Trafford

Born on the 17th July 1891, the birth being registered during the September
quarter 1891 in the Durham R.D. - ref: 10a/428, the son of George and
Elizabeth Arm Titmarsh (nee Gleason).

1901 Census - 644 Liverpool Road, Irlam.   Son - aged: 9 - born: Durham.  
Head of household - George Titmarsh - Married - aged: 42 - occ: Foreman at
Soap Works (CWS?) - born: Durham.   Also - Lizzie Titmarsh - Wife - aged:
39 - born: Durham.  Plus 5 siblings.

1911 Census - 28 Alderley Road, Flixton.   Son - aged: 19 - occ: Wood Box
Maker - born: Durham.  Head of household - George Titmarsh - Married -
aged: 52 - occ: Foreman - born: Durham.   Also - Elizabeth Ann Titmarsh -
Wife - aged: 48 - born: Durham.  Plus 4 siblings.

ADM 188/1117 - His record states that he was born on the 17th July 1892 -
which should have read 1891.  Enlisted in the Royal Navy for 5 + 7 years on
the 30th June 1911.  He was 5 feet 6 7/8th inches in height and had a chest
measurement of 35 1/2 inches.  He had a 'Fresh' complexion, 'Blue' eyes and
'Auburn' hair.  He was employed as a Labourer in his civilian life.  He
sailed on the following:-

Name of Ship              From                                    to       
                                     Rating

HMS Vivid II     30th June 1911          29th December 1911    Stoker Class
II
HMS Active       30th Decvember 1911     23rd October 1912     Stoker Class
II
HMS Active       24th October 1912       7th April 1913        Stoker Class
I
HMS Vivid II     8th April 1913          24th November 1913    Stoker Class
I
HMS Colossus     25th November 1913      3rd December 1913     Stoker Class
I
HMS Vivid        28th January 1914       17th February 1914    Stoker Class
I
HMS London       18th February 1914      22nd May 1914         Stoker Class
I
HMS Vivid II     23rd May 1914           29th July 1914        Stoker Class
I
HMS Monmouth     30th July 1914          1st November 1914     Stoker Class
I    Given 7 days in the cells for being drunk & disorderly

His character was recorded as Very Good.    His ability as Satisfactory.

HMS Monmouth took part in the Battle of Coronel.

H.M.S. Monmouth was a cruiser built in 1901 and together with H.M. Ships
Good Hope, Glasgow and Ortanto were off Coronel on the Chilean coast
searching for the German East Asia Squadron which was attempting to return
to Germany via Cape Horn.    On the evening of the 1st November 1914 the
two Squadrons met.   Initially the British had the advantage as the Germans
were silhouetted against the setting sun, but the Germans used their
superior speed to avoid action until after the sun had set which
illuminated in the afterglow.    The British were also hampered by the bad
weather which meant that their lower casement guns could not be worked.  
Another factor in favour of the Germans was that they had well trained
regular crews whereas the British ships had only recently commisioned with
crews made up of reservists.   Firing began at 19.00hrs and by 19.52hrs
Good Hope had been battered to a wreck by the German ships Scharnhorst &
Gneisenau there was a final large explosion and then she sank.  900 crew
died there were no survivors. Monmouth had received a similar battering
from the German ships and after the sinking of the flagship had broken away
to the North. She was found by Nurnberg at 21.00hrs listing steeply to port
with steam escaping amidships.  Her port guns could not be worked so by
staying on her port side the "Nurnberg" could fire at her at will with no
risk of return fire and after a few rounds the Monmouth sank with the loss
of her 900 crew.   There were actually 4 survivors who had been put onto
Albrohos Rocks to establish a lookout /signal station.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in St. Michael's Churchyard,
Flixton.

M.I. - "God's greatest gift, remembrance".

His father, George died 09/02/1929 aged 70 years and his mother, Elizabeth
Ann died 14/02/1933 aged 71 years.