Name
Richard Martin Odell
21 June 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/01/1915
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 1st Class
SS/110581(C)
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Formidable"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel Reference: 12.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, British Schools Museum Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
Richard was born on 21 Jun 1888 in Hitchin and christened on 19 March 1899 in Hitchin. His parents were Stephen and Bessie Odell – believed Elizabeth Jane née Martin) and they married on 17 December 1881.
In 1891 the family were living at 8 Kent Place, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Stephen (40) and Bessie (37), with Stephen working as a smith and farrier and employer. Their children were: Lilly (10), Jennie (9), Bob (Robert – 6), Elizabeth (5) and Dick (Richard Martin, 2).
By 1901 the family were living at 60 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Present again were both parents, with Stephen no recorded as a blacksmith working for himself. Of the children previously listed Jennie was absent and the others had been joined by Beatrice (10) and Leonard (9).
In 1911 the family had moved to 25 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Now apart from both parents, Stepehen still a blacksmith Leonard, also working as a blacksmith and Jilly (Jennie? 30). The census recorded they had been married for 28 years with 10 children, all living.
Richard had enlisted into the Royal Navy on 5 January 1911, signing on for 5 years and then 7 in the Reserve. He had previously worked with his father and also at the ‘Herts Express’ Printing Works. His pre-war service started as a Stoker – second class, with training on H.M.S Pembroke II to 11 August 1911, Black Prince to 22 April 1912, but during this period was promoted to Stoker – first class on 6 February, then Pembroke II to 30 April 1912, Blenheim to 30 September 1913, Egmont to 4 May 1914, Blenheim to 21 June 1914, Lutley to 14 July 1914, Pembroke II 28 July 1914 and transferred to the Formidable on 29 July 1914.
Wartime Service
When war was declared he was a Stoker – first class on H.M.S Formidable, and served on that ship for about five months before it was torpedoed and sunk.
The Battleship H.M.S. ‘Formidable’ had been built in 1901 and was of 15,000 tons. It was struck at 2.20am by a torpedo from the German submarine U-24 between Portland Bill, where the warship had been performing exercises, and south of the Isle of Wight. A second torpedo struck the ship at 3.05am. There was a clear sky that night with visibility two miles, but with a rough sea and it proved difficult to launch the boats. The ship had no protective destroyer screen. Of the 780 men on board, 35 officers including Captain Loxley and 512 ratings were drowned.
His mother was notified of his death at 25, Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, Herts. His body was not recovered, and he is commemorated on the Chatham Memorial to the Missing.
Additional Information
His father died in the second quarter of 1916.
His pension cards record Mrs Bessie Odell as his mother and dependant, living at 25 Hitchin Hill, Hitchin, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 5s 10d a week from 5 April 1917 to 11 April 1917, then 6s 3d for 170 weeks and then increasing to 7s 6d for life. The address was later changed to Gosmore, Westbourne, Emsworth, Hants.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
