ATKIN, Edward. Corporal 233149, No 1, Operative Section, Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers . He drowned at sea on the 10th May 1917 He was crewing HMS P.T.1 , sank near the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. He was born in Liverpool, England and enlisted at Vancouver British Columbia. He is at rest in Cloughey Presbyterian Churchyard, County Down, Northern Ireland.
The cause of the sinking of P.I.1.
P.T. 1 left Glasgow on May 9th, 1917. The next morning, when off the Isle of Man, the weather became bad, a moderate gale springing up from the south-east. The vessel commenced to labour heavily and to fill up forward. The pumps were started, but the water gained on them, and at 9.30 p.m. the boats were ordered away. The star- board boat, with the chief officer and eight men on board, got safely away ; but before the port boat could get clear, a heavy sea washed her under the sponson, throwing the occupants into the water. Five of these were picked up by
the other boat, which came to their assistance immediately, the remaining seven being drowned. (Infact six drowned and one survived but injured.
The names of the other crew that lost their lives are as follows.
STEELE, John Edmund. Acting Sergeant 202339, No.1 Operative Sect. Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers, drowned at sea on the 10th May 1917 aged 19. He was the son of John Henry and Annie Grace Steel, of 84, Thoresby St., Prince's Avenue, Hull. He is at rest in Hull Western Cemetery, Hull, Yorkshire. Some notes from what remains of his army record. He joined up at Chatham on the 18th September 1916 aged 19 and 5 months and he was by occupation a seaman. On the 10th May 1917 he was transferred to No1 Operative Section, Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers, serving on P.T.1. After the sinking of the P.T.1 his body was washed ashore at Stranraer, Scotland.
SWANGER, Thomas Slade. Lance Corporal 157563, No.1 Operative Sect. Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers, drowned at sea on the 10th May 1917. He was born in 1878 and baptised at Holy Trinity St Philip, Bristol on the 22nd November 1878, his parents were john and Sarah Ann who in 1901 were living at 35, Barton Hill, Lower Road, Bristol and he was the husband of Thurza nee Pocock who he married on the 21st July 1901 at Bristol, St Clement. He is at rest in Movilla Cemetery, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland.
GREEN, John Henry. Sapper 272050, No.1 Operative Sect. Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers and he drowned in the Irish Sea on the 10th May 1917 aged 24. He was crewing HMS P.T.1 , when it sank near the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea. He was the son of David John Green, of 26, Friar's Street, St. Ebbe, Oxford.. For some unknown reason he is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq, although he was drowned in the Irish Sea.
YOUNG, Charles. Sapper 26525, No.1 Operative Sect. Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers, formerly Private 595, Royal Field Artillery. He was born and enlisted at Grimsby, Lincolnshire. He drowned in the Irish Sea on the 10th May 1917 while serving on P.T.1 when she foundered and sank near the Isle of Man. For some unknown reason he is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq, although he was drowned in the Irish Sea.
CHATTERISS, Alfred Charles Brahame. Sapper 205761, No 1, Operative Section, Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers . He was part of crew on P.T.1 which foundered and sank near the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea. He was rescued by steam trawl boat Summervill from Fleetwood and was taken to Peel on the Isle of Man. He taken to Spanish Head Hospital, Isle of Man, but he died the same day the ship sank, 10th May 1917aged 37 from exposure. Their was no inquest and a death certificate was issued stating the cause of death as exposure. He was the son of Alfred Charles and Elizabeth Chatteriss, of Lowestoft and he was the husband of Martha Florence Louisa Chatteriss, of Silver Street, Besthorpe, Attleborough, Norfolk. He was laid to rest with full military honours in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Kirk Patrick, Isle of Man on Sunday the 13th May 1917.
Some notes from what remains of his army record.
He enlisted on the 11th December 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve. On the 21st August 1916 he was mobilised and the next he was posted to the Royal Engineers Depot, Chatham. Prior to enlistment he was employed as a coal porter and he lived with his wife and family at Silver Street, Besthorpe. He was married at the Registry Office, Mutford, Suffolk as Alfred Charles Brahame Chatteriss to Martha Florence Louisa George. They had the following children all born at Lowestoft. Florence Ann Amelia born 1st January 1909, Gladys Elizabeth born 16th December 1910, Alfred Charles born 23rd July 1913 and twins Benjamin William and Walter Arthur born 28th August 1915 they died and the deaths were registered in the fist quarter 1916 Jan-March.
TEASDALE, John. Sapper 200978 No.1 Operative Section. Inland Water Transport, Royal Engineers was injured but survived He was rescued from the sea and taken to the Isle of Man where he was admitted into Spanish Head Hospital
