Person

Edward Egglestone was born on 3 August 1886 in Hartlepool. His father was Robert Egglestone, a riveter’s holder-up who was born in Stranton in 1859. His mother was Hannah Egglestone who was born in 1860 in Yorkshire. His parent married about 1878 and the 1911 census records that up to that date they had had 14 children, ten of whom were surviving. This gave Edward five brothers and four sisters amongst the living children.

In 1891 the Egglestone family lived at 32 Robinson Street, Hartlepool. Ten years later in 1901 they were living at 43 Ouston Street, Hartlepool and Edward was serving an apprenticeship as a shipwright. He married Annie Coxon Egglestone, nee Charlton, in Hartlepool in 1910. At the time of the 1911 census the couple were living at 20 Bentley Street, Hartlepool. A daughter named Edna was born in 1911 followed by a son named Robert in 1913.

Edward joined the Royal Navy on 4 November 1915 to serve for the duration of hostilities. He was rated as a shipwright 2nd class and given the service number M16377. From 15 December 1915 Edward served on HMS Vanguard, a St Vincent-class dreadnought battleship launched in February 1909. Just before midnight on 9 July 1917 at Scapa Flow, Orkney, Scotland, Vanguard suffered an explosion. This was probably caused by an unnoticed fire heating cordite in one of the two magazines which served the midships gun turrets. The ship sank almost instantly and there were only two survivors. In terms of loss of life the destruction of the Vanguard remains the most catastrophic accidental explosion in the history of the United Kingdom and one of the worst accidental losses of the Royal Navy. Edward was one of 804 men killed in the explosion and like many of the men his body was not recovered for burial. The wreck site is now a designated war grave under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Edward Egglestone is honoured nationally on the Chatham Naval Memorial. In Hartlepool he is remembered on the Roll of Honour of Hartlepool men, on the Obelisk in Victory Square and on the Harbour Light memorial. He was awarded the 1914-15 star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Hartlepool

Birth date: 03-Aug-1886

Death date: 09-Jul-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 32 Robinson Street, Hartlepool (1891 census)
42 Ouston Street, Hartlepool (1901 census)
20 Bentley Street, Hartlepool (1911 census)

Employment: Shipwright Apprentice (1901 census)
Shipwright (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Robert Egglestone (b 1859), Hannah Egglestone (b 1860)
Siblings: John G Egglestone (b 1880), William Egglestone (b 1889), Hannah Egglestone (b 1892), Ethel Egglestone (b 1894), Frederick Egglestone (b 1896), Robert Egglestone (b 1898), Ellen Egglestone (b 1899), Thomas Egglestone (b 1902), Catherine Egglestone (b 1903)
Spouse: Annie Coxon Egglestone nee Charlton (1891-1953)
Children: Edna Egglestone (b 1911), Robert Egglestone (b 1913)

Military service:

Royal Navy
Shipwright 2nd class
Service number M16377
HMS Pembroke
HMS Vanguard

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Roll of Honour Men of West Hartlepool 1914-18
Obelisk 1914-18, Victory Square, Hartlepool
Harbour Light 1914-18, Hartlepool

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham