Name
Cyril Carter
27 Aug 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/11/1914
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Ordinary Seaman
J/20486
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Bulwark."
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL
3
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Folly Methodist Chapel Window, Wheathampstead, Naval Memorial, Portsmouth
Pre War
Cyril was born on 27 Aug 1896 (Baptised 27 Sep 1896) at the Folly, Wheathampstead to William Carter, a gardener, and Frances known as Fanny (nee Goodship).
On the 1901 Census Cyril was living at the Folly with his parents, elder brothers Arthur (born 1883), Percy (born 1889), Ernest (born 1895) and sister Kate. There was also an older brother John (born 1877) and sister Florence (born 1880) not listed. On the 1911 census at the same address with his parents, Cyril was now employed as a waterer at a nursery, Arthur was a Gardener in a nursery, Percy, a house painter and Kate , a draper’s apprentice. John was also present as a labourer.
Wartime Service
Cyril volunteered for the Royal Navy on 6 Sep 1912 and was accepted into Boy service as Boy class 2 for training at Impregnable and Ganges (shore establishments) until 20 May 1913. He was advanced to Boy Class 1 on 16 June and assigned to Hawke (17 Jun to 24 Oct 1913), Victory (25 Oct to 27 Nov 1913). On 28 Nov 1913 he was assigned HMS Bulwark as Boy Class1 before being rated as ordinary Seaman and enlisting for 12 years service on 27 Aug 1914.
HMS Bulwark was a London class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship completed in 1902 and was moored in the Medway when there was an explosion on board at 07.53 on 26 Nov 1914. The explosion was attributed to Cordite being overheated when stored next to a boiler room. A total of 741 lives were lost, among them was Cyril. No body was recovered and he is remembered on the Portsmotmouth Naval Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
