103480 ~ THOMAS FAULKNER M.N. ~ Merchant Marine
Russell Bennison of Papakura had just read my first article in the Spring RSA Review regarding the wearing unofficial medals, and as result email me, not with any query about unofficial medals, but one regarding a medal he had found mixed in with his own father’s medals (as so often happens). Russell’s father was 50272 Cpl. Albert Nelson Bennison who served with 37 Infantry Battalion, 2NZEF in the Pacific – Fiji New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and Nissan (Green) Island. Albert passed away in 1956. In sorting through his dad’s medals recently, Russell found a medal totally unfamiliar to him, one he did neither recognised by the name on it, or by type. Hardly surprising since the medal had no ribbon, and no ribbon suspender bar or claw. It simply presented as a circular dull silver coloured “coin” and bearing a small hole drill near the edge.
When Russell contacted me he said he had come across a WW1 GSM (general service medal) with the name FAULKNER T. on the edge, and that it was “just the medal and it appears that the pin holding it to the remainder has broken.”
Russell did not recognise the name as being associated with his family, or any idea how or why his father may have acquired it. This is quite a common occurrence and often the result of a chance find, or a spur of the moment purchase in a second hand shop or flea market. It is also quite common for damaged medals such as this was (missing the medal ribbon suspender and claw) to be easily mistaken for a coin and mixed in with till change, particularly when NZ was still using sterling currency. The medal is similar in size to a crown, half-crown and penny that were in circulation prior to 10 July 1967 after which decimal currency was introduced. Given that Albert had died in 1956 it was very likely this could have been the case, particularly if he had been in a position that required him to handle cash, e.g. business, recreation club etc.
Russell said that except for his father’s WW2 service, Albert, a farmer from Ashburton, had spent most of his life in Canterbury, either in Ashburton or Christchurch – Russell said “I would assume that Faulkner T. also comes from that region. As the medal is a little battered I thought it may have broken off (maybe during an ANZAC Day commemoration activities) and had been found by my father.” I asked Russell to check the edge of the medal to be sure it did NOT have a service number or unit on it – nothing else on it he said. I immediately suspected either the Mercantile Marine Medal or a British War Medal awarded to a mariner. I asked Russell to describe the medal – “dull silvery colour, King George V’s head on one side, knight on a horse on the other ….” My hunch was confirmed! It was definitely a British War Medal, 1914-18 that had been awarded to merchant mariner.
Merchant/Mercantile Marine (Merchant Navy)
Merchant marine vessel fleets flagged to the British Empire including fishing fleets, lightships and pilot service vessels in the UK were generally regarded as the Forth arm of the Empire’s military might. The merchant (or mercantile) marine fleets’ contribution during the First World War was an essential component for ensuring the success of operations fought in France and Belgium. Despite their losses, merchant convoys maintained an unbroken supply and transport chain between England and France with shipments of food, fuel, troops, animals, equipment, armaments and munitions to support each of the Empire’s contributing nations.
These largely unarmed fleets were in constant danger from predatory enemy submarines and surface ships. Some merchant vessels however were re-fitted as ‘Q-Ships’ (named after the Irish home port of Q-Ships – Queenstown). A closely guard wartime secret, Q-Ships were designed to lure submarines to the surface by presenting as an unarmed, soft target that a U-boat might prefer to engage with deck guns rather than expend any of the few valuable torpedoes they carried for far juicier, higher value Royal Navy targets. Once an enemy U-boat surfaced, the seemingly harmless Q-Ship would lower false bulkheads or screening material to reveal they were heavily armed with deck guns themselves, and engage the submarine before it had a chance to respond. Some Q-Ships also carried rudimentary depth charges which were used to some effect – these were still under development but a useful tool and a most appropriate proving ground.
King George V as Commander-in-Chief of the Navy and Army, and whose son Prince Albert (the future King George VI) was serving as a Royal Navy officer aboard HMS Collingwood (Battle of Jutland), was an ardent supporter of the Mercantile Marine service. In recognition of their outstanding contribution to the war effort during WW1, the King bestowed the title “Merchant Navy” on the British mercantile shipping fleets in 1918.
Today the Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom and comprises the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Most Commonwealth countries have also adopted this title.
Due recognition
In addition to the title, the King approved a distinctive medal to reward the officers and men of the Mercantile Marine for their continued service during the war – the Mercantile Marine Medal 1914-18 (MMM). Trained only as peacetime mariners, these men had bravely served their companies (and the Crown) knowingly putting themselves and their vessel at great risk when at sea.
To qualify for the MMM one or more voyages through a designated danger zone, between specified dates, during the war was required, or, service at sea for a minimum period of six months between 04 August 1914 and 11 November 1918 would also qualify. These included merchant seaman crewing troop military transport ships, hospital ships/lighters/barges, fuel tankers and coastal trading and supply vessels. Pilots, fishermen and post office cable ship crews could also qualify. In the case of merchant seamen who were killed or wounded as a result of enemy action, or were taken prisoner, the minimum qualifying period for the medal was waived – these persons qualified automatically.
Unlike the First World War service medals for Army and RFC that were administered by the War Office, the MMM was administered and issued by the UK Board of Trade. After naming, the medals were passed to the Board of Trade who in turn authorised the issue and dispatch of the medals to the seaman’s Port administration authority, e.g. the Mercantile Marine Office, Port of Liverpool – the seaman’s home Port. For merchant marine officers and men of commonwealth countries who qualified for the these medals, the Board of Trade again would fulfil any requests for the medals by sending the medals (un-named) to that countries relevant administering authority, e.g. in NZ this was the Marine Department, later part of the Ministry of Transport. The Marine Department had the medals named (by NZ Army resources) and then issued to seaman through the Marine office of whichever port they were domiciled at. This could be a very hit and miss process as seamen transferred ships and moved around the country or overseas.
British War Medal, 1914-1918
The MMM was always paired with the British War Medal, 1914-18 (BWM) but never with the Victory Medal (VM) on its own. The Victory Medal was awarded to members of the armed forces who served in a theatre of war after 01 November 1916. Only merchant seamen who had prior (or subsequent) qualifying military service (most often with the Royal Navy) were entitled to receive the Victory Medal. Service solely in the Mercantile Marine service did not qualify a seaman for the Victory Medal. Military personnel (Royal Navy or Army) assigned to operate weapons that were mounted on merchant vessels (e.g. a Q-ship) and who had qualifying service for either of the WW1 Stars, the BWM and VM, were also eligible to receive the MMM.
Medal naming
Unlike the medals of military personnel, those awarded to merchant seaman were named (large or small sans serif font) without any number, rank, service or ship (Australia being the exception). The most common naming formats for both medals were the same:
- First name & Last name in full, e.g. EDWARD MAHONEY, or
- First name in full, followed by the Middle Initial(s), and Last name, e.g. WILLIAM H. HENDLEY , THOMAS G. CARTER.
The naming of Thomas Faulkner’s medal did not conform to this layout or style, rather it was named in reverse and with an initial only – “FAULKNER T.” – which on the face of it, appeared to be a one-of aberration.
Note: The fact that the medal I had was named in reverse (FAULKNER T.) did not register at the time as the history and naming format of mercantile mariner’s medals was unfamiliar to me. After the publication of this story I received information from a merchant marine medals authority who had read the story, who believed the medal to be a re-issued replacement (duplicate) with the unique reverse naming identifying it as the re-issue of a non-military issued medal.
Memorial Plaque
The next of kin of merchant seaman who were killed or died as a result of war service injuries or disease between 4 August 1914 and 30 April 1919 were also entitled to receive the Memorial Plaque (unofficially a Death Plaque, Death Penny, etc) as was issued to the next of kin of military personnel. The two Dolphins swimming either side of Britannia holding a trident on the Memorial Plaque were representative of Great Britain’s sea power. A plaque specific to the Mercantile Marine Service was not issued. The Condolence Slip and Scroll that accompanied the plaque named the officer or seaman and made specific reference to his sea service and the Mercantile Marine.
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Finding “FAULKNER T.”
The availability of information relating to merchant seaman of the WW1 era is notoriously vague. Recorded details were limited and often subject to the competency or circumstances of the recorder. This information is also sometimes tricky to access, particularly if purchased by an ‘information retailer’ who requires those wishing to view the information to “pay per view.”
Tracing merchant seamen is rather more problematic than tracing military seamen (Royal Navy) as merchant seaman were prone to changing ships frequently, often after each voyage, or for having extended periods of non-sea service. Deserting ships during wartime was also not unknown.
Recording a seaman’s sea service was largely the result of the Signing-On and Paying-Off (or Discharge) process. Seaman joining a ship, or undertaking a subsequent voyage in the same ship, were recorded in the ships log at the beginning of each voyage as either “Paid-On” (a new crew member), or “Remained” (remaining with ship from the previous voyage). If leaving the ship, the seaman was “Paid-Off” (Discharged) enabling him to apply to join another vessel, company, or take up some other option, unlike military sailors who were posted to a vessel for a specified period of time.
The merchant seaman’s Certificates of Discharge were in effect his personal record of his employment and sea service. When “Paid-Off” a Certificate of Discharge was issued to the seaman which had to be presented to any proposed ship’s captain in order for the seaman to join his ship – these certificates, apart from a ship’s log, are often the only record of a sailor’s sea service that exist from the First World War. This system whilst providing flexibility for a seaman to sign on or off a ship at will, and to select where, when and with whom he wanted to work, it was also a system by which a captain who did not wish to retain a particular crew member for some reason, could opt to discharge him from his crew. Collectively then, it can be appreciated from the foregoing that tracing the movements of any given merchant seaman during wartime, can be very quite difficult. But that is not the end. During war the problem was further exacerbated as ships came and went from service (sunk, or slipped for repairs), were returned to their owners, or sold, and in some cases re-named, all of which can derail a researcher from their tracks.
Identifying “FAULKNER T.” presented a number of additional unknowns. Given the vast numbers of merchant seaman committed to supporting the war effort in Europe were UK based (compared with the 1500 odd NZ merchant seaman who ultimately qualified for the BWM) there was initially good reason for thinking the Faulkner medal was possibly attributable to one of these. If not a NZ seaman, finding one who was the native of a foreign country, or was a non-resident New Zealander living in another country throws up the possibility of a visiting seaman after the medals had been issued who had their medal lost, stolen, or had sold the BWM while in NZ. The British War Medal had high silver content and therefore very saleable to jewellers who would melt them down and extract the silver. The medal was also as good as cash, a popular option when in one was in need of either cash for grog or other ‘personal’ needs.
Thousands of war medals are bought and sold on a daily basis around the world. Added to the large number named to NZers already in the country, are the those named to UK servicemen and mercantile seamen that arrived in NZ under numerous circumstances, some of which are: medals were bought to NZ by merchant seaman, or by another family member; medals of deceased seamen were they sent to NZ – to a widow, mother or other family member residing in NZ. There are also those medals which have been lost in NZ and then found after many decades, long after some families had died out. Some medals were sent in error, others as replacements for medals lost or stolen, and on occasions there were medals incorrectly named by government agencies that found their way into public hands. Since the Second World War and particularly of more recent times, large numbers of WW1 war medals from the UK have been imported by private purchasers for a variety of reasons, some of these being subsequently lost or stolen, or have had names erased and re-named. I had no reason to believe that Thomas Faulkner’s medal could not have been subjected to one or any combination of such circumstances.
The researchers frustration can be further exacerbated when military and civil records are destroyed, as was the case after the London Archives were bombed during WW2, and a large portion of the Irish Archives destroyed by a fire in 1922.
Faced with this vast array of possibilities to inhibit a researchers ability to identify the correct family connection of an original medal recipient when a medal is found, one can begin to understand the complexity of finding not only a descendant family but also of determining the precise original owner of a found medal, and particularly as there is so little information to be found on the edge of medals named to mercantile mariners. Land records such as addresses, marriage details or the birth of children can be about the most reliable sources however large gaps in continuity caused by a seaman’s absence at sea can also derail this process.
