Jonathan Calvert (1891-1918)
Hartlepool man served as an able seaman in the Royal Navy on HMS North Star
Jonathan Calvert was born in Hartlepool on 7 December 1891. His father was Darlington-born furnace-man Robert Calvert (b 1867). His mother was Jane Calvert nee Gray born in 1868 in Darlington. His parents married around 1897 and Jonathan was the second oldest of seven known children, made up of four boys and three girls. The family lived at 44 Frederick Street, Hartlepool throughout Jonathan’s life.
Jonathan had been working as a furnace-door lad when he joined the Royal Navy as a boy 2nd class on 29 April 1908 aged 16. He was given the service number J2021. He was rated as a boy 1st class on 10 December 1908 and became an ordinary seaman on his 18th birthday. He was rated as an able seaman on 8 December 1910. Jonathan passed the educational standard that was required for a petty officer rating on 4 March 1913.
Jonathan served on the crew of the destroyer HMS North Star when it was an escort ship in the Raid on Zeebrugge on the night of 23 April 1918. It was targeted by German shore batteries and sank with 17 crew killed including Jonathan. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial. He was also remembered on three local memorials in his hometown of Hartlepool.
Jonathan Calvert 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: 07-Dec-1891
Death date: 23-Apr-1918
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 44 Frederick Street, Hartlepool (1901 and 1911 censuses)
Education: Throston County Boys’ School, Hartlepool
Employment: Furnace-door lad (1908 service record)
Family: Parents: Robert Calvert (b 1867), Jane Calvert nee Gray (b 1868)
Siblings: George Frederick Calvert (b 1890), Jane Elizabeth Calvert (b 1895), Henry Calvert (b 1898), Matilda Calvert (b 1900), Richard Calvert 9b 1904), Margaret Calvert (b 1909)
Military service:
J2021
Royal Navy
Boy 2nd class, 29 April 1908
Boy 1st class, 10 December 1908
Ordinary seaman, 7 December 1909
Able seaman, 8 December 1910
HMS North Star
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial
Book of Remembrance Fallen 1914-18, Hartlepool
Roll of Honour Served 1914-18, Throston County Boy’s School
Wall 1914-18, Redheugh Gardens, Hartlepool
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
