TEIGNMOUTH & SHALDON

Chief Petty Officer Samuel Howard Mear age 41. 

Born in November 1876 at East Teignmouth, the son of William, a fisherman, and Harriett Mear of Market Houses. He was baptised on 24 November at St James Church. In 1881 he was living at 1 Market Houses with his family. The 1911 census showed him in the Royal Navy on board HMS Challenger as a PO 1st Class, it was noted that he was married. 

No details of his service record exist but Samuel appears to have been awarded a Long Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.  His memorial notes that he left a widow, Lavinia, who was living at 16 Devonshire Place, Teignmouth, she was shown on the 1920 electoral roll at this address. 

Samuel was serving as Chief Petty Officer, service number 169846(Dev), on board HMS Anchusa, when she was torpedoed by submarine U-54 off the coast of Northern Ireland on 16 July 1918.

Remembered on Plymouth Naval Memorial; Seafront Memorial and St. Michael’s Church Memorial, Teignmouth, Devon.

“Kia just returned from a few weeks leave, served for over 20 yrs. Torpedo.”  Teignmouth Post - 29 July 1918

"Having sailed from Lough Swiley on 14 July, she (HMS Anchusa) screened a homeward-bound convoy off the Northern Ireland coast the following morning and was then ordered to return to Lough Swilly.

 

On the way she was diverted to assist with a search or a submarine reported in the area, but without success, after which she resumed her passage to Lough Swilly.

 

At 2:07am she was hit on the starboard side by two torpedoes fired from a submerged U 54 (von Ruckteschell). She broke up and sank rapidly, going under in just two minutes, the boilers exploding as she sank. Twelve survivors were picked up the following morning."

British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era: 1860-1919
David J. Hepper