Maurice was born on 31st March 1894 to parents Charles and Emma and baptised three months later on 17th June 1894 at All Saints Church in East Hanningfield, Essex.
His father Charles was a thatcher by trade and head of the household on the 1901 census. He and his wife had a large family of seven children at that time, all living at The Common, East Hanningfield. Maurice was the fifth child and aged seven at that time.
He had followed his father’s occupation for a time on leaving school, but joined the Navy for twelve years service, beginning his training as a Boy 2nd Class. He was recorded as being 5’6” tall once fully grown, had dark brown hair, blue eyes, a fresh complexion and had a mole on his back.
HMS IMPREGNABLE - 05/04/1910 - 24/06/1910
HMS GANGES - 25/06/1910 - 22/05/1911, rising to Boy 1st Class on 07/03/1911 and recorded at the training establishment in Suffolk on the night of the 1911 census.
HMS BERWICK - 23/05/1911 - 20/09/1911
HMS PEMBROKE I - 21/09/1911 - 16/10/1911
HMS INFLEXIBLE - 17/10/1911 - 25/05/1913, rising to Ordinary Seaman on 31/03/1912 and Able Seaman on 14/04/1913
HMS EGMONT - 26/05/1913 - 31/05/1913
HMS PEMBROKE I - 01/06/1913 - 24/1/1913
HMS VANGUARD - 25/11/1913 - 09/07/1917, rising to Leading Seaman on 10/03/1915 and passing educational tests for Petty Officer during 1916. Maurice was also aboard during the Battle of Jutland and from the medical officer’s journal of 1916 Maurice was treated for scabies from 25th - 27th April by the fleet surgeon.
Following his death, his mother was in receipt of his pension, his father was issued his Star, Victory and British war medals. Maurice’s body was never found so he is remembered in perpetuity on the Chatham Naval Memorial and locally at All Saints, East Hanningfield where he was christened.
(#57 - 481/843)
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
Essex, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1918 Essex Record Office; Chelmsford, Essex, England; Essex Church of England Parish Registers
Essex, England, Select Church of England Parish Registers, 1518-1960
1901 & 1911 England Census
UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 009 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC Register
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/9; Scan Number: 0137
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 117/0567/LIN-LIS
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 108
Crew photo source - Kira Ramsden
Memorial images - W Sadler
Researched by Wendy Sadler