Name
David Page
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/09/1914
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
RMA/10386
Royal Marine Artillery
H.M.S. "Aboukir."
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
5
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, Not on the Stapleford memorials
Pre War
Son of William and Caroline Page, later of Astwick Manor, Whitegate, Hatfield, Herts. He was born in Stapleford, Hertford, circa 1884.
The 1891 Census lists David aged 7, born in Stapleford Herts. and living with his parents and siblings at Green’s Farm, Sandridge, St. Albans. His father was working as an Agricultural labourer. By 1901 the family had moved to Whitegate Cottages, Astwick Manor, Hatfield. His father now a farm carter and David was working as a railway engine -?-.
David had enlisted in the Royal Navy and the 1911 Census records him as aged 27, and a Gunner in the Royal Navy, on board HMS Black Prince, 1st class armoured cruiser, stationed at 5th Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet, Gibraltar. David’s family were still living at Whitegate Cottages, with his father recorded as a horse keeper. His Mother’s name is listed as Agnes Caroline which would tie in with the CWGC information.
Wartime Service
He was mobilised in August 1914 and was posted to H.M.S. Aboukir, losing his life when the vessel was torpedoed by a German submarine off the Hook of Holland on Sept 22nd 1914. His body was not recovered for burial. His sister: M, Whitegate of Astwick Manor Hatfield, Herts. Was notified of his death.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Page, D. White Gate – H.M.S. Aboukir. Also - Hatfield Roll of Honour – “We hear with the deepest concern that gunner D. Page of White Gate. Who was in H.M.S. Aboukir is not on the list of the saved from the ill fated cruiser. We wish to express our deepest sympathy and that of all who know him with Mr Page and his family on their grievous loss. They must. Indeed, in the midst of all their sorrow feel unbounded pride in his gallant devotion to his King and Country even unto death”.
Awarded British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1914/15 Star.
The HMS Aboukir was a Cressy-class armoured cruiser. She was built in Scotland in 1902, and by the start of the war, (due to greatly improved ship design), this class of ship was almost obsolete. The Aboukir along with her two sister ships the Cressy and Hogue,were put into action patrolling an area off the North Sea. The ships were slow and not zigzagging (a defence against torpedoes), on the 23rd of September 1914 at 6.25am they were spotted and attacked by the German U-boat, U9; HMS Aboukir was hit by a torpedo (which caused her to list and sink in about 0.5 hour). The captain thought that they had hit a mine, and called for the other two ships to help save the men in the water, the result was that both the Cressy and the Hogue were also sunk with a total loss of 1459 lives, of which David Page was one. He was one of the first of many Hatfield men to have been listed as Killed in Action.
Additional Information
is also commemorated on the family headstone in Bishop's Hatfield (St. Luke) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF OUR DEAR BROTHER DAVID PAGE. WHO WAS LOST AT SEA WITH THE SINKING OF HMS ABOUKIR, OFF THE HOOK OF HOLLAND ON SEPTEMBER 22ND 1914. AGE 31 YEARS.
“AND THE SEA SHALL GIVE UP ITS DEAD.”
* CWGC records his age as 30.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
