James William Aubrey Eastick (b. 1896 - d. 1971)

[Steve Ward]

My late grandfather, James William Aubrey Eastick (b. 1896 - d. 1971) fought in WW1, he was a medical orderly on a trawler. His ship along with others was sunk by a U-Boat and was taken prisoner. I have literally found out today through finding his internment card on this site, he was taken to Seene Lager and later transferred to Ruhleben.

I was led to understand he also served as an officer in the RNVR in WW2 though I can find no record of any service by him in WW2. His ship was torpedoed and taken prisoner again. His treatment from the Germans in the camp tortured his mind for the rest of his life. I never saw my grandad smile, laugh or out of bed in the years I knew him. I only have one photo of him outside his home in Lowestoft taken with his wife and stepson in the 60's. His father (also James Eastick) was killed in March 1916 when the MV Holland was torpedoed by a German U-Boat.

Can anyone help me with more information or links, please?

 

There are 2 attachments below. One is James William's internment record and the other is the report on the loss of The FV 'Holland' on which my great grandfather was killed.

 

Kindest regards in hope

 

Steve

report_203108.pdf

[KizmeRD]

JAMES WILLIAM AUBREY EASTICK - was unlucky enough to be a crew member on the Boston based trawler “Flavian”, sunk 22 August 1914 by (what I believe) was the German light cruiser SMS HAMBURG. His PoW Card states that he was a ‘Heizer’ (i.e. a Fireman), if this is correct then his job onboard would have been to look after the ship’s boiler. (It would have been unusual for a civilian fishing vessel to have a dedicated full-time medical orderly).

MB

 

 

 

Edited 28 November , 2023 by KizmeRD

[The Treasurer]

12 hours ago, KizmeRD said:

JAMES WILLIAM AUBREY EASTICK - was unlucky enough to be a crew member on the Boston based trawler “Flavian”, sunk 22 August 1914 by (what I believe) was the German light cruiser SMS HAMBURG. His PoW Card states that he was a ‘Heizer’ (i.e. a Fireman), if this is correct then his job onboard would have been to look after the ship’s boiler. (It would have been unusual for a civilian fishing vessel to have a dedicated full-time medical orderly).

MB

 

 

 

The incident is covered in the German Official History. It was a commerce raid by cruisers and destroyers on the Dogger Bank, conducted according to prize regulations. Translation is mine, volume 1, page 117:

During the return journey V.158 (Kapitänleutnant Recke) one of the Rostock's group, sank two more trawlers about 100 miles from Heligoland and 60 miles north of Terschelling in 005 beta.  They were the Florian and India of Boston; one of them tried to escape.

Edited 29 November , 2023 by The Treasurer

[KizmeRD]

@The Treasurer Thanks for the additional information, I wasn’t entirely certain what German ship was responsible for the actual sinking.

According to the information I have, the trawler Flavian had a crew of 9 and I have names for four of the survivors (interned at Ruhleben)

William Cole, James W.A. Eastick, Joseph Bontoft and Frederick James Jones.

MB

 

[The Treasurer]

12 minutes ago, KizmeRD said:

@The Treasurer Thanks for the additional information, I wasn’t entirely certain what German ship was responsible for the actual sinking.

According to the information I have, the trawler Flavian had a crew of 9 and I have names for four of the survivors (interned at Ruhleben)

William Cole, James W.A. Eastick, Joseph Bontoft and Frederick James Jones.

MB

 

@KizmeRD pleasure! A bit of info is that it seems India was the trawler that tried to run for it, Rostock turning to give chase to bring her to. Happen to have the KTB for that day, as Rostock was near missed on the way out to the raid on the previous day by two torpedoes from submarine D.5.

Edited 29 November , 2023 by The Treasurer

[KizmeRD]

Could the correct name of the other trawler in fact be ‘Julian’? (Only that would fit better with the little that I know).

MB

[The Treasurer]

41 minutes ago, KizmeRD said:

Could the correct name of the other trawler in fact be ‘Julian’? (Only that would fit better with the little that I know).

MB

The official history claims nine trawlers in total sunk in the raid, with about ninety crew being taken prisoner and landed at Wilhelmshaven. The crew were taken off the trawlers by the destroyers before they were sunk, so there ought to be no actual casualties. The individual boats identified are as follows:

Julian by V.160

Pollux (GY.84) by V.154

Florian and India by V.158

GY.750 by V.152

Hamburg was out off Dogger with three submarines on the same day, covering the raid itself and sank Shirbeck, Wigtoft and Walerus herself after taking off their crews.

