Name
Gerald Henry Field
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/05/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 1st Class
K/20039
Royal Navy
H.M.S Pembroke
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
South East Extension Grave 915
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Born 7th March 1895 in Wellhead, St Ippollytts, Hertfordshire. He was the only son of Mr Henry and Mary Ann .
In 1901 the family were living at 29 Ickleford Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Henry (32) and Mary Ann (30), with Henry and working as a goods guard for G & R railway. Their only child being Gerald Henry (6).
Gerald attended Hitchin Boys British School.
In 1911 the family were still at the same address. Both parents and Gerald were present. Geraln was now 16 and an engine fitter apprentice
Gerald joined the Royal Navy for 12-years’ service on 7 August 1913 while living in Hitchin, and had been working as an agricultural labourer. He was 18, 5’ 8 ¾”, with dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.
He commenced his service training on H.M.S. Pembroke II, as a stoker 2nd Class to 30/6/1914, then St George/Ettick.
Wartime Service
When war was declared Gerald was still on the St George/Ettick to 31/3/1915 (promoted to Stoker 1st Class on 19/10/1014), Victory II to 2/5/1916, then Pembroke II to 10/5/1916.
The H.M.S. ‘Ettrick’ was an the torpedo boat destroyer. at the time of his death he was attached to H.M.S. ‘Pembroke’ which was the shore establishment of the Royal Navy at Chatham. He died on the 10 May 1916, having been transferred on that date to Haslar Hospital, Gosport. He was admitted, suffering from malignant endocarditis and pericarditis and died on that date. He died at 7.00am and his father was at his bedside. He had served in the Royal Navy for three years.
His father was officially notified of his death, via Town Hall, Hitchin, Herts.
His remains were brought to Grave SE Ext 915 in Hitchin Cemetery from Haslar Hospital, Gosport and a burial service was held in St. Mary's Church, Hitchin. A visit to the cemetery in 1999 was unable to locate any memorial to him.
Additional Information
We have an early photograph of Gerald's headstone as well as a more recent one so we are able to compare the inscriptions - today some of the inscription is buried. They read:
"IN THE MIDST OF LIFE, WE ARE IN DEATH."
In Loving Memory of
MARY ANN FIELD,
DIED JUNE 12TH 1914,
Also of GERALD H. FIELD
In Loving Memory of
MARY ANN FIELD,
DIED JUNE 12TH 1914,
Also of GERALD H. FIELD
(the following part is now buried)
SON OF THE ABOVE,
(H.M.S. ETTRICK)
DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE MAY10TH. 1916, AGED 21 YEARS.
SON OF THE ABOVE,
(H.M.S. ETTRICK)
DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE MAY10TH. 1916, AGED 21 YEARS.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
