_s._ of William Stiff, of Wickhambrook, co. Suffolk, Agricultural
Labourer, by his wife, Sarah Ann, dau. of William Willingham; _b._
Chedburgh, near Bury St. Edmunds, co. Suffolk, 16 Sept. 1886; educ.
Hargrave, and served for six years in the 3rd Battn. Suffolk Regt.,
being discharged with exemplary character. On the outbreak of war he
re-enlisted in the 1st Battn. Suffolk Regt., served in France and
Flanders, and was killed in action south of Ypres, 18 Feb. 1915;
_unm._
=STILES, GEORGE=, Cooper, 340278, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in
the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STILING, WILLIAM CHARLES HENRY=, Signalman, No. 216012, Royal
Navy, H.M.S. Monmouth, eldest _s._ of the late Charles Henry
Stiling, of The Minories, by his wife, Phœbe (7, Circus, Minories,
Aldgate, E.), dau. of William Thomas Pugh; _b._ St. George’s, E.,
1 Dec. 1885; educ. Sir John Cass’ School, Minories; enlisted in the
Devonshire Regt., 25 June, 1901, but was claimed out by his mother (29
June), being only 15½, and then in the 5th Battn. Rifle Brigade, but
was again claimed out; joined the Navy as a Boy (2nd class), 19 July,
1901; became Boy (1st class), 5 June, 1902; Signalman, 2 Dec. 1903;
Ordinary Signalman, 1 Oct. 1907; Signalman, 26 Nov. 1907; served in
H.M.S. Impregnable, Vivid, Royal Oak, Cambridge, Hogue, Cornwall, Mars,
Hibernia, Crescent, Orontes, Egmont, Sutlej and Monmouth (appointed 30
July, 1914), and was lost on H.M.S. Monmouth when that ship was sunk in
the battle off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914; _unm._
His brother, Thomas Edward, Leading Seaman, served at the Dardanelles
on the Swiftshire, and is now (1916) on active service on H.M.S. Royal
Oak in the North Sea.
[Illustration: =William C. H. Stiling.=]
=STIRLING, JAMES=, Capt., 3rd, attd. 1st, Battn. The Cameronians
(Scottish Rifles), eldest _s._ of Col. James Wilfrid Stirling, of
The Grange, Rockbeare, Devon, now commanding 72nd Brigade, Royal Field
Artillery, by his wife, Cecil Mary, dau. of Major-Gen. Dixon Edward
Hoste, C.B., R.A.; _b._ Hong Kong, 7 June, 1884; educ. Wellington
College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut.
to the 2nd Cameronians, 22 April, 1903, and promoted Lieut., 5 Oct.
1907; retired in 1911 and joined the 3rd Battn. at Hamilton for Special
Reserve duty; appointed Capt., -- 1912; rejoined on the outbreak of
war; went to the Front from England, 6 Oct. 1914, where he was attached
to the 1st Battn., and was killed in the trenches near Armentières, 2
Jan. 1915; _unm._ His Colonel wrote: “The loss of your dear son is
irreparable.... As his late commanding officer I deeply feel his sad
but glorious end; he was one of the most honourable, conscientious and
reliable of all my officers.” A bronze tablet was placed in Rockbeare
Parish Church to the memory of himself and his younger brother, Lieut.
W. D. Stirling, R.N. (see following notice).
[Illustration: =James Stirling.=]
=STIRLING, WILFRED DIXON=, Lieut., Royal Navy, _s._ of Col.
James Wilfrid Stirling, of The Grange, Rockbeare, Devon, now commanding
72nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, by his wife, Cecil Mary, dau. of
Major-Gen. Dixon Edward Hoste, C.B., R.A.; _b._ Pennycross, near
Devonport, 12 Sept. 1886; educ. Cheltenham College, and passed direct
into H.M.S. Britannia in 1901 and passed out 5th in his term in Dec.
1902, having been awarded the Diploma of Honour as selected Candidate
of his term for His Majesty’s medal; entered the Navy as Midshipman, 16
Dec. 1902; promoted Sub-Lieut., 15 March, 1906, and Lieut., 16 June,
1907; served as Midshipman in H.M.S. Bacchante, under Capt. (afterwards
Admiral Sir) Christopher Cradock; qualified as Navigating Officer in
1907, and acted in that capacity successively in H.M. ships Ringdove,
Media, Attentive and Grafton; was Instructor in Navigation to Cadets
at Dartmouth, Jan. 1913, to Aug. 1914; appointed Navigating Lieut.,
H.M.S. Monmouth (Capt. Brandt), Aug. 1914, and was lost when that ship
was sunk in the battle off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914;
_unm._ From many appreciative letters the following sentence is
taken from that of a brother officer: “His was a glorious example, and
if anything can lessen the terrible sorrow you and Col. Stirling are
suffering it must be the knowledge that his life was well lived and his
duty nobly done.”
[Illustration: =Wilfred Dixon Stirling.=]
=STOCK, FREDERICK ERNEST=, Drummer, No. 1137, B Coy., 4th Battn.
The East Yorkshire Regt. (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of James Stock, of 87,
Brunswick Avenue, Hull, formerly of Ramsgate, late Sergt. in the 1st
Norfolk Artillery Volunteers at Great Yarmouth, by his wife, Charlotte,
dau. of James Wright, of Great Yarmouth; _b._ Hull, co. York, 19
Aug. 1894; educ. Christ Church School there, and was a member of the
St. Paul’s Church Lads’ Brigade. A Coppersmith by trade, he served his
apprenticeship with Messrs. George Clark & Sons, Waterhouse Lane, where
his brother, Herbert, who is now (1916) on active service, was also
employed. He enlisted in the Hull Rifles in 1910, and was in training
at Newcastle on the outbreak of war, when he immediately volunteered
for foreign service. He went with his regt. to the Front, took part in
all the engagements of his battn., witnessed some of the most severe
battles in Flanders, and was killed in action at Ypres, 29 June, 1915,
and was buried in R.E. Farm, near Wulverghem (Ref. 1/40,000, Map N 35d
9–7); _unm._ A comrade wrote: “He was shot through the head at
4.15 a.m. on 28 June, and died at 4.40 a.m. the same day. I was with
him all the time waiting for him to come round, but he went without
gaining consciousness.”
[Illustration: =Frederick Ernest Stock.=]
=STOCKDALE, CECIL=, Private, R.M.L.I., Po./12872, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=STODDART, SYDNEY=, Sergt., Machine-gun Section, 10th (Service)
Battn. Durham L.I., only _s._ of Edward Stoddart, of 3, Brantwood
Terrace, Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland, Cordwainer, by his wife,
Margaret, dau. of the late Joseph Brown; _b._ Barnard Castle,
co. Durham, 21 Sept. 1889; educ. there; and was afterwards a Ticket
Collector at Crook Station, North Eastern Railway; volunteered on the
outbreak of war and enlisted in the 10th Durham L.I., 12 Aug. 1914;
went to France, 19 May, 1915, was promoted Sergt. on or about 29 May,
and was killed in action at Ypres, 21 July, 1915; _unm._ Buried
in the 43rd Brigade Cemetery there. Lieut. John B. Rosher wrote to his
mother: “I know so well what a splendid fellow he was, as he has been
in my machine-gun section so long. Always cheery under the most adverse
circumstances, and always ready to help in every way possible. He is
a great loss to my section, and I feel that his loss is a personal
one. We have worked the gun together several times, and I had many
opportunities of admiring his coolness and courage.”
[Illustration: =Sydney Stoddart.=]
=STOKELL, ROBERT=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 25783 (Ports.), H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct.
1914.
=STOKER, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Ordinary Seaman, S.S. 4905, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STOKES, ALFRED EDGAR=, E.R.A., 4th Class, M. 7616, H.M.S. Hogue;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STOKES, ARTHUR EDWARD=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4120), S.S. 1320, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=STOKES, HALDANE DAY, M.V.O.=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. King’s Own Royal
Lancaster Regt., only _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Henry Haldane Stokes,
of Devonshire House, Cowley, co. Oxford, late R.A.M.C., by his wife,
Florence, dau. of Samuel Browne, and grandson of the late Lieut.-Col.
Patrick Day Stokes, of Tralee, co. Kerry; _b._ Dublin, 21 Sept.
1885; educ. Tonbridge School; joined the Earl of Derby’s 3rd Royal
Lancaster (Militia) Regt. in 1904, and received a regular commission
in the 2nd Battn. 6 July, 1907, and was promoted Lieut. 26 June, 1910;
served in India, and returned with his regt. after the outbreak of
the European War, landing in England 23 Dec. 1914; left for the Front
15 Jan. following, and was killed in action near Ypres, 17 Feb. 1915;
_unm._ Buried at Zillebeke. He received the fifth class of the
Victorian Order in June, 1905, when only 19 years of age.
=STOKES, THOMAS WILLIAM=, A.B., 238670, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STONE, BERTIE EDWARD=, Leading Signalman, 229302, H.M.S. Cressy;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STONE, CECIL DOUGLAS=, Ordinary Signalman, J. 14500, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=STONE, GEORGE ALFRED=, Sail Mate, (R.F.R., A. 2937), 132084,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=STONE, JAMES WILLIAM=, Private, N. 5510, 2nd Battn. Coldstream
Guards, 1st _s._ of the late James Stone, Maltster, by his wife,
H. (43, Albert Street, Horncastle), dau. of John Would; _b._
Horncastle, co. Lincoln, 1 March, 1883; educ. there; was a Maltster
and Labourer before he enlisted in the Coldstreams, 7 April, 1904;
went to France, 26 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Rentel 12
Nov. following. Buried in the woods there. He _m._ at Horncastle,
Harriet (43, Albert Street, Horncastle), dau. of John Would, and had a
son, James Walter, _b._ 12 July, 1913.
=STONEHAM, LOUIS=, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., B. 868), late Ch.
11705, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STONEHOUSE, CHARLES BROWELL=, Private, No. 13612, 6th (Service)
Battn. E. Yorks Regt., 7th and yst. _s._ of John James Stonehouse,
of Sunderland, Bricklayer, by his wife, Ann, dau. of Ann Browell, of
Sunderland; _b._ Bishopwearmouth, co. Durham, 2 Jan. 1878; educ.
there; was employed at the Hylton Colliery; enlisted 16 Oct. 1914;
trained at Grantham, arrived at the Dardanelles, 6 Aug., and was
killed in action there three days later, 9 Aug. 1915. He _m._
at Southwick-on-Wear, 31 July, 1904, Ada Jane (30, Nelson Street,
Southwick-on-Wear), dau. of John Griffin, of Sunderland, and had issue:
Charles Browell, _b._ 15 Jan. 1909; Thomas, _b._ 26 Feb.
1914; Margaret, _b._ 22 May, 1905; Christine, _b._ 19 July,
1906; Lilian, _b._ Nov. 1907; Annie, _b._ 22 Aug. 1910; and
Ada Jane, _b._ 19 May, 1915.
[Illustration: =Charles B. Stonehouse.=]
=STONEMAN, HENRY CHARLES BRYANT=, Pensioner, Carpenter’s Mate,
145536, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North
Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=STOPHER, JAMES FREDERICK=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B.
7731), S.S. 103115, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22
Sept. 1914.
=STORER, RAYMOND TRITTON=, Private, No. 237, 5th Battn. (London
Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), yr. _s._ of Henry Norris
Storer, of Belle Grove, Welling, Kent, Market Gardener and Fruit
Grower, by his wife, Ellen Eliza, dau. of William Rush Tritton;
_b._ Welling, 16 Feb 1894; educ. Hope Lodge, Welling, and Roam
School, Greenwich, and on leaving the latter entered the employ of Mr.
