Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

A family memorial at Allerton names Gilbert Edmund Clark, Lost at Sea, 11/11/1917. I can find no trace of him in the CWGC Debt of Honour Register which includes Royal and Merchant Navy deaths.
Is there any trace of a death registration in one of the online indices?
Daggers

No sign of a death but he was born in Preston in 1864 parents William Clark and Ann Chartres. In 1871 the family was in Litchurch Derbyshire where father was a sorter in the travelling P O. In 1881 they are in Toxteth Park and Gilbert is an apprentice engine fitter. He married Annie Holgate at St Peter's Liverpool in 1890.

I cannot see him on another census. He appears to have made a will as his death is listed on the Probate Index died 11 Nov 1917 probate 28 Jan 1918.

I think he had a son Gilbert Holgate Clark born 1905 and no doubt other children as well.

Not what you wanted but it builds a picture

Hilary
Ed Officer

This merchant ship sank on 11 Nov 1917

LAPWING, 1,192grt, 11 November 1917, 9 miles SE from Southwold, mined and sunk

This site lists a number of other ships lost that day

www.wrecksite.eu/wrecked-on-this-day.aspx?11/11/2010

If he was lost near ireland might his death been reported there?

Hilary
Ed Officer

Very useful! Many thanks. I will make a note of that site which looks a good source.
D
EDITED to add after reflection:
Does the Probate calendar entry include the place of death? That would be helpful. That seems a short time between date of death and grant of probate, especially if he was lost at sea and confirmation of death would be needed.
It is some time since I looked at those heavy volumes, but it is probably easier now they are online somewhere.
D

Only the index online, this is the transcription

CLARK Gilbert Edmund of 3 Stalbridge avenue Liverpool marine engineer died 11 november 1917 at sea Administration Liverpool 28 January to Annie Clark widow.
Effects £998 7s 10d.

Thanks, Mary. That occupation helps, too.
D

There should be a record of his death at sea in BT 334 at the National Archives.

Katie wrote:There should be a record of his death at sea in BT 334 at the National Archvies.

How on earth you keep so many numbers and what they all mean in your head, I'll never know, a mine of useful information is our Katie!

Hear! Hear!!
D

I have this really lovely orange leaflet which I picked up on my first visit to Kew years and years ago and while there I had a good play with all the seamans records. Going to Kew in November time permitting Daggers Ill put him on my list.

That would be great, thanks.
I am putting a small wager with myself on Clark's ship being the ss Basil, sunk on 11/11/17 in a collision in the English Channel, Liverpool-registered (Booth Line), and even though she was carrying ammunition to France, she might not be admitted by CWGC as a war casualty.
Fingers crossed!
D

I wonder if he had a heart attack on a ship and died rather than dying as the result of a collision, hitting a mine etc. That way yes he would have died at sea and probably buried at sea but he wouldn't be a war casualty. He was 54.

Hilary
Ed Officer

Entry taken from BT334 - 1918 Deaths of Seamen at sea

Name; G.E. Clarke
Age: 52yrs
Rank Chief Engineer
Birthplace; Preston
Abode 3 Stalbridge Avenue, Liverpool
Name of ship and official number Basil 104,463 Liverpool
11th November 1917 at sea - Drowned
Cause; Ship sunk through collision

His death was recorded in the returns for January 1918

Kathy
Brilliant work! Thank you very much for remembering and taking the trouble to look. I'm glad my deduction or guess about ss Basil was right.

I hope you had a very successful time at Kew.
Daggers

You'd be amazed at some of the information Katie comes back from Kew with, I've heard some tales.

Just to satisfy myself I looked at the Marine deaths today to see if there was a entry for Gilbert E Clark I looked in 1917/1918 and there was no entry yet he is recorded in the Deceased seaman register BT334 for 1918. So if anyone is researching a seaman who was lost at sea and there is no record in the Marine deaths look in BT334 Registers of Deceased seamen.