| Notes |
- Bible presented to Wm Gordon for good attendance New Road Morning SS, April 1897.
UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920
Name: William Gordon
Enlistment Age: 18
Birth Date: abt 1882
Birth Place: Kilmore, Down
Enlistment Year: 1900
Regiment: Roy Ir. Rifles
Regimental Number: 6128
Attestation Paper: Yes
Next of kin father William Brown Gordon 10 Mourne S Belfast
mother Eliza
104 days discharged in consequence of having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment.
UK, Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920
Name: W Gordon
Enlistment Age: 18
Birth Date: abt 1884
Birth Place: Kilmort Down
Enlistment Year: 1902
Regiment: R.A.M.C
Regimental Number: 17177
Attestation Paper: Yes
27 Jan 02 to 16 May 02 discharged for not being likely to become an efficient soldier.
Next of kin father William B Gordon 34 Roundhill S Belfast
mother Eliza
Brother John
William enlisted in the British Navy in October 1903 for a period of 12 years. He rose to the rank of Stoker Petty Officer. In World War I he was at the Gallipoli landings. His ship, the battleship Cornwallis, was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterean. He was later engaged in mine clearance service. Worked in Pittsburgh as a stationary engineer until his death. Also worked as a merchant seaman for a while. Service record in the possession of Gordon L. Drollinger
Some hint of mystery here as 23 Nov 1919 he arrives NYC aboard the Adriatic going to Pittsburgh. Coming from Leith visiting Friend Mr James McCarthy of 6 Crown Place, Leith. Father Mr William Gordon, 1905 Irwin St Nothside Pittsburgh PA.
Further he has a British passport issued 4 Nov 1919 travelling to the USA 10 Nov 1919. 26 Oct 1920 he is travelling to the USA after travelling to Great Britain 9 Aug 1920.
Name: William Gordon Arrival Date: 28 Mar 1903 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882 Age: 21 Gender: Male Port of Departure: Liverpool, England Ethnicity/RaceÂ/Nationality: Irish Ship Name: Celtic Last residence Ballynahinch. Going to Mrs Sarah Farrell, 526 West 46th ST, NY
William Gordon Port Division Chatham Official Number 305328
Decorations: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
1 Jan 1915 Recommended for Royal Fleet Reserve; 4 April 1918 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917 chevrons awarded; 6 Sep 1919 War Gratuity paid
Pembroke ! Oct 03 3 May 04 HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham opened in 1903 and over the course of the next 80 years witnessed visits from many members of the Royal Family. Pembroke, the Royal Naval Barracks at Chatham, was built between the Steam Yard and Brompton barracks in the early years of the century. By the outbreak of the First World War Chatham had become one of the Royal Navy's three ?manning ports' with over a third of the navy - 205 ships manned by men allocated to the Chatham Division - a role that was to continue until the advent of central manning in 1956.
Bedford 1 Jun 04 14 Sep 04 The fifth ?Bedford? was a 14-gun twin-screw cruiser, launched at Govan in 1901. She was of 9800 tons, 22,457 horsepower, and 23 knots speed. Her length, beam, and draught were 440 ft, 66ft, and 24ft. On August 21st, 1910, this ship while commanded by Captain Edward S. Fitzherbert ran ashore on Quelpart Island on the china Station, and became a total wreck, 18 lives being lost through the sudden flooding of the stokeholds. The wreck was sold soon afterwards for £3000. HMS Newcastle was sent out to the China Station to replace HMS Bedford.
Bedford 15 Sep 04 17 Aug 05 Run Quebec Canada
Pembroke 19 Dec 06 19 Mar 07
Edgar 20 Mar 07 22 May 07 Built Devonport Dockyard, laid down June 1889, completed March 1893. Size: Length 360 feet pp 387 feet 6 inches overall, beam 60 feet, draught 23 feet 9 inches, displacement 7,350 tons load. Propulsion:
2 shaft triple expansion engines, 12,000 ihp, 20 knots Armour: 9in gun shields, 6-3in decks Armament: 2 x 9.2in 30 cal (2 x 1), 10 x 6in Mk VII (10 x 1), 16 x 3pounder (16 x 1), 4 x 14in TT
Comments:
smaller versions of the previous Blake class (which didn't see service in WW1) although owing superior machinery matched them for speed and firepower although with less protection. Crescent and royal Arthur were built to a slightly modified design with a raised forecastle and a pair of 6 inch guns replacing the 9.2 inch gun and are sometimes considered a separate class. Crew 544.
World War 1 Service:
Edgar
1914 10th Cruiser Squadron Northern Patrol.
February 1915 Rearmed and given anti-torpedo bulges.
1915-1916 Dardanelles.
1917 Aegean.
1921 Sold for scrap.
Dido 3 Jul 07 14 Aug 07 Built London & Glasgow Co, Glasgow, laid down August 1894, completed May 1898.Size: Length 350 feet pp 373 feet overall, beam 53 feet 6 inches, draught 20 feet 6 inches, displacement 5,600 tons load. Propulsion: 2 shaft TE engines, 8,000 ihp, 18.5kts Armour: 3in gun shields, 3-1.5in decks Armament: 5 x 6in QF (5 x 1), 6 x 4.7in (6 x 1), 8 x 12 pounder QF (8 x 1), 6 x 3 pounder QF (6 x 1), 3 x 18in TT Comments: Enlarged follow on to the Astraea class with similar speed but increased protection and armament. Crew 450.World War 1 Service: 1914 Depot ship 3rd Submarine Flotilla.
1914 Depot ship 3rd Destroyer Flotilla Harwich.
1915 Depot ship 9th Destroyer Flotilla Harwich.
1918 Depot ship 10th Destroyer Flotilla Harwich.
1926 Sold for scrap.
Pembroke 15 Aug 07 24 Oct 07
Cyclops 25 Oct 07 9 June 08 HMS Cyclops,(F31) (ex merchant ship Indrabarah) built by Laing and launched 27th October 1905. Displacement: 11,300 tons, Speed 13 knots, Compliment: 266, Armament: Two 4 - inch Guns, HMS Cyclops served during world war one and served in WW2, Between the war HMS Cyclops served as a Submarine depot ship in the Mediterranean, and returned to Home Waters late in 1939. where she spent the war years until being scrapped at Newport July 1947.
Pembroke 10 Jun 08 24 Jun 08
Crescent 25 Jun 08 23 Sep 08 HMS Crescent, Royal Navy Cruiser of the Edgar Class. Other cruisers in the class HMS Edgar, HMS Endymion, HMS Gibraltar, HMS Grafton, HMS Hawke, HMS Royal Arthur, HMS St George and HMS Theseus. HMS Crescent launched 30th March 1892 and served in the Cape and West African Station, returning in 1907. She joined the Home Fleet 4th Cruiser Squadron 1909-1913, in February 1913 she joined the training squadron in Queenstown. At the outbreak of World War I, she joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron Aug 1914- Feb 1915. Disarmed in November 1915 and became a depot ship attached to the Grand Fleet. Finally broken up September 1921.
Cadmus 24 Sep 08 10 Oct 10 The Cadmus class was a six-ship class of 10-gun screw steel sloops built for the Royal Navy between 1900 and 1903. During the whole of her career Cadmus served on the China station. She recommissioned at Hong Kong on 18 October 1912 and remained on the China Station during World War I. In 1920 she was listed as "unallocated" at Hong Kong, and was sold there on 1 September 1921.
Royal Arthur 11 Oct 10 20 Dec 10 An Edgar class armoured cruiser launched in 1891 and sold in 1921.
Pembroke 21 Dec 10 8 Feb 11
St George (Welland) 9 Feb 11 5 Jun 11 Edgar class armoured cruiser Used as a depot ship in March 1910 and then broken up 1st July 1920.
Orontes (Welland) 6 Jun 11 10 Nov 11 Some confusion here as this name was broken up prior to his assignment. The Welland was a River class destroyer. The River Class destroyer marked the break between torpedo boats and true destroyers and set the destroyer programmes of Britain and other major naval powers until 1916. The class served the Royal Navy well and was used during WWI for patrol and escort duties. due to their higher silhouette which made them more visible they were less suited for surprise torpedo attacks. The River Class destroyers were built by various boat yards including Palmer, Yarrow, Hawthorn Leslie, Laird, Thornycroft and White.
Illegible 11 Nov 11 21 Apr 13
Royal Arthur 22 Apr 13 1 Jun 13
Pembroke 2 Jun 13 2 Nov 13
Halcyon (Leda) 3 Nov 13 3 Mar 14 HMS Halcyon was the lead ship of the Halcyon class torpedo gunboats also known as the Dryad class. It was launched from the Devenport Dockyard on 6 April 1894. They were modest sized vessels with a crew of 120 capable of around 18 knots. She was equipped with four 6-pounder guns, 1 x Nordenfeldt machine gun and five torpedo tubes.
Leda 4 Mar 14 10 Jul 14
Pembroke 11 Jul 14 9 Aug 14
Arethusa 11 Aug 14 18 Aug 14 HMS Arethusa was the name ship of the Arethusa Class cruiser. She was laid down at Chatham Dockyard in October 1912, launched on 25 October 1913, and commissioned in August 1914 as flotilla leader for the Harwich destroyer flotillas.
Pembroke 19 Aug 14 20 Oct 14
Cornwallis 21 Oct 14 17 Jan 17 While on the Cornwallis he was promoted from Stoker to Acting Leading Stoker 18 Feb 15 and to Leading Stoker 18 Aug 15 and Stoker Petty Officer on 1 Jan 17
Description: The launch of the 13,745 ton first-class battleship HMS 'Cornwallis' from the Thames Ironworks on 17 July 1901. 'Cornwallis' saw service with the Channel Fleet in 1906 but was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet in February the next year. In August 1910 she joined the Mediterranean Fleet and in June two years later returned to the Home Fleet in 4th Battle Squadron. At the outbreak of war in 1914, 'Cornwallis' joined the 6th Battle Squadron of the Channel Fleet but was sent to the Dardanelles in January 1915. HMS 'Cornwallis' was the last ship to leave Gallipoli in the evacuation of 19-20 December 1915. After being hit with three torpedoes from German U-boat 'U32' she sank off Malta with the loss of 15 lives.
Pembroke 18 Jan 17 11 Apr 17
Acteoy (Electra) 12 Apr 17 10 Jun 18 HMS Electra was a Brazen class destroyer, later categorized as a C class destroyer, built at J & G Thomson Shipbuilding Company (which in a few years would be renamed John Brown & Company), at their Clydeside yard. She was one of the three-funnelled ships of the 1895 Naval Programme. She was launched on 14 July 1896, but not completed until July 1900 because of severe labour troubles in the shipbuilding industry in Great Britain at that time. She carried the pennant number N25 from 12 June 1914 until 9 January 1915 , then D52 until 1 January 1918 , and then D31 until she was decommissioned. She served in World War I, being used mostly for coastal patrol work and for escorting coastal convoys around Great Britain. She was sold for scrapping to Barking Ship Breaking Company on 29 April 1920.
Pembroke 11 Jun 18 23 Jul 18
Gunner 24 Jul 18 31 Mar 19 Auxiliary Patrol Base, Granton mine clearance service
Welland 22 apr 19 6 Jun 1920 demobbed
William Gordon in the UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1900-1928
Name: William Gordon
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 18 May 1884
Birth Place: Crossgar Down
Service number: 305328
First Service Date: 1 Oct 1903
First Ship Served On: Northumberland
William Gordon in the UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972
Name: William Gordon
Medal or Award: Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal
Service Year: 1914-1920
Service Location: Europe
Campaign or Service: World War I
Last Service Date: 10 Jun 1918
Last Ship Served On: Actaeon
William Gordon in the UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1900-1928
Name: William Gordon
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 18 May 1884
Birth Place: Crossgar Down
Service number: 305328
First Service Date: 1 Oct 1903
First Ship Served On: Northumberland
Last Service Date: 10 Jun 1918
Last Ship Served On: Actaeon
- To W Gordon P.O.
G. Larce R. Barracks
Chatham C/O G.P.O. London
From Stevens
41 Sheaf Gardens
Sheffield
41 Sheaf Gardens
Sheffield
Yorkshire
20/3/17
Dear Mr Gordon
No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me. Mr T Stevens my dear brother has written to me of your braveacts and kind thoughts of him. I wish to convey to the deep gratitude of my wife & self for your great love of him, which you have already proven to me beg you to accept this pipe as a small token of our great appreciation trusting you will attain the success you are working so hard for, & hoping we shall all meet soon to be able to thank you personally. I remain
Yours Sincerely
Harold Damerell Stevens
HMS Royal Arthur
G.P.O
18 Feb 17
Dear Gordon
It is with heart felt pleasure that I hear of your safety though I heard from Malta that you were safe and sound. God knows how delighted I was. And I cannot find words to express my thanks and gratitude to you for your great loyalty, Devotion, and Heroism and you kept your promise and it would be my great delight now to grasp your hand as a staunch friend, comrade and gentleman and a S(illegible) (illegible) inch. You and I have had a marvelous escape, have we not? Both on Seddhe Baher Beach when we landed in the troops from the SS River Clyde and then we lost the poor old ship "Cornwallis" to T/ps! but thank God almost everyone saved including as you say our Captain Davidson and Commanders Stewart and Crichton. I received your other letter O.K. but after the Ship was sunk. I did not know where to write although I knew you were safe; I heard from my dear old Dad and he thinks the World of you. You shall see letter some day I hope. And to think you got the birds home after all their hardships and many adventures. I must Congratulate you on your promotion, "Cheer O" and let me know at once if you leave barracks because I have all oon coming on leave in March and you come and see us when I am home. You know you are always welcome at "Rose of (illegible) they will be delighted to see you any time. What did you think of the little ones? isn't little Johnny a (illegible) Thanks very much for the Key of the shop it is a great treasure and I value it very much. But I may see you to express my thanks. In the mean time "Cheer O" I will let you know when I come home and we will have a yarn at my Dear Old home. Good Night
Dear Gordon God bless you.
Yours very sincerely
Tom
T. Stevens RN
- V Beach was 300 yards (270 m) long and 10 yards (9.1 m) wide, with a low bank about 5 feet (1.5 m) high on the landward side. Cape Helles and Fort Etrugrul (Fort No. 1) were on the left and the old Sedd el Bahr castle (Fort No. 3) was on the right looking from the sea; Hill 141 was further inland. The beach had been wired and was defended by about a company of men from the 3rd Battalion of the 26th Regiment, equipped with four Maxim guns.[40] The first ashore was the 1st Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers which landed from ships' boats that were towed or rowed ashore. The rest were landed from a Trojan horse, SS River Clyde, a 4,000 long tons (4,100 t) converted collier, which had eleven machine-guns on the bow. Sally ports had been cut in the hull to allow the men to embark via gangways.[41] The ship held 2,000 men; the 1st Battalion of the Royal Munster Fusiliers plus two companies of the 2nd Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment (from the 88th Brigade) and one company of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.
- The following was received from the Admiralty yesterday: HMS CORNWALLIS (1917), Captain A P Davidson, DSO, was sunk by an enemy submarine on January 9 in the Mediterranean. The captain and all the officers are saved, but there are 13 men missing. It is feared that they were killed in the explosion. [Aberdeen Journal 12.1.1917] Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?37383
Vice-Admiral (retired) Alexander Percy Davidson, D.S.O., Royal Navy (30 March, 1868 ? 11 February, 1930) was an officer of the Royal Navy.
