Oliver John Dalton (1863-1917)
Jarrow born marine engineer served in the Royal Naval Reserve on HM Trawler Earl Lennox
Oliver John Dalton was born on 10 March 1863 in Jarrow. Both of his parents were born in Ireland. His father was Bernard Dalton, an engine-man born in 1837. His mother was Ellen Jane Dalton nee Murphy who was born in 1835. They had eight children with Oliver having four brothers and three sisters. In 1871 the Dalton family lived in Hudson’s Yard, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. In 1881 they lived at 38 Pottery Street, Whitwood, Yorkshire and in 1891 they were living at 7 Humber Street, Goole, Yorkshire.
Oliver was working as a marine engineer in 1901 and living at 95 Victor Street, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. In 1911 he was living with his widowed mother and brother Joseph at 113 Lovett Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. He was working as an engineer on a fishing boat at the time of this census. Like many men in the fishing industry Oliver was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) and went into active service on the outbreak of war.
Oliver served as an engineman in the trawler section of the RNR with the service number ES/867. He was onboard HM Trawler Earl Lennox when it was sunk by a mine from German submarine U-79 south off Islay Sound off the west coast of Scotland. Oliver was one of seven crew lost. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He was 53 years old when he died.
Oliver John Dalton was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Jarrow
Birth date: 10-Mar-1863
Death date: 23-Oct-1917
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: Jarrow (Birthplace)
Hudson’s Yard, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire (1871 census)
38 Pottery Street, Whitwood, Yorkshire (1881 census)
7 Humber Street, Goole, Yorkshire (1891 census)
95 Victor Street, Grimsby, Lincolnshire (1901 census)
113 Lovett Street, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire (1911 census)
Employment: Marine engineer (1901 census)
Engineer (1911 census)
Family: Parents: Bernard Dalton (b 1837), Ellen Jane Dalton nee Murphy (b 1835)
Siblings: Ellen Jane Dalton (b 1859), Catherine Ann Dalton (b 1861), Thomas Dalton (b 1865), Joseph Dalton (b 1867), Bernard Dalton (b 1872), Margaret Dalton (b 1874), Hugh Dalton (b 1876)
Military service:
Royal Naval Reserve
Service Number ES/867
Engineman
HM Trawler Earl Lennox
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham