Private TH Wellard RMLI - SS Teeswood

[macfarro]

My local church (Meopham in Kent) has a CWGC headstone for:

CH/5484 Private RMLI (CGWC site has CH/7484)

T.H Wellard

SS Teeswood

Died 8/4/18 aged 42

I understand the CH denotes Chatham but any idea what SS Teeswood was - was it a ship or a shore establishment and what happened to it?

many thanks

Rob

[chaz]

looks like it sank as this divers site has dived on it.

http://www.jeanelaine.co.uk/text/dive.htm

alternatively there was a Teeswood that was renamed Yuloo dumped in Australia

http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/pollution/dum...uttled-nsw.html

[Michael Lowrey]

Yes Teeswood was a ship. A merchant ship in fact, as SS = steam ship.

You have to be careful with ship names, as they get reused.

There was a steamer named Britannia that was completed in 1882. In 1907, she was renamed Westwood and in 1913 she became Teeswood. The Admiralty bought the ship in 1914 and used her as a blockship at Scapa Flow.

The Teeswood that was built in 1910 is not the answer either — she was renamed Yuloo in 1912. She was partially scrapped with the remainder dumped near Syndey, Australia in 1929.

The answer is apparently the 864 grt steamer Teeswood built at W. Harkess & Son, Ltd., Middlesbrough in 1915. She kept the same name throuighout her existence and eventually stranded and broke up off Borkum in 1951.

Given that Teeswood isn't in British Vessel Lost at Sea 1914-18, it would seem that Wellard's death wasn't combat related -- or put another way, he probably died from something like disease, drowning or an accident.

Best wishes,

Michael

[per ardua per mare per terram]

His service register will be at Kew, ADM 159/47 for CH/7484

He was a pre war regular, probably a pensioner! If he enlisted at 18 his 22 year would have taken him to the age of 40 in around 1916. The register was closed in 1894.

Just confimed his number and that he was active duty in 1914! He earned the 1914 Star which was sent to his father 22/10/1919.

Per Mare Per Terram

[kin47]

Hello

WELLARD was on board as a DAMS gunner. Ship was not sunk or damaged. If you require further details, I would appreciate that you e mail me.

All best

don