Gallipoli Campaign
The sinking of HMS Goliath
13th May 1915
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Although Private Charles N Chambers is recognised as Porthcawl's first casualty of the war on the Memorial, at the time the three men who perished on the Goliath were considered so as Private Chambers death had not been confirmed until 1916.
At 1.15am on 13th May 1915, whilst covering military landings at Morto Bay in the Dardenelles, the Goliath was struck by three torpedoes from the Turkish torpedo boat the Muavenet-i-Milliye commanded by German Lt Commander Firle. The Goliath exploded and sank within minutes. Of the 570 lives lost, out of 750 on board, were Leading Cooks Mate William Hodgson,Stoker David R Ockwell and Stoker James Pearce. |
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In April 1915 the Goliath transferred to the Dardanelles, to support the ill-considered and ill-fated landings around Cape Helles. Already sustaining damage on 25th April and 2nd May she sank on 13th May.
On 15th May Admiral of the Fleet Lord "Jackie Fisher resigned as First Sea Lord over his disillusionment with the Dardenelles Campaign and its orchestrator Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty.In the days following, Winston Churchill was relieved of his duties and a coalition government was formed. |
The site of the wreck is at the end of the blue line labelled The Dardenelles.
The Goliath, built in 1898 ,had been mothballed in 1913 as part the 3rd Fleet (Pembroke Reserve) to be brought out in August 1914 to join the Battle Squadron operating from Devonport. On Sunday 2nd August 1914 Naval Reservists were urgently called up.The Goliath was one of the Battleships that received the men. In September 1914 the ship was dispatched to the East Indies for escort duties, operating against the German light cruiser Konigsberg in November (Rufigi river, East Africa). |
Our heroes
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Leading Cooks Mate William Hodgson
Service No - 347770 William Hodgson was born in Tenby 18th May 1888,one of three children.Prior to joining the Navy on 23rd July 1907 at Devonport, he worked as an Indoor Porter.Enlisting for 12years he saw service on the "Vivid" three times, "Repulse" and "Hawk" before being assigned to the Goliath on 30th July 1914. On 9th June he had passed his exams to become a Ships Cook.During his time in the Navy his family had moved to 12, Railway Terrace, Porthcawl.His father William born in the Doncaster Union Workhouse in 1864, had developed a successful plumbing and gas fitting business in Porthcawl.In 1913 the family had moved to 21, George Street, Porthcawl. Young William, who died five days before his 27th birthday, is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 7. 
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Stoker 1st Class David Robert Ockwell
Service No - 287111 David was born in Nottage,Porthcawl, 16th October 1875. Prior to joining the Navy 3rd January 1898 he worked as a collier in Penrhys. Enlisting as a stoker for 12years he saw service on "Vivid II" three times, "Phoebe", "Skipjack","Leander" and "Sapphire II" Following the official end of his service 1st January 1910 he registered with the Naval Reserve 2nd January 1910. He married Cecilia (Sissy) Collins in Dec 1909 and settled down in West Road, Nottage, Porthcawl.Sissy gave birth to a boy David Redman Abbot Ockwell in July 1911. His father, Jacob,who had been a platelayer for the GWR died 2 months before David.His sister,Jennet had married Charlie Bragg,a well known Porthcawl butcher, in 1904. Being attached to the Naval Reserve ,David was called up on 2nd August.He was posted to serve on the Goliath, 5th August 1914. David is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 6. 
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Stoker 2nd Class James Pearce
Service No - 287188 "Jimmy" Pearce was born on 7th January 1880 in Beach House, William's Place, Porthcawl to Sarah, and James Pearce who was one of the pilots of Porthcawl Harbour.Jimmy joined the Navy on 26th January 1898 at Devonport.He served as a stoker on the "Vivid II" six times, "Magdala", "Talbot",and "Blake" .Following the purchase of his end of service on 21st November 1908 he registered with the Naval Reserve 22nd November 1908. He married Annie in 1910 and they moved to White Horn, 4,Railway Terrace,Porthcawl where in 1912 Phyllis was born.Between leaving and then rejoining the Navy , Jimmy worked as a stoker at Langland's Colliery , Pyle. Being attached to the Naval Reserve,he was called up on 2nd August.He was posted to serve on the Goliath, 5th August 1914.Jimmy is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 6.He is also remembered in St John's Churchyard,Newton. Grave Ref B11/10 & B12/24 . 
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One more hero ,also, died that day associated with Porthcawl.
Engine Artificer Richard James Tucker No M\1537(Dev) was a grandson of Mrs Mably of Rosefield,Victoria Avenue,Porthcawl.He was 28yrs of age,married to Eveline with 2 children,living at 7,Holyrood Place,The Hoe, Plymouth. At the outbreak of the war he was commissioned to the "Monmouth", re-commissioned to the "Good Hope", and afterwards transferred to the "Goliath."Richard is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 6 
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PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL built after World War 1 commemorates 7,251 sailors from the Commonwealth who perished the First World War and 15,933 from World War II.
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A survivor associated with Porthcawl - Second Class Petty Officer James Bryne, brother-in-law to Mr William Lord,Chelmsford,St Mary Street, Porthcawl.He was married with 1 child and lived in Bristol. James was ,also, on the Naval Reserve list called up 2nd August 1914. |
That same day in the Porthcawl NewsThe Porthcawl News
edition 13th May 1915 featured the following:-
(In June Lt Nicholls was to arrive with the 3rd Welsh at Newton Camp ,Porthcawl for training ,prior to leaving for France and The Battle of Loos. More information to be given at a later date.)
Note the soldier on the far left is of non-white origin. The experience of Black soldiers in the British Army in WW1 was many and varied; some light skinned got in, others more 'coloured' rejected - the army never really knew what to do with them. The numbers may well have been great; there were 20,000 Black men of military age in Liverpool alone by the close of the Great War.( Paul Reed.) |
The Gallipoli Campaign continuedOne more hero -
Lieutenant Harry Edgar Osbourne Welsh Regiment, 5th Battalion. Died 10th August 1915. Remembered on the Helles Memorial Turkey Panel reference 140-144. The 5th Welsh Battalion formed part of the 53rd Welsh Division that landed on Suvla Bay on 9th August.The landing was part of the offensive agreed on by the Dardenelles Committee in London. Although many new additional forces were dispatched to the peninsula the volume of men did not match that of the Turkish reserves.Although the British and Commonwealth forces enjoyed initial success between 9th August and 11th October they were to sustain 250,000 casualties. Harry was one of 85% of the 53rd Welsh Division that perished during the campaign.Roll states death accepted on or after 10.8.15. Press reports following his disappearance speculated that he had become a POW in the Dardanelles campaign. The order to evacuate on 11th October brought to an end this disastrous chapter in British and Commonwealth military history. The evacuation was completed by 6th January 1916. Although, remembered on the 5th Welsh Battalion Memorial in Pontypridd,where he was born in 1880, Harry's association with Porthcawl is through his wife and his cousin's family. Harry's wife moved to Porthcawl prior to his death and lived at 15 Park Avenue. Florence remained in Porthcawl for the rest of her life.When she died in 1955 she lived at 19 Esplanade Avenue. Note on the memorial that the wrong initial is engraved. 
Harry's cousin was
2nd Lieutenant Horace Scott Dowdeswell, who was to be killed in action on 3rd November 1917, fighting in the 3rd Battle of Gaza, aged 19 yrs old.Horace's parents, Colonel and Mrs William Dowdeswell, lived at Southcove ,the Esplanade, Porthcawl. 
Horace is,also, remembered on his parents grave in St John's Church. Grave Reference C11/34.More information will be given when 1917 is recorded.
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