DGW Posted 29 January , 2012 Share Posted 29 January , 2012 Hi all - I am researching names on my Church War Memorial on the Rochdale / Royton border in Lancashire. One of those listed is an A Wilkinson, a visit to the Royton War memorial reveals he was Arnold Wilkinson. Thanks to the assistance of a fellow member of the this Board an entry was found in the local paper in the "In Memorium" submitted by his Uncle under the surname Green. It states simply "Arnold Wilkinson - Wireless Operator of 814 Rochdale Road Royton - lost at sea 29/4/1918. There is no listing under this name, with that date, on CWGC lists and assuming he was either in the Royal or Merchant Navy given his trade as Wireless Operator would be grateful if anyone can throw light on this individual. Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 29 January , 2012 Share Posted 29 January , 2012 "Wireless operator" is not an RN rating, which would be "Telegraphist". Possibly he was a Marconi man serving in the Mercantile Marine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 29 January , 2012 Share Posted 29 January , 2012 Hi, Same address 1911 census, FMP lists him born 1899. and then died at sea 1918 aged 19, ships name VIGO Nothing on VIGO yet! Cheers, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 29 January , 2012 Share Posted 29 January , 2012 Presumably Merchant Marine. He'd be entitled to CWGC commemoration if his death was due to enemy action. That said, I can't see any reference to an SS Vigo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Lowrey Posted 29 January , 2012 Share Posted 29 January , 2012 The Vigo in question would presumably be a 4224 grt steamer built in 1905 by Earle’s SB. & Eng. Co., Ltd., Hull and owned in 1918 by Ellerman’s Wilson Line, Ltd., Hull. Official Number: 121056. Another much less likely possibility: a vessel of 82 grt built in 1905 by Denny, Dumbarton and owned by the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. Ltd., Glasgow. ON: 121205. The larger Vigo was assaulted by gun by a U-boat in the Atlantic on September 30, 1917 but fought off her attacker. No casualties. Best wishes, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGW Posted 30 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 30 January , 2012 Many thanks everyone for your contributions, much appreciated. A mystery at the moment re hs ship and why he is not listed in CWGC!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hartley Posted 30 January , 2012 Share Posted 30 January , 2012 A mystery at the moment re hs ship and why he is not listed in CWGC!! Probably no mystery here. The usually reliable naval-history.net has no listing for Vigo amongst its list of ship losses. That'd draw me to the conclusion that he didnt die through enemy action, hence no CWGC commemoration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGW Posted 30 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 30 January , 2012 John, you are indeed correct. Having visited the Local studies Library tonight managed to find this in the locfal paper dated 24 May 1918: "Mr & Mrs H Green, 814 Rochdale road have been informed that their nephew Wireless Operator Arnold Wilkinson, died at sea on Apr 29th and was buried at sea on Apr 30th. He was 19 and studied Wireless Telegraphy in Manchester and went for Service on Jan 18 this year" Further to my last a photograph appeared in a subsequent edition of the paper dated Jun 6 1918! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 30 January , 2012 Share Posted 30 January , 2012 Probably no mystery here. The usually reliable naval-history.net has no listing for Vigo amongst its list of ship losses. That'd draw me to the conclusion that he didnt die through enemy action, hence no CWGC commemoration. Vigo survived WW1 and was sold to a Spanish line in the 1920s. This would support the idea that he died through accident or disease Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGW Posted 31 January , 2012 Author Share Posted 31 January , 2012 Given it was a Merchant Ship I assume there would be no Dr on board to certify the cause of death etc, so who records the details? The Captain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 31 January , 2012 Share Posted 31 January , 2012 Given it was a Merchant Ship I assume there would be no Dr on board to certify the cause of death etc, so who records the details? The Captain? Yes, even if there was a doctor on board, from 1837 it was the captain of any British registered ship who had the legal responsibility of notifying the GRO of the deaths of English and Welsh citizens. The rules seem to have been different for for Scots and Irish. This may help http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/births-marriages-deaths-sea.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGW Posted 1 February , 2012 Author Share Posted 1 February , 2012 Centuion : many thnaks for that, I assume his Death Certificate would be obtainable from GRO should I decisde to go that far. In the meantime I am struggling to find any further info on the ship Vigo, no photo or anything appears to be on the net. I have been in touch with the Hull record archives who have the documents for Ellerman Wilson Line! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terence Munson Posted 1 February , 2012 Share Posted 1 February , 2012 DGW, Should you decide to go for his Death Certificate, these look to be his details: Name: WILKINSON, Arnold. Vessel: Vigo. Country: At sea. Year: 1918. Page: 135. Age at death: 19. Record source: GRO Marine Death Indices (1903 to 1965). GRO link Click Here Cheers, Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGW Posted 2 February , 2012 Author Share Posted 2 February , 2012 TCM 59 - Cheers Terry, much appreciated!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 2 February , 2012 Share Posted 2 February , 2012 I am struggling to find any further info on the ship Vigo, no photo or anything appears to be on the net. I have been in touch with the Hull record archives who have the documents for Ellerman Wilson Line! VIGO Built 1905 by Earle’s Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Hull. Sold to a Spanish line 1927 and renamed Arcangelo. Ships’ registry book DEW/10/2 contains a plan on page 161 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGW Posted 3 February , 2012 Author Share Posted 3 February , 2012 Centurion great info - many thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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