Seaman one of only 11 survivors from 650 on board as ship sinks
AS the end of first year of the Tynemouth World War One Commemoration Project approaches, the most gratifying aspect of past 12 months has been the enthusiasm of people of all ages and their wish to be involved in whatever way they can, to assist in the creation of the lasting record of the sacrifice of the local community.
What is remarkable is the amount of information still held by relatives.
Families still living locally and others often on the far side of the world are contacting the project and bringing in to the workroom or sending by e-mail material that is in some instances of national significance in the history of the tragic events of the period from 1914 to 1919.
Recently the project has been contacted by a relative of one of only 11 survivors of the sinking of HMS Hampshire on June 5, 1916.
Richard Simpson, from North Shields, was only 18-years-old when he was serving on the ship’s ill-fated voyage to Russia from the Orkneys.
At 8pm on a summer’s evening but in the teeth of a tremendous storm, the ship was forced to turn back to port and then struck a mine.
All but a handful of the 650 aboard perished as the ship went down.
The significance of this event was that Lord Kitchener- was a passenger, being taken to Russia for talks with the Tsarist government about the future conduct of the war and Russia’s needs for assistance.
The loss of the military hero of the late 19th century deprived the nation of a great popular figurehead, although by this time he had lost much of the power and authority he had at the start of the war when appointed Minister for War in the Cabinet on the outbreak of hostilities in 1914.
Richard Simpson has his place in history as one of only 11 survivors, who managed to cling for several hours to a Carley float (survival raft) and scramble ashore.
The project has been sent a number of important pictures of Richard and a news picture of the survivors taken only days after the incident.
In addition we have been reminded of a News Guardian article in October 2010 when Richard was shown as a member of a class photograph from the Jubilee School taken in about 1906.
The project is now seeking as much additional information as possible about Richard and the events of his short life.
Sadly, he only survived for a year and was then lost in the sinking of the ss Thames, an armed merchant cruiser, in August 1917.
Included in the items received is a transcript of his letter home to his mother telling of the terrible circumstances of the ship wreck and his survival.
This is an item of importance in the history of the loss of the Hampshire and will be preserved for the future interest of anyone studying the events of that time.
It will be passed to relevant archives and the Imperial War Museum where his part in the events surrounding the drowning of the great military leader will be recorded.
The story of Richard and several of his classmates in the ill-fated Class 6 of 1906 at Jubilee School will be a part of the project’s work over the coming two years.
THIS week’s casualty list gives details of men killed or died in December 1917. The project is seeking details on many of these men.
Charlton, Edwin, Driver, 53rd Battery, 2nd Brigade RFA, DOW, 1st, 10 Back Street.
Garritt, William, Yorks and Lancs Regiment, killed by a bomb explosion – details needed.
Hallcro, William Garfitt, KIA, 16th, 54 Lawson Street – details needed.
Martin, Ernest, 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Garrison Artillery, DOW, 16th, Percy Street, Tynemouth, buried Burton-on-Trent.
McCabe, Thomas, Private, 16th Battalion NF, KIA, 25th, 5 Billy Mill Lane, son of John and Mary, buried Coxyde Military Cemetery. Commonwealth War Graves Commission shows date of death as September 22.
Saunt, Alfred Humphries, Private, Motor Transport Clearing Office, Army Service Corps, died 12th, 55 Howard Street, husband of Treasel Saunt, of 9 Fort Street, South Shields.
Spendiff, Alfred, Private, 7th/8th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, KIA, 24th – details needed.
Stanton, Alfred, killed on active service at sea, 23rd, 96 Church Way – details needed.
Todd, Edward, AB (Bugler), RNVR, Nelson Battalion RND, died France, 31st – details needed.
n The project workroom at the Linskill Centre will be closed from noon on Friday, December 23, until 10am on January 3, 2012.
To find out more about the project and how you can assist call into the project workroom on weekdays from 10am to 4pm – Room B9, Linskill Centre, Trevor Terrace, North Shields.
Key:
KIA – killed in action
DOW – died of wounds
LAS – lost at sea
NF – Northumberland Fusiliers
DLI – Durham Light Infantry
RND – Royal Naval Division
RNR – Royal Naval Reserve
RFA – Royal Field Artillery
n Anyone with information on this week’s list or who wants to find out more about the project, should visit www.tynemouthworldwarone.org, e-mail contact@tynemouthworldwarone.org or write to Tynemouth World War 1 Commemoration Project, c/o Essell, 29 Howard Street, North Shields, NE30 1AR.
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