Isaac Walter Hawes

Born: 16th October 1892

Died: 31 May 1916

Rank and Regiment: Stoker 1st Class K16814 Royal Navy

Resting Place: body unrecovered

Memorial: St. Peter’s, Reymerston, United Kingdom and; Royal Navy Memorial, Portsmouth

Isaac Walter Hawes was the only child of William and Jane Hawes. William was a Roadman; he was the illegitimate son of Ann Hawes and was baptised in Southburgh on January 18 1852. He and Jane married late in life aged 40.

Isaac was baptised at Mattishall on 2 December 1892. He was born in Garvestone; his date of birth appears in naval records as 16 October 1894 but this must be an error; the registration of his birth is dated 1892 and his true date of birth is presumably 16 October 1892.

After school Isaac worked as a farm labourer and under gardener, then joined the Navy in November 1912 (K16814). He was then 5’3”, chest 37” with light brown hair and blue eyes. His first ship was the Victory, then Renown and Duncan before moving to the Queen Mary as Stoker I in December 1913.  He was working on the Queen Mary when it was sunk at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 and he drowned aged 23. His body, along with those of the other 1265 crewmen lost, was never recovered.

His effects and war gratuity were given to his mother Jane. His name is listed on the Portsmouth Naval memorial. Jane died in 1932.

Royal Navy Memorial, Portsmouth