William Ewart Foulds

William Ewart (Ewart) was the son of Thomas Foulds and Florence Emily Mary Jane (Emily) Foulds (nee Johnson). Thomas was born in Nottingham in 1864 (O/N/D Basford) and Emily was born in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of William and Hannah Johnson who in 1881 were living with their fourteen year old daughter, a lace mender, at 13 Stretton Street, Nottingham. Thomas and Emily were married in 1888 (A/M/J Nottingham) and had ten children of whom nine were still living in 1911. Nine children were named on two census (1901 and 1911): Thomas Johnson birth registered 1889 J/F/M Basford (probably b. 20 December 1888), Margaret Alexandrina J. birth registered 1890 J/F/M Basford, Beatrice May b. 23 January 1891 (J/F/M Nottingham), William Ewart b. 4 September 1893 (O/N/D Nottingham), Ellen (probably Rebecca Ellen b. 23 July 1896, J/A/S Nottingham), Mary b. 1900 (A/M/J Nottingham), Edwin Knott b. 2 August 1902 (J/A/S Nottingham), Franklin b. 1904 (A/M/J Nottingham) and Charles b. 1906 (O/N/D Shardlow, probably b. 24 September). The three eldest children were born in Beeston, Ewart in Radford, the other children, apart from the youngest, Charles, in Nottingham and Charles in Long Eaton. In 1901 Thomas (36) a lace maker and Emily (34) were living at 8 Cottage Court, Hyson Green, with their six children Thomas (12), Margaret (11), Beatrice (10), Ewart (7), Ellen (4) and Mary (1). Ewart joined the Royal Navy on 25 February 1911 and at the time of the census the following month his family was registered as living at 17 Cavendish Road, Long Eaton. Only seven of his siblings were at home on the night of the census: Margaret (21) and Beatrice (20) who were both working as slip winders (lace), Ellen (14) an assistant lace maker, Mary (11), Edwin (8), Franklin (6) and Charles (4). When Ewart's mother was notified by the Navy of her son's death in 1916, she was still living at 17 Cavendish Road, Long Eaton, and this address is also on the later CWGC record. The eldest child, Thomas, has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census, but it is possible that he had joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 14 September 1908 on a 12 year engagement. The Register of Seamen's services for Thomas Foulds shows that he was born in Beeston on 20 December 1888 and was in the lace trade prior to joining the Navy. Thomas' last ship was Victory II (11 April 1913-8 May 1913); he left the Navy with an invalidity pension. There is a record of a Thomas Foulds who died in 1961 (June Nottingham) at the age of 74. Ewart's mother died in 1941 (Florence EMJ Foulds, June Ilkeston) aged 74 and his father probably died in 1950 (June Ilkeston). Of Ewart's siblings: Beatrice May Foulds died in 1974 (September Derby) aged 83. Rebecca Ellen (Ellen) Foulds died in 1969 (December Ilkeston) aged 73 Edwin Knott married Lois May Brealey in 1929 (J/F/M Shardlow). He died on 8 January 1984 (January Ilkeston); he was then living at 190 Curzon Street, Long Eaton. His wife, Lois May (b. 2 May 1902), had died the previous year (1983, June Derby). Franklin married Agnes Merriman in 1933 (J/A/S Shardlow) and died in 1964 (June Nottingham) age 60. At the time of his death he was living at 31 Hamilton Road, Long Eaton. His wife survived him. Charles probably died in 1972 (June Nottingham) aged 65. Margaret Alexandrina J and Mary have not been traced after 1911.

He was a carriage hand when he joined the Royal Navy in February 1911.

Ewart joined the Royal Navy on 25 February 1911 at the age of 17 and entered on a 12 year engagement on his 18th birthday, 4 September 1911. He served in the following ships and shore establishments: Ganges II 25 February 1911-12 May 1911 (Boy 2nd Class); HMS Victorious 13 May 1911-31 July 1911 (Boy 1st Class, 27 May); HMS Prince George, 1 August 1911 -27 March 1912 (Ordinary Seaman, 4 September 1911); HMS Irresistible, 28 March 1912-18 March 1913 (Able Seaman, 4 March 1913); Vivid I, 19 March 1913-10 May 1913; HMS Defiance, 11 May 1913-1 September 1913; HMS Defence, 2 September 1913-31 May 1916 (Leading Seamen, 10 September 1915). His service record annotated: '1916: DD 31st May 1916. Killed in action.' His body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. HMS Defence was laid down on 22 February 1905 at the Royal Dockyard in Pembroke Dock, Wales. She was christened on 27 April 1907 by Lady Cawdor and commissioned on 3 February 1909 at the cost of £1,362,970. During the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, Defence was the flagship of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, leading the First Cruiser Squadron. The squadron formed the starboard flank of the cruiser screen, ahead of the main body of the Grand Fleet. Defence was just to the right of the centre of the line. At 5:47 p.m., Defence, and HMS Warrior, the leading two ships of the squadron, spotted the German II Scouting Group and opened fire. Their shells fell short and the two ships turned to port in pursuit, cutting in front of the battle cruiser HMS Lion, which was forced to turn away to avoid a collision. Shortly afterwards, they spotted the disabled German light cruiser SMS Wiesbaden and closed to engage. When the two ships reached a range of 5,500 yards (5,000 m) from Wiesbaden they were spotted in turn at 6:05 by the German battle cruiser SMS Derfflinger and four battleships who were less than 8,000 yards (7,300 m) away. The fire from the German ships was heavy and Defence was hit by two salvoes from the German ships that caused the aft 9.2-inch magazine to explode. The resulting fire spread via the ammunition passages to the adjacent 7.5-inch magazines which detonated in turn. The ship exploded at 6:20 with the loss of all men on board; between 893 and 903 men were killed. (Wikipedia)

Probate: Foulds Franklin of 31 Hamilton Road Long Eaton Derbyshire died 1 June 1964 at The General Hospital Nottingham Administration Nottingham 13 July to Agnes Foulds widow. £550. Probate: Foulds Edwin Knott of 190 Curzon Street, Long Eaton Notts died 8 January 1984 Probate Manchester 1 March Not exceeding £40000.