Name
Stanley George Tyrrell
23/04/1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/06/1917
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Ordinary Seaman
J/51445
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Tartar."
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
25
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He was lost at sea and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth, to the missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Cheshunt
Pre War
Stanley George Tyrrell was born in Hatton Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, on 23 April 1899, son of George Tyrrell a, Market Gardener and Minnie Tyrrell (nee Farr). The eldest of four children, Leslie William (B 1901), Gwendoline Florence (B 1903) and Sidney John (B 1906).
He was Baptised in the Parish of Cheshunt, Herts, on 4 June 1899.
1901 Census records Stanley aged 1, living with his parents and 10-month-old brother Leslie at, Melrose Cottages, Flampstead End, Cheshunt, Herts. 1911 Census records Stanley aged 11, at school, living with his parents, and three siblings at, 2, Capri Cottages, Longfield Lane, Cheshunt, Herts.
Wartime Service
On 9 October 1915, Stanley travelled to the County town of Hertford and enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment Territorial Force for 4 years, giving his age as 19 years, and his address as 8, Coronation Villas, Cromwell Avenue, Cheshunt, Herts, he was given the service number 5613. Four days later on 12 October 1915, he was discharged “Having made a mis-statement as to his age” he was only 16 years old, not the 19 years, he had stated on his enlistment.
This did not put Stanley off, in March 1916, he travelled to Portsmouth and enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy II Sailor, a year later on 23 April 1917, (his 18th Birthday) he enlisted for 12 years as Ordinary Seaman J/51449 Stanley George Tyrrell.
He was killed by an explosion at sea on 17 June 1917, aboard the Tribal Class Destroyer HMS “Tartar”.
HMS “Tartar” was proceeding through the Dover Straits (English Channel) from Calais to Boulogne, France, when she struck a German Mine, the explosion killed 43 of her crew, including the newly appointed Captain (Capt. G. K. Twiss).
HMS “Tartar” was towed to safety and repairs carried out; she was back in service by November 1917.
The mine had been laid on the night of 16-17 June 1917, by the German U-boat UC-65 under the command of Kapitanleutnant Otto Steinbrink.
Stanley’s body was not recovered, he is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Portsmouth, to the missing at sea.
Additional Information
His mother Received a Dependents Pension of 5/- a week from 15 May 1918. The CWGC give his service number as J/51445 and not J/ 51449 as on his service record. His Royal Navy Medal Roll card spell's his name as “Tywell”.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