V. A. Litkie, Diamond Merchant. On the outbreak of war he volunteered
for foreign service, and joined the London Rifle Brigade, 31 Aug 1914,
and after six months’ training at Haywards Heath and Crowborough,
sailed for France on his twenty-first birthday. They were sent up to
the trenches, and he was killed two months later at the second Battle
of Ypres, 26 April, 1915. It was on this occasion that a General,
speaking of the London Rifle Brigade, remarked that he had never seen a
finer regiment. Storer was buried at Fortuin; _unm._
[Illustration: =Raymond Tritton Storer.=]
=STOREY, GEORGE ARTHUR=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R. Ch. B. 5735),
S.S. 100704, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept.
1914.
=STOWE, CHARLES WILLIAM HARVEY=, A.B., S.S. 4086, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=STRACHAM, WALLACE=, Leading Stoker, K. 1435, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=STRACHAN, HUGH=, Private, No. 3472, 1st Battn. The Black Watch
(Royal Highlanders), 5th _s._ of the late James Strachan,
Ploughman, by his wife, Jean, dau. of John Ross; _b._ Johnshaven,
near Montrose, 16 Jan. 1870; educ. Montrose Public School; enlisted
in the Black Watch, and served under Gen. Wauchope, and was invalided
home with malarial fever and discharged just before the South African
War; became a Signalman on the North British Railway; re-enlisted in
his old regt. after the outbreak of war, 2 Sept. 1914; left for the
Front with the 1st Battn. in Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at
La Bassée, 25 Jan. 1915. Private Strachan was a first-class shot. He
_m._ at Edinburgh, 13 Oct. 1899, Isabella (3, South Gayfield Lane,
Edinburgh), dau. of the late Donald Robertson, and had two children:
Hugh, _b._ 16 July, 1900; and Eleanor, _b._ 16 Oct. 1902.
=STRANGE, ARNOLD JOHN WARD=, Private, No. 2190, 5th (Cinque Ports)
Battn. The Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Charles James
Strange, of Brackleigh, Crowborough, Sussex, retired Farmer, by his
wife, Mary Jane, dau. of Thomas Ward; _b._ Silsworth Lodge, Crich,
Rugby, 8 Sept. 1896; educ. King Charles’ School, Tunbridge Wells. On
the outbreak of war joined the Sussex Territorials and signed on for
foreign service, 14 Aug. 1914; went to France, 18 Feb. 1915, the battn.
being held in reserve for the 2nd Sussex; selected as sniper for his
platoon, 4 March, 1915; mortally wounded by a shell on Sunday, 17 Oct.
1915, and died the following day at Sailly-au-Bois; _unm._ Buried
in the military cemetery at Louvercourt. His commanding officer spoke
highly of him, describing him “as most intelligent, a keen soldier,
always ready to volunteer for everything, brave as a lion and a
splendid shot.”
[Illustration: =Arnold John W. Strange.=]
=STRANGER, RICHARD HENRY=, Lieut. and Adjutant, 1st Battn. The
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.), only _s._ of Richard
John Stranger, of Franchise, Burwash, Sussex, Yeoman and Land Owner, by
his wife, Wilhelmina Key, dau. of the late Melchior George Klingender,
of Waterloo, Liverpool; _b._ Court House, North Molton, Devon,
19 Dec. 1889; educ. The Hermitage, Bath, and Allhallows, Honiton;
joined the Royal Sussex Militia, 6 Jan. 1908, and was appointed to
the Sherwood Foresters, then at Secunderabad, India, 28 May, 1910. He
was promoted Lieut. 10 Aug. 1912, and became Adjutant, 31 July, 1913.
On the outbreak of war he returned to Europe with his regt. and died,
13 March, 1915, of wounds received in action at Neuve Chapelle, being
buried in Boulogne Cemetery; _unm._ Lieut. Stranger was mentioned
in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915, for gallant
and distinguished conduct in the field.
[Illustration: =Richard Henry Stranger.=]
=STRATFORD, THOMAS=, 2nd Yeoman of Signals (R.F.R., B. 317),
149993, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STRATTON, EDWIN VICTOR=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 13889, H.M.S.
Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STRATTON, WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 5454, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=STRAW, WILLIAM HENRY=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 27544, H.M.S. Hawke;
lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=STREET, WILLIAM HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3119), S.S.
100752, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of
Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=STREETER, WILLIAM HENRY=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., I.C. 30),
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=STREVENS, FRANCIS=, A.B., J. 6277 (Ports.), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STRICKLAND, CHARLES= (_alias_ =HAYDON, J.=), A.B.
(R.F.R., Ch. B. 713), 104408, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the
North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STRIKE, STANLEY GEORGE=, Private, No. 1455, 1st Battn. (Post
Office Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of George Barham
Strike, Post Office Pensioner; _b._ London, 21 Oct. 1891; educ.
Havist Road Council School, Queen’s Park, W.; killed in action at
Festubert, 24 May, 1915; _unm._ Buried on the field of battle. A
comrade wrote he “was shot through the head and died instantly.... Stan
had to lie with several others behind a ridge to keep the ‘gentlemen in
grey’ from becoming too troublesome, and while there was sniped.... I
can only say that he died doing his duty and none of us can do more.”
[Illustration: =Stanley George Strike.=]
=STRONELL, EDWARD=, Gunner, R.M.A., 10738, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost
in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=STRONG, ALBERT VICTOR=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 2133), 191308,
H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STRONG, FREDERICK JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class, 310788 (Dev.),
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=STRONGMAN, WILLIAM JAMES=, Private, No. 12/910, Auckland
Infantry Battn. New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of William
S. Strongman, of Coromandel, Auckland, New Zealand, Engine Driver;
_b._ Coromandel, 1 Jan. 1895; educ. Coromandel District High
School; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war,
and left for Egypt in Oct. 1914; took part in the landing at the
Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action there 8 May
following; _unm._
=STROUD, WILLIAM EDWARD=, Shipwright, 115268 (Ports.), H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STUART, JOHN=, Private, No. 18161, No. 1 Coy., 3rd Battn.
Grenadier Guards, _s._ of John Stuart, of 16, Bridge Street,
Wigan, Collier, by his wife, Ellen; _b._ Wigan, co. Lancs., 19
Dec. 1883; educ. St. Joseph’s School, Wigan, and afterwards worked
as a Miner at the Moss Hall Collieries. After the outbreak of war he
enlisted in the 3rd Battn. Grenadier Guards, 7 Sept. 1914, and was
killed in action, being shot through the head by a sniper while filling
sand bags, at Neuve Chapelle, 3 April, 1915; _unm._
=STUART, PERCY CHARLES=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./14085, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=STUBBINGTON, WILLIAM CHARLES=, A.B., 231916, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=STUBBS, ALBERT CHARLES WILLIAM=, A.B., J. 760, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=STUBBS, BERNARD CASTLE=, Private, No. 2655, 9th Battn. (Queen
Victoria Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of the late
Charles Stubbs, of 20, Grafton Road, Worthing, by his wife, Kate Marian
(141, Gladstone Road, Watford, Herts.), dau. of Thomas Henry Castle;
_b._ Worthing, 6 March, 1891; educ. Slough School (1899–1907),
and on leaving there entered the London offices of the Union Castle
Line; volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the Queen Victoria
Rifles, Sept. 1914; went to France with a draft for the 1st Battn.
in Feb., and was sent direct to the firing line; took part in the
fight on Hill 60, during the night of 20–21 April, under Lieut. G.
H. Woolley, who then gained the first Victoria Cross conferred on a
Territorial officer; was wounded in the head by a piece of shell, 22
June, 1915, and died in the Receiving Hospital, Bailleul, without
recovering consciousness; _unm._ At Slough he was head boy of the
school during his last few terms, the holder of a cup for the school
championship at “fives,” and the winner of the swimming medal of the
school. He later captained the Old Boys’ Football Team.
