Albert John Sarbutt

A Skipper with Steam Drifter Reliance (Lowestoft), Albert died on 7th of October 1917 at the age of 35. 

Albert was born at Redisham, Suffolk, in 1881, a son of Charles and Mary Sarbutt. In 1891 his family lived at Halesworth Road, Redisham. Later his parents lived at Oulton Road, Lowestoft, before moving to Crossway Cottages, Blundeston.

In 1901 Albert, who was also known as John, or Jack, was a seaman working on the trawler Forward, LT 708, at Saint Ives, Cornwall. 

On 26 December 1906 Albert married Eva Mary May Barnes at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Albert was a fisherman living at Church Road and Eva lived at 2 Cathcart Street. In 1911 their home was at Oulton Road, by 1912 they were living at 35 Cambridge Road, and by 1917 at Ellen Cottages, The Street, Blundeston. Later Eva lived at 38 Carrow Road, Norwich.

In 1917 Albert was the Skipper of the Drifter Reliance, LT 694. The Reliance sailed from Lowestoft, on Saturday 29 September, to fish between Wintertons Ridge and Smiths Knoll, and was due to return on Monday 8 October. The Reliance was seen by several boats outside Winterton Ridge during the evening of October 6. A member of the crew of the Lord Roberts, William Westmate, stated at an inquiry that his crew had hauled their nest and gone below when, about five minutes later, they heard an explosion. This was presumed to be the Reliance striking a mine. All ten of the Reliance’s crew were lost. 

See: 1914 – 1918 Lowestoft Fisherman: killed by enemy action – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry