Clark, Herbert

BORN HULL 1888. SON OF MRS R CLARK. HE MARRIED EMMA F. GRAVES AT HULL IN 1915 AND LIVED AT 17 GOODWIN TERRACE, DAY STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). LOST BY ENEMY ACTION. LISTED IN HULL MERCHANT NAVY RECORDS. HIS NAME WAS RECORDED ON THE WAR MEMORIAL AT ST THOMAS CHURCH, CAMPBELL STREET, WHICH WAS DESTROYED IN AN AIR RAID DURING WW2.
The steam tug BUNTY was on passage from Hull to Rosyth when she struck a mine, laid by the German submerine UC-49, at midnight, and was blown to pieces, all her 5 crew being killed, including the pilot. Admiralty listings in British Warships 1914-1919 has the BUNTY in service from 26/09/1914.
Well over 400 tugs were requisitioned during the First World War by various branches of the British armed services, some for just a short while, others for the duration of the war. This led to an acute shortage of suitable tugs in some areas, especially the Thames, where tugs from other rivers were chartered in to help out. 319 British requisitioned tugs served with the Royal navy, 28 with the Army and the Navy, and 30 with the Army.
A further 49 tugs were hired from overseas, including the USA
1. BATTY, ROBERT EDWARD , Master, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
2. CLARK, HERBERT (29), Fireman, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Clark; husband of Emma Clark, of 17, Goodwin Terrace, Day St., Hull. Born at Hull, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
3. EALES, WILLIAM CHARLES , Pilot, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Husband of Frances Ellis Eales, of 511, Anlaby Rd., Hull, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
4. LEE, WILLIAM (26), Mate, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Husband of Maud Lee, of 4, Chester Avenue, Mauvers St., Hull. Born at Crowle, Tower Hill Memorial
5. SPECK, HENRY WILLIAM (49), Engineer, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Son of William Henry and Martha Speck; husband of Mary Elizabeth Speck (nee Lewis), of 33, Harrow St., Hull. Born at Hull, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial.