Ref ID: 5932
Name
Joseph McCracken.
Description
Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Able Seaman Joseph McCracken.
Life Story
Name: Joseph McCracken.
Service Number: 239868.
Rank: Able Seaman.
Battalion: H.M.S Vanguard.
Regiment: Royal Navy.
Born: 13th September 1891, Belfast.
Died: 9th July 1917.
Address: 31 Crimea Street, Belfast
.
Joseph McCracken, son of Joseph and Mary McCracken, lived at 31 Crimea Street, Shankill Road, Belfast
.
The 1901 Ireland Census has Joseph living at 6 Northumberland Street, Shankill Road, Belfast with his mother, occupation, House Keeper, father, Shipyard Rigger, four sisters, Rachel, 16 years, Millworker Flax Spreader, Martha, 15 years, Millworker Flax Spreader, Annie, 7 years, Mary, 4 years, and brother Frederick, 11 years
.
Prior to enlistment Joseph worked as a Rigger.
.
Joseph joined the Royal Navy on the 13th September 1909 for a period of 12 years.
He served on a number of ships throughout his career, including the following: HMS Impregnable, HMS Surly, HMS Vivid I, HMS Cressy, HMS Magnificent, HMS Africa, HMS Pembroke II, HMS Actaeon, HMS Blenheim, HMS Maynard, before ending on HMS Vanguard.
Joseph was an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S Vanguard, within the Royal Navy when he was Accidentally Killed In An Explosion on H.M.S Vanguard on the 9th of July 1917 aged 25 years.
This Accidental Explosion left 843 Crew Members Dead
.
A local newspaper states.
THE RANK AND FILE.
Amongst those who were killed in the explosion on H.M.S Vanguard were- Able-Seaman Joseph McCracken, son of Mrs McCracken, 31 Crimea Street, Belfast, whose other son, Fred, was killed at Neuve Chapelle in 1914
.
See brother also: 7243 Rifleman Frederick McCracken 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
.
A Pension Application Form shows his mother as claimant and now living at 42 Crimea Street, Shankill Road, Belfast.
Dependant Pension Application Forms also show his mother Mary as claimant
.
Joseph received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-1915 Star
.
He is Remembered at Chatham Naval Memorial, United Kingdom.
To Remember Is To Honour
.
Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
1917
Classification
Newspaper, , Photograph - Belfast Telegraph
