Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Ramsgate And St. Lawrence Cemetery | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.134 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 15A GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: HM Tug Charm |
| Action : Naval Campaign |
Naval Campaign is defined as to include all sea operations where attrition rates are in ones and twos and which do not fall within specific naval battles such as Jutland, Coronel, Falklands etc. This includes Merchant Navy losses.
Detail :
Born in Gravesend, Kent in 1881 to Abram and Jane Sheaves. By the time he was nine he was declared to be living in the Founders' Arms, Milton Gravesend.
His service record shows that he was of Very Good conduct throughout his military career which had been as an Officers Steward, third class throughout. It is possible he had served with the Orient Line as a Steward previously. He is recorded to have started his duties on 20th March 1916, firstly at Pembroke I (training) and then HMS Ceto and Herve? before joining the crew of H.M. Tug "Charm" on the 1st June 1918. His service number was L.8643(Ch). The detail on his record show that he died of Pleurisy and/or Pneumonia, Cardiac Failure at the General Hospital, Ramsgate.
The Thanet Advertiser of the 7th September 1918 summarises this: " NAVAL FUNERAL.-The death took place at the Ramsgate General Hospital on Sunday, of John Sheaves. The deceased, who was thirty-six years of age, was an officer's steward on H.M.S. Charm and was admitted to the hospital on August 15th, suffering from chest trouble. the further took place on Wednesday with naval honours."
For his service he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
He is buried in Plot L.A. 618 of Ramsgate Cemetery, Ramsgate, Kent.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Southwark No. 879 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
14th January 1904 | 10th March 1904 | 14th April 1904 |
In 1904, when he was made a Freemason, he was a Licensed Victualler, a publican resident at the Anchor & Hope Public House, S.E. The contribution record shows a history of arrears and catch up payments, including to 1914 and then a payment of 12/- in 1917. The annotation shows that he was "Excld 175". It may be that John was excluded prior to making the retrospective payments.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley