Person

Charles Whitfield was born in Stockton-on-Tees on 9 March 1897. His father was James Monty Whitfield (1866-1937) a bricklayer from Stockton. His mother was Ellen Whitfield nee O’Donnell (1871-1947) from Middlesbrough. His parents married in 1896 when his mother already had one son, Thomas O’Donnell, who was born in 1891. After the marriage, a daughter called Ellen was born eight years after Charles in 1905. at the time of the 1901 census the family lived at 5 Bowser Street, Stockton-on Tees and in 1911 at 10 Shakespeare Street.

Charles, who was a labourer in civilian life, joined the Royal Navy as a boy 2nd class on 14 September 1913. He was given the service number J27523. His intention was to serve for 12 years from the date of his 18th birthday. He was 16 years 6 months and 6 days old when he joined. He was just over five feet tall with a 32 inch chest. He had brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

Charles travelled to HMS Ganges in Shotley, Suffolk for his initial training that lasted just under eight months. He was promoted to boy 1st class while he was there on 1 May 1914. On 20 May 1914 he joined the crew of HMS Royal Arthur which was a guard ship at Scapa Flow, Orkney, Scotland during the early part of the war.

Charles joined the crew of HMS Clan MacNaughton 11 December 1914. This was a pre-war merchant ship requisitioned by the Royal Navy in November 1914. She was converted to a warship via the addition of guns on deck and sailed for patrol duties in the North Atlantic a few days before Christmas 1914. On the morning of 3 February 1915 she was in radio contact and reported terrible weather conditions off the north west coast of Scotland. Nothing more was ever heard from her and she was lost with all 281 members of her crew.

Charles was 17 years, 10 months and 26 days old when he died. His body was not recovered for burial. He is honoured nationally on the Chatham Naval Memorial and in Stockton in the Book of Remembrance 1914-18 St Thomas’ Church.

Charles Whitfield was awarded the Star, the Victory Medal and British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Stockton on Tees

Birth date: 09-Mar-1897

Death date: 03-Feb-1915

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 5 Bowser Street, Stockton-on-Tees (1901 census)
10 Shakespeare Street, Stockton-on-Tees (1911 census)

Employment: Labourer (1913, Royal Navy service record)

Family: Parents: James Monty Whitfield (1866-1937), Ellen Whitfield nee O’Donnell (1871-1947)
Sibling: Ellen Whitfield
Half-sibling: Thomas O’Donnell

Military service:

J27523
Boy 2nd class, 14 September 1913
Boy 1st class, 1 May 1913
HMS Ganges, 20 September 1913 - 19 August 1914
HMS Royal Arthur, 20 May 1914 - 30 November 1914
HMS Pembroke I, 1 December 1914 - 10 December 1914
HMS Clan MacNaughton, 11 December 1914 - 3 February 1915

Medal(s): Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Book of Remembrance, 1914-18, St Thomas’ Church, Stockton-on-Tees

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham