John William Spooner

A Second Hand with H.M. Trawler Whooper, John died on 30th of June 1916 at the age of 38. 

John was born at Lowestoft on 30 September 1878, a son of William Griffiths and Mary Ann Spooner. In 1881 his family lived at 7 Arnold Road, Lowestoft, and by 1891 they were living at County Villas, 5 Regent Road. 

On 24 November 1895 John married Alice Emmeline Grimble at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville. John was a baker and they both lived at Carlton Colville. In 1901 they lived at Bird’s Lane, Carlton Road. By 1911 they were living at 76 Stanford Street. In 1915 they lived at 1 Avenue Road, Kirkley, and later Alice lived at 149 The Avenue, South Lowestoft.

John stated that he was ten years younger when he joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 1 October August 1915. He served as a Deck Hand on the trawler Craik. He was advanced to Second Hand, on 2 March 1916 and, on 3 March 1916, joined the trawler Whooper. He died when the trawler was blown up by a mine off Lowestoft. 

John’s son, John Alfred, died in 1918 serving with the Northamptonshire Regiment.