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‘Skeletons in the cupboard’, a thread:
This is my Great Great Grandfather Harold George Stewart White aboard the HMS Inflexible on the 4th July 1909. He may have joined the Royal Navy, but he certainly did not want to be in service...
This is my Great Great Grandfather Harold George Stewart White aboard the HMS Inflexible on the 4th July 1909. He may have joined the Royal Navy, but he certainly did not want to be in service...
Harold was born out of wedlock in Lambeth Hospital on 20th September 1888. His Mother Emma Elizabeth White was a maid on Earl Street, near Sloane Square, London- his father is unknown (you've all watched enough period dramas...).
Emma and her newborn son moved to North Wales soon after. She married and gave her son away to be brought up with her (deep breath) mother's first husband's brother, James Stewart Pollock, a Regimental Sergeant Major in the Royal Welch Fusiliers.
On 2nd Sep 1908, Harold joined the Royal Navy and signed for 12 years service. He was a moulder's labourer on enlistment. His first posting was aboard the HMS Acheron, the hulked former HMS Northumberland turned stokers' training ship 2/9/08-18/2/09. His conduct was 'very good'.
From the 19th February to the 27th May 1909, Harold was posted to the HMS Magnificent. He was Stoker No 2.
Harold then spent a few days with the HMS Pembroke II training base, before being transferred to the HMS Inflexible on 3rd June 09. This is where the trouble began.
Harold was sentenced to 42 days detention. He 'refused to do his duty'.
(HMS Inflexible, New York 1909)
Harold was sentenced to 42 days detention. He 'refused to do his duty'.
(HMS Inflexible, New York 1909)
On the 29th December 1909, Harold deserted from the HMS Inflexible.
Harold was not recovered by the authorities until the 28th March 1911 (!). He was dragged back to Chatham and sentenced to (only) 21 days detention.
Here is the newspaper report on Harold’s arrest. During his desertion, he married my Great-Grandmother Sarah Ann Turner in Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire, and had a son (born November 1910).
Harold could not stand it. On the 1st May 1911, Harold deserted again.
At this time, Harold was reposted to the HMS Pembroke II- a shore posting. But, yet again, Harold could not stand it. On the 18th March 1914, Harold deserted for the final time from the HMS Pembroke II.
Harold did not want to go back to the Navy. Harold left his children with their maternal grandparents in Cheslyn Hay and, with his wife, ran away to Yorkshire to live near his sibling, in the village of Riccall. Once there, Harold ensured he would never be found.
Harold dropped the 'White' from his name, thus he became Harold George Stewart- he no longer existed. Because he no longer existed, he was not called for service during the Great War. He spent the rest of his life as a market gardener.
I feel Harold was pressured into joining the Navy. His Grandfather served in the 69th Foot & later the 19th Foot during the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny. Both the White and Pollock families were large military families- it was almost inevitable. Harold's uncles served as kids.
The name change caused several issues when researching the family tree. Until 2016, the family had no idea that he had changed his name. The only thing that was known, was that my G-Grandfather, Harold's son in law & a WW2 veteran, did not get along with him.
I was unsure whether or not to post this story. However, I felt it was important to show that the Royal Navy in the early 20th century was not just comprised of steadfast Jack Tars.
I forgot to mention: Harold's son (in his father's true style) ran away from his Grandparents in 1926 aged 16. He then cycled from Cheslyn Hay in Staffordshire to his parent's home in Riccall in Yorkshire, which is 119 miles!
