Alfred Gunner (1897-1915)

Post date: Oct 06, 2015 5:58:38 PM

Alfred was the son of Henry and Rose Gunner, born in 1897 in Kent, either at Paddlesworth near Folkestone, or Birling. In 1901 he was living in Leybourne but by 1911 they had moved to a 5 room dwelling in Canon Lane, Wateringbury. His father was a waggoner on farm and Alfred at the age of 14 was a worker on farm (as we learn from the KM article quoted below Mr. Goodwin's). Alfred was one of 7 children born to Rose but of these 3 were already dead by 1911.

It is likely that Alfred enlisted in Chatham (Service number K/21113) and before WWI started, as he is on the vicar's initial list of Wateringbury men serving in the armed forces.

The Parish Magazine recorded Alfred's death as follows, unfortunately getting his rank incorrect (he had advanced to 1st Class stoker):

It is with great regret that we record the death of Alfred Gunner, who went down with his ship H.M. Cruiser "Natal," recently sunk by an internal explosion in home waters. Gunner was only 19 years old: he joined the navy two years ago, and had advanced to the rating of third-class stoker.

H.M.S. Natal was an armoured cruiser of 13, 550 tonnes with 6x9.2 inch and 4x7.5 inch guns, a complement of 712 completed at Barrow in 1907. It blew up when at anchor in Cromarty Firth due to an internal explosion (possibly caused by faulty cordite) on 30 December 1915 killing about 421 (including the women and children then on board for a film show). Some of the crew were not on board but on shore leave. See http://www.hmsnatal.co.uk/ for more information.

His death was reported (with the above photo) in the Kent Messenger of 22nd January 1916

First Class Stoker A. Gunner

(Wateringbury).

KILLED ON H.M.S. NATAL.

Mr. and Mrs. H. Gunner of Cannon Lane, Wateringbury are among those

who were bereaved through the disaster to the Natal on December 30th, their son,

1st Class Stoker Alfred Gunner, being killed in the explosion .

He was nineteen years of age and had been two years on the ship. Previously he had

worked for Mr. Goodwin, and was well-known in the district . Much sympathy has been

shown with the parents in their loss .