Alfred Beresford (1881-1918)
Gateshead engineer served in the Royal Naval Reserve on HM Whaler Blackwhale
Alfred Beresford was born in Gateshead on 26 June 1881. His father was engine driver James Beresford (1836) from Pelton Fell. His mother was Elizabeth Brown Beresford nee Monkhouse (1835-1916) from Gateshead. His parents married in Heworth in 1857. Alfred was the youngest of eight known children, with six brothers and a sister. Until his marriage, Alfred spent all of his life living at 34 Albert Street, Gateshead. At the time of the 1901 census, when he lived there with his mother and brother Roland, he was working as an apprentice engineer.
Alfred married Elizabeth Jane Beresford nee Langley (1884) in Gateshead in 1909. She was a railway signalman’s daughter from Newcastle. They had a son they named Gordon in 1911. Their family home address at the time of the 1911 census was recorded as being at 135 Avenue Road, Gateshead but Alfred was absent on the census date. It is possible he was away at sea because when war was declared he served in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR).
Alfred was a chief engine room artificer in the RNR with the service number 444/EB. On 3 January 1918 he was serving on HM Whaler Blackwhale. It was carrying out anti-submarine escort duties when it was mined and sunk off the coast of Fife Ness, Scotland. Alfred was one of 12 crew members who were lost in the sinking. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
A communion set was dedicated to Alfred at St Columba’s Mission Church, Gateshead, inscribed in his memory “who died at sea in the service of his King and Country”. Further details of this memorial can be found here http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=10736
Alfred Beresford was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service during the First World War.
Civil Parish: Gateshead
Birth date: 26-Jun-1881
Death date: 03-Jan-1918
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 34 Albert Street, Gateshead (1891 & 1901 census)
135 Avenue Road, Gateshead (1911 census)
Employment: Electrical engineer (1901 census)
Family: Parents: James Beresford (1836), Elizabeth Brown Beresford nee Monkhouse (1835-1916)
Siblings: Ralph Monkhouse Beresford (1859), John Monkhouse Beresford (1861), Isabella Beresford (1865), Major H Beresford (1866), Richard M Beresford (1869), James Beresford (1874), Roland Monkhouse Beresford (1876)
Spouse: Elizabeth Jane Beresford nee Langley (1884)
Children: Gordon Beresford (1911)
Military service:
444/EB
Chief engine room artificer
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Whaler Blackwhale
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Communion set, Saint Columba’s Mission Church, Gateshead
Roll of honour and case 1914-18, Gateshead Library
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham