snake names again for their destroyers.

Although I cannot be certain of the names of these crew members of HMS Velox shown in this picture, I do know that the Ship's Mascot was a monkey named Winnie. Who is seen here with it's head bandaged after having an abscess treated.

More Information of HMS Velox

Victoria Cross for Todger Jones

In Memory of

Thomas Alfred

Jones V.C.  D.C.M

The 22nd Cheshire

Regiment

V.C won at Morval

25th Sept. 1916

Died 30th Jan. 1956

aged 75 years

Thomas Alfred Jones was affectionately known locally as 'Todger Jones' and was born on the 25th December 1880.

He was a Private in the 22nd Cheshire Regiment and won 3 medals for bravery during the 1st World War, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Territorial Efficiency Medal and the Victoria Cross ~ the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Todger Jones was awarded the V.C on 26th October 1916 after he had performed an act of bravery on 25 September 1916 during the Battle of Morval.

Private Jones was with his company covering the advance in front of a village, when he noticed an enemy sniper 200 yards away. He left his trench on his own, and crossed no man's land without covering fire. Although one bullet went through his helmet and another through his coat, he returned the sniper's fire and killed him.

Near the enemy trench, Jones noticed two more Germans who were displaying a white flag whilst simultaneously firing at him, he shot them both. Upon reaching the enemy trench unharmed, he found several occupied dug-outs and single-handedly disarmed 102 Germans including four officers, and the entire trench was marched back to British lines through a heavy barrage by Jones and his comrades.

'TodgerJones' Victoria Cross is displayed at the Cheshire Military Museum in Chester, England and another memorial to him and two other local men of the area who also received V.C.'s can been seen in Victoria Park, Widnes, Cheshire.

Chief Engine Room Artificer of H.M.S. Goliath

It seems the last ship that Percy Augustus Pellowe served on was the ill-fated H.M.S Goliath as an  Chief engine room artificer  before heading to Bombay and then returning to HMS Vivid the Naval Barracks in Devonport and being awarded a commendation. He was hospitalised in England after his return from India in Nov 1914 and during this time the Goliath was dispatched as a part of a blockade against the S.M.S. Konigsberg in the Rufiji River in Tanzania.

Percy's Service Record states his demise on 17th Sept. 1915 as 'death unknown'.

HMS Goliath was laid down at theChatham Dockyard in January 1897 and completed in March 1900.
She served on the China Station 1900–1903
Mediterranean Fleet 1906–1907,
Home Fleet 1907–1908,
Mediterranean Fleet again 1908–1909,
Home Fleet 1909–1914.
At the outbreak of World War I she was in the Channel Fleet, then transferred to the East Indise Station and saw action in German East Africa in 1914–1915, including operations against the German light cruiser Konigberg. She transferred to the Mediterranean in 1915, where she saw action against Ottoman forces in the Dardanelles campaign and was torpedoed and sunk on 13 May 1915.

Here is a picture of some of the crew of the Goliath taken circa 1903-1914. Is Percy in this picture or would he have know those who are ?

Here is a picture of the crew of the Turkish torpedo boat 'Muavanet i Milliye', with their German naval commander Kapitanleutnant Rudolph Firle, responsible for sinking the battleship H.M.S Goliath off Morto Bay, Gallipoli, on the night of 12-13 May 1915

The Goliath under attack

Here is the Roll of Honour for all of those who perished the night the Goliath was sunk.