That is only eight vessels identified in the official history, so it is unclear about the ninth (but the associated chart does show nine boats sunk).

Edited 29 November , 2023 by The Treasurer
added info from Chart in official history, corrected info on Hamburg

[charlie962]

Boston Guardian 22/9/14 courtesy Findmypast newspapers

The Boston local papers have quite a lot of reports on the trawlers and their crews, as well as letters home from pows.

[KizmeRD]

That’s really great to know, and helps to piece together at least some of the bits of story.

I think the (missing) ninth trawler sunk on 22nd was most probably ‘Marnay’.

There were certainly quite a large number of British trawlers intercepted and sunk around this time (all poorly recorded incidents)

On 25th August a group of Grimsby trawlers* met a similar fate at the hands of the German minelayer Albatros (headed for the Tyne), escorted by the light cruiser Stuttgart and a small group of escorting torpedo boats.

Also another German naval group causing mischief by sinking trawlers** consisted of the minelayer Nautilus (headed for the Humber), escorted by the light cruiser Mainz with accompanying TBF (26th August).

* Rhine, Harrier, Lobelia, Valiant, Mersey and Seti.

** Kesteven, Lindsey & Porpoise (all Boston registered) and Zenobia (Grimsby).

MB

Edit - see link (Chapter 8, the first captives)…  https://books.google.de/books/about/Fishermen_Against_the_Kaiser.html?

id=AgbMDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&redir_esc=y

On my Christmas present list!

Edited 29 November , 2023 by KizmeRD

[The Treasurer]

well sourced @charlie962 and @KizmeRD! A look up on fishing boat heritage indicated that GY.750 was Capricornus in 1913.  I've also spotted that there is a radio message from V.155 in the KTB indicating that she must have sunk the ninth boat. Finally Naval History net confirms all but Pollux for that day and lists Lloyds Shipping losses as one of the sources for all 8 boats listed under the 22nd. It seems Lloyds must have the wrong date for Pollux, with Naval History.net recording the loss for 26th. So, allowing for the inevitable and obvious transcription errors in the German reports, the nine lost boats appear to be:

 

Julian by V.160

Marnay also given as Marney (name of boat not recorded in German official history) by V.155

Pollux (GY.84) by V.154 (according to fishing boat heritage site the full registry number was GY.1184)

Flavian (recorded as Florian) and Indian (recorded as India in official history, although Rostock KTB does record the boat as Indian) by V.158

GY.750 (not named in official history, but apparently Capricornus) by V.152

Hamburg sank Skirbeck (recorded as Shirbeck), Wigtoft and Walrus (recorded as Walerus)

 

The reporting of these losses in papers had quite a time lag - unsurprising as so many trawlers were lost in three closely related events.

[The Treasurer]

@Steve Ward. I've added another paragraph from the German official history below, as it relates directly to Flavian and Indian:

"While most of the trawlers were met singly, the two destroyed by V.158 appeared to be working together.  Their position, about 100 miles from Heligoland, indicated that they were employed on military duties; possibly they were watching our movements from these positions, or they may have been serving as bases for enemy submarines then at sea.  This assumption was confirmed by the observations made by U.5 while on her billet.  It was consequently made a matter of principle, even in advances not directed mainly against the enemy fishing industry, to search thoroughly any fishing vessels sighted and if there was any doubt, look to detain them, even if the advance was thereby delayed."

Not possible to say whether the (assumed groundless) suspicions resulted in any difference in the treatment of the men from these boats, or whether Indian's attempt to escape aroused suspicion.

[Matlock1418]

22 hours ago, Steve Ward said:

His father (also James Eastick) was killed in March 1916 when the MV Holland was torpedoed by a German U-Boat.

James Alfred EASTICK - S.S, (F.V.) "Holland"

Pension index card - Mercantile Marine awards section at WFA/Fold3

Image thanks to WFA/Fold3

M.P. 15977 = Ministry of Pension Reference No., not his Official Number

M

[Matlock1418]

22 hours ago, Steve Ward said:

My late grandfather, James William Aubrey Eastick (b. 1896 - d. 1971) fought in WW1, he was a medical orderly on a trawler.

