Name
Ernest George Harwood
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/11/1914
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Able Seaman
217276
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Bulwark"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Navy Star, British War Medal and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY, KENT
Naval. 19. 991.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Killed in action
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Clothall memorial
Pre War
Ernest George was born in Baldock (probably Clothall, nearby) on 12 Mar 1886. At present we do not have enough information tro identify he parents in the census or their fate.
In 1891 we believe that Ernest, at just 4 as an ‘inmate’ at the Hitchin Union, Workhouse, Union Road, Hitchin, there were other Harwoods list, which are possibly be siblings Charles at 10 and Eliza 7 – all born in Clothall.
In 1901, sadly at 15, Ernest, named as George is believed to still be resident (‘pauper’) in Hitchin Union Workhouse.
He enlisted into the Royal Navy as a boy sailor He was described as 4’ 11 ¾” with brown hair, hazel eyes and brown complexion. His pre-war service included: H.M.S. Impregnable 9/9/1901 to 18/9/1901, then Lion to 10/2/1903 – initially as a Boy 2nd Class, then Boy 1st class from 19/6/1902, Agincourt to 31/5/1903, Vernon to 5/10/1903, Duncan to 27/11/1905. During the latter on 12 March 1904 he signed up for 12-years and became an Ordinary Seaman on the same date. He must have grown because his height was amended to 5’ 3½”. He continued on that ship to 27/11/1905 becoming an Able Seaman on 8/7/1905. Then Victory I to 1/1/1906, King Alfred to 15/1/1908, Hawke to 13/3/1908, Victory I to 28/4/1908, Mercury to 26/7/1909, Philomel to 30/9/1911, Sappho to 14/11/1911, Excellent to 29/6/1912 and then Bulwark when he was when war was declared.
Wartime Service
His Service Number was 217276 and in August 1914 was a
member of the crew of H.M.S. ‘Bulwark’ which blew up in Sheerness harbour while
taking ammunition on board. Sabotage was suspected but the subsequent inquiry
concluded that the explosion was caused by ammunition accidentally igniting.
Only 12 men were saved out of a crew of 800. The vessel was a battleship of
15,000 tons completed in 1902 and was part of the 5th Battle Squadron.
He was buried in Naval Grave 19,991 in Gillingham
(Woodlands) New Cemetery. This is a very large cemetery with close-packed dark
grey stones that present a very sombre appearance. Many of his shipmates are
buried in surrounding graves. His gravestone records "Killed in action" but there is no evidence that the enemy
caused his death.
Additional Information
His sister Nellie at or care of St Lukes, Walsworth Road, Hitchin was notified of his death.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
