Harry John Whatling
A Signal Boy with H.M. Drifter Persistive, Harry died on 9th of February 1916 at the age of 16.
Harry was born at Kirkley on 30th March 1899, a son of Arthur Oswald and Margaret Emily Whatling. Note that his given names were John Harry, but he often used Harry as his first name, including when he served in the Royal Naval Reserve. Harry was baptised at Saint Peter's Church, Kirkley, on 28 April 1899.
In 1901 his family lived at 160 Pakefield Street, Kirkley. Harry attended the Cunningham National School, Pakefield, from 7 April 1902 until 28 July 1911. By 1911 the family had moved to 36 Pakefield Street, Pakefield.
Harry joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 6 February 1915 and joined the crew of the Drifter Persistive. (Note his R.N.R. service sheet shows him serving on the Persistive from 15 January 1915).
The Persistive was blown up by a mine on 9 February 1916. Seven of the crew were killed and one other severely wounded.
Harry's father, Arthur, served as a Skipper in the Royal Naval Reserve from 28 January 1915. Arthur was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (London Gazette 7 June 1918) for his part in sinking a German submarine on 10 March 1918.
The crew of the Drifter Persistive on 9 February 1916
CHAPMAN, Herbert Edward (Survived) CHURCH, David HAYLOCK, Albert Harry Green PINKNEY, FrederickPOPE, Edwin William (From Falmouth) RODWELL, John Martin SIMPSON, Alexander Kelman (From Aberdeen) WHATLING, Harry John
By the second half of 1915, the smaller, mine-laying UC-class U-boats were also adding their own mines to the mix, on an almost daily basis. On October 12, they claimed the Yarmouth drifter, Frons Olivae YH 217, off North Foreland and, a few days later, the Fraserburgh boat, Star of Buchan FR 534, just east of Isle of Wight. The following February the Kessingland-owned Persistive LT 42, was mined off Dover - CREDIT:fishingnews.co.uk
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Harry Whatling
36
Pakefield Street
Pakefield
United Kingdom
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