BORN BRIDLINGTON 04/07/1887. SON OF WILLIAM MARTIN (1860-1935) AND SARAH ANN KIRBY (1860-1929), OF 6, NELSON ROAD, BRIDLINGTON. HE HAD TWO BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS. WORKED AS A FISHERMAN. HE MARRIED ON 18/05/1915. HUSBAND OF CLARA EELLEN STEPHENSON (1890-1964), OF 9, BOTANIC AVENUE, CONVENT LANE, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). HE SERVED ON THE TRAWLER ‘OTHELLO II’, AND DIED ON 31/10/1915, WITH SEVEN OTHER CREW, WHEN THEIR SHIP HIT A MINE. HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED AT DOVER AND TRANSPORTED BY RAIL, TO BRIDLINGTON FOR BURIAL. HE RECEIVED A MILITARY FUNERAL, WITH BUGLER AND FIRING PARTY FROM THE 6TH NORFOLK REGIMENT. HIS COFFIN WAS CARRIED BY THE BRIDLINGTON COAST GUARD, WHERE HE WORKED BEFORE JOINING THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE, ON 12/03/1915. HE LEFT ONE DAUGHTER, KATHLEEN, BORN ON 29/06/1914. HIS WIDOW MARRIED DANIEL J MUNDAY, AT HULL, IN 1918
Othello II, built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Ltd., Beverley in 1907 and operated at the time of her loss by Royal Navy, was a British navy trawler of 206 tons.
On October 31st, 1915, Othello II was sunk by a mine from the German submarine UC-6 (Matthias Graf von Schmettow), off Leathercoat. 9 persons were lost.
PEOPLE ON BOARD HMT OTHELLO II – 123
BALDRY, JOHN WILLIAM (29), Deck Hand (no. 7506DA), H.M. Trawler Othello II, Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Son of John William and Maria Baldry, of Grimsby; husband of Maria Baldry, of 63, Tiverton St., New Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
BUTT, FREDERICK JAMES (20), Ordinary Seaman (no. 1592/X), H.M. Trawler Othello II, Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Memorial: Dover (St. James’S) Cemetery
LOW, HENRY , Engineman (no. 2387ES), H.M. Trawler Othello II, Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Husband of Gertrude Low, of 14, Edinburgh St., Hessle Rd., Hull, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
MCLACHLAN, DUNCAN CAMPBELL (37), Skipper, H.M. Trawler Othello II, Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Son of Hugh and Agnes McLachlan. of Kinning Park, Glasgow; husband of Ruth McLachlan, of 4, Middleton Street, St. Thomas, Swansea, Memorial: Plymouth Naval Memorial
MILLETT, JOHN RICHARD , Second Hand (no. 1363S), H.M. Trawler Othello II, Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
RAMSTER, ARTHUR (21), Trimmer (no. 2246TS), H.M. Trawler Othello II, Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Son of William and Mary Elizabeth Ramster, of Hull, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
WATSON, ALFRED HENRY (31), Engineman (no. 2390ES), HM. Trawler Othello II, Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Son of the late John Henry and Elizabeth Watson, of Hull; husband of Margaret Ann Watson, of 84, Eastbourne St., Hessle Rd., Hull, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial
WRIGHT, FREDERICK (17), Trimmer (no. 3530TS), H.M. Trawler Othello II, Royal Naval Reserve, †31/10/1915, Son of Clara Wright, of 130, Stanley St., Grimsby, Memorial: Chatham Naval Memorial.
