Family research into service and death of John William Harry (Jack) Beechey
Transcription
Transcription history
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accompanying destroyers were sent back to harbour
because the seas were too rough. The telegraphist on
board Caroline went on watch at midnight and he could
hear HMS Iron Duke calling the Hampshire and continue
calling with no response. The theory among the fleet at
the time was that the Captain of the Hampshire had
stayed inshore of the islands to keep out of the worst of
the weather, when he ran into German mines. They
suspect that the U-Boat that had laid the mines was one
that had been attacked some time earlier by our
destroyers.
The official casualty list names 643 men had lost their
lives but it's probably more like 700. We have read
accounts of the sinking and as stoker Uncle Jack would
have had an horrific death. Trapped below decks,
surrounded by scalding steam and fire, no chance of
escaping. After the war it was decided that a memorial
be erected on Southsea Common to commemorate those
members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave.
Uncle Jack's name is on this memorial.
John William Harry Beechey was a simple country lad,
unsophisticated, wiith a limited education from a hard
working family. He died helping to defend his country
in the 'war to end all wars', a number on a casualty list
but to his family, a hero.
-
accompanying destroyers were sent back to harbour
because the seas were too rough. The telegraphist on
board Caroline went on watch at midnight and he could
hear HMS Iron Duke calling the Hampshire and continue
calling with no response. The theory among the fleet at
the time was that the Captain of the Hampshire had
stayed inshore of the islands to keep out of the worst of
the weather, when he ran into German mines. They
suspect that the U-Boat that had laid the mines was one
that had been attacked some time earlier by our
destroyers.
The official casualty list names 643 men had lost their
lives but it's probably more like 700. We have read
accounts of the sinking and as stoker Uncle Jack would
have had an horrific death. Trapped below decks,
surrounded by scalding steam and fire, no chance of
escaping. After the war it was decided that a memorial
be erected on Southsea Common to commemorate those
members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave.
Uncle Jack's name is on this memorial.
John William Harry Beechey was a simple country lad,
unsophisticated, wiith a limited education from a hard
working family. He died helping to defend his country
in the 'war to end all wars', a number on a casualty list
but to his family, a hero.
-
accompanying destroyers were sent back to harbour
because the seas were too rough. The telegraphist on
board Caroline went on watch at midnight and he could
hear HMS Iron Duke calling the Hampshire and continue
calling with no response. The theory among the fleet at
the time was that the Captain of the Hampshire had
stayed inshore of the islands to keep out of the worst of
the weather, when he ran into German mines. They
suspect that the U-Boat that had laid the mines was one
that had been attacjed some time earlier by our
destroyers.
The official casualty list names 643 men had lost their
lives but it's probably more like 700. We have read
accounts of the sinking and as stoker Uncle Jack would
have had an horrific death. Trapped below decks,
surrounded by scalding steam and fire, no chance of
escaping. After the war it was decided that a memorial
be erected on Southsea Common to commemorate those
members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave.
Uncle Jack's name is on this memorial.
John William Harry Beechey was a simple country lad,
unsophisticated, wiith a limited education from a hard
working family. He died helping to defend his country
in the 'war to end all wars', a number on a casualty list
but to his family, a hero.
-
accompanying destroyers were sent back to harbour
because the seas were too rough. The telegraphist on
board Caroline went on watch at midnight and he could
hear HMS IIron Duke calling the Hampshire and continue
calling with no response. The theory among the fleet at
the time was that the Captain of the Hampshire had
stayed inshore of the islands to keep out of the worst of
the weather, when he ran into German mines. They
suspect that the U-Boat that had laid the mines was one
that had been attacjed some time earlier by our
destroyers.
The official casualty list names 643 men had lost their
lives but it's probably more like 700. We have read
accounts of the sinking and as stoker Uncle Jack would
have had an horrific death. Trapped below decks,
surrounded by scalding steam and fire, no chance of
escaping. After the war it was decided that a memorial
be erected on Southsea Common to commemorate those
members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave.
Uncle Jack's name is on this memorial.
John William Harry Beechey was a simple country lad,
unsophisticated, wiith a limited education from a hard
working family. He died helping to defend his country
in the 'war to end all wars', a number on a casualty list
but to his family, a hero.
-
accompanying destroyers were sent back to harbour
because the seas were too rough. The telegraphist on
board Caroline went on watch at midnight and he could
hear HMS IIron Duke calling the Hampshire and continue
calling with no response. The theory among the fleet at
the time was that the Captain of the Hampshire had
stayed inshore of the islands to keep out of the worst of
the weather, when he ran into German mines. They
suspect that the U-Boat that had laid the mines was one
that had been attacjed some time earlier by our
destroyers.
The official casualty list names 643 men had lost their
lives but it's probably more like 700. We have read
accounts of the sinking and as stoker Uncle Jack would
have had an horrific death. Trapped below decks,
surrounded by scalding steam and fire, no chance of
escaping. After the war it was decided that a memorial
be erected on Southsea Common to commemorate those
Description
Save description- 50.78171989963249||-1.0943137302245987||
Southsea Common
Location(s)
Document location Southsea Common
- ID
- 18242 / 206891
- Contributor
- Phyllis Govier
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- Naval Warfare
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- Remembrance
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