- People on board People on board HMS CORNWALLIS123
1. CRUMPLER, ARTHUR STEPHEN (22), Leading Stoker (no. SS/112057), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Navy, ?09/01/1917, Son of Mary Ann Crumpler, of 33, Aldebert Terrace, South Lambeth Rd., London, and the late Richard Crumpler. Native of Charminster, Dorchester. A survivor of H.M.S. Cressy., Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
2. DAVIES, ROLAND (33), Able Seaman (no. 213456), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Fleet Reserve, ?09/01/1917, Son of Mrs. B. Davies, of 4. Hassal St., Hanley, Staffs. Service: RFR/DEV/B/5666, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
3. ELWEL, JOHN WILLIAM (28), Stoker 1st Class (no. SS/107090), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Fleet Reserve, ?09/01/1917, Son of James and Adelaide Elwell, of Moden Hill, Sedgley, Dudley, Staffs; husband of Martha Elwell, of 17, Hollywell St., Hurst Hill, Bilston, Staffs. Service: RFR/CH/B/9643, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
4. EVANS, WILLIAM HENRY (20), Private (no. CH/18385), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Marine Light Infantry, ?09/01/1917, Son of Mrs. Lucy Emma Shakespeare, of 1, Bk., 38, Cherry Wood Rd., Bordesley Green, Birmingham, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
5. FALZON, FRANCESCO (27), Fireman (no. 441F), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Naval Reserve, ?09/01/1917, Son of Carmelo and Carmela Falzon, of 125, Sda Concezzione, Misida, Malta, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
6. FOX, HARRY (35), Stoker 1st Class (no. 298334), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Fleet Reserve, ?09/01/1917, Husband of Elizabeth Lucy Fox, of 4, Wilna Rd., Wandsworth London. Service: RFR/PO/B/2692, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial 7. GRAY, ALBERT EDWARD (18), Musician (no. RMB/2120), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Marine Band, ?09/01/1917, Son of William and Annie Gray, of The New Inn, Littleworth Common, Dropmore, Maidenhead, Bucks, Memorial: Portsmouth Naval Memorial
8. MANSFIELD, GEORGE THOMAS (19), Ordinary Seaman (no. SS/7377), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Navy, ?31/12/1916, Son of William D. and Ann Mansfield, of 59, Brewer St., Woolwich, London, Memorial: East Mudros Military Cemetery 9. MARSTON, WALTER (24), Stoker (no. 3518S), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Naval Reserve, ?09/01/1917, Son of Francis W. and Edith Marston, of 129, Pasture Rd., Goole, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
10. MARTIN, TOM (28), Leading Stoker (no. K/7009), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Navy, ?09/01/1917, Son of Thomas and Eliza Elizabeth Martin, of 33, North End Rd., Erith, Kent, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
11. NEWMAN, ROBERT , Stoker 1st Class (no. K/11856), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Navy, ?09/01/1917, Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Newman, of Cassington, Eynsham, Oxford, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
12. NICOL, THOMAS , Stoker 1st Class (no. 285906), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Fleet Reserve, ?09/01/1917, Service: RFR/CH/B/6122, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
13. NORRIS, ELIJAH (27), Stoker 1st Class (no. K/3982), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Navy, ?09/01/1917, Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Norris, of London, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
14. PRATT, SIDNEY ARTHUR (21), Stoker 1st Class (no. K/22801), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Navy, ?09/01/1917, Son of Benjamin and Emily Maria Pratt, of Maidstone; husband of Mabel Gertrude Pratt, of 46, Milton St., Maidstone, Kent, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
15. SCOTT, HENRY WILLIAM (45), Petty Officer Stoker (no. 160031), HMS Cornwallis, Royal Navy, ?09/01/1917, Son of the late William and Hannah Scott, of Paddington, London, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?37383
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1884 - 1941 (57 years)
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