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PTE WILBY

Introduction

This page contains some research that I have done on the War Memorial located in Earsham, Norfolk.

World War One

Earsham War Memorial (Stratford family)

Those soldiers who life has been researched in more detail have their own page, as shown on the left-hand side of this page.

To view the details of the servicemen commemorated on the war memorial click here. To return from the details to this page, click your browser's back button.

To view more information about a particular memorial, please use the CWGC's Debt of Honour facility.

Memorial Notes

• Although Earsham War Memorial states that "Runacles, H.W" served in the Royal Field Artillery, the only person with this combination of surname and initials is shown by both the CWGC and Soldiers' Died as having served in the Royal Engineers at the time of his death.
• Although Earsham War Memorial states "Saunders, L.W" served in the East Surrey Regiment, both the CWGC and Soldiers' Died shown no soldier with this combination of surname and initials as having served in this regiment at the time of his death.
• A total of 18 "Smith, A", who were members of the Suffolk Regiment, were killed during World War One. Consequently I have made an estimated guess as to the correct one based upon the birthplace and residence locations quoted in Soldiers' Died.

In all these points there is the possibility of a mistake in one or more of the following sources: The war memorial itself, the CWGC records or the Soldiers' Died publications. This is not surprising considering the numbers of casualties involved.

To view more information about Private Wilby click here.

HMS Shark

Destroyer; 1912; Swan Hunter; 950 tons; 266x27.9x9; 25,000 i.h.p; 36 knots; turbine engine; Yarrow boilers; three 4 in. guns; 4 torpedo tube.

The destroyer Shark, under Commander L.W. Jones, was a unit of the 4th Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland. At about 17:30 on 31 May 1916, when the Shark was leading her division to attack the German ships under Rear-Admiral Boedicker, she cam under concentrated fire. Despite being put out of action, Shark managed to fire a torpedo at one of the German cruisers.

Commander Jones, despite a severe leg wound, went to the after gun which was still in operation. However, this gun was put out of action just after the commander reached it. He then made his way to the now sole operating gun, where he and two seaman kept it in operation until his leg was shot off at the knee. A stoker improvised a tourniquet round Jones' thigh, and they carried on.

After the Shark had been torpedoed by a German destroyer, Jones gave the order to abandon ship. The Shark eventually sank with the loss of seven officers (including Jones) and 79 ratings. There were only 6 survivors.

For his conduct during the operation, despite his injuries, Commander L.W. Jones was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.