Where to start ?
Being my first attempt to find a merchant seaman’s medal, I started the search for FAULKNER T. with the trusty Ancestry.com ship crew-lists of those who had been awarded medals. I was unaware at this point that medals for NZ mercantile seaman were administered in NZ and the subject of separate records (held in NZ Archives). By locating Tom Faulkner’s medal entitlement, hopefully there would be additional information that would help me to determine where he was from, how long he had served and whether or not he had survived the war. There were plenty of mariners named FAULKNER with Thomas in their name but only a handful who had served in the Mercantile Marine during WW1 and had any connection to NZ. While a few were listed as being born in NZ, no conclusion could be drawn as to whether they had continued to reside in NZ while a seaman, or had emigrated to the UK and joined the mercantile service.
I then went to the UK Archives for listings of Mercantile Marine Medals awarded to merchant seamen for WW1 service. Here I found only one “Thomas Faulkner” (no other initials or second name, matching the medal I had) in the medal index cards for the award of both the Mercantile Marine Medal and British War Medal 1914-18. The card stated that Thomas Faulkner had been born in “Chester 1856.” Other than the current address and a few dates, no other useful information was given. A quick check of the Great War Roll of Honour and several merchant shipping casualty sites confirmed that Thomas Faulkner had not died during the war which meant there was likely to be a lot more traceable information of Thomas’s life.
MEDAL INDEX CARD
Creator of Record: Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, 1872-1992
Surname: Faulkner Certif. or Dis A: 103480, Master
Christian names: Thomas RS2 No: x
Place of Birth: Chester Year of Birth: 1857
Mercantile Marine Ribbon issued: 10.7.1923 To: MMO
British Medal Ribbon issued: 10.7.1923 To: MMO Liverpool
Mercantile Marine Medal issued: 11.10.1923 To: MMO } Flatt Lane, Ellesmere
British Medal issued: 11.10.1923 To: MMO } W. Birkenhead
Clasps issued: x
Application date: 10.7.23 Sent to MMO: Liverpool, 10.7.23
The card had given me some basic information about Thomas at the time his medals were issued in 1923 – his place and year of birth, an address, his rating was Master and he had been awarded two medals. This small amount of information was sufficient to get me started piecing together Thomas Faulkner’s life, so it was back to Ancestry.com. From the censuses, electoral rolls and BDM records I found where he had been born, where he had lived during his life, whom and when he had married, how many children he had and their names, when he and his wife died, and essentially what his maritime career entailed.
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In the beginning …
The following has been provided by John Faulkner & Barbara McParland …… On the night of the 1851 Census of England which took place on 30 March, at a house on Huntington Road, Dee Banks, Chester, by the banks of the River Dee just before it flows past the ancient walls of the City of Chester, there is recorded an elderly couple with three of their grand-children. The grand-parents were Joseph FAULKNER (1775–1859), a retired farmer, and his wife of 46 years, Catherine PRIDDING (1776–1862). The grand-children were Mary PARRY (1836–1896), her brother, George PARRY (1845–1884), and their cousin, John Charles PARRY (1846–1925). A little further along the road, in a summer house, there are listed Mary and George’s mother Elizabeth PARRY (1806–1887), her sister Harriett FAULKNER (1816–1887) and their uncle, John PRIDDING, a widower. Why had several members of the family gathered together at this time? Clearly, one can only speculate, but the fact that four-year-old John Charles’ mother had died on 15 March, while his father had died in the same year as John Charles’ birth, is likely to be a major factor. Clearly, the family was close, stayed in touch and looked out for each other.
Joseph and Catherine Faulkner had six children:
- Elizabeth (1806–1887) married John Parry (1800–1865) in 1826
- John (1808–1839) married Mary Powell (1812–?) in 1831
- Mary (1812–1851) married another John Parry (1807–1846) in 1843
- Thomas (1814–1828)
- Harriett (1816–1887) married George Fryers in 1853
- Joseph (1819–1876) married Elizabeth Dean in 1847
John Faulkner (1808–1839) died of Typhus fever in Whitby (now part of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire), his brother-in-law John Parry (1800–1865) being in attendance. His wife and three surviving children, Thomas (1832– ?), Elizabeth (1834–1915), and Catherine (1838–1843) became paupers. No further trace was found of Mary or her son, Thomas, after Catherine’s death in 1843. Elizabeth, however, is to be found in the 1851 Census as a 16 year old, house servant in Whitby, Ellesmere Port. In 1855 she became pregnant and went to her grandparent’s house in Dee Banks in Chester to give birth. Thus, on 3 January 1856, Thomas Faulkner was born illegitimate, but with a close and supportive family.
Thomas Faulkner – the early years
Little Tommy Faulkner was duly baptised in March 1856 at the Church of St Mary, Ellesmere Port, a church that has featured prominently in most of the Faulkner families lives since, for baptisms, weddings, funerals and burials.
The decennial census returns give a snapshot on a particular night and thus are merely a guide to what was happening at the time. The next we come across Thomas is on 7 April 1861 where the 5 year old is found twice! Firstly, with his mother and her husband, John GERRARD, who had married on 21 September 1857 in the village Christleton, just two miles to the east of Chester. They went on to have eight children over the succeeding score of years, and there is evidence that they kept in touch with their older half-brother. Secondly, Thomas is also listed as a scholar with his great-aunt Elizabeth and his now widowed great-grandmother Catherine in Whitby, Ellesmere Port. He is still with his great-aunt on 2 April 1871, this time as an Errand Boy.
A life at sea
The term “Sailor” is a generic one as is “Seaman.” Men of the mercantile marine were generally referred to as Sailors, while sailors of the Royal Navy (RN) were Seaman – confused? Both mercantile marine and RN crews are broken into two rank structured groups – commissioned “Officers” (Captain, Engineers, Mates etc) who manage the ship and the sailors), and the rest who comprising the “Other Ranks” (all sailors/seaman who are not of commissioned officer status/rank). The lowest rating/rank in both the merchant marine and RN was an ordinary seaman.
However, confusion reigned as terminology was still mixed within the merchant marine who had adopted the RNs lower rank titles, such as seaman, ordinary seaman and able seaman, for their own use. Confusing as you will see further down, but you get the general idea.
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It is believed Thomas Faulkner started his sea-going career about 1874 as a 17-18 year old Deck Hand (DH), an apprentice merchant marine Sailor, initially serving on river boats and the odd passenger sailing ship from the Port of Liverpool to various continental destinations in France, Portugal, Spain and Scandinavia. The DH’s main responsibilities were washing the decks, chipping corrosion from iron fixings, applying tar and varnishing, waxing, cleaning glass and brass, and assisting others on the deck. This Tom would do whilst gaining familiarity a ship’s routine both when in port, and at sea.
Once he proved himself capable and confident in a DH role, Tom’s next step was re-classification to an ordinary seaman (OS), the lowest ranked rating of a merchant ship’s crew. A DH’s hours were more flexible than the OS, being the first rating that required the sailor to be on duty 24/7 when at sea. OS primarily assisted the able (bodied) seamen (ABs) with housekeeping duties on the deck, but also were required to do many other tasks such as manning the lookout, paint scaling and chipping, helping to moor the ship by handling lines, and helping to tie and let the vessel.
Tom Faulkner’s occupation of “Sailor” first appeared as his occupation in the 1881 UK Census. His crew rating (rank) was not given but having spent his time as an OS under the supervision of an AB, once his knowledge and capability with deck operations were considered of a good standard, he could be re-rated (promoted) to AB. Tom is known to have had his Able rating by 1882; he had been at sea almost 10 years and was approximately 26 years of age.
Generally speaking an AB was responsible for everything outside, on top of, and underneath a vessel. By law the able seaman should have the ability to perform all duties pertaining to the deck, except for actual vessel navigation. An AB had to be competent in performing watch (lookout) duties, splicing the fibre lines, working over the ship’s side (gangways, mooring and letting duties, chipping, stripping, varnishing, waxing and painting all wood and metal fixtures), operating any deck machinery (capstan, line or anchor winches, cargo derricks and lines etc), taking care of cargo storage, taking care and transfer of the ship’s rigging, and repairing the canvas. An AB would also have the ability to handle the lifeboat under sail, and to instruct and supervise Deck Hands and OS in their duties.
Marriage and sea service
On 3 April 1881, Thomas is no longer with his great-aunt but is resident (when in port) with her son George Parry, who by now was married and had two infant children. George was the keeper of the Dock Hotel in Ellesmere Port and it was there that the unmarried sailor, Thomas Faulkner is listed together with a 22 year old dressmaker named Jane JOYNSON (1858–1895).
AB Thomas Faulkner (26) married**23 year old Jane Joynson on 10 January 1882 at the Parish Church of St Mary in Upton, just two miles to the north of Chester. Together they made their first home at 23 Flatt Lane, Birkenhead, a town built around the Birkenhead dockyard on the south bank of the Mersey basin, at one time housing some of the largest flour mills in England. On the opposite side of the Mersey basin is the Port of Liverpool. Tom was at this time crewing vessels out of both Birkenhead and Liverpool. Their son, John William FAULKNER (1882–1927) was born on 31 August and daughter, Mary (1884–1980) on 27 November. On 5 April 1891, the family are listed in Dock Street, Ellesmere Port.
John William Faulkner ** was recorded as a shipping clerk in the 1901 Census, but thereafter can be found travelling to West Africa as a palm oil trader. This is probably why he is not found in the 1911 Census.
Note: ** T/3504 Private John William FAULKNER – 2/4th Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment –enlisted on 13 November 1914. The address which he submitted was that of his sister in Guildford. His regiment first saw war service on 17 July 1915 at Gallipoli from where he was later evacuated suffering from frostbite. Rejoining his Regiment, he was involved in the defence of the Suez Canal and then the advance through Gaza into Palestine capturing Jerusalem. In June 1918, the unit was transferred to the western front in Flanders for the final assault of the War. Unfortunately, at this time John William was gassed and discharged unfit for service as a result, on 15 August 1918. For his service, now T/205917 Pte. John Faulkner was awarded: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal 1914-18, Victory Medal and the Silver War Badge for wounds (gassing) sustained on active service necessitating discharge.
By 1 January 1917, John William had met Grace SOWTER (1893–1968) his future wife, whom he married on 3 May 1919 at St Peter’s Church, Belsize Park, London. They moved to Ellesmere Port and had two sons, Kenneth John Faulkner (1920–1941) and Geoffrey Faulkner (1923–2013). According to Electoral Registers from this period, Thomas Faulkner living with them for much of this time. Sadly, and as a result of his war service, John William Faulkner died 8 April 1927. On 10 September 1938, Grace re-married the Magistrates’ Clerk of Birkenhead, Cheshire – Eustace William Trist GASKING (1881–1949). Grace was widowed for a second time and died Mrs Eustace GASKING in 1980 at the age of 94.
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AB Thomas Faulkner’s next promotion before being considered for a Deck Officer position would have been Boatswain. The Boatswain, more commonly called Bosun, was the senior crewman of the deck. He was responsible for the ship’s hull and all its components, including its rigging, anchors, cables, sails, deck maintenance and small boat operations (lifeboats, barge, lighters). A Bosun might also be assisted by a Bosun’s Mate, an AB who would train, direct, and supervise personnel in ship’s maintenance duties, in all activities relating to marlinspike (a tool and general term used for rope work, e.g. splicing, platting etc), the deck, vessel seamanship, painting, upkeep of ship’s external structure, the rigging, deck equipment, and boats (life boats, barges). Once a Deck Officer, a prospective captain (or master) would progress first need to gain experience as a Mate in several capabilities and time before being considered for a position as the Captain’s understudy.
Captain T. FAULKNER ~ Master Mariner
Master Mariner is the highest grade of licensed merchant marine sailor, who is qualified to Captain a merchant vessel of any size, any type, anywhere in the world. It is not known exactly when Tom received his Master Mariner’s rating or his first command of a ship as Captain, but the first record showing him to be a Captain in command, is 1898 when he commanded the SS Holmwood and when he would have been about 40-41 years old. Therefore it maybe assumed his captaincy pre-dated 1898 but by how long is anyone’s guess. Tom then served as the Mate (second in command to the Captain) on the SS Black Rock whilst being coached by the incumbent Master to take over command of this ship in mid 1899. He also spent a brief period as the captain of the SS Heron in late 1899. Captain Tom remained on the Black Rock until 1906. He had just turned 50 in 1906 when he took on the Mate’s position of the SS Jane Rowland (1906-07) due to crew shortages; Tom transferred back to the SS Black Rock by years end and thereafter remained her Captain until August 1911. In 1912 Tom had command of the SS Skelwith Force for one year together with short periods (these could have been as brief as one voyage) as master of the SS Llanelly and Broadgreen. By 1913 Captain Faulkner was again back in command of the SS Black Rock until the end of 1914 when he was required for war service.
The above ships are examples of the ships that Captain Faulkner served on. His ships were all general cargo vessels that plied the coastal routes up and down the west coast of the UK, Wales and Scotland and across to Ireland, plus to the various island groups scattered throughout the Irish Sea. There was however one exception – the SS Skelwith Force. Built in 1908, she was hired by the Admiralty during WW1 as a Fleet Messenger in the Royal Navy’s commissioned service, entitling her to fly the White Ensign rather the usual Merchant Marine Red Ensign, known as ‘Red Duster.’ HMS Skelwith Force remained in service with the R.N. for nine months from 30 Sep 1915 until 15 Jul 1916. Thereafter she reverted to mercantile use.
Pay and “Paying-Off” (Discharge)
It is interesting to note that as a qualified Master Mariner, Tom’s wages were just 3 Pounds ($6.00) per week, a seemingly paltry sum for such a responsibility? Of course given that he was fed and accommodated on-board and had little or no need of transportation, 3 Pounds was quite a bit in those days when commodities, rent, clothing, lighting oil and coal were far cheaper than today, and with added GST and inflation. Tom’s pay in today’s terms would equate to about $320.00 +/- per week.
Each time a Sailor (or Officer) left a vessel at the end of a voyage he could do one of two things, either “REMAIN” or be “PAID OFF.” If he remained there was no change to his conditions of service. If the sailor opted to be “Paid-Off” (or Discharged) at the end of the voyage, it was usually because he was/wanted to transfer to another vessel. When “Paid Off” the relinquishing Captain/Master was required to give the sailor/officer a Character Rating – Ex, V.Good, Good, N/R. These details were recorded in the vessel’s Discharge Log and a Certificate of Discharge bearing the Character Rating issued to the man. The Certificate would be required by the next Master of any ship the sailor/officer applied to join. If a sailor/officer had made a disciplinary transgression during his time on the ship (drunkenness, fighting etc) the Captain could opt to enter “N/R”– Not Rated, which would automatically prompt queries by the Captain/Master of the next ship before the sailor/officer was “Paid On” to join his crew.
The Captain was also rated! Two crew members of able rate (e.g. AB Kitchen hand, AB Deck Hand etc) being roughly equivalent to the rank of an Army L/Cpl, who were “Paying Off” from the vessel were selected by the Bosun (the senior sailor on the ship) to ‘rate’ their Master. The word rating given was representative of how they had viewed the Captain’s treatment of his crew, how approachable he had been, and generally how confident they were to sail with him in command of the ship. Of only three character ratings I found for Captain Tom Faulkner (and there must have been dozens over the duration of his career as Master), all stated: “Very Good.”
War service, 1914 >>
From 1915 Captain Faulkner undertook wartime duties, being chiefly engaged in carrying food, equipment and munitions between England to France. The Admiralty co-opted all merchant vessels for war service and Captain Faulkner was assigned to the SS Doonass.** At 57 years of age, Tom was by far the oldest (and most experienced mariner) in the Doonass’s crew of 36. His first appointment on Doonass was as Mate (second in command) from Jan-Jun 1915, Bosun from Aug-Oct and then Acting 2nd Mate until December.
Ship’s officers were often alternated in their positions (particularly Mate, 2nd Mate, 3rd Mate and even Bosun) either to fill a shortfall, for training purposes or for personal reasons. During the war years Masters were selected according to their particular capabilities with a vessel type. Routes to and from France required some specialist skills in relation to dealing with the surface and sub-surface threats. No doubt Tom Faulkner experienced some hair raising moments during his trans UK–France voyages as submarines were a constant worry. Over the course of the war, submarines accounted for vast tonnages of Allied merchant shipping sunk, with the loss of hundreds of sailor’s lives.
After a four torrid years at war England was counting the cost of the men and women who had not returned from war service in France and Belgium, those who died at sea or had died in England from the effects of. In the United Kingdom’s dockyards ships were being returned to service – re-fitted, repaired, re-painted, re-named and re-crewed. Captain Thomas Faulkner MN (now Merchant Navy) wasted little time in returning to his pre-war ship routines at Ellesmere Port. It was 1923 before he was issued his war medals from the Merchant Marine Office in Liverpool.
Medals: British War Medal, 1914-18 and Mercantile Marine Medal
Merchant Marine War Service: 1915–1918
Captain (Master Mariner): c1898–c1927 = 30 years +/-
Total service in the Merchant Marine, & Merchant Navy (fm 1918): c1872–1927 = 55 years +/-
Notes:
** The SS Whimbrel was a steel screw general cargo steamer built at Dundee, Scotland in 1897 for the Cork Steam Ship Co. Ltd. Sold to the Limerick Steam Ship Company of Belfast in 1907, the ship was re-named SS Doonass for the next 10 years until re-sold in 1917. With several successive it was subsequently re-named: SS Audierne in 1917, SS Teelin Head* in 1924, and finally the SS City of Bremen in 1934. The Bremen was sunk as a result of an air attack in June 1942 while in transit from Lisbon Portugal to Holyhead, the large Welsh port on Holy Island situated directly opposite Dublin harbour, 100 kms to the west. Holyhead is the primary port that services Ireland.
* The original SS Teelin Head owned by the Ulster Steamship Company, was sunk by UC-31 whilst part of a convoy bound for Le Havre. Carrying a cargo of potatoes and taconite, a low grade of iron ore, the SS Teelin Head was struck by a torpedo at 8.04 pm on 21 January 1918. Although the crew were able to abandon ship, 13 men, including the Captain, died.
Counting the cost
Tom Faulkner counted himself fortunate to have survived under the circumstances, while the losses among merchant sailors from Liverpool and the surrounding dockyards of the Mersey basin had been substantial. Everyone had either lost someone, or new of someone that never returned to Ellesmere Port–greater Wirral areas.
His only immediate family loss due to war service was the death of his soldier son-in-law, the husband of his daughter from his first marriage, Mary Alice. Mary (21) had married the then 19 year old Lancastrian Samuel TREVENEN (1885–1917) at Brixton, Surrey in 1906. Samuel, known as “Willie”, was a commercial traveller whose father was an American citizen. They had three children, John Faulkner (1907–1996), Stanley Eccleston (1910–1981), and Kathleen Mary (1916–2010) TREVENEN. At the outbreak of the First World War, the family were living in Guildford, Surrey where Willie enlisted in 1917** however he was killed in France. Mary and Willie’s eldest son John Faulkner Trevenen’s American grandfather took him to the United States while Mary and the remaining two children returned to Ellesmere Port where in 1920, she married widower, William LIVESLEY. Mary and William had two children together, Margaret (1920–1990) and Peter Joynson LIVESLEY (1925–1931).
Note: ** 764600 Private Samuel “Willie” TREVENEN – 1st Battalion / 28th London Regiment (Artist’s Rifles) – enlisted with this special forces regiment of the British Army Reserve, on 11 January 1917. Today the same unit is the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve). The ‘Artists’ monica came about when the regiment was established in 1859, part of a widespread volunteer movement which developed in the face of a potential French invasion after an attack on Napoleon III was linked to Britain. The group was organised in London by Edward Sterling, an art student, and comprised various professional painters, musicians, actors, architects and others involved in creative endeavours; a profile it strove to maintain for some years.
On 30 Dec 1917 a counter attack to re-take Welsh Ridge was launched, during which the 1st Battalion, Artists Rifles were to push towards Marcoing near Cambrai, France. Of the 80 men who got out of their trenches and went ’over the top’ to attack, 68 were killed within minutes, including Pte. Willie Trevenen. Willie’s body was never found. He is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial on the Somme. The NZ Division was also involved in the attack on Welsh Ridge.
Mary Alice Trevenen was re-married in 1920, to William LIVERSLEY Snr (1865-1937), a Grocer and Baker of Ellesmere Port. The marriage did not last and thereafter, Mary remained unmarried for the rest of her life. Her father Thomas would often stay with Mary whenever he was ashore and took great delight in spending time with his grandchildren. Mary outlived her second husband by nearly 45 years, eventually dying in 1980 aged 94.
The Faulkners – Post WW1
The one bright spot for Captain Tom came shortly after the war when his only son John William Faulkner, a ledger clerk, married Grace SOWTER (1893-1968) on 3 May 1919. Grief was never far from Tom Faulkner after the loss of his wife Jane with several other family members who had been equally as young, either taken in their early years or during the war. John W. Faulkner died unexpectedly in 1927 at his home “Belsize” in Chester Road, Whitby and just 44 when he left is grieving wife Grace to raise their two young sons alone, Kenneth John Faulkner (1920-1941)** and Geoffrey Faulkner (1923-2013).
Note: Of John and Grace Faulkner’s two sons, their eldest Kenneth** was called-up for war service during the Second World War:
- ** 924133 Lance Sergeant Kenneth John FAULKNER – A Troop, 432 Battery, 149 (Anti-Tank) Regiment, Royal Artillery. Ken Faulkner together with some of his school friends from Calday Grange Grammar School, joined what would become 149 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (Lancashire Yeomanry) (TA) at Hoylake, Cheshire. Following the outbreak of the Second World War and after training, Gunner Faulkner embarked with the 149 Regiment, Royal Artillery which on 01 Jun 1940 was converted to a Field Artillery Regiment before sailing via the Cape of Good Hope and the Suez Canal for Egypt. On 01 July 1941 while at Mena Camp in Egypt the Regiment was further restructured to become the 149 Anti-Tank Regiment after the ship carrying its 25 pounder field guns was sunk on route to Egypt. Once re-organised the Regiment sailed for Tobruk, entering the port in November 1941 which was by then, besieged by Rommel’s Afrika Korps. According to Frank Harrison’s book “Tobruk – The Great Siege Reassessed” (1996), a troop of anti-tank guns from the Regiment was assigned to accompany the 19 (NZ) Brigade of the 2nd NZ Division during Operation CRUSADER, the NZ Div’s assault from the ridge at Sidi Rezegh, to force a break out of the 70th Division from the besieged Tobruk and cut the Germans off to the southeast. Sadly on 27 November 1941 during this action, L/Sgt. Faulkner was Killed in Action at El Duda. L/Sgt. Faulkner was just 21 years of age when he was buried in the Knights Bridge War Cemetery at Acroma, Libya. He was unmarried and left no children. His nephew John Kenneth Faulkner was named in his memory.
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Great-grandsons David and John Faulkner
Geoffrey Faulkner, Kenneth’s brother, also served in the war. As soon as he could, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force, hoping to become a pilot. In this he was to be disappointed because of his eyesight, instead he was offered the options of either loading bombers, or the Air Sea Rescue. He chose the latter, and was stationed in several places around the British Isles and, in particular Orkney and Shetland. Awaiting demobilisation after the war, he was stationed in Buckie, a small fishing town on the Moray Firth, Scotland. There he met a post office clerk named Sybil Gow MacLURE (1927–1993) and they married at St Stephen’s Church in Birkenhead on 12 August 1950. Two sons were born in Birkenhead, John Kenneth Faulkner (b.1952) and David Faulkner (b.1953). The family moved to Glasgow, Scotland in 1957 where John and David were educated. Following heart problems in 1967, Grace Gasking moved to Glasgow to live with the family, until her death aged 75, on 18 May 1968.
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Home is the sailor
With the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1891, Captain Tom (34) had opted for a position which allowed him to be home more frequently than his sea-going career had previously permitted. He had taken a position as a Waterman navigating boats up and down the River Mersey and through the Ship Canal. Tom and Jane (31) moved from their house at 63 Dock Street, Ellesmere Port along with their two children, John William Faulkner (b1883) and Mary Alice Faulkner (b1884) to another residence in Church Street, Ellesmere Port.
Tragedy struck on 2 April 1895, when Jane died suddenly in the Chester Infirmary at the age of 37. Tom was devastated but being a pragmatic man, he stoically continued to work as family assisted once again with the care of John William (12) and Mary Alice (11). Jane’s sister Hannah JOYNSON (1852-1933) had married another Waterman, Luke KING (1852–1918) in 1872. Thus, at the time of the 1901 Census, on 31 March, John William and Mary are living with Luke and Hannah and their three children.
Thomas was not found in the 1901 Census but is known to have re-married in 1901 and had a daughter, Margaret Adelaide FAULKNER (known as Madge) who was born in Liverpool in 1903. It would appear that Thomas’ second marriage did not last, however daughter Madge is listed as being a mourner at her brother, John William Faulkner’s funeral in 1927. Madge went on to marry Albert Bawden JONES in 1933 and they had five children, Albert Bawden b.1934, Margaret (1936 – 1939), Barbara b.1938, Trevor Keith b. 1940, and Heather (1941–2013) JONES. As a direct result of the medal being re-united with John Kenneth Faulkner and information being posted on the Medals Reunited New Zealand website, Barbara McPARLAND (wife of Tom McParland, 1968), sought out John Kenneth Faulkner and together, they have been able to expand this narrative.
Twilight years
Whenever ashore Tom Faulkner was always welcomed to stay with family members otherwise he would rent rooms to suit. When son John William and daughter Mary eventually married, Tom would usually stay with one or the other as both families lived in the Port. Despite all of their generational iterations, this particular Faulkner family had not ventured much further beyond the Ellesmere Port, Wirral or Cheshire areas. Most of the family had tended to remain in the Whitby area, a once small village 1.5 km SW of Ellesmere Port, and now an integral part of a much larger Ellesmere Port. It has been only in more recent decades that the remaining Faulkner descendants have spread to the surrounding counties and beyond.
End of an Era
For Captain Tom the post war years had meant business as usual at the Ellesmere Docks. He spent another eight or so years as a Waterman piloting in-shore vessels on the Mersey and through the Ship Canal until finally age and infirmity caught up with him, making retirement inevitable. When exactly Tom hung up his captain’s hat is unclear but it is believed to have been shortly after his son John William’s death in 1927. By then Tom was around 70 years of age and had been experiencing significant difficulty with his vision. Regrettably eye disease (probably glaucoma?) robbed Tom of his eyesight during his last years ashore.
Whilst always welcomed by his family and delighted by his grandchildren, Tom Faulkner liked the independence and peaceful solitude his small two storied, semi-detached house at 10 Livingstone Road in Ellesmere Port, gave him. His widowed daughter-in-law Grace Faulkner and grandsons lived nearby,and always at hand whenever Tom was in need, having remained residents of Ellesmere Port for their entire lives. Apart from family, Tom’s longevity at the Port and his amiable and gentlemanly nature meant he was always surrounded by friends, and a local community who loved and respected the old seaman.
On Saturday, 22 August 1931 Captain Thomas Faulkner M.N. (Ret’d) – Master Mariner, passed away at his home after a short illness. He was 75 years of age. It was indeed a very sad day for the Ellesmere Port community when news of Captain Tom’s passing spread. Most of the Ellesmere Port residents either knew Tom personally or as a very familiar face who had seemingly been in Ellesmere forever. When one reads Tom Faulkner’s obituary there is no doubt he was a most highly regarded man. A capable and popular ship’s Captain, he was a respected professional and gentleman, both in his community and in mercantile marine circles. As the Editor of the Ellesmere Port Advertiser wrote: “Even when blind he had never lost his good spirits nor his happy temperament, both of which he retained until the end. ” The full obituary appeared in the Ellesmere Port Advertiser below:
Ironically, Tom Faulkner’s five year old grandson Peter Joynson LIVERSLEY, the youngest son of Tom’s daughter Mary Alice and her 2nd husband William Liversley, was in Overpool Hospital with Diptheria** when Thomas died. Peter died just nine days after his grandfather on 31 August 1931. He was buried in the Overpool Cemetery, Ellesmere Port, Wirral.
Notes:
* Founded in 1844 Christ Church at Ellesmere Port was the first Church of England to serve the Whitby community. The Church was de-consecrated from Church of England use on 01 April 1994, 150 years after it was consecrated. It is now an Elim pentecostal church however the building and the churchyard remain world heritage listed sites.
** Diptheria is a serious bacterial infection usually affecting the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. In its advanced stages it affects the lungs heart and kidneys, and can be fatal.
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The descendant trail
My search for descendants had started with UK Archives and the Merchant Navy’s medal records. Fortunately there was only one T. Faulkner and so, I was able to confirm him to be the man I sought. I came to an abrupt halt after putting what I had of Thomas’s life together, when two families whose male spouses were both named Thomas Faulkner, were registered from the same general area in Ellesmere Port, and each man easily fitting the profile I was developing for Tom.
Andrea R. is a UK resident amateur researcher who has helped me on a number of occasions by accessing records in the UK and building a family tree which can lead us to the location of present day descendant families. Andrea produced a tree of the Faulkner family from records she located and like myself, with so many Faulkners who had common first names, e.g. John, had connected some incorrectly or with a wrong name – very easy to do, having done it dozens of time myself. Andrea’s tree however gave me the broader picture of the known Faulkners in the area at that time, confirming I was at lest on the right track and giving me options if those came to nothing.
To find Thomas Faulkner’s current descendants there were only two people of interest – Thomas’s children, John William Faulkner and his sister Alice Mary Faulkner. Initially focusing on Mary Liversley, it soon became apparent due to her re-marriage that her descendants were far spread and wide and not ‘direct’, a number having gone to the USA. As far as John William Faulkner was concerned, Andrea had found records down to great grandson level (hopefully they were still living). What I now needed was confirmation of details not available in on-line records. For this I needed to find someone else who had a family tree with the Faulkners in it who might know the families personally. For this I posted inquiries to a selected few Ancestry family tree owners. One in particular had contained some of Faulkner families detail that Andrea had found but there was confusion over names which I had not previously come across, and the tree was not open for public viewing.
The owner/author of one such tree was also a UK resident, Alan Bush. Alan promptly responded to my request and permitted me access to his (private record) family tree. Tom Faulkner’s family was remotely connected to his who had also come from the Chester area. The net result was that Alan’s tree correctly presented Thomas Faulkner’s lineage down to his grandson Geoffrey Faulkner and an un-named grandson in the Ellesmere Port area.
Geoffrey’s sons were shown as being Kenneth Faulkner and an un-named brother Faulkner. The un-named grandson’s children were shown as being John and Kenneth Faulkner plus an unnamed sister. I thought this looked hopeful so after Alan and I had discussed my reason for making contact with him, Alan offered to try and make contact with John Faulkner on my behalf as he (Alan) lived quite close and could make a visit if John’s phone number was unlisted. Alan found a number and phoned ……. wrong family! That John Faulkner had no idea of who the Faulkner family to which Alan referred was, or any of the other persons we were looking for!
Something had gone seriously wrong in Alan’s tree so I put the brakes on any further research until I had re-checked my material. When this happens the trick is to go back only as far as the last confirmed piece of information and then review the possibilities to advance the search. I reviewed the family trees Andrea had done and the names issue but which still lacked detail. I also re-read the UK census covering the period 1891 and the electoral records in relation to Tom Faulkner’s known family members. It was during this I found a census entry that appeared to be duplicated (as they often are), two Faulkner families with children’s names of Kenneth John and John Kenneth, both of whom were of similar age as those in Alan’s tree, and from the same general area in Wirral. I cross referenced this information again with Alan and Andrea’s trees and in the process found a contributor to Alan’s tree from whom he had copied a record, and whose own tree detail showed Thomas Faulkner’s lineage complete to great-grandson level with complete names, one however was at variance with Andrea’s – Geoffrey’s second son was listed as David Geoffrey Faulkner?
The contributor was none other than Geoffrey Faulkner’s eldest son, John Kenneth Faulkner (1952 – ). Whist there was a David Geoffrey Faulkner in Cheshire, John confirmed his brother’s name was actually just David Faulkner (1953 – ). Since then John and I have been in contact to piece together what we could of his great-grandfather Captain Thomas Faulkner’s life, a hard ask when so few of the extended family lived to any great age and had also lost a number of children to still birth or infant death along the way – it was definitely my lucky day.
It is so easy to mix names and families of early twentieth century families as the practice of naming the sans after the father was quite common – a nightmare for researchers though. Getting them in the wrong sequence or attributed to the wrong father/mother can send a genealogist off in an entirely wrong direction.
It was also John’s lucky day – he would be the recipient of his great-grandfather Thomas Faulkner’s war medal which he was very thrilled about.
Medal carried in Honour …
The day prior to sending Thomas Faulkner’s British War Medal, 1914-18 back to John Faulkner, was very coincidentally New Zealand’s Merchant Navy Day – September, 3rd John had sent me a newspaper cutting with Tom’s photograph in it, and a copy of his obituary (above). From this I enlarged the newspaper picture of Captain Tom, placed it in photo frame and together with his medal and a Poppy, made a point of attending the Merchant Navy Day commemorative service being held the following day at the Nelson Cenotaph. It was a brilliantly sunny morning and a very fitting occasion with which to remember Captain Faulkner M.N. and to honour his marine war service on behalf of his great-grandsons John and David Faulkner. I felt that the medal, although somewhat battered as a result of its long and hitherto unknown journey, had been the catalyst for a special moment of remembrance. It was my privilege to honour Captain Faulkner’s memory and service with his own medal, on Merchant Navy Day, before it left our shores to be reunited with one of his own descendant family members at home in Wales.
‘for those in peril on the sea’
‘lest we forget’
John Faulkner reciprocated a few weeks later after the medal had arrived at his home in Staffordshire. On 15 September each year in the UK, representatives from every Second World War military and supporting services remember the fallen on “Battle of Britain Day”, a day on which the RAF has pride of place for their particular contribution to Britain’s freedom. Along with the Merchant Navy Standard Bearer, John Faulkner was able to honour his great-grandfather Captain Thomas Faulkner M.N. for the very first time , while carrying his medal. John intends to have the medal restored for Merchant Navy Day 2019 – next time he will be wearing it!
Finding Captain Thomas Faulkner’s Mercantile Marine Medal would be the ultimate successful conclusion of this story, but a tall order I suspect given it has been 84 years since Captain Tom’s death and 91 years since his medals were issued to him.
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My thanks to Russell for sending the medal to MRNZ, and to Andrea R. and Alan Bush in particular who were both instrumental in the resolution of this case. Their information helped to point me in the right direction to find the correct descendant family which led to the location of both of Captain Thomas’s Faulkner’s great-grandsons, John and David Faulkner – and another successful conclusion to a case.
The reunited medal tally is now 241.
Post Script: I am indebted to John Faulkner and Barbara McParland for providing a detailed and updated contribution to Captain Faulkner’s lineage in July 2019, which I have included, adding to the accuracy and understanding of Tom’s life story.