James William Aubrey EASTICK, 207893, Royal Army Medical Corps [Also a seven-digit post-war number 7253425, RAMC, since seemingly likely discharged in/after 1920]

Image thanks to WFA/Fold3

Claimed a disability pension [unspecified as to what for and if successful/any award]

D.Ds Rec. = Discharge Docs Received

Seems to have two claim references for N/War Parties [Naval War Parties?] and later RAMC

M

 

Edited 29 November , 2023 by Matlock1418

[Baztac]

2 hours ago, Matlock1418 said:

James Alfred EASTICK - S.S, (F.V.) "Holland"

Pension index card - Mercantile Marine awards section at WFA/Fold3

Image thanks to WFA/Fold3

M.P. 15977 = Ministry of Pension Reference No., not his Official Number

M

I had a great uncle who was on the SS Assiout which was captured in Turkey in Nov 1914 and he was taken prisoner of war, and eventually died in 1915 while still in a POW camp. Like the above Pension index card - Mercantile Marine awards section the Award section does not have a date listed as others have. Does this mean anything? eg was the medal not awarded, or not issued.

[charlie962]

Courtesy Findmypast

Document details Merchant seamen and fishermen detained as POWs in Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey (May 1918)

Archive reference MT 9/5988

Archive The National Archives

[charlie962]

Same source but 1915.

FO 383/65

Edited 29 November , 2023 by charlie962

[charlie962]

Boston Guardian 31/5/1919

[Steve Ward]

Just been reading through the pages of the book you have posted. What book is it, please? I cannot get over how many Boston men and boys were interned in the first weeks of the war and most of them all at Ruhleben. A lot of these guys must have known each other their whole lives!! What a waste of life on all sides just to satisfy the pompous Kaiser! It was called the war to end all wars, but apart from how to kill en masse with more powerful mass production weapons, was anything truly gained or learnt from it? Within 15 years of the end of this conflict another greedy narrow sighted man would start the ball rolling toward WWII. And the same was learnt from that - nothing is ever gained or won in war!!

I have read that although it has been said the war was basically started by the shooting of Archduke Ferdinand in 28th June 1914, the German Kaiser had been building weapons and massing his troops for war since middle of 1913.  Apparently, he was one the most disliked of Victoria's grandsons. Problem is now it can never be truly proven.

[Matlock1418]

29 minutes ago, Steve Ward said:

Just been reading through the pages of the book you have posted. What book is it, please?

Steve, A friendly observation/suggestion: Saying "Thank you" for all/other posts does typically help getting more helpful responses. 

As a you're 'Newbie' to the Forum putting your omission aside ... @charlie962 earlier offered the reference FO 393/65 which is a National Archives reference https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2617307 - available to view there but also apparently on Find My Past.

M

Edited 2 December , 2023 by Matlock1418

[KizmeRD]

49 minutes ago, Steve Ward said:

I cannot get over how many Boston men and boys were interned in the first weeks of the war and most of them all at Ruhleben. 

Steve, welcome to the Forum! - You’ve certainly struck gold with the wealth of details that have come forward.

For your additional information, Ruhleben was the principal internment camp for enemy civilians, located on the site of a horse racing track on the outskirts of Berlin. Conditions were significantly better there for your GF than he would have experienced earlier at the Senne Lager Prisoner of War Camp. There were a good number of British Mercantile Marine seafarers and fishermen interned at Ruhleben, but nevertheless they were still a minority group (as most internees were simply expats who had been living and working in Germany at the time when war was declared).

MB

[Steve Ward]

Something I haven't done yet is to thank everyone for their fantastic input. I have found out more in the last 36 hours or so than I have in the last 36 years! Please accept my apologies for not thanking you all individually. I shall of course keep an eye on this forum as there are many more relatives I lost in the Great War. I know of 2 from the first few days of the Somme and also at Passchendaele. Thank you all again.

2 hours ago, KizmeRD said:

Steve, welcome to the Forum! - You’ve certainly struck gold with the wealth of details that have come forward.

For your additional information, Ruhleben was the principal internment camp for enemy civilians, located on the site of a horse racing track on the outskirts of Berlin. Conditions were significantly better there for your GF than he would have experienced earlier at the Senne Lager Prisoner of War Camp. There were a good number of British Mercantile Marine seafarers and fishermen interned at Ruhleben, but nevertheless they were still a minority group (as most internees were simply expats who had been living and working in Germany at the time when war was declared).

