Rake Lane Cemetery - Wallasey
My late grandfather William Robert Courtney's name appears along with 6 other casulaty names on a memorial plaque at this cemetery. None of the names are related to each other. They are as follows:
Name: BIRCH
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Cheshire Regiment
Unit Text: 3rd Bn.
Date of Death: 16/02/1917
Service No: 12053
Additional information: (Served as BURCH).
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. 7. C. of E. 1.
Cemetery: WALLASEY (RAKE LANE) CEMETERY
Name: GEORGE, AUBREY FRED
Initials: A F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Achilles."
Age: 18
Date of Death: 04/11/1918
Service No: J/56634
Additional information: Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas George.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. 7. C. of E. 20.
Cemetery: WALLASEY (RAKE LANE) CEMETERY
Name: LAMBLEY
Initials: L
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Unit Text: 51st Grad. Bn.
Date of Death: 17/11/1918
Service No: 85280
Additional information: Son of Mrs. Ellen Lambley, of 6, Tower Buildings, New Brighton, Wallasey.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. 7. C. of E. 2.
Cemetery: WALLASEY (RAKE LANE) CEMETERY
Name: LINFIELD
Initials: H C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Achilles."
Age: 19
Date of Death: 21/10/1918
Service No: SS/7956(PO)
Additional information: Son of Harry and Mary Linfield, of Chesswood Farm Cottage, Chesswood Rd., Worthing.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. 7. C. of E. 2.
Cemetery: WALLASEY (RAKE LANE) CEMETERY
Name: PAYNE, CHARLES EDWARD
Initials: C E
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Regiment/Service: Royal Navy
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Avon."
Age: 19
Date of Death: 11/08/1917
Service No: J/29237(Dev.).
Additional information: Son of Robert William and Clara Amelia Payne, of 13, Burlington St., Weston-Super-Mare.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. 7. C. of E. 1.
Cemetery: WALLASEY (RAKE LANE) CEMETERY
Name: UPTON
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Trimmer
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine Reserve
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Eaglet."
Date of Death: 06/11/1918
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. 7. C. of E. 2.
Cemetery: WALLASEY (RAKE LANE) CEMETERY
Name: COURTNEY, WILLIAM ROBERT
Initials: W R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Greaser
Regiment/Service: Mercantile Marine Reserve
Unit Text: H.M.S. "Armadale Castle."
Age: 36
Date of Death: 18/12/1916
Additional information: Son of Frederick and Alice Courtney, of 14, Chandos St., Southampton; husband of Florence May Ridgett (formerly Courtney), of 11, Orchard Lane, Southampton.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
about William Robert Courtney
Name: William Robert Courtney
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1880
Registration district: Southampton
Inferred County: Hampshire
Volume: 2c
Page: 35 (click to see others on page)
England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915
about William Robert Courtney
Name: William Robert Courtney
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1908
Registration district: Southampton
Inferred County: Hampshire
Volume Number: 2c
Page Number: 76 (click to see others on page)
William Robert served as a greaser (Mercantile Marine Reserve) on the HMS Armadale (Castle line). He married his wife Florence May Andrews in 1908. His wife gave birth to twins on 12 June 1916. Six months later William Robert was dead. My late father John Andrew Courtney said that he died when the ship he was serving on was sunk by a single torpedo by a German u-boat. However, the HMS Armadale saw little enemy action, was not sunk, and recommissioned following the ending of World War I. Why have these 7 names been singled out and appear on this memorial plaque? What is their association?
Any information welcome.
Korki (Robert Courtney)
