HMS ORWELL ROLL OF HONOUR – Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta
IN MEMORY OF
Mr Edward SMITH. Gunner, Royal Navy. Drowned, his body recovered later that evening by HMS Pioneer. He is at rest in Corfu British Cemetery aged recorded as 26 years (1877)
Frederick WHITE. Petty Officer 1st Class 158913. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 28 years. Born 25 June 1875 at Bishop Lydeard, Somerset. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class 6 January 1891 on HMS Impregnable. Civilian occupation, porter. On the 25 April 1898 on HMS Phoebe promoted to Leading Seaman, then Petty Officer 30 January 1898 still on the same ship. On HMS Hood he was promoted to Petty Officer Class 1 1 July 1901. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His father was informed of his death 9 February 1903
William JONES. Petty Officer 1st Class 123690. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 35 years. Born 28 August 1867 at Brighton, Sussex. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class 30 July 1883 on HMS St Vincent. Promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class on HMS Scout 13 December 1894. Petty Officer 1st Class on HMS Australia 28 August 1896. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902, lost his life 30 January 1903. His wife was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
Joseph NORTH. Petty Officer 2nd Class 166819. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 25 years. Born 15 March 1877 at Hornsey, Middlesex. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class 6 May 1892 on HMS Impregnable, civilian occupation, groom. Promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class 1902 on HMS Hood. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902, lost his life 20 January 1902. His sister Minnie was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
Arthur Ernest EDWARDS. Able Seaman 173067. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 25 years. Born 29 January 1878 at Caerleon, Monmouth to Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class 2 May 1893 on HMS Impregnable, civilian occupation page boy. Promoted to Able Seaman on HMS Thunderer. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
Richard FIDDICK. Able Seaman 174036. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 24 years. Born 29 May 1878 at St Martins, Looe, Cornwall to James and Susanna, nee Taylor. In 1881 he was residing with his married mother Susanna (his father was a merchant seaman and away for home) and his siblings at Hove Street, West Looe. 1891 with his mother and siblings at Princess Street, West Looe. His father still at sea with the merchant navy. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class 6 September 1894 on HMS Impregnable., civilian occupation, fisher man. Promoted to Able Seaman on HMS Nile 30 August 1899. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His father was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
William McCLURE. Able Seaman 196177. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 21 years. Born 20 April 1881 at Kinsale Cork, Ireland. Enlisted 26 October 1897 on HMS Black Prince as Boy 2nd Class. Civilian occupation, labourer Promoted to Able Seaman on HMS Cambridge 11 July 1900. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
William RYAN. Able Seaman 171934. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 25 years. Born 15 July at Aghada, Cork, Ireland. Enlisted 11 February 1893 as Boy 2nd Class on HMS Impregnable, civilian occupation, labourer. Promoted to Able Seaman on HMS Philomel 6 September 1896. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
John William Ross FROOD. Able Seaman 190004. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 22 years. Born 24 December 1880 at Plymouth, Devon to James Thomas and Agnes Elizabeth Frood, nee Ross. 1881 with his parents and siblings at The Parade, Plymouth. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class, 3 August 1896 on HMS St Vincent, civilian occupation, errand boy. Promoted to Able Seaman on HMS Resolution, 21 September 1899. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His father was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
William Robert BROOKS. Able Seaman 159558. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 27 years. Born 7 January 1876 at Stoke Damerel, Devon to John William Parkhouse and Mary Louisa Brooks, nee Toby (His father served as Stoker 41107 Royal Navy, last ship Belleisle 1886) 1881 with his mother and siblings at 103 Albert Road, Devonport, Devon. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class 24 March 1891 on HMS Impregnable. Promoted to Able seaman on HMS Lizard 1 October 1895. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 9 February 1903
William Abraham BOYCE. Able Seaman 190786. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 23 years. Born 13 January 1880 at Southsea, Hampshire to Abraham Pitches and Anne Elizabeth Boyce, nee Hilton. 1881 and 1891 with his parents and sibling at 8 Little Southsea Street, Portsea Island, Hampshire. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class on 25 September 1896 on HMS Northampton, civilian occupation, errand boy. He was promoted to Able Seaman on HMS Resolution, 25 May 1899. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 19 January 1903.
William John MAYOR. Able Seaman 197133. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 22 years. Born 10 July 1880 at Rochester, Kent. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class 24 January 1898 on HMS Northampton. Promoted to Able Seaman on HMS Diadem 11 December 1899. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 14 May 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 9 February 1903. His mother was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
William John McCORMACK. Leading Signalman 190515. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 21 years. Born 6 February 1881 at Garston, Lancashire. Enlisted as Boy 2nd Class, Signalman 1 September 1896 on HMS Impregnable. Promoted to Leading Signalman on HMS Royal Sovereign 5 June 1901. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 19 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
Walter James ORRIN. Qualified Signalman 183360. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 23 years. Born 25 January 1880 at St Luke’s, Chelsea, Middlesex to George Nicholson and Martha Sarah Orrin, nee Death. 1881 with his parents and siblings at 14 Milman Street, St Luke’s, Chelsea. 1891 with his parents and siblings at 5 Burlington Road, Colchester, Essex. He enlisted as Boy 2nd Class Signalman 6 April 1895 on HMS St Vincent, civilian occupation, club boy. Promoted to Signalman on HMS Anson 25 January 1898 and Qual Signalman on same ship, 29 December 1899. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 12 February 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His father was informed of his death 9 February 1903.
William PERRY. Leading Stoker 1st Class 148923. Missing, went down with the forepart of the ship aged 34 years. His body was later recovered by HMS Pioneer. Born 13 June 1868 at Devonport, Devon to James and Maria Perry. 1871 with his parents and siblings at Cherry Garden Street, Devonport. 1881 boarder at a school in Bristol. 1891 With his widowed mother at 46 Cannon Street Devonport. Occupation aged 23 years, stoker in the Royal Navy. 1901 On HMS Orwell at Lazaretto Greek, Grand Harbour, Malta aged 32 years. Enlisted 29 May 1889 on HMS Indus, civilian occupation, labourer. Promoted to Leading Stoker on HMS Ocean 17 October 1900. Joined HMS Orion (Orwell) 1 April 1902 lost his life 30 January 1903. His mother was informed of his death 4 February 1903.
He is at rest Corfu British Cemetery.
Of H.M.T.B. Destroyer Orwell (Orion) who lost their lives in the collision between that ship and H.M.Ship Pioneer off Cape Varlam on the (night) 30 January 1903
HMS Orwell’s bow was cut off in the collision with the loss of 15 of her crew, the ship did not sink. Orwell returned to the United Kingdom in 1906, remaining in home waters for the rest of her Royal Navy career. The bow section of the ship was later raised by the royal navy, date not known.
Extract from the New Zealand Herald, dated Monday March 16 1903
Cruiser and Destroyer in Collision.
H.M.S. ORWELL RUN DOWN.
Fifteen Petty Officers and Men drowned.
The accident to the boat belonging to H.M.S. Snipe, by which four bluejackets were drowned, was followed later by an even more serious disaster. H.M.S Pioneer and H.M.S. Orwell collided, 15 of the crew of the latter losing their lives. H.M.S. Pioneer and Tyne and 12 destroyers were engaged in night operations near Corfu, Ionian Islands, when the destroyer Orwell and the Pioneer collided, the former being cut right through at the conning tower. The forepart sank in deep water. Gunner Smith and Leading Stoker Perry were killed, and 13 others are missing. It is feared that the latter sank in the bow of the ship.
SURVIVOR’S GRAPHIC STORY -
Graphic details of the collision nave been told by the father of an engineering officer on board the Orwell. After stating that they had been having a lot of exercise lately the writer proceeded. There are 12 destroyers here, split up into divisions of six each and we have been having a good many night attacks. For these all navigation lights are put out and the nights being pitch dark, with no moon, of course it is dangerous work. On Friday we were anchored in San Giovanni Bay, in company with our division of destroyers and the Tyne. We were to have an attack that night. The idea was that we were to break out and if possible, elude the six destroyers blocking us outside the harbour. Having done this, we were to discover the Pioneer and attack her. Our part of the attack was soon finished, as we were discovered and put out of action. Accordingly, we hoisted the usual navigation lights and steamed away to a rendezvous. Suddenly there was a cry, ‘She’s right on top of us,’ and so she was. It was the Pioneer steaming without lights. She struck us at the fore bridge and cut clean through us. The forepart of the Orwell fell away and sank. I was making my way to the engine room when I heard cries forward and was just at the entrance when the shock came. I clung on to a handrail and then got below and stopped the engines. After doing a few other necessary things I realised that the ship was not sinking and of course, relived. I was afraid that the Pioneer would come into our boilers and you can imagine what this would have meant. Luckily, she did not do this, but missed by only a few feet. Our lieutenant (Roberts) and the sub (Corlett) were both on the bridge and I did not expect to see them again. They had a miraculous escape. Lieutenant Roberts was struck by the stem of Pioneer as she came through us. He managed to hang on, climbed in over her bows and was sent back to us later on. Needless to say, how glad I was to see him and also the hear later that Corlett had been picked up. He went away with the forepart of the ship and as it sank, he got clear and was soon picked up. The pioneer took us in tow stern first and we arrived in Corfu safely just at daylight and then we could see what damage had been done. About a third of our length was quite gone. After the Pioneer had got safely in tow, we did our best to find how many were missing. The pioneer picked up Mr Smith, our gunner, dead and leading stoker also dead. We found that in addition we were 13 men missing, so that the loss of life was 15. Destroyers have been to the scene of the wreck and searching the coast since the accident, but so far no news has been received of any of the missing men.