MB

Thank you KizmeRD.

 

[Steve Ward]

On 28/11/2023 at 21:26, KizmeRD said:

JAMES WILLIAM AUBREY EASTICK - was unlucky enough to be a crew member on the Boston based trawler “Flavian”, sunk 22 August 1914 by (what I believe) was the German light cruiser SMS HAMBURG. His POW Card states that he was a ‘Heizer’ (i.e. a Fireman), if this is correct then his job onboard would have been to look after the ship’s boiler. (It would have been unusual for a civilian fishing vessel to have a dedicated full-time medical orderly).

MB

 

 

 

Thank you. I knew at some point he was a medical orderly from his RAMC card. I suppose it is possible he could have had this position after the war? I too thought it strange that he would be a MO on a trawler. Likewise his father, Also James Eastick. He was on the F.V. Holland when she was sunk in March1916. The records shows that he was a steward!? Surely there would not have been a steward on a fishing vessel at that time?

On 29/11/2023 at 09:59, The Treasurer said:

The incident is covered in the German Official History. It was a commerce raid by cruisers and destroyers on the Dogger Bank, conducted according to prize regulations. Translation is mine, volume 1, page 117:

During the return journey V.158 (Kapitänleutnant Recke) one of the Rostock's group, sank two more trawlers about 100 miles from Heligoland and 60 miles north of Terschelling in 005 beta.  They were the Florian and India of Boston; one of them tried to escape.

Thank you for the information. It is most enlightening.

On 29/11/2023 at 10:34, The Treasurer said:

@KizmeRD pleasure! A bit of info is that it seems India was the trawler that tried to run for it, Rostock turning to give chase to bring her to. Happen to have the KTB for that day, as Rostock was near missed on the way out to the raid on the previous day by two torpedoes from submarine D.5.

Thank you.

 

[Steve Ward]

On 29/11/2023 at 12:58, charlie962 said:

Boston Guardian 22/9/14 courtesy Findmypast newspapers

The Boston local papers have quite a lot of reports on the trawlers and their crews, as well as letters home from pows.

Thank you

 

[Steve Ward]

On 29/11/2023 at 13:02, KizmeRD said:

That’s really great to know, and helps to piece together at least some of the bits of story.

I think the (missing) ninth trawler sunk on 22nd was most probably ‘Marnay’.

There were certainly quite a large number of British trawlers intercepted and sunk around this time (all poorly recorded incidents)

On 25th August a group of Grimsby trawlers* met a similar fate at the hands of the German minelayer Albatros (headed for the Tyne), escorted by the light cruiser Stuttgart and a small group of escorting torpedo boats.

Also another German naval group causing mischief by sinking trawlers** consisted of the minelayer Nautilus (headed for the Humber), escorted by the light cruiser Mainz with accompanying TBF (26th August).

* Rhine, Harrier, Lobelia, Valiant, Mersey and Seti.

** Kesteven, Lindsey & Porpoise (all Boston registered) and Zenobia (Grimsby).

MB

Edit - see link (Chapter 8, the first captives)…  https://books.google.de/books/about/Fishermen_Against_the_Kaiser.html?

id=AgbMDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&redir_esc=y

On my Christmas present list!

Thank you for th link for this book. I have just bought it and look forward to reading it. There is a possibility my great grandfather, JWA's father, James Alfred Eastick's boat will be in there too.

On 29/11/2023 at 20:21, Baztac said:

I had a great uncle who was on the SS Assiout which was captured in Turkey in Nov 1914 and he was taken prisoner of war, and eventually died in 1915 while still in a POW camp. Like the above Pension index card - Mercantile Marine awards section the Award section does not have a date listed as others have. Does this mean anything? eg was the medal not awarded, or not issued.

Thank you. I cannot answer your question. I do hope you find the information you require.

[Steve Ward]

4 hours ago, Matlock1418 said:

Steve, A friendly observation/suggestion: Saying "Thank you" for all/other posts does typically help getting more helpful responses. 

As a you're 'Newbie' to the Forum putting your omission aside ... @charlie962 earlier offered the reference FO 393/65 which is a National Archives reference https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2617307 - available to view there but also apparently on Find My Past.

M

Thank you, Charlie. I have rectified this now.

 

On 29/11/2023 at 21:27, charlie962 said:

Same source but 1915.

FO 383/65

Thank you. I wouldn't mind trying to get hold of this book.