Trafford

Born at Liverpool on the 25/03/1892, the son of Herbert & Elizabeth Ann
Acton (nee Burglass), Grosvenor Square [Derby House], Ashton on Mersey. 
Born during the June quarter 1892 in the West Derby R.D. - ref: 8b/370.

1901 Census - 39 Thomaston Street, Kirkdale, Lancashire.  Son - aged: 9 -
born: Liverpool.   Head of household - Herbert Acton - Married - aged: 34 -
occ: Inspector of Clothing Club - born: Liverpool.  Also Elizabeth Acton -
Wife - aged: 33 - occ: Agent for Clothing Club - born: Durham.   Plus 6
siblings and 1 domestic servant.

Attended the Langworthy Road School, Seedly.

1911 Census - HMS London - Able Seaman - aged: 19 - born: Kirkdale,
Liverpool.  His parents and family were then residing at 32 Souhtern
Street, Pendleton, Salford.

Member of the St. Luke's (Seedley), Company of the Church Lads Brigade. 
Employed as a Timekeeper.

Originally a Territorial with the Lancashire Fusiliers.     Later joined
the Royal Navy on the 19th April 1909 which, at the time of his death, he
had served in for 9 years.

TNA ref: ADM 188/655 - 296/295.  M.N. File J.4297 - Born at Liverpool on
the 25th March 1892.  Occ: Timekeeper.   Entered M.N. on the 25th March
1910 signed on for 12 years Service.  Height - 5 feet 6 inches.  Chest 34½
inches.  Eyes: Brown.  Hair: Auburn.  Complexion: Fresh.  Service:-

HMS Ganges II - Rating: Boy 2 - from 19/04/1909.
HMS Ganges II - Rating: Boy 1 - from 25/06/1909 to 08/12/1909.
HMS Magnificent - Rating: - Boy 1 - from 09/12/1909 to 07/02/1910.
HMS London - Rating: Boy 1 - from 08/02/1910.
Re-graded on his 18th birthday to rank of Ordinary Seaman on 25/03/1910.
HMS London - Rating: Able Seaman - from 19/12/1911 to 04/12/1912.
HMS Pembroke - from 05/03/1912 to 08/03/1912
HMS Actaeon - from 09/03/191 to 05/12/1912.
HMS Pembroke - from 06/09/1912 to 12/09/1912.
HMS Str. George - from 13/09/1912 to 04/12/1912.
HMS Pembroke - from 05/12/1912 to 06/05/1913.
HMS St. George - from 07/05/1913 to 05/11/1915 
From the 2nd to the 15th November 1914 - 14 days, was spent in the Cells.
No reason given for his imprisonment.
HMS Wallington - from 06/11/1914 to 26/01/1916.
HMS Pembroke - from 27/01/1916 to 20/06/1916.
HMS Lance - from 21/06/1916 to 16/01/1917.
HMS Surprise - from 17/01/1917 to 23/12/1917.

Killed by a Mine Explosion off the Dutch Coast.  Death reported in
Altrincham Guardian 04/01/1918.

H.M.S. Surprise was a 'R' class destroyer built in 1916.   Part of the
Harwich Force whose responsibility it was to escort Dutch Convoy Traffic.  
 They could not enter Dutch waters so the usual practice was to meet the
convoys off the Maas Light Buoy.   The Germans were aware of this and had
laid mines around the area of the buoy that were linked together with
wires.   On the night of the 23/12/1917 H.M. destroyers "Radiant",
"Torrent", "Tornado" and "Surprise" went to meet the convoys as usual and
ran straight into the minefield.   "Torrent" was the first to be mined and
then "Surprise" as she went to assist "Torrent".     "Tornado" tried to get
clear by going astern but in the process she struck two more mines and sank
quickly.    Undeterred by the carnage Commander Nash of "Radiant" remained
to rescue the survivors before getting clear - remarkably unscathed.   A
total of 12 officers and 240 men were lost from the three vessels.