Person

Francis Carney was born on 6 June 1900 in Gateshead. His father was also called Francis Carney (1875-1958). He was a chemical labourer originally from Derbyshire. His mother was Sarah Carney (1868) and he had one sister Jane Carney (1896). At the time of the 1901 census the family lived at 53 Park Lane Gateshead and had moved to 70 Monk Street, Gateshead by the time of the 1911 census.

Francis lied about his age to attest with the Northumberland Fusiliers at Woolsington Camp on 29 July 1915 when he claimed to be 19 years old. He became 25/1500 Private Carney in the 30th Reserve Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was discharged on the grounds of being under age on 27 September 1915. On 6 April 1916 he joined the Royal Navy as a boy 2nd class with the service number J52303. He was 15 years and ten months old when he joined. His intention was to serve for 12 years from the date of his 18th birthday.

Francis began his training at HMS Ganges, Shotley, Suffolk. He was rated as a boy telegrapher there on 13 September 1916. He continued his training at HMS Pembroke I where he became boy 1st class on 1 January 1917.

On 30 June 1917 Francis joined the crew of HMS Vanguard a St Vincent-class dreadnought battleship assigned to the Home and Grand fleets. At the time Francis joined her crew Vanguard’s service generally consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea. Just before midnight on 9 July 1917 she suffered a catastrophic explosion in one of her magazines. She sank almost immediately with the loss of 804 officers and ratings and only 2 survivors. Francis was lost in the sinking and like most of the crew his body was not recovered for burial. He is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Francis Carney was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service during the First World War.

Civil Parish: Gateshead

Birth date: 06-Jun-1900

Death date: 09-Jul-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 53 Park Lane, Gateshead (1901 census)
70 Monk Street, Gateshead (1911 census)

Employment: Bus conductor (1916 service record)

Family: Parents: Francis Carney (1875-1958), Sarah Carney nee (1868)
Siblings: Jane Carney (1896)

Military service:

J89978
Boy 2nd class, 6 April 1916
Boy signaller, 13 September 1916
Boy 1st class, 1 January1917
HMS Ganges, 6 April 1916-12 September 1916
HMS Pembroke I, 13 September 1916- 29 June 1917
HMS Vanguard, 30 June 1917-9 July 1917

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham