Sub-Lieut. John Henry Walsingham, RNR

Male 1885 - 1915  (30 years)


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  • Name John Henry Walsingham 
    Prefix Sub-Lieut. 
    Suffix RNR 
    Born 1885  Pancras, London Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    WW1 Enlistment 26 Nov 1914 
    Sub-Lieutenant John H Walsingham RNR, assigned to Merchant Vessel 'Lynn'. 
    . From 'Naval Operations - Vol II' page 17 (Dec. 3, 1914: U-Boats and Scapa):
    "It had been found that, useful as the minesweeping trawlers were, their speed was too low to allow them to work far enough afield to give him (the Commander-in-Chief) elbow room. To overcome the difficulty the Admiralty made a further draft on the mercantile marine by taking up eight fast railway packets and commissioning them as 'Fleet Minesweepers'... They were the Reindeer, Roebuck, Lynn and Gazelle of the Great Western Railway; Folkstone and Hythe of the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway; and Clacton and Newmarket of the Great Eastern Railway."

    From Wikipedia:
    'Lynx' (1889-1925) 596 tons. One of three ships built by Lairds of Birkenhead in 1889 for the GWR's newly acquired Channel Island services. Most of the passenger accommodation was removed in 1910 after which she was operated as a cargo vessel. She served as minesweeper HMS Lynn in the Mediterranean during World War I and was finally broken up after 36 years service. 
    Died 6 May 1915  HMS Goliath, Dardenelles Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • From UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947:
      WALSINGHAM, Sub-Lieut. John Henry. R.N.R. H.M.S. "Lynn". Accidentally killed 6th May, 1915. Age 29. Son of Henry and Kate Walsingham, of "Exhall,", 19, Willifield Way, Golders Green, London. 13.

      He was killed in an engine room accident on 6 May 1915 whilst off the Dardanelles (Gallipoli campaign).

      'The son of two original members of the Free Church whose home was 19 Willifield Way. He served for six months aboard H.M.S. Lynn and met his death while engaged in salving the stranded H.M.S. Goliath and her crew. He was accidentally crushed in the steering gear during this operation and died instantly. He was buried at sea with usual war honours, four miles due south of the Island of Teredos. His name appears on the Chatham Naval memorial in Kent, also at St Jude's memorial and is remembered on the Free Church memorial.'
      [ https://hgsheritage.org.uk/Detail/objects/WW1-17 ]
    • .
    Buried At sea with usual war honours, 4m due south of the Island of Teredos Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I12348  Simpson & Elder
    Last Modified 30 Dec 2018 

    Father Henry Walsingham,   b. 2 Dec 1851, Ernest St, Saint Pancras, Marylebone, Middlesex Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Feb 1936  (Age 84 years) 
    Mother Kate Gaunt,   b. Apr-Jun 1854, Pancras district, London Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1930, Wandsworth, London Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years) 
    Married 10 Jul 1884  St Paul's Church, St Pancras Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F272  Group Sheet

  • Photos
    Minesweeper HMS Lynn (formerly railway packet Lynx)
    Minesweeper HMS Lynn (formerly railway packet Lynx)
    'The Navy List Corrected to 18th December, 1914'
    'The Navy List Corrected to 18th December, 1914'
    The Times, Monday, May 10, 1915; pg. 3; Issue 40850; col A
    The Times, Monday, May 10, 1915; pg. 3; Issue 40850; col A
    Information on the minesweeper 'Lynn'.
    Information on the minesweeper 'Lynn'.
    Royal Navy Roll of Honour World War 1
    Royal Navy Roll of Honour World War 1
    HMS Goliath
    HMS Goliath


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