Robert Bullerwell Farbridge (1892-1918)
From Burnhope, served in the Royal Navy, lost at sea 1918.
Robert Bullerwell Farbridge was born in Kimblesworth on 26 December 1892. His father was also called Robert Farbridge (1858-1921) and was a coal miner, originally from Newlands near Whittonstall. His mother was Marry Ann Farbridge nee Bullerwell (1863-1942) from Barlow. His parents married in 1889 in Lanchester. Robert had three sisters and one brother and was the second eldest child.
At the time of the 1901 census, the family were living at Middlewood, Lanchester. Ten years later, at the 1911 census, they were living in Ford Road, Lanchester and Robert junior was working as a putter in the local colliery.
In July 1917, Robert enlisted as a stoker in the Royal Navy, he was then living with his widowed mother at 20 Langley Terrace, Burnhope. After first training in Portsmouth at HMS Victory, Stoker 2nd Class Farbridge joined the crew of the destroyer HMS Narborough in October 1917.
On the night of the 12 January 1918, along with the destroyer HMS Opal, his ship was escorting the light cruiser HMS Boadicea hunting suspected German ships laying mines off the coast of Scotland. In a blinding snow storm, the two destroyers were ordered to return to Scapa Flow but struck the rocks off Hesta Head on Orkney. Both ships sank with the loss of 188 men. Only one man survived.
Along with the rest of the two destroyers crews, Robert body was never recovered from the sea.
Robert Farbridge is honoured on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. He is also remembered on three memorials in Lanchester, three in Burnhope and one at the colliery in Burnhope where he worked.
Note: The Burnhope Memorial incorrectly records James as having served on HMS Marlborough.
Robert Farbridge was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service in the First World War.
For more information:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3039713/farbridge,-robert-bullerwell/
North East War Memorials Project
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=6480
Civil Parish: Lanchester
Birth date: 26-Dec-1892
Death date: 12-Jan-1918
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: Middlewood, Lanchester (1901 census)
Ford Road, Lanchester (1911 census)
20 Langley Terrace, Burnhope, County Durham
Employment: Coal miner – putter (1911 census)
Miner (1917 service record)
Family: Parents: Robert Farbridge (1858-1921), Mary Ann Farbridge nee Bullerwell (1863-1942)
Siblings: Elizabeth Farbridge (1891), Margaret Farbridge (1897), Mary Farbridge (1901), John Farbridge (1906)
Military service:
K43950, Stoker 2nd class, HMS Narbrough.
Medal(s): British War Medal, Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Portsmouth Naval Memorial
Book of Remembrance 1914-18, St John the Evangelist, Burnhope
Garden of Remembrance 1914-18, Burnhope
Plaque 1914-18, All Saint’s Church, Lanchester
Plaque 1914-18, Church of St John the Evangelist, Burnhope
Plaque 1914-18, Memorial Hall, Lanchester
Roll of Honour 1914-18, Ritson, Burnhope and Pontop Collieries
Wall 1914-18, The Green, Lanchester
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham. | With additional research by Burnhope War Memorial Research Group & Durham County Record Office.
