Person

Herbert Barksby was born in Seaham on 21 July 1889. This was the same year his father John Barksby (1831-1889) died. His father was a coal miner originally from Alfreton, Derbyshire. He was killed in a mining accident in Seaham on 6 April 1889 when a large stone collapsed whilst he was putting in a pillar to support it. Herbert’s mother Hannah Barksby (1845-1892) was also born in Alfreton. Herbert was the youngest of ten known children with six brothers and three sisters. At the time of the 1891 census the Barksby family lived at 15 Cook Street, Seaham.

Herbert’s mother died in 1892. At the time of the 1901 census he was still living at 15 Cook Street, Seaham where his oldest brother George Henry Barksby was now head of the household. By the time of the 1911 census he was living at 23 Frederick Street, Seaham in the home of his brother Samuel Barksby. At this census his occupation is recorded as “seaman – engineer’s steward”. He married Mary Ann Barksby nee Pounder (born 1893) in Sunderland in 1914.

As a member of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) Herbert was called up for active service on the outbreak of war. He served as a trimmer cook with the service number 789/TC. On 20 July 1917 he was serving on HM Trawler Robert Smith which was on patrol in the Atlantic Ocean north west of Lewis, Scotland when it was sunk. The exact cause for this is unknown but the trawler probably floundered or was sunk by a German submarine. All 25 hands on board were lost. Herbert’s body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval memorial. He is remembered on the Plaque Fallen 1914-18, Miner’s Lodge, Dawdon and on the Reredos 1914-18, Seaman’s Mission Church, Seaham.

Herbert Barksby was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Dawdon

Birth date: 21-Jul-1889

Death date: 20-Jul-1917

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 15 Cook Street, Seaham (1891 and 1901 censuses)
23 Frederick Street, Seaham (1911 census)

Employment: Seaman – Engineer’s Steward (1911 census)

Family: Parents: John Barksby (1831-1889), Hannah Barksby (1845-1892)
Siblings: George Henry Barksby (b 1866), William Barksby (b 1869), Tom Barksby (b 1873), Elizabeth Barksby (b 1875), John Barksby (b 1879), Joseph Barksby (b 1880), Samuel Barksby (b 1882), Hannah Barksby (b 1884), Mary Ellen Barksby (b 1887)
Spouse: Mary Ann Barksby nee Pounder (b 1893)

Military service:

Royal Naval Reserve
Service Number 789/TC
Trimmer cook
HM Trawler Robert Smith

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Plaque Fallen 1914-18, Miner’s Lodge, Dawdon
Reredos 1914-18, Seaman’s Mission Church, Seaham

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham