The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday September 22 1917 included this picture along with the caption Fredk Diver of Thetford, who was killed in the recent air raid at Chatham.
From the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday September 15 1917
AIR RAID VICTIM’S FUNERAL…………………………..
MILITARY HONOURS ACCORDED AT THETFORD.
A large concourse gathered at the Cemetery on Saturday afternoon, when the mortal remains of Frederick Diver, who was serving in the Royal Navy and was killed in a recent air raid on Chatham, was laid to rest with full military honours. Deceased was the second son of the late Mr. Matthew Diver and of Mrs. Diver of Castle Row. He joined the Navy about 15 months ago and was one of the survivors of the Vanguard, being home on leave at the time of the explosion. Prior to joining the Navy he was employed at the Brewery. He was 27 years of age, and leaves a wife and three small children. The blinds of business and private houses were drawn as the impressive cortege wended its way to the Cemetery. Heading the procession was the band of the Sherwood Foresters, which was immediately followed by contingents from the Royal Engineers, Middlesex Regiment and the Royal Flying Corps. Following on were the Thetford Town Scouts, under Scoutmaster R.M. Palmer. The service was taken by the Rev. J. Elvan, senior chaplain to the Forces. The chief mourners were the widow, Mrs. M. Driver (mother), Mr. and Mrs H. Humes, (sister and brother-in-law), the Misses E. and F. Diver (sisters), Mr.and Mrs. Cousins, (sister and brother-in-law), Mrs. F. Talbot, (sister in law), Mrs. J. Talbot, (sister in law), Mrs. J. Diver (sister-in-law, Thetford), Mr. W. Talbot, (brother-in-law), Mrs. J. Rutterford, (Lakenheath), Mr. Long and Mr. Bowen. There were also present Inspt. Vincent, representing the police, Mr. J. Edgell, the Scouts District Commissioner, Mr. T.P. Doran, J.P., Mr. Frank Wilkes, and many others. The coffin was of polished elm, with brass furniture, and the inscription read:- “Frederick Diver, died 3rd September, 1917.” At the close of the service three volleys were fired over the grave, and the “Last Post” sounded. Wreaths were sent by the widow, Mother and Maud, E.W. Long, Reg and Nan, the Misses Eva and Florrie Diver, Sister May and husband and little nieces Freda and Beryl, Mr. A. Diver, Mr. and Mrs. Praestly (?), Mrs. H. Steward, and Mrs W.Ling, Mrs Chinery, Mabel and Hilda, and kind friends, (2).
See also the EDP, Monday September 10th 1917 edition.
THETFORD.
The funeral of Frederick Diver, of the Royal Navy, who was killed in a recent air raid on the east coast, took place at Thetford Cemetery on Saturday, amid every manifestation of sympathy and respect. Previous to joining the Navy, about fifteen months ago, deceased was employed at the Brewery. He was one of the survivors of the Vanguard crew being home on leave at the time of the explosion. He leaves a widow and three small children. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. J. Elvan, Senior Chaplain to the Forces, and was of a full military character. The cortege was preceded by the Band of the Sherwood Foresters, members of a Middlesex Regiment, Royal Engineers and the Flying Corps. The Thetford Town Scouts were present, under Scoutmaster Palmer, and the District Commissioner (Mr. J. Edgell) was also present. Inspector Vincent represented the police. In addition to relatives there were present six of the employees from the Brewery. The body was enclosed in an elm coffin, with brass furniture, and on the breast plate was the inscription, “Frederick Diver, died 3rd September, 1917.” At the close of the service three volleys were fired over the grave, and the “Last Post” sounded.
From the Norwich Mercury, Saturday August 31 1918.
(IN MEMORIAM)
DIVER – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Stoker Frederick J. Diver, killed in Chatham Naval Barracks, September 3rd, 1917.
“Just when his life was brightest,
Just when his hopes were best,
His country called, he answered,
In God’s hands now he rests.”
From his loving Mother and Brothers, Arthur and George, and Lila and Kathleen, mat and Flo, and Bertie.
“Not now, but in the coming years –
It may be in the better land,
We read the meaning of our tears,
And then sometime we’ll understand.”
“Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away”
Always remembered by his loving sisters May (and husband), Florrie and Eva, and Nieces Freda and Beryl, Stockport.
Stoker 1st Class DIVER, F I
Service Number………………K/33593
Died:…………………………. 03/09/1917
Unit:…………………………..H.M.S. "Pembroke", Royal Navy
Burial……………………….Thetford Cemetery I.M. 564
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803484/diver,-/
The WW1 Naval Casualties database records that Stoker 1st Class K.33593. (Ch.) Frederick Isaac Diver, Royal Navy, was Killed or died as a direct result of enemy action on the 3rd September 1917 while stationed at HMS Pembroke. He was buried at Thetford Cemetery, London Road, Thetford. Frederick was born on the 4th July 1888 at Thetford. His next of kin informed of his death was his widow, Ethel, of 42 Castle Street, Thetford.
His Royal Naval Service records, held at the National Archive under reference ADM 188/934/33593, look like they commence in 1916 from the catalogue entry. (Although they show his place of birth as “Shetford”, Norfolk.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6991457
His Seamans record confirms that he joined up on the 1st July 1916, with his civilian occupation given as Dock Labourer. He was recorded as 5 feet 8 and three quarter inches tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. Initially a Stoker Class II, he spent two months in basic training at the land base HMS Pembroke II, before being assigned on the 5th September 1916 to the battleship HMS Vanguard. In March 1917 he was promoted Stoker 1. Following the explosion of the Vanguard he was officially reassigned, like so many from that ship, back to HMS Pembroke II. The temporary accommodation found for them all in the gymnasium would have a direct consequence on the high death total on the night of the air-raid – See “on the day”.
No match on Picture Norfolk, the County image Archive.
There is no obvious Civil Probate for this man.
4th July 1888 – Birth……………………….
Source – WW1 Naval Casualties and the catalogue entry for his service records at the National Archive. The birth of Frederick Isaac Diver was registered with the Civil Authorities in the District of Thetford in Norfolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1888.
1891 Census of England and Wales
The 2 year old Frederick I. Diver, born Hopton, Suffolk was recorded living at a dwelling on Old Market Street, Thetford. This was the household of his parents, Mathew I, (aged 51, a Tinsmith, born Thetford) and Louisa J, (aged 31, born Brettenham, Norfolk). As well as Frederick their other children living with them are:-
Mathew…….aged 17…..born Chatham, Kent……Tinsmith
John………..aged 8…….born Hopton, Suffolk
Gertrude M…aged 6……born Barningham, Suffolk
George J……aged 4…….born Hopton, Suffolk
1901 Census of England and Wales
The Genealogy site I use for basic Census lookups has transcribed the family surname as “Dives”, but looking at a scan of the original census return that reading is perfectly understandable. The family were recorded at No.17 Old Market Street, Thetford. As well as parents “Matthew”, (61, Tinsmith, born Thetford) and Louisa, (41, born Brettenham, Norfolk), their children still single and living with them are George, (14, General Labourer, born Hopton, Suffolk), Frederick, (12, born Hopton, Suffolk) and Matthew, (8), “Floria”, (5), Arthur, (3) and Eva, (1) – all born Thetford.
The most likely match for his future wife is a 9 year old Ethel Talbot, born Brandon, Suffolk, who was recorded living with her married sister, Clara Cousins, aged 28 and born Brandon, at 14 St Nicholas Street, Thetford. Also in the household is Clara’s husband Arthur John.
1911 Census of England and Wales
The Diver family were still living at 17 Oldmarket Street, but head of the household is now the 50 year old widow Louisa Jane Diver, born “Bretham”, Norfolk. Louisa states she has had 9 children, of which 8 were then still alive. Still single and living at home were his children Frederick Isaac, (22, General Labourer, born Hopton, Suffolk), Florence Edith, (15), Arthur Joseph, (13) and Eva Louisa, (11) – all born Thetford.
The most likely match for his future wife, Ethel Talbot, was still living with her married sister Clara and Claras’ husband Arthur John, although now at 21 Vicarage Road, Thetford. Ethel is working as a Domestic Servant.
The marriage of a Frederick I Diver to an Ethel Talbot was recorded in the Thetford District in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1911.
Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows only three matches in total – all likely to be children of Frederick and Ethel, as they were recorded in the Thetford District. This also ties in with the newspaper reports.
Sybil I Diver, mothers maiden name Talbot………..Q4 1912
Arthur J Diver, mothers maiden name Talbot………Q1 1915
Frederick V Diver, mothers maiden name Talbot…..Q1 1917
His ship…………………………………………
HMS Vanguard was one of three St Vincent-class dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She spent her whole career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets. Aside from participating in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 and the inconclusive Action of 19 August several months later, her service during the war generally consisted of routine patrols and training in the North Sea.
Shortly before midnight on 9 July 1917 at Scapa Flow, Vanguard suffered a series of magazine explosions. She sank almost instantly, with the loss of 843 of the 845 men aboard.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vanguard_(1909)
(Frederick didn’t join the crew of the Vanguard until after Jutland and the attempt to ambush the German High Sea Fleet in August 1916).
On the day……………………………………….
On the night of 3rd-4th September 1917 the Drill Hall and Royal Navy Barracks H.M.S. Pembroke was bombed and 130 lives were lost.
On the night of 3rd September 1917, around 900 men were either asleep or resting in their hammocks in the Drill Hall. There was some cloud and a light wind, but generally the weather was fine as five German Gotha aeroplanes set off for Medway from Gontrode in Belgium at around 9:30 p.m. One of the Gothas later had to turn back over the Channel due to engine trouble but the remaining four continued, "each loaded with 300lbs of bombs".
At around 11:00 p.m., the four remaining Gothas flew over Eastchurch and began to follow the moonlit River Medway towards Chatham. The raiders continued their approach unchallenged and found the town fully illuminated and completely unprepared for an attack. Previously the Germans had only attacked from the air during daylight hours but took the decision to raid at night due to the increasing loss of bombers from daytime raids. The bombing raid of 3 September 1917 was therefore the first of the moonlight raids and took the Medway towns completely by surprise.
As a result, no anti-aircraft guns opened fire and no British fighters were sent to combat the enemy. The Gotha attack was further facilitated by a dreadful lack of communication between the key authorities: Owing to a defensive mix-up (a practice alert earlier in the evening meant that telephone warnings of a real raid, which were intended to notify the electrical department and a power station to extinguish all lights at once, were not taken seriously and ignored).
Ironically, local people had even been warned to expect the testing of the night air defences and would naturally have assumed that the actual raid was just part of the practice alert: In one Chatham cinema, just as the raid was beginning, a notice was flashed upon the screen telling people not to be alarmed. The Gotha was equipped with only primitive bomb sights and the most rudimentary of target locators so bombing was, to some degree, indiscriminate. The raiders would go on to drop a total of seventeen bombs in the districts of Gillingham and Chatham; the accuracy of their bombs owing as much to tragic ill chance as the skill of the German pilots.
Two 50kg bombs made a direct hit on the Drill Hall, crashing through the glass roof and exploding on the concrete floor of the sleeping quarters. Some reports stated that the bombs did little damage to the concrete floor of the Drill Hall and thus expended all their force upwards The hands of the clock in the tower were frozen at 11:12 p.m., giving the exact time the bombs hit the Drill Hall. What followed was truly terrible, as the quarter inch thick glass roof fell in: There were some terrific explosions, and before we knew what was happening the roof was lifted sheer off the hut, blown up in to the air, and fell into a thousand pieces on to the men. It was the falling glass, which was very thick and very heavy that did the damage. As most of the men were asleep and wearing only their night attire they could do little to protect themselves from the lethal shards of falling glass. The result was horrific.
Ordinary Seaman Frederick W. Turpin went to the scene to help with the wounded. Officers and the surviving ratings who were able to tore at the rubble with their bare hands in their efforts to find those lost beneath the debris of the shattered Drill Hall. The work of the rescuers continued through the night and was only completed some seventeen hours later on Tuesday afternoon.
www.merseysiderollofhonour.co.uk/obits/ships/pembroke.htm
(Mildly photoshopped to minimise impact of damage on the original image).
