Doctor Walter Spall

An Engineer with Steam Drifter Lord Carnarvon (Lowestoft), Doctor died on 19th of November 1914 at the age of 31. 

Doctor was born at Wenhaston in 1880, a son of Charles and Honor Spall. In 1881 his family lived at Black Heath, Wenhaston. By 1891 they were living at Friston. In 1901 they were living at Saint Clere Cottage, East Tilbury, and Doctor worked as an under-gardener domestic. By 1911 Doctor was working as a fisherman and he lodged at Bridge Road, Oulton Broad. 

In 1912 Doctor married Barbara Sinclair. He was living at Carlton Colville and she was from Lerwick, Scotland. By 1914 their home was at 28 Millsdene Terrace, Kimberley Road, Lowestoft.

Doctor worked as a fisherman on the steam drifter Lord Carnarvon, LT 1197. The drifter sailed from Lowestoft on 18 November 1914. An explosion was heard during the evening, but next morning there was no sigh of the drifter. Wreckage was later washed ashore at Gorleston and Southwold. It seems that the Lord Carnarvon was sunk by a mine, most probably when sailing off Gorleston. All ten of the crew were killed. 

See: Lowestoft – History of Lowestoft's Fishing Industry (wordpress.com)