Signal Boy Charles Stephens
HM Yacht Penetia, Royal Navy
Accidental death
Date of Birth: 1900
Place of Birth: Southill, Cornwall
Date of Death: 24 August 1917
Buried: Buried in Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall and commemorated on Shaldon War Memorial.
Signal Boy Charles Stephens, aged 17, was the son of Frederick Stephens and his wife, Emily Jane Halford. He was born in Southill, Cornwall but the family came to live in Shaldon and the connection is probably through his mother's family.
His grandmother, Miriam Halford, nee Holmes, is recorded on the 1891 census for Shaldon. She married Arthur Smerdon in 1899, shortly after the death of her first husband. The 1901 and 1911 censuses show her living with her new husband at Vine Cottage, Ringmore.
Charles joined the Royal Naval Reserve , service no 236/SB and was acting as signal boy aboard HM Yacht 'Penetia'.
He was killed during an accident near Falmouth on 24 August 1917.
Charles was the brother of Lance Corporal Frederick Thomas Stephens MM.
He is buried in Falmouth Cemetery, Cornwall and commemorated on Shaldon War Memorial.
Fatality near Falmouth
Mr. E. L. Carlton (deputy coroner) held an inquest at Falmouth on Saturday, on the body of Charles Stephens, R.N. attached to the trawler section trawler section, who died from injuries at the Royal Cornwall Sailors Home the previous evening.
The evidence of James Phillips, R.N. and Robert Wearne, R.N., was to the effect that Stephens, with Phillips, was putting off to a trawler in a motor-launch, with provisions, about 3.30 the previous afternoon.
Before reaching the trawler the motor-launch broke down. The trawler, which was going full speed astern caught the launch underneath her stern Stephens and Phillips jumped to a buoy for safety, but the former slipped off and was injured by the propeller.
Mr. J.S. Hecks said the man died from shock and internal hemorrage. Commander Herbert W Randall. R.N.R. said the naval inquiry was to be held immediately after the inquest. A verdict of Accidental Death" was returned.
Newspaper Clipping. Source unknown
