Name
John Borkwood Symes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/10/1914
16
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Boy 1st Class
J/26728
Royal Navy
H.M.S. “Hawke”
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
3.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon,
St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon
Pre War
Born on 13 Apr 1898 in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire son of John Grantham and Kathleen Martha Symes and was living in 7 Lord Street, Hoddesdon in 1901 and in 101 Lord Street, Hoddesdon in 1911.
Wartime Service
During WW1 Hawke was part of 10th Cruiser Squadron based in Cobh, Cork. While on patrol off Aberdeen with the Squadron, Hawke slowed down to pick up mail from another ship and while returning to her station she was hit by a single torpedo from submarine U-9 and sank quickly. 524 officers and men were lost that day and about 70 were rescued.
Additional Information
John is also commemorated on the family headstone in Hoddesdon Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO JOHN BORKWOOD SYMES
KILLED IN ACTION 1914 AGED 16.
KILLED IN ACTION 1914 AGED 16.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox
