Unknown RNVR Seaman

In St Nicolas Churchyard, Great Coates there is a small headstone with the following engraving on it.


A.E. TRASH
8 DEC 1941
2ND HAND RNVR


I can find no other details on him, as he isnt listed on the CWGC listings or any of the military search engines.

Can anybody elaborate?

 

Have you checked the Parish Records for Burial details or Local press for an Obituary ?

 

Nothing on him as yet. Being 2nd Hand RNVR means he would have served with the trawler section. He is not noted as being a crew member of the trawlers sunk on that day.
Regards
Hugh

 

In St Nicolas Churchyard, Great Coates there is a small headstone with the following engraving on it.


A.E. TRASH
8 DEC 1941
2ND HAND RNVR


I can find no other details on him, as he isnt listed on the CWGC listings or any of the military search engines.

Can anybody elaborate?


Hello I have come across a few graves like this.
You could try emailing CWGC with the details and ask them if they could check their records.
or contact the church
St Nicolas, Great Coates - Grimsby | Diocese of Lincoln
They may have further information in their records

regards
Clive

 

I have emailed the Vicar of St Nicolas Church and unfortunately he couldnt elaborate. This was his reply.


Albert Edward Trash (51) of Little Coates was buried in Great Coates churchyard on 12th December 1941, but there are no further details recorded in the register (which is what I would have expected); the neighbouring entry in the register is for the Brett CWGC burial.


So unfortunately we are no further along.

Can anyone else suggest the next step?

 

Please ignore.

 

Not sure if this is your man or not.
ABSENT VOTERS Grimsby & Cleethorpes 1919

TRASH, Albert Edward
30 Freshney Street
H.M.S. Pekin, 1322 (Dk. Hand)

HMS Pekin - Ships and navies - Great War Forum
Thread with correct information about HMS Pekin.

 

Good day Temptage,

Could you post a photograph of the headstone to the thread by any chance, please? It may provide some clues to others on this forum willing to assist with your enquiry (e.g. if his wife or other relatives are metioned on the headstone).

Looking at 'Free BMD' it looks like Mr Trash was married and had at least one son. So there may be close relatives of Mr Trash still living somewhere nearby to Great Coates who could provide you with the information you are asking about.

From the information you have provided up to now my suggestion is that you could do with establishing Mr Trash's cause of death. I imagine you already know costs can quickly mount up when purchasing death certificates. But in this case, if Mr Trash meets the CWGC criteria for inclusion on their 'Debt of Honour' then they will undoubtedly ask for a copy of the death certificate before adding him to their records.

Before applying for the death certificate, however, you may be able to see if there was an obituary or 'Death Notice' in the local newspaper at the time of Mr Trash's death. This would not be as expensive and possibly establish the cause of death for you.

Here is the link for Grimsby Central Library website:
North East Lincolnshire Council
---------------

If Mr Trash was a trawler man (a civilian) and did not die as the result of enemy action then he will not be listed by the CWGC. Hugh MacLean is really good in this area. Hugh has already looked it up for you and found that Mr Trash was not a member of a crew of trawlers sunk by enemy action that day.

Even if Mr Trash is not listed by the CWGC there is no reason to stop you commemorating him on your listing of those from Grimsby & Cleethorpes who died in WW2. If you establish the cause of death you can obviously make an appropriate note in your listings.

Any chance you will be making a listing of all the Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District 'Roll of Honour' on this website, or on a website of your own by any chance? I regularly visit this area to see relatives and I know some of the churchyards you are likely to be visiting.

I hope this has helped. Good luck.

 

Ritson,

They know me by my first name in the Library. My brother used to work there. I will make the effort to see if his death was mentioned in an obituary etc. That may save a lot of time and effort in the long run.

I certainly WONT be visiting ANY of the local Cemeteries again lol. Thats how I started on this long laborious task in the first place. And not just the local ones. So far I have photographed every single CWGC-registered grave in 310 Lincolnshire Cemeteries, burial grounds and memorials. I just have 26 to do down in the south of the County now.

 

Photo from WW1

 

ADM 171. Sha-Z | The National Archives

 

He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 22 January 1940. His official number was LT/JX 179691. This number confirms he was serving in the Royal Navy Patrol Service (RNPS) probably RNR trawler section rather than RNVR. The obituary below suggests he did not die at sea, nor is there any evidence of that in other sources.

Newspaper headline. TRASH— December 8 1941 108 Gilbey-road Albert Edward (Cooler) late RNVR beloved husband of Amelia passed peacefully away aged 51 years.

Here he is photo ID Merchant Navy circa 1919 when serving on the ship ELLA.


Regards
Hugh

 

Find-a-Grave have a photo of his memorial: A. E. Trash (unknown-1941) - Find a Grave...

 

Hugh MacLean Do you have any more details regarding his WW2 service? I applied for a copy of his Navy record back in March, but they say they have nothing and have referred me to his WW1 record at TNA.

 

Hi Paul,
Nothing more I am afraid.His WWI service record has a notation on it as follows

D.N.A. 3/R.6750/41 for start of service
2.10.41 to D.N.A. 3/R with start of service
Enlisted in RN 22.1.40
O/No LT/JX 179691
The number indicates he joined the Royal Navy Patrol Service (probably the Trawler Section)

He didn't serve for long so maybe nothing to find - I presume you gave them his official number when you applied. Although not necessary every little helps.
He also attested as a private in the R.A.M.C in 1907 but was discharged as unfit to carry out the duties of the Corps in February 1908.
Regards
Hugh

 

I got the Navy to check again and they've come back to me with the attached record. Says he was invalided PUNS on 24 Oct 1941, so about six weeks before he died, unfortunately it looks like cause of death and possibly disability have been redacted. You chaps might be able to glean more info from it.

 

EAGLET (ADVISABLE)
HMS EAGLET was an anti-submarine and minesweeping base for trawlers at Birkenhead. The name in brackets (Advisable) was the ship he was serving on. This was a minesweeping Drifter.

LUCIFER (GASTON RIVIERE)
HMS LUCIFER, naval base in Swansea. The name in brackets was the ship he was serving on. Gaston Riviere was a trawler, Taken over by the Admiralty in August 1941. Returned to her owner in 1946.

ROYAL CHARTER/BEAVER (CORCYRA)
HMS ROYAL CHARTER was the Auxiliary Patrol base at Grimsby later HMS BEAVER. The name in brackets was the ship he was serving on. Corcyra was a minesweeping trawler based at Grimsby for the Auxiliary Patrol.

HMS EUROPA was the Lowestoft Patrol Service Central Depot known as the Sparrow’s Nest.

Regards
Hugh

 

temptage Do you have a photo of the headstone? Your description doesn't seem to match the photo that's on Find-a-Grave, I'm guessing the wooden cross has since been replaced with a proper headstone?

 

PaulC, and Hugh, and all with an interest here.

Have this one on me (courtesy of GRO, public domain item). Less than the price of a pint.

The dear chap, the life back then, the life he had, the gaspers did for him maybe (lung cancer).





Always remember, never forget,

Jim.

 

Hi Jim, many thanks for your post, at least we now know what he died from.