[Illustration: =Bernard Castle Stubbs.=]
=STUBBS, HERBERT CLAUDE=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 819), late
R.M.A. 5329, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept.
1914.
=STUBBS, JOHN DUNCAN=, Midshipman, R.N., elder _s._ of
Thomas Duncan Henlock Stubbs, of Nunthorpe, Yorkshire, Major, North
Riding Heavy Battery, 13th Brigade, R.G.A. (now on active service in
France), by his wife, Margaret Isobel, dau. of Arthur Buchannan, of
Guisborough, Yorkshire; _b._ Coatham, Redcar, co. York, 24 June,
1899; educ. Coatham Grammar School; Pembroke Lodge, Southbourne, and
the Osborne (entered May, 1912), and Dartmouth Royal Naval Colleges,
and had just completed one term at the latter college when war broke
out, and the Cadets from the college were sent to various ships on
active service. As senior he took a party of nine Cadets of his term
to Chatham, where they joined the Aboukir, and in a few days time he
went to sea as acting Midshipman. Shortly afterwards the Cadets were
all promoted Midshipmen. He was attd. to the Gunnery Lieut., and was
in charge of four 12-pr. guns. Life on board was much to his liking,
writing home he described it as “the most glorious time of my life.”
On 22 Sept. the Aboukir was the first ship to be torpedoed; everyone
came on deck, as it was obvious that the vessel was sinking. Stubbs
noticing that one of the other Midshipmen was not on deck went below
to look for him, he found the boy asleep (he had just come off watch),
woke him up, and brought him on deck. As one of the officers wrote:
“It took some pluck to do this with the ship heeling over and likely
to go at any moment.” Stubbs swam in the direction of the Hogue, but
before he reached her she was torpedoed also and sank very quickly. He
then swam towards the Cressy, and while in the water in company with
another Midshipman of the Aboukir, they came across a drowning man
calling for help. They went to his assistance and succeeded in holding
him up for some time, telling him what to do to help himself, but as
the man was unable to do as they told him, they were obliged to leave
him as they could hold him up no longer. They got to the Cressy where
they received dry clothes and hot cocoa, and were in the sick bay when
the Cressy was struck the first time. They went on deck, and when the
second torpedo struck the ship they took to the water again. Stubbs
was seen in the water clinging to some wreckage some time afterwards,
but when the rescuing boats came along he had disappeared. According
to an Artificer of the Hogue the following incident took place after
the Cressy was sunk: A man was calling for help some distance away, the
Artificer saw two Midshipmen on a plank not far from the man, later he
saw the boys leave the plank they were on and swim towards the man.
The latter seized the boys, then there was a short struggle and all
three disappeared. The Artificer was then only a few yards away, he
saw the boys clearly, and from his description and from the fact that
all the other Midshipmen were accounted for, it is thought that almost
certainly the boys referred to were Midshipmen Stubbs and Riley. One
of the officers of the Aboukir wrote saying of Stubbs: “He was of
the greatest assistance to me, in fact I could not have done without
him. It was impossible for him to tell a lie. He was always cheerful
no matter what time of day or night, nor how rough the sea was.” And
again he wrote: “There were many fine things done that day, but none
finer than his. He was one of the best and truest boys I ever met.” He
early showed signs of great promise; at Pembroke Lodge he held a high
place in the school, and was also good at all games. He played for the
school in both the cricket and football teams, and in the school sports
won every open event, taking the Sports Challenge Cup with the maximum
number of marks. In the words of his headmaster: “He was one of God’s
perfect little gentlemen.” At the R.N.C., Osborne, he was promoted
Cadet captain on completion of his third term at the college, he played
for the college at cricket, being given his colours in 1913, and won
the prize for the best field in the college. He passed out of the
college head of his term, being awarded the Admiralty’s prize for the
Cadet obtaining the highest aggregate number of marks in all subjects,
including engineering and seamanship.
[Illustration: =John Duncan Stubbs.=]
=STUBLEY, FREDERICK=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., I.C. 38), H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.