| Notes: | MFP. HE WAS BORN IN ESKDALE MUIR, DUMFRIESSHIRE, ENLISTED IN LEWES AND RESIDED AT CATLE O'ER (SPELT CASTLEOCR IN SOLDIERS DIED). HIS NUMBER IS SHOWN AS P/1750 WHICH IS THAT OF L/CPL POLLITT MFP IN CWGC ROLL AND P/1750 IN SOLDIERS DIED. DIED AT SEA. SHOWN AS DROWNED BETWEEN MUDROS AND HELLES, Army Register of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929. HE PROBABLY DIED WITH THE NCO'S NAMED BELOW WHEN A CROSS CHANNEL CARGO VESSEL HMS HYTHE WHICH HAD WORKED OUT OF DOVER FOR THE SOUTH EAST & CHATHAM RAILWAY CO BEFORE THE WAR AND HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO A NAVAL MINE SWEEPER AND USED AS A FERRY. THE SHIP LEFT MUDROS BAY ON THE 29 OCT 1915 SAILING FOR GALLIPOLI AND WAS IN COLLISION WITH HMS SARNIA AT 20.10 HRS OFF CAPE HELLES. THE HYTHE SANK DROWNING 129 MEN. P/627 SGT JOHNSON MMP, P/1725 L/CPL MORRISS MFP, P/1756, P/1760 L/CPL PORTER P/1750 L/CPL POLLITT MFP & P/1755 L/CPL VENN MFP ALSO DROWNED. THEY APPEAR TO BE REINFORCEMENTS AS ALL THEIR NUMBERS ARE SIMILAR. NO MEDAL CARD FOUND.
Extract from The Scotsman 18 November 1915.
Lost Abroad The Hythe. Drowned: Scott, 1750, L/Cpl, J. MFP
Extract from the Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser 20 November 1915.
THE LOSS OF HMS HYTHE - 143 SOLDIERS DROWNED.
Many Sappers formerly stationed in St. Pauls Schoolroom.
The following casualties are reported as a result of the accident to HM Fleet Auxiliary Hythe. Many of the Sappers of the Royal Engineers were formerly stationed in St. Paul's Schoolroom, Sheerness. Unless otherwise stated the men are Privates:- 1st Reserve Regt. of Cavalry attached Military Mounted Police, Cooper, 10810, C. Military Foot Police, Morris, 1752, L/Cpl, H. Pollitt, 1756, L/Cpl, T. Porter, 1760, L/Cpl, M. Scott, 1750, L/Cpl, J. Venn, 1755, L/Cpl, G H. Military Mounted Police. Johnson, 627, A/Sgt, J A.
It was announced by the Admiralty at the end of October that the Hythe, an auxiliary sweeper had sunk during the night of October 28-29 after collision with another of HM Ships off Gallipoli, and the two Army Officers and 143 men were missing in addition to the crew. |
