Ref ID: 5134
Name
Richard Purdy.
Description
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Certificate relating to Stoker 1st Class Richard Purdy.
Life Story
Name: Richard Purdy.
Service Number: SS/104630.
Rank: Stoker 1st Class.
Battalion: H.M.S Hawke.
Regiment: Royal Navy.
Born: 11th December 1886, Barrow-in-Furness, England.
Died: 15th October 1914.
Address: 298 Conway Street, Belfast
.
Richard Purdy, son of Samuel and Rachel Purdy, lived at 298 Conway Street, Shankill Road, Belfast with his wife Mary Elizabeth and children
.
The 1901 Ireland Census has Richard living at 114 Argyle Street, Shankill, Belfast, with his mother, occupation, House Keeper, father, General Labourer, four brothers, George, 24 years, Wood Turner, Samuel, 19 years, General Labourer, William J, 15 years, Apprentice Iron Turner, Edmund, 6 years, and sister Maria, 10 years. Richards occupation at this time is given as Mill Worker
.
Richard married Mary Elizabeth Purdy, Nee Nesbitt, on the 26th April 1909. They went on to have three children, Mary born 20th January 1910, Richard born 9th October 1911, and Frederick born 4th of July 1913
.
The 1911 Ireland Census has Richards mother, father, and two brothers, William J and Edward/Edmund, living at 19 Argyle Street, Belfast
.
Richard joined the Royal Navy on the 15th February 1907.
He served on a number of ships throughout his career, including the following: HMS Leviathan, HMS Black Prince, HMS Pembroke II, HMS Caesar, HMS Commonwealth, before ending on HMS Hawke.
Richard was transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserves on the 17th February 1912, however he was recalled for service on the 6th August 1914.
Richard, aged 27 years, was a Stoker 1st Class within the Royal Navy when while serving aboard HMS Hawke he Drowned, Died At Sea, his ship having been attacked and sunk by a German Submarine, U 9, in the North Sea on the 15th of October 1914
.
Richards Pension Application Forms show both his wife Mary Elizabeth and Mother Rachel, who lives at 35 Argyle Street, Shankill Road, Belfast, as claimants.
Dependant Pension Application Forms show both Richards wife and mother as claimants also. His wife Elizabeth is shown as now living 28 Beaver Avenue, Toronto, Canada.
A Naval Pensions To Widows Of Men Whose Death Is Attributable To War like Operations shows Mary Elizabeth and the three children as claimants
.
Richard received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star
.
He is Remembered at Chatham Naval Memorial, United Kingdom.
To Remember Is To Honour
.
Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
0
Classification
Book or Journal,
Certificate/Permit,
Roll of Honour or Memorial
