Able Seaman Ralph Francis Cole Tothill
HMS. Foresight (lost in Princess Alberta)
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 21 July 1897
Place of Birth: Shaldon, Devon
Date of Death: 21 February 1917 aged 19
Buried: Remembered on the Shaldon War Memorial and Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Able Seaman Ralph Francis Cole Tothill aged 19.
Born 21 July 1897, youngest son of Aaron Henry Tothill and his wife Mary Maria (née Willing); brother to George James, John Henry, Elizabeth Susan and Kathleen Mary.
During his younger days they lived Middle Street, Shaldon. Both brothers served during WWI.
Able Seaman Tothill, J/22350, joined the navy on 2 Jan 1913, serving aboard Impregnable.
In January 1914 he transferred to HMS Forsight. She took part in operations off the Flanders coast during October 1914, helping to protect the Allied flank during the battle of the Yser. In May 1915 she was temporarily transferred to the 6th Light Cruiser Squadron on the Humber, guarding against Zeppelin raids. In 1915 she served in the Mediterranean and in July 1916 in the Aegean with her sister ship HMS Forward.
Royal Fleet Auxillary, Princess Alberta
Ralph drowned on 21 February 1917 whilst aboard the Princess Alberta.
She had been requisitioned for Admiralty service as a Commissioned Fleet Messenger of 1586 tons and was struck by a mine which had been laid by the German submarine UC23 on the previous day.
She sank in the Aegean Sea while on passage from Stavros to Mudros with a loss of 33 lives.
Remembered on the Shaldon War Memorial and Plymouth Naval Memorial.
