Eales, William Charles

BORN BRIXHAM, DEVON 1860 . SON OF SILVANUS EALES AND KEIZA SMITH. WIFE FRANCIS ELLIS RYMER, OF 511 ANLABY ROAD, HULL, . HUMBER PILOT AND MASTER OF THE TUG BOAT ‘BUNTY’ WHICH STRUCK A MINE ON 21/10/1917. HE LEFT £12,568 IN HIS WILL TO HIS WIDOW, FRANCES AT THIS PROBATE ADDRESS. THE COUPLE’S ONLY CHILD, CHARLES, DIED IN 1907 AGED 17.
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.
1. BATTY, ROBERT EDWARD , Master, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Memorial: Tower Hill Memorial
2. CLARK, HERBERT (29), Fireman, SS Bunty, Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. Clark; husband of Emma Clark, of 17, Goodwin Terrace, Day St., Hull. Born at Hull, Tower Hill Memorial
3. EALES, WILLIAM CHARLES , Pilot, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Husband of Frances Ellis Eales, of 511, Anlaby Rd., Kingston-upon-Hull,
4. LEE, WILLIAM (26), Mate, SS Bunty, Mercantile Marine, †21/10/1917, Husband of Maud Lee, of 4, Chester Avenue, Manvers 